The Pacific Northwest boasts three of the best-supported golf equipment in Main League Soccer. There’s some fairly good expertise enjoying for these three groups too. This is our tackle an All-Cascadia Greatest XI.
ASN Slideshow
BY
Liviu Chook
Posted
March 13, 2013
11:17 PM
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Editor’s word: See all 11 gamers in motion with our slideshow, at proper.WITH THE CASCADIA CUP kicking off its 2013 version on Saturday, one other season of debate and battle among the many three Pacific Northwest Main League Soccer groups can start. To assist fire up some dialogue, we have now put collectively an All-Cascadia Greatest XI.
One good sport just isn’t sufficient to earn a spot on this crew, so Sounders FC defender DeAndre Yedlin and Whitecaps midfielder Kekuta Manneh usually are not eligible. Not but. The one new signing on this checklist, Diego Valeri, has confirmed his price rapidly.
Past choosing out one of the best 11 people from the Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, and Seattle Sounders FC, this checklist additionally reveals the place the power of every crew lies on the pitch. Vancouver is strongest within the again, Portland in its playmakers, and Seattle out large and at ahead.
It additionally reveals their weaknesses.
With out Osvaldo Alonso and Michael Gspurning, the Sounders can be badly uncovered within the again. Portland already has been a couple of instances this season, whereas Vancouver has seen a number of attacking probabilities go begging due to ending issues.
In fact, a number of gamers might slot in a number of positions in a Cascadia XI—however the concept right here is to debate, not pigeonhole. So check out this checklist, and inform us the place we went proper, the place we went improper, and whom you’d placed on the sphere.
GOALKEEPER
Michael Gspurning (Seattle Sounders FC)
