I'm working on a early season [airquotes]preview[/airquotes], but the season just wrapped up its second week. Edson Buddle is the early story with three goals in two LA Galaxy victories. Of course, the biggest story of the season is that there is a season. To summarize the off-season, there were huge labor issues leading to the players threatening a strike. This of course lead to a few desperate concessions by the MLS Owners who realized that MLS would probably end if the strike actually happened, and it would be their fault. With that now out of the way and players' salaries improving, the season began last week without a hitch. That is unless you're a fan of the new franchise, the Philadelphia Union. PU became MLS' 16th franchise and many had hopes for another brilliant debut season for the new club, much like Seattle Sounders FC had. Unfortunately, they were more like San Jose's reintroduction to the league. For those of you who don't remember, and since this is MLS we're talking about that's probably all of you, they blew...hard. Where Seattle picked up established players and young stars, Philadelphia stockpiled draft picks and ended up with 5 rookies on the roster. One good thing for Philadelphia is that MLS has now expanded the designated player program to 2 with an option to buy a third slot. The DP program has brought in players like Juan Pablo Angel, David Beckham, Luis Angel Landin (whoops), Julian De Guzman, and Chuatemoc Blanco. This could add some spice to the league as teams look to bring in some upper level talent to score goals and ticket sales. New York Red Bulls in particular have been heavy in the rumor department with an unlikely addition of Real Madrid's Raul, while a Theirry Henry move seems to be quite likely as his contract winds down with Barcelona. Another big thing to note is that the unbalanced schedule is gone. Each MLS team will play each other home and away for a simple 30 match schedule. This makes both the playoff format and the Supporters' Shield more logical. I'll endeavor to keep this updated at least somewhat regularly through the season. And I'll have my season [airquotes]preview[/airquotes] up at some point as well.
As we start week 2 of the MLS season, I figure now is as good as time as any for a [airquotes]pre[/airquotes]season [airquotes]pre[/airquotes]view. And now...on to the [airquotes]pre[/airquotes]view starting with the Eastern Conference in alphabetical order: Chicago Fire Out - Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Chris Rolfe (Aalborg), Gonzalo Segares (Apollon Limassol), John Busch (waved) In - Collins John (free transfer), Krzysztof Krol (loan, Jagiellonia Bialystok), Julio Martinez (loan, Leon), Andrew Dykstra Draft - Corben Bone, Sean Johnson, Steven Kinney, Kwame Watson-Siriboe The Fire were a dangerous team last year with a steady Segares in the back and a brilliant Blanco playing behind the also departed Rolfe and Brian McBride. Those three will be severely missed, especially Blanco and Rolfe who were really firing together by the end of the season. To help fill in the loss in goals, the once promising Collins John is hoping to return to the form that he found with Fulham when he scored 11 goals in the Premiership playing next to McBride. There is also hope that Justin Mapp will return to form, but we've been waiting for that for a few seasons now, so don't hold your breath. The shocking trimming of the Busch will also be a story going forward for Chicago. Andrew Dykstra and Sean Johnson are the two keepers Chicago has and they've played a grand total of zero MLS matches. Rookie keepers typically struggle in MLS and it gets worse when rookies are in defense in front of them as will be necessitated by the loss of Segares. Krol and Watson-Siriboe will fill out the starting back four with Tim Ward and Dasan Robinson. Outlook: There are significant loses from the off-season that are creating huge ifs for the Fire. If Dykstra can be strong in goal...if Watson-Siriboe can avoid rookie struggles...if Mapp can find some form in attack...if John can score goals, then the Fire can do well. That's asking for a lot, but Patrick Nyarko, Marcelo Pappa, and McBride will keep the Fire respectable and in the play-off hunt. What to watch for: There are rumblings of Blanco returning on loan when the Mexico season ends. If that happens, the Fire will be a playoff team. Columbus Crew Out - Alejandro Moreno (Philadelpha Union) In - Sergio Herrera (free, Deportivo Cali) Draft - Dilly Duka, Bright Dike, Kwaku Myamekye, Othaniel Yanez, Shaun Francis Columbus won the MLS Cup two seasons ago and were favorites going into the post season last year. The midfield attacking trio of Eddie Gaven, Robbie Rogers, and Guillermo Barros Schelotto are likely the best attacking midfield in MLS. However, the Crew ran into problems last season becasue they relied too heavily on those three for goals. Schelotto led the team with 12, while Gaven was second with 12. Jason Garey and Steven Lenhart will need to find more consistency from the form that had them score 4 and 3 goals respectively last season. Herrera has been an effective goal scorer all over the world in his career and there are hopes that the 28-year-old will flourish in MLS with service from Schelotto. As with all good teams in any sport, defense is a strength for the Crew with Chad Marshall as the anchor. Eric