MLS 2009 Season Preview

After the first round of MLS matches and a chance to see most of the teams in action, including the MLS' newest franchise the Seattle Seahawks, I feel confident enough to pass on my thoughts about the newly started MLS campaign.

The preview will be split into conferences (East and West) with the teams in order of where I think they will finish in the table.

Eastern Conference

1. Columbus Crew



Key arrivals: None
Key departures: Evans (M), Manger Sigi Schmid.
Key player: Schelotto

Columbus have basically kept the same side together that won the Supporters Shield and the MLS Championship last year, in such convincing fashion. However there will be a new man at the helm after Schmid’s departure to manage the newly formed Seattle Sounders.

Columbus were generally strong in all areas last season; from a defence built around young colossus Chad Marshall, to a midfield boasting a mixture of grit, technical ability and out and out pace on the flanks provided by Gaven and Rogers, with a fluid attack orchestrated by the league’s most influential player Gullermo Baros Schelotto, Columbus look set to have a decent chance at defending their crown.

Something to look out for…….. The goal scoring threat of centre-back Marshall.

2. Chicago



Key arrivals: Husidic (M)
Key departures: Gutierrez (D), King (M)
Key player: Blanco.

It’s now or never for this Chicago team, purely for the reason that their two most influential players; Blanco and McBride are both reaching the final stages of their illustrious careers.
With one of the league’s sternest defences and a workmanlike midfield, supplemented by the attacking prowess of Blanco and McBride, the Fire will certainly be one of the toughest side to beat. And if they can supplement their great home form with some more results away they should be there at the death scrapping for honours.

Something to look out for…… it may sound simple, but an injury to McBride or Blanco especially, could make the Fire worth opposing, such is the standing each man has within the club.

3. Toronto FC



Key arrivals: Frei (GK) Serioux (D) Cronin (M) De Rosario (M) Vitti (F)
Key departures: Marshall (D) James (D)
Key player: Dwayne De Rosario

With the acquisitions of attacking players Vitti and De Rosario in addition to the likes of Guevara, Toronto fans look set for an exciting season. However it remains to be seen if Coach Carver can find a place for all his attacking weapons whilst still maintaining a balanced team. Personally I have reservations about Toronto defensively and they look set to continue to leak goals away from home.

Something to look out for…….. Strong home record in front of their vociferous home support and on their artificial pitch, generally shocking outside of Canada.


4. New England



Key arrivals: Alston (D), Vidiera (M).
Key departures: Parkurst (D) Smith (M) Cristman (F).
Key player: Ralston (M)

For the first season in a long time New England look to be vulnerable, with serious questions over this team’s ability to cope defensively and to score goals. The loss of Parkurst, widely considered to be the league’s best defender, will be extremely tough to deal with, and with his backup Badilla struggling to be fit the Revs look to have problems in this area. Up front New England look a little bit toothless, with Twellman struggling for fitness and form (he looked a shadow of his former self upon his comeback in the final months of the 08 campaign) and the talented Mensally simply too erratic to rely upon.

The Revolution look to be a team that’s past its peak, they’re unsure of their formation, they have significant gaps in their squad, and they are reliant on veteran players who have suffered their fair share of fitness problems in recent times. But that being said, in the past this team have found a way of getting it done.

Something to look out for…… with a potentially fragile defence and possible changes to their traditional 3-5-2 system New England could be the victims of a few early shocks.


5. Kansas City



Key arrivals: Besler (D), Hirsig (M), Cristman (F)
Key departures: Zavagnini (M), Marinelli (M).
Key player: Conrad.

Kansas look to be gradually building a capable side, with the off-season arrivals of Cristman adding more threat in attack and Hirsig proving that extra bit of creativity in midfield, it seems that they’ve supplemented their solid base pretty well.

Kansas play a pretty attractive brand of passing football, but might be considered a bit of a soft-touch away from their own stadium, simply struggling to make any impact on the road last term. Kansas have at times been a bit toothless up-front with the fairly lightweight pairing of Wolff and Lopez occasionally being bullied out of the game, the physical Cristman should add an extra dimension however.

Providing Kansas have a good run with injuries they should be there or thereabouts when it comes to making the playoffs, although they are unlikely to be a serious challenger for the overall title.

Something to look out for….the vital goals provided by skipper Jimmy Conrad, as well as being very tough to beat on their own patch.

6. DC United



Key arrivals: Jankovic (D) Gomez (M) Pontius (M)
Key departures: Peralta (D) Martinez (D) Guerrero (M)
Key player: Moreno

DC are a team that really don’t convince me this year. With an abundance of attacking riches and very little experience or solidity at the back or in defensive midfield, their fans look to be set for a rollercoaster ride of a season.

