Projected Finish
1. Houston Dynamo (PLAYOFFS)
2. Los Angeles Galaxy (PLAYOFFS)
3. Colorado Rapids (PLAYOFFS)
4. Chivas USA (PLAYOFFS)
5. F.C. Dallas
6. Real Salt Lake
Houston Dynamo
Players In
NONE
Players Out
Adrian Serioux (Toronto/FC Dallas)
Blurb:
Houston is a rock of a team. This back four is easily the most feared in the league in terms of physicality and consistent presence. Add that the work ethic of Ricardo Clark, the pizzazz and skill of DeRo and the smart play of Brian Mullan and Brad Davis on the wings, and you got yourself a Championship caliber team regardless of who you stick up front. Houston, however, has got it all. The Hawaiian Brian Ching looks to continue his form while foul sufferer extraordinaire Alejandro Moreno (this guy will be the record holder in fouls suffered by the time his career his over) and scrappy Paul Dalglish fight for that second spot. Although Houston’s defense looked like shit against Pachuca, look for them to find their legs and start to dispatch their opponents with a slight sense of ease. Between the posts, Zach Wells is more than capable of taking injured Onstad’s spot depending on his early play this season. Dominic Kinnear was smart in keeping his team relatively intact, but he will need possible starters Kelly Gray and Ryan Cochrane and back-ups Kevin Goldthwaite or Patrick Ianni to develop the intimidating presence necessary to cover the loss of Canadian Adrian Serioux.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
GK: Pat Onstad (again, I know he is injured)
DR: Craig Waibel
DC: Eddie Robinson
DC: Ryan Cochrane
DL: Wade Barrett
MR: Brian Mullan
MC: Dwayne DeRosario
MC: Ricardo Clark
ML: Brad Davis
FC: Alejandro Moreno
FC: Brian Ching
Key Subs:
FC: Chris Wondolowski
DF: Kelly Gray
FC: Paul Dalglish
GK: Zach Wells
DF: Kevin Goldthwaite
Los Angeles Galaxy
Players In
David Beckham (Real Madrid), Joe Cannon (Colorado Rapids), Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire), Shavar Thomas (Kansas City Wizards), Ian Russell (unattached)
Players Out
Stefani Miglioranzi (Columbus Crew), Kevin Hartman (Kansas City Wizards), Cornell Glen (waived), Josh Gardner (waived)
Blurb:
There are three young’uns on this team that look poised to make a big contribution this year. One, Nathan Sturgis, you already know about. Quavas Kirk, touted as the fasted player in the league, should play a more prominent role this year due to Cobi Jones impending retirement after the 2007 season. Kirk has appeared for the U-20 team consistently and will look to take over that position one Cobi is gone. Josh Tudela is a preseason standout who has done nothing but impress Frank Yallop. Look for him to get 15-20 games this season. The line up looks scary when Beckham arrives in July, but the key is, finding the right mixture until then. The Galaxy defense takes on a more physical presence this year, instead of depending on recovery and speed. You will see big Jamaican Tyrone Marshall at centerback coupled with strong Shavar Thomas who came west from Kansas City. The loss of Ugo Ihemelu could go either way. The end of 2007 will signal the end of a dreadlocked era. Cobi Jones, a poster-boy for American soccer, will retire at the end of the season. Could this be the year he goes out on top?
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
GK: Joe Cannon
DR: Chris Albright
DC: Tyrone Marshall
DC: Shavar Thomas/Nathan Sturgis
DL: Ante Jazic
MR: Cobi Jones
MC: David Beckham (until then, Pete Vagenas)
MC: Landon Donovan
ML: Kyle Martino
FC: Nate Jaqua
FC: Alan Gordon (now out injured)
Key Subs:
MF: Pete Vagenas
MF: Josh Tudela
MF: Quavas Kirk
DF: Troy Roberts
GK: Steve Cronin
FC: Robbie Findley
Colorado Rapids
Players In
Roberto Brown (Tacuarembo F.C.), Ugo Ihemelu (Los Angeles Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Zach Thornton (Chicago Fire), Yherland McDonald (), Brandon Prideaux (Kansas City Wizards), Greg Vanney (F.C. Dallas), Jose Cancela (Toronto FC)
Players Out
Joe Cannon (Los Angeles Galaxy), Tiago Martins (released), Aitor Karanka (waived), Matt Jordan (waived), Melvin Tarley (Minnesota Thunder)
Blurb:
This offseason felt like musical chairs for the Colorado locker room. A brand evolution, a marketing partnership with Arsenal, and a new stadium later, the squad list seems to have followed suit. Two experienced goalkeepers in Cannon and Jordan have moved on. Defensive stalwart Spaniard Aitor Karanka has been shown the door. A lot of wheeling and dealing has opened the doors for a new look backline with trusty names like Ugo Ihemelu coming over from Los Angeles and Brandon Prideaux coming west from Kansas City. Don’t forget American international Greg Vanney. The past two years have been out-performance at its’ best. The problem is, each respective year, they have come 90 minutes from getting back to the MLS Cup final. Chicago “fire” Zach Thornton will start in between the posts in Commerce City after getting relegated in Chicago by the consistent play of Matt Pickens. English right midfielder Terry Cooke is coming off a half-season with real promise, leading the league in assists with 12 in only 20 or so games. Although coach Fernando Clavijo believes he has upgraded his roster, the main position to watch will certainly be aging Zach Thornton in goal. In my mind, that is a major downgrade at the keeper position based on Cannon’s past performance. Brandon Prideaux is a welcome addition to compete with the inconsistent Dan Gargan. Jovan Kirovski will come off the bench most likely with Panamanian Roberto Brown ready to roll (although he has been relatively quiet this preseason). Both Nico Hernandez and Kyle Beckerman look to improve upon their breakout seasons (with Beckerman that should be hard-pressed as 7 goals in one year after scoring only 3 in his career before then is quite amazing). The departure of Clint Mathis to New York is a release of dead weight necessary for the health of the squad. The trade of Hunter Freeman, however, might come back to nip them in the butt as Dan Gargan and Daniel Wasson are not my idea of depth (although with them last year, the Rapids did make the MLS Cup Semis).
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
GK: Zach Thornton
DR: Mike Petke
DC: Brandon Prideaux
DC: Ugo Ihemelu
DL: Greg Vanney
MR: Terry Cooke
MC: Kyle Beckerman
MC: Pablo Mastroeni
ML: Herculez Gomez
FC: Nico Hernandez
FC: Roberto Brown
Key Subs:
FC: Jovan Kirovski
MF: Yherland McDonald
DF: Dan Gargan
FC: Jacob Petersen
MF: Nico Colaluca
DF: Daniel Wasson
Chivas USA
Players In
Alex Zotinca (Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Red Bull New York), David Arvizu (Red Bull New York), Maykel Galindo (Seattle Sounders), Jorge Barrera,
Players Out
Juan Pablo Garcia (UANL Tigres), Juan Francisco Palencia (UNAM Pumas), Ramon Ramirez (waived), John O’Brien (waived)
Developmental Contracts
Mohammed Sethi, Eder Robles, Erasmo Solorzano
Blurb:
On paper, Chivas looks to be somewhat less capable than last year’s Bob Bradley revival. Don’t be fooled however. New coach Preki looks to continue in Bob Bradley’s footsteps and his presence is already well received within the Chivas USA community. He has made some small coaching staff changes, assistant coach Zoran Savic, as well as some key player moves. Alex Zotinca has come in from Preki’s old stomping ground of Kansas City, while Amado Guevara looks to be more of threat with Chivas than he was with the Red Bulls. The man to watch will certainly be Cuban Maykel Galindo picked up from the Seattle Sounders. This is mainly because it will be up to him to fill the shoes of the two Mexican departed, Juan Francisco Palencia and Juan Pablo Garcia. Two other Mexicans look to make their presence known: centerback Claudio Suarez (the most-capped Mexican player in national team history) and breath of fresh air Francisco Mendoza who had a somewhat breakout season last year registering 2 goals and 6 assists. If Zotinca doesn’t perform at right back, second year Lawson Vaughn will surely take his place and get the job done. Other inter-team battles include goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Preston Burpo and also Maykel Galindo will fight for time with newcomer, English-born John Cunliffe. It will be interesting to see them face off against the expansion side Toronto FC tomorrow at home without Bornstein.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
GK: Brad Guzan
DR: Alex Zotinca
DC: Claudio Suarez
DC: Orlando Perez/Jason Hernandez
DL: Jonathan Bornstein
MR: Sacha Kljestan
MC: Jesse Marsch
MC: Amado Guevara
ML: Francisco Mendoza
FC: Ante Razov
FC: Maykel Galindo
Key Subs:
FC: John Cunliffe
GK: Preston Burpo
DF: Lawson Vaughn
F.C. Dallas
Players In
Juan Carlos Toja (Boca Juniors), Adrian Serioux (Toronto F.C.)