Brunner is likely to start next to Marshall in central defense, while the young Englishman Andy Iro is large in size and potential. Frankie Hejduk will control the right, while Argentine Gino Padua looks to add to the attack from the left. The draft picks don't seem likely to contribute as Duka will spend a year or two as understudy to Schelotto (and who better in MLS to learn the pro game from), while Bright Dike failed to make the team and was widely panned as an awful selection at 12th over all. Outlook: The Crew are clearly among the favorites for a return to the MLS Cup and to lift the trophy in Toronto. What to watch for: With Schelotto on a cheaper deal and Moreno gone, the Crew have both DP slots available, but can win a championship without filling either. DC United Out - Ben Olsen (retired), Luciano Emilio (free transfer, Rio Branco), Fred (trade - Philadelphia Union), Christian Gomez (free transfer), Danny Szetela (waved) In - Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Danny Allsopp (free, Melbourne Victory), Christian Castillo (loan, Leon), Adam Cristman (Kansas City) Draft - Jordan Graye A lot went wrong for DC United last season, the former flagship of the MLS missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. Emilio couldn't find the back of the net, and has gone. Olsen was the heart and soul of DC for years, but struggled to stay on the pitch of late due to ankle injuries. Despite the struggles, there were a few bright spots. Jaime Moreno, member of the MLS Centruy Club, scored 9 goals and transitioned smoothly into a substitute role. Chris Pontius was a surprise for the team and received a call up to train with the National Team during the off-season. Santino Quaranta has refound the form that put him on the track for a World Cup appearance before a drug addiction nearly derailed his career (and his life). Rodney Wallace was another strong rookie playing at left back and making a team high 25 starts. United will be needing some serious grit and determination to make up for the loss of Olsen and there are hopes that Allsopp can fill in with those inspirational efforts and provide the goal scoring that Emilio failed to last season. Outlook: Its not looking good for DC. Two games in and two flat performances have fans wondering what happened to this team. What to look for: Not much really. Allsopp could be a strong goal scorer in MLS, but DC United lacks players to provide service. Kansas City Wizards Out - Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas), Claudio Lopez (Colorado), Adam Cristman (DC United), Lance Watson, Herculez Gomez (free, Puebla) In - Jimmy Neilson (free transfer, Aalborg), Craig Rocastle (Forrest Green Rovers), Ryan Smith (Crystal Palace), Birahim Diop (Senegal), Stephane Auvray (Nimes Olympique), Igor Kostrov (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Sunil Chhetry (Dempo SC) Draft - Teal Bunbury, Olukorede Aiyegbusi, Ofori Sarkodie Gomez out on a free? Whoops. That could be a significant story line for the Wizards who never let Herculez play forward and is now watching him score like it was his job for Puebla in Mexico. Where are the goals goingto come from for Kansas City? Josh Wolff scored a career high 11 last season, but that ended up being one third of the total goals scored for the Wizards. Zoltan Hercegfalvi hasn't panned out as MLS fans had hoped since joining from Hungary and is out for 5 to 8 months with a torn ACL. Kei Kamara has yet to become a reliable goal scorer or show signs of becoming one in his three MLS seasons. That leaves Canadian rookie Teal Burnbury who lead NCAA in goals last season and Sunil Chhetri, the Indian new comer could see serious playing time this season if Kamara can't produce. Burnbury would be a good story to watch as his father played for the Wizards in 1999 and 2000. Davy Arnaud is a strong veteran attacker in MLS, but seems to lack targets with this roster. Defense could be the strength for the Wizards with Jimmy Neilson in goal and Jimmy Conrad as captain in central defense. Conrad is among the best personalities in MLS and all of US Soccer and has found himself on the fringe of the US national roster for 2010 qualifying, after playing in two games in the 06 World Cup. Chance Myers played well last season as a rookie and will hope to build on that this season. Colombian Pablo Andres Escobar joins on loan from Cali and should be starting next to Conrad in central defense. The midfield is respectable, but this will be a rough season for Kansas City. Jack Jewsburry is becoming a solid MLS player, while Roger Espinoza has become a strong player for both MLS and Honduras. A lot needs to go well for the Wizards to make the playoffs this season. There simply is not enough talent on this roster to make this team one to watch this season. Outlook: Its tough to win when you're not sure where goals are coming from. If Kemara can step up, the Wizards could be productive, but its doubtful. What to watch for: There's a lot to ask for the underwhelming Kemara and the unproven Chhetry and Burnbury. If one of those three can get it going and Wolff and Arnaud continue to play well, Kansas City could sneak into the back end of the playoffs. New England Revolution Out - Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado), Wells Thompson (Colorado), Jay Heaps (retired), Steve Ralston (St. Louis D2), Chris