With the likes of Moreno and expert Emilio up front supplemented by the returning Gomez and others, DC should have no problems scoring goals, however a backline of Namoff, Burch, Janicki and Jankovic doesn’t convince, and they look a little lightweight in midfield.

Something to look out for….. This team should be good for high-scoring matches, and it’s worth following their early season progress with a view to back goals in their matches.

7. New York Red Bulls



Key arrivals: Petke (D) Smith (M) Oduro (F)
Key departures: Leitch (D) Jimenez (D) Clichero (D) Parke (D) Van Den Berg (M).
Key player: Angel (F)

Any team in this league with Juan Pablo Angel in it has a chance. It’s a shame his supporting cast are, in the main, not fit to lace his boots.

Manager Osorio has had a busy off-season, but I’m not totally convinced that was he has brought in is better than what he shipped out. The Red Bulls have gone with out and out pace this year, new singings Oduro and Smith alongside the winger Dane Richards means that the Red-Bulls have three of the quickest players in MLS, and whilst they are capable of electrifying performances all three are fairly erratic.

Allowing Van Den Bergh to leave to Dallas appears to be highly risky, and in all honesty likely to be a mistake, as the Dutchman provided so much quality service for Angel from the flanks and set-pieces, as well as general versatility, despite not being blessed with great pace.

In the main this New York team looks utterly mediocre, workmanlike at best, and given the balance of the squad I can only imagine that the Red Bulls will set themselves up as a counter attacking team, reliant on pace out wide and Angel to grab the goals. I’d be massively shocked if this team repeated their MLS Championship game appearance of last year.

Something to look out for…… New York are utterly reliant on Angel for goals, look to back him in any available goal scorer markets at reasonable prices.


WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Houston Dynamo


Key arrivals: Hall (G) James (D)
Key departures: Ianni (D) De Rosario (M), Jaqua (F)
Key player: Ching (F)

It’s pretty tough to imagine a Houston team without De Ro, however I think they’ll be just fine this year. They have a quality base of players and a balanced team, however they might lack that little bit of creativity l that De Rosario provided, despite his star arguably being on the wane.

The Dynamo are balanced, they have solid, technically sound professionals in all areas and are the hardest working and most mentally tough team in MLS. Defensively they look to be sound, and, providing youngster James fits into the system well, Houston look set to be as miserly as ever. However, upfront they look unlikely to rip teams apart, and with Kamara and Ching up front they are more likely to bully teams into submission than score beautiful goals. Despite this they still go into this season as favourites to win the MLS, and are sure to be there or thereabouts when it comes to the crunch.

Something to look out for…….. Low scoring games. Given their current playing staff Houston should be tough to beat and happy to grab a goal when they can at the other end. They are the masters of winning ugly and 1-0, 2-0 score lines should be commonplace this season.


2. Real Salt Lake


Key arrivals: Alexandre (M) Grabavoy (M)
Key departures: Sturgis (D) Kovalenko (M) Espindola (F) Deuchar (F)
Key player: Morales

Salt Lake look to be one of the most settled teams in MLS, and despite a few departures they’ve retained the core of the team that pushed them to a respectable finish last term. Manager Kreis is beginning to mould Real into a very decent team, hard working, aggressive, speedy, and technically gifted throughout with a classic playmaker, Morales, controlling the game and building pressure.

The one question that Salt Lake have to answer is where the goals are going to come from. Both Findley and Movsisyan are capable players, Findley especially can cause opposing defences absolute nightmares with his searing pace, however neither is a clinical finisher.

Something to look out for……  Salt Lake to make their new stadium the same sort of fortress that Rice-Eccles was last season.

3. Seattle



Key arrivals: Keller (G), Hurtado (D), Ianni (D), Evans (M), Ljungberg (M), Le Toux (M), Montero (F), Jaqua (F)
Key departures: Smith (M)
Key player: Montero

Writing this having already seen Montreal’s MLS debut I have to say that I’m hugely impressed with this team and the club in general. 32,000 saw Montreal smash the Red Bulls 3-0 in their opening fixture, a hugely vociferous crowd inspiring their team to some exhilarating attacking football, supplemented by dogged defensive work.

For a side playing their first competitive game Montreal were extremely potent going forward with their attacking duo Jacqua on Montero having seemingly built up a great understanding and constantly threatening the New York back line. Whilst the pace of Nyassi on the wing terrorised the Red Bulls left-back, there was only one star of the show Freddie Montero. The young Columbian international looked a class apart and provided one of the most dynamic performances ever seen on an MLS field, with one assist, two expertly taken goals, and a number of brilliant touches, he looks destined for great things.

