Will FC Dallas lastly be rewarded for doing issues the suitable manner? Can Seattle replicate its outstanding 2016 run? And can Minnesota United be caught within the cellar from begin to end?
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
March 03, 2017
10:00 AM
SHARE THIS STORY
AS I EXPLAINED in my Jap Convention preview, little can go proper when making season predictions for Main League Soccer. Commissioner Don Garber’s fervent perception in the advantages of parity usually ends in groups performing nicely one yr solely to fail miserably the subsequent.
The Western Convention has had quite a lot of turnover and groups that shocked in 2016, like Colorado and Seattle, can have heightened expectations. However I believe FC Dallas will prevail this season since Oscar Pareja has constructed a gold-standard group revolving round youth and extremely competent central defenders and holding midfielders. It’s laborious to argue with this good strategy. Here is how I see the Western Convention taking part in out.
1. FC Dallas
Even with Mauro Diaz out till the center of the season, FC Dallas ought to nonetheless be excellent this yr. That’s the good thing about constructing the group round good goalkeeping and two excellent central defenders in Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman. The fullback scenario is best than it was final season and the holding midfielders, Carlos Gurezo and Kellyn Acosta, can be an enormous enhance to the possession recreation.
The very best youth pipeline in the USA ought to proceed to provide and Javier Morales will hold this group going robust till Diaz returns. Right here’s hoping that followers in Dallas prove to observe the league’s best-run group. The franchise deserves help.
2. Seattle Sounders
The Seattle Sounders endured a woeful first half of the season however rallied mightily—with out Clint Dempsey—and located a option to win MLS Cup regardless of being outplayed by Toronto n the ultimate. Jordan Morris blossomed within the second half of the season and Nicolas Lodeiro established himself because the league’s greatest participant quickly after arriving in July.
Lodeiro and Morris can be able to go at first of the season and the group added precious parts to help in depth with Will Bruin and Harry Shipp. It’s a younger group, and a gifted one. Brian Schmetzer will now be in his first full yr as head coach however as Leicester Metropolis’s Claudio Raneiri taught us, following up a magical run may be tough.
Happily, MLS is forgiving and the return of Dempsey can solely be a bonus. Many groups within the Western Convention are going through vital questions so it’s not like there are various established groups chasing the champions.
3. Los Angeles Galaxy
A brand-new period is about to start in Southern California—minus Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon, A.J. DeLaGarza, Steven Gerrard, and most significantly, Bruce Enviornment.
However new coach Curt Onalfo can have quite a lot of expertise to work with and he’ll get an opportunity to place his stamp on the league’s marquee franchise. The assault can be boosted by the arrival of Romain Alessandrini who will be a part of Giovani Dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget, and Gyasi Zardes within the closing third. That core ought to be capable to put up stable numbers.
Jermaine Jones can be a wild-card within the midfield. At 35, the long-time U.S. nationwide group veteran can nonetheless play at excessive stage…though it’s only a matter of time earlier than the wheels ultimately fall off the wagon. If Jones is enthusiastic and embraces the Galaxy, will probably be an enormous enhance. If he’s sad, the scenario might get messy.
4. Sporting Kansas Metropolis
In a convention with a lot change, Sporting Kansas Metropolis will function many acquainted faces—Dom Dwyer, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, and Benny Feilhaber. Final yr the group misplaced within the first spherical of the playoffs to Seattle however really performed fairly nicely regardless of bowing out.
The acquisition of designated participant Gerso Fernandes is encouraging, and if he can put up numbers Kansas Metropolis might contend for a a lot increased playoff place. This group, nevertheless, has a powerful veteran presence and is hard to beat at dwelling. That alone ought to get it into the playoffs.
A giant query mark is whether or not Peter Vermes can get U.S. U-20 captain Erik Palmer-Brown into the beginning lineup. The central defender is within the closing yr of his contract and can have European suitors sniffing round because the season progresses.
5. Portland Timbers
That is the toughest group to foretell in Main League Soccer. Caleb Porter’s squad gained MLS Cup in 2015 after which did not make the playoffs in 2016 after going winless on the highway. In 2017, this group might both wrestle or be among the many greatest. My greatest guess is that they end someplace in between.
Not like FC Dallas, which has constructed the group from the backline ahead, Portland has an attack-minded basis. Sadly, it hasn’t accomplished the duty and the protection doesn’t look nice at first of the season.
The assault, nevertheless, may very well be particular. Argentine ahead Sebastian Blanco and Costa Rican midfielder David Guzman are each established gamers of their prime. Collectively they are going to be a part of Diego Valeri, U.S. worldwide Darlington Nagbe, and Fanendo Adi, who might very nicely win the Golden Boot this yr.
That stated, this group could have to win quite a lot of 5-4 contests if the backline does not step up.
6. Actual Salt Lake
That is going to be a transitional yr for Actual Salt Lake. The group goes to want manufacturing from its younger gamers in addition to hope that getting old U.S. internationals Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando nonetheless have one thing left within the tank.
Newly acquired designated participant Albert Rusnak matches the mildew of how the league goes—he’s younger and attack-oriented—and he has huge sneakers to fill in changing veteran Javier Morales. If RSL is to prosper United States U-20 attackers Sebastian Saucedo and Brooks Lennon might want to lastly transition into first-team soccer and Justen Glad can’t have a sophomore droop. Different younger gamers like Jordan Allen should proceed to progress.
It’s all about how nicely youthful gamers can increase their video games in 2017. If they’ll handle to take action, Actual Salt Lake may very well be in good condition. If not? It’d very nicely price Jeff Cassar his job.
7. Colorado Rapids
Final yr Colorado was the most important shock in MLS. Actually, I predicted Pablo Mastroeni’s group to complete lifeless final within the West. The group clearly proved me flawed. This yr, Colorado is not going to shock anybody and there was not a lot turnover within the offseason. Midfielder Bismark Adjei-Boateng joins the membership from Stromgodset (on mortgage from Manchester Metropolis) however how a lot of an affect he could make in MLS stays to be seen.
However the protection needs to be stingy and goalkeeper Tim Howard can bail out defensive lapses. It will likely be a boring group to observe and it could be an excessive amount of to count on that Colorado will match its 2016 success however the playoffs are actually inside attain.
8. Vancouver Whitecaps
The Whitecaps fell aside final yr and joined Portland and Columbus because the league’s most disappointing franchises. Even with the acquisition of Fredy Montero, it’s laborious to see that a lot enchancment from a group that conceded 52 objectives final yr.
Newly signed Yordy Reyna was anticipated to exchange Pedro Morales however his current foot harm will sideline him till the summer season and that’s going to harm the group’s capabilities within the midfield. The group can rating objectives however there are too many holes proper now to see this group reaching the postseason.
9. San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose has been out of the playoffs since 2012 and there isn’t any cause to consider it would enhance on its disappointing 2016 season, when it completed in ninth place. Dom Kinnear continues to be over-reliant on Chris Wondolowski, and whereas the veteran ahead has been among the finest goal-scorers in league historical past, he’s beginning to decelerate.
This group goes to attempt to grind out wins and it gained’t be enjoyable to observe. There are sufficient veterans right here with expertise to be respectable however the actual hope is that thrilling children like Tommy Thompson can lastly contribute regularly and rookie Jackson Yueill can see minutes to open up the offense.
10. Houston Dynamo
After a last-place end and a training mess, the Dynamo are attempting to rebuild below new boss Wilmer Cabrera. The group will function a heavy Latin taste below Cabrera and newly acquired gamers like Honduran midfielder Alberth Elis and Colombian midfielder Juan David Cabezas.
However for Houston to have any type of success this yr it would want the veterans to have profession years. Cubo Torres should be close to the highest of the league in scoring and A.J. DeLaGarza should be an anchor within the backline. That is lots to ask.
11. Minnesota United
Not like Atlanta United, Minnesota has not made a lot of a splash within the buildup to its inaugural season and will struggling in 2017.
Minnesota is letting the roster experience with gamers from its NASL group persevering with on—most notably Christian Ramirez and Miguel Ibarra (a one-time Jurgen Klinsmann venture). Kevin Molino, who performed nicely with Orlando final yr, should be an anchor within the midfield.
Is Josh Gatt absolutely recovered from his three main knee accidents in Norway? He higher be as a result of he may very well be wanted on the wing to supply velocity and offense.
Not like many earlier enlargement groups, Minnesota lacks a high-caliber designated participant to be a difference-maker. That may not be a foul thought if it needs to put the groundwork first and be affected person. However in consequence, it’s laborious to see this group staying out of the Western Convention cellar.