Albright (New York), Gabriel Badilla (free) In - Preston Burpo (trade, Colorado), Cory Gibbs (trade, Colorado), Marko Perovic (free, FC Basel), Khano Smith (free, Lincoln City), Joseph Niouky (Port Autonome, Senegal) Draft - Zach Schilawski, Seth Sinovic, Zak Boggs, Jason Griffiths, Adam Welch As usual, Steve Nicol and the New England Revolution ended 2009 in the playoffs, for the 8th straight time. What is unusual, is that this team is currently built for defense, more than attacking. The back line of Kevin Alston, Emanuel Osei (who wears the shortest shorts in American sports), Darrius Barnes, and Jay Heaps was brilliant last season in front of one of the top keepers in MLS in Matt Reis. Heaps has retired and Reis is injured to start the season. Without a veteran presence in the back, a deal was made with Colorado to add Cory Gibbs, a versitile 30 year old defender who has 19 caps to his name for the United States. He'll start next to Barnes centrally with Alston returning to left back after a couple of looks in US National Team Camp over the winter. Seth Sinovic has been starting at right back, but Gibbs and Osei are also likely to see time there this season. Shalrie Joseph will anchor the midfield and the team. Joseph is far and away the top defensive midfielder in MLS and the Grenada international ranks with Donovan and Beckham as the league's top players. Last season was difficult for Joseph as he frequently found himself playing an attacking role in midfield or even as a striker. Larentowicz' emergence helped make it easy for the talented Joseph to get forward, but the Dred and Red midfield will still exist, despite Larentowicz being dealt. Pat Phelan looks to be a strong competitor for the spot next to Joseph in midfield. While he doesn't provide the bite of Larentowicz, he is a suerpior passer. Niouky and Osei are also defensive midfield options. Forward is a huge question mark for the Revolution. Taylor Twellman is in the MLS Century Club and is always a threat to lead the league in scoring when he's playing, but he has been missing loads of time with a neck injury and a concussion that he picked up in 2008. Schilawski will need to produce as a rookie along with Sainey Nyassi from right wing and Kenny Mansally at forward. Mansally has already won player of the week once for his two goal effort as a sub against DC United. Kheli Dube and Edgaras Jankauskas did not show much last season, but will need to put some balls in the back of the net this season for the Revs. This will be the third year in a row that most will predict the end of the Revolution's playoff streak. There's a lot missing from the old teams as Shalrie Joseph is the only remaining part of the core, however Joseph is such a force in MLS that his team can never be counted out. With Steve Nicol calling the shots, there will be talent available and in the right places. With the defense this team has in place, they cannot be counted out of the playoffs and will be competing all season long. Outlook: After watching their 2-0 and 4-1 wins over the last two weeks, its clear that there's immense talent on this team. A very strong defense means that this team will always be in the game. What to watch for: If a forward starts scoring goals, and they got a hat trick from Schilawski today, they'll be very dangerous. As it is, I think the defense will be enough to put them in the playoffs. New York Red Bulls Out - Ernst Oebster (free), Walter Garcia (free), Albert Celades (retired), Leo Krupnik (free, Maccabi Netanya), Jorge Rojas (free, Deportivo Tachira), Danny Cepero (free), Carlos Johnson (free, Once Caldas) In - Roy Miller (Rosenborg), Chris Albright (trade, New England), Carl Robinson (trade, Toronto), Joel Lindpere (Tromso), Greg Sutton (free), Ibrahim Salou (Vejle), Juan Agudelo (academy) Draft - Tony Tchani, Austin da Luz, Tim Ream, Connor Chinn, Irving Garcia As one would expect, when there are that many changes to the roster, last season was a bad one for the Red Bulls. The defense was poor and the offense was only marginally better. The back four returns just one starter in veteran Mike Petke. He'll start the year with rookie Tim Ream, who by all accounts is a serious Rookie of the Year candidate. Roy Miller will start on the left, while Chris Albright is a steady veteran on the right, when healthy. If not, Jeremy Hall will be there and will provide a serious attacking threat with considerable speed from that position. The 25-year-old Miller is a huge pick up for New York as he played both of the final qualifiers in the play-in series for Costa Rica against Uruguay. Youth abounds in midfield where da Luz could start and Tchani was widely regarded as one of the most ready players in the MLS draft. Overall, midfield is a question mark unless Lindpere can prove to be an effective MLS player, able to hold possession and link to the forwards. Up top, Juan Pablo Angel and Macoumba Kandji are a very dangerous duo where Angel can lead the league in scoring and the 6'4" Kandji is poised for a breakout season. Overall, this team should be much improved over last season's disaster. Of course, being better than disasterous isn't much to write home about. There is a great deal of potential, but relying on two rookies and a new comer in central defense and midfield is not always the best way to go. Still, the potential is great as Juan