Time will tell but I really like what I’ve seen of this team. Of course it will be difficult to reproduce the intensity of performance away from their inspirational home fans, but even at this early stage I’m willing to speculate that Montreal could be the most successful expansion team in years.

Something to look out for…… an intense atmosphere and a willingness to play attacking football should see plenty of goals in their home games.  Columbian striker Freddie Montero also looks set to take MLS by storm.


4. Colorado



Key arrivals: Pickens (G), Guerrero (D/M), Harden (D), Palguta (D)
Key departures: Coundoul (G), Erpen (D), Petke (D), Burciaga Jr. (D), Gomez (M), McManus (F)
Key player: Casey (F)

I expect a lot from Colorado at the start of every season, and whilst often showing early promise they generally fail to deliver.  On paper they look to have a strong squad, and have recruited well in the off-season. The Rapids should be an effective, athletic, hard-working team, with tight defence and generally be very difficult to beat. However they do look a bit short of goals, and will be heavily reliant on target man Casey staying fit to lead the line.

Something to look out for……..a fairly conservative approach away from home should see them pick up plenty of draws on the road.


5. Chivas USA



Key arrivals: Jazic (D), Lahoud (M), Lillingston (F)
Key departures: Suarez (D), Zotinca (D), Wicky (M), Mendoza (M), Nurse (F)
Key player: Kljestan (M)

Chivas look pretty weak this year, and will rely hugely on keeping their first XI fit and injury free if they are going to make the play-offs, as to be frank the backup just isn’t good enough.

Chivas play a nice passing game and are always good to watch, although they are fairly lightweight away from home, and struggle immensely to score on the road. However, providing they keep the likes of Kljestan (probably the best all-around midfielder in MLS), Razov, and Galindo healthy then they should still have enough quality to challenge for a playoff place.

Something to look out for …. Chivas’ injury news and team selection, as the loss of just a few key players could leave this team in dire straits.

6. San Jose



Key arrivals: Leitch (D), Convey (M), Amarikwa (F), Campos (F), Weaver (F)
Key departures: Riley (D), Lima (M), O'Brien (M), Sealy (F)
Key player: Convey

Tough to know what to expect from San Jose in their second season back in MLS, however whilst this team has the potential to make the playoffs it’s tough to know where the goals are going to come from, with totally untested players making up their striking ranks.

Defensively they’re solid, and backed up by a very good goalkeeper in Joe Canon they should prove fairly tough to break down, especially at home. They also look to pose a huge threat out-wide with Convey and Huckerby, but it remains to be seen if someone can step up and score the goals that will send them to the playoffs.

Something to look out for…….  This team should prove incredibly tough to beat at their compact home ground in front of a fantastic group of supporters, away from home they are nowhere near as potent.


7. FC Dallas



Key arrivals: Torres (D), Purdy (D), van den Bergh (M), Ferreira (M)
Key departures: Davino (D), Adrian Serioux (D), Sikora (M), Oduro (F)
Key player: Ricchetti (M)

It’s tough to tell where this team is going, and I certainly can’t make a confident prediction. Whilst there has been confident words coming out of Dallas’ training camp this week and team spirit seems to be high, on paper this squad looks pretty weak defensively.

With the likes of Cooper, Van den Bergh and Richetti in the team Dallas will certainly have some quality, however the rest of the side has much to prove and I’ll take a lot of convincing before I could follow this side with any confidence.

Something to look out for…… the goals of Kenny Cooper, as always Dallas will be reliant of the former Manchester United youngster to lift an average team and get them the goals they need.

8. Los Angeles


Key arrivals: Ricketts (G), DeLaGarza (D), Dunivant (D), Gonzalez (D), Sanneh (D), Kovalenko (M), Miglioranzi (M), Magee (F), Kirovski (F)
Key departures: Cronin (G), Jazic (D), Randolph (D), Vanney (D), McDonald (M), Vagenas (M)
Key player: Landon Donovan (M/F)

Things can only get better for the Galaxy after the shambles of last season (in all honesty I have never seen a more poorly organised professional outfit). In the off-season experienced coach Arena went for solid but unspectacular, and whilst under his guidance this team should at least attain a degree of respectability and not play like the Harlem Globetrotters, I don’t think he has enough talent on his playing staff to get anywhere near the play-offs this year.

Something to look out for…… expect LA to be tighter defensively this year, as Arena simply won’t stand for the end to end football that categorised every Galaxy game last year.

Ross Mckeown