Players Out
Richard Mulrooney (Toronto F.C.), Greg Vanney (Colorado Rapids), Simo Valakari (released), Jeff Cassar (retired)
Blurb:
FC Dallas should not be this far down. Yes, their defense is somewhat weak. Yes, their attack makes up for all that. The truth is, Dallas just doesn't have luck and I am anticipating that. If some young'uns are given a chance you can bet you'll see baby-faced midfielder Dax McCarty, promising goalkeeper Ray Burse, Jr., and speedy Ghanaian forward and former Richmond Kicker future Dominic Oduro. Brown graduate Andrew Daniels might also get a run out every once in a while. Already, Dallas has taken a blow with Adrian Serioux being knocked out with injury until midsummer and left back Chris Gbandi out for the first couple games of the new season. New coach Steve Morrow looks to guide Dallas to their first MLS Cup this year, but call it instinct, I see a much different future this season for and the worst of it is, I can't really tell you why but if it happens I will take full credit for it. If the defense comes together, Dallas could finish as high as second. If not, Ruiz's goals can only avert failure. It will be interesting to see how Columbian Juan Carlos Toja fits into this mix. Shaka Hislop will be fighting for his position at keeper with last year's model of inconsistency Argentinian Dario Sala.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
GK: Dario Sala
DR: Bobby Rhine
DC: Adrian Serioux (yes, I know he is injured)
DC: Clarence Goodson
DL: Chris Gbandi (as is he, but David Wagenfuhr will fill in)
MR: Roberto Mina
MC: Ramon Nunez
MC: Juan Carlos Toja
MC: Arturo Alvarez
ML: Kenny Cooper
FC: Carlos Ruiz
Key Subs:
GK: Shaka Hislop
MF: Andrew Daniels
FC: Dominic Oduro
MF: Dax McCarty
DF: David Wagenfuhr
DF: Drew Moor
Real Salt Lake
Players In
Freddy Adu (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (D.C. United), Chris Lancos (Kaiserslautern), Jack Stewart (Chicago Fire), Luis Tejada (), Kyle Brown (New England Revolution)
Players Out
Scott Garlick (retired), Jay Nolly (Real Salt Lake)
Blurb:
There are a lot of question marks with John Ellinger’s Real Salt Lake this year. The first is goalkeeper, with the loss of Scott Garlick to retirement, first round pick Chris Seitz and oft-orphaned Nick Rimando look to have a bit of a Burpo/Guzan struggle this year. My guess is the poise and professionalism of Rimando allows Ellinger to make an easy decision. The back four is rather week and lacking much depth. Several midfielders, however, have played defense and probably will do so (Chris Brown, Nikolas Besagno, Kenny Cutler). Young’un Besagno should get more time this year even with the crowded midfield. Look for him to make a decent impact. Some preseason surprises might make an appearance or two early in the season: Cote D’Ivoire’s Jean-Martial Kipre and midfielder Steven Curfman. Several questions exist though: will Cunningham fade? Can Mehdi Ballouchy progress like Bornstein and Kljestan? Was Tejada even worth the signature (my guess is no)? It looks like Salt Lake is going to miss the cut yet again this season, unless a DP signing in the secondary transfer window proves the key.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUP
GK: Nick Rimando
DR: Jack Stewart/Chris Lancos
DC: Eddie Pope
DC: Daniel Torres
DL: Willis Forko
MR: Chris Klein
MC: Jason Kreis
MC: Mehdi Ballouchy
ML: Carey Talley
FC: Freddy Adu
FC: Jeff Cunningham
Key Subs:
GK: Chris Seitz
FC: Luis Tejada
MF: Jamie Watson
FC: Atiba Harris
MF: Andy Williams
MF: Nik Besagno
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