Agudelo could be the first academy player to make a name for himself in MLS as he showed well with Estudiantes while on trial in Argentina. And, if the Theirry Henry rumors are true, he can pair with Angel to turn just about any match into a two-way goalfest. Outlook: Its looking pretty good for New York thus far. The talent level is much higher than last year. If Henry joins, they could become an MLS Cup contender. As it is, playoffs are looking pretty good. What to watch for: Macoumba Kandji could be a break-out star. At 6'4", he's always a threat in the box and with Juan Pablo Angel around to draw defenders away from him, Kandji should have plenty of opportunity to score goals. Philadelphia Union Draft - Danny Mwanga, Amobi Okugo, Jack McInerney, Toni Stahl, Kyle Nakazawa, Brian Perk Philadelphia are an expansion team and are very much not in the mold of last season's highly successful Seattle Sounders. The highlights on the roster are few and the holes are many for a team that will be hoping to develop some future MLS stars and compete within a couple of seasons. Danny Califf and Michael Orozco are one of the few MLS pairs that can both boast USMNT caps and keeper Chris Seitz has immense potential and should respond to the frequent testing he'll receive this season. In midfield, Fred and Stefani Miglioranzi are solid, but unspectacular MLS players. Miglioranzi will be counted on to provide possession and a smooth veteran presence, while Fred will be trying to lprovide for the forwards from the left. The forwards are where those problems being. Sebastien LeToux couldn't find time with Seattle last season, Alejandro Moreno has a strong record but is getting up there in years, and McInerney and Mwanga are rookies and ought not be relied upon based on MLS history, particularly considering their youth at 17 and 18 respectively. Shea Salinas is a quick winger, but hasn't proven to be a steady player through his young career. Toni Stahl is off to a rough start as he made it through 25 minutes before being sent off in the season opener. Its going to be a long year for Philadelphia as they arrive in MLS. There's not much hope for this year in what will be a building year for a young team. Orozco and Califf could keep them in contention in most matches, but there's a lot to wonder about. Where are the goals going to come from? How horribly overrun will this team be on the wings? Philly fans will be hoping for Mwanga, Stahl and Okugo to see some time and develop into future MLS stars. Outlook: Its bleak to say the least. Philadelphia will struggle all season long. What to watch for: If the kids learn to play the game at the professional level over the course of the season, they could be that team no one wants to play by the end of the MLS season. Toronto FC In - Jacob Peterson (trade, Colorado), Ty Harden (trade, Colorado), Nick LaBrocca (trade, Colorado), Martin Saric (free), Jon Conway (free), Dan Gargan (free), Milos Kocic (free), Raivis Hscanovics (free) Out - Amado Guevara (free), Pablo Vitti (loan expired), Lesly Fellinga (free), Carl Robinson (trade, New York), Adrian Serioux (trade, Houston), Marvell Wynne (trade, Colorado), Brian Edwards (waived), Ali Gerba (waived), Jim Brennan (retired) Draft - Zachary Herold, Nane Joseph Its looking like another rough year for Toronto FC. To start with the good, Julian de Guzman and Sam Cronin are a pretty strong duo in central midfield and Dwayne DeRosario continues to be among the top attacking players in MLS. Nick Garcia and Ty Harden are strong, but unspectacular defenders. Stefan Frei in goal is a very strong prospect who could feature for Switzerland in the future. That's really about it for Toronto who probably won't be a factor again this season. Goal scoring seems no where to be found as Ali Gerba was supposed to be the guy, but he sulked and lazily sauntered his way out in the preseason. O'Brian White and Fuad Ibrahim are young prospects who should prove to be in continued development by the end of the season. Chad Barrett has never been an MLS goal scorer and doesn't look to be starting threatening keepers now. With all the moves Mo Johnston makes, you'd think Toronto would be good at some point. It just hasn't happened yet and I'm not sure if/when it will at the rate he's going. There is talent there, but there is just zero goal scoring other than DeRosario. TFC could use a designated player to get some goals at forward, but I haven't really heard much anything to believe one is eminent. Outlook: If you don't have forwards and your defense is poor, it doesn't really matter who is in your midfield, you're going to struggle. Even with a DP forward to bag some goals, they're a poor team. What to watch for: With ownership looking for improvement, heads could roll and Trader Mo could be packing his bags.
This may be worth a sticky. Not sure when I'll get to the western assessment, but its probably coming in May or June. As for the latest MLS news, Shalrie Joseph has checked into rehab. If Joseph was American (according to FIFA), you'd know him as the leading candidate to start next to Michael Bradley at the World Cup. Since he's representing Grenada, you probably don't know him unless you follow MLS. Joseph is, in my opinion, the best midfielder in the league and its not close. And yes, that assessment would include a healthy Beckham if there was such a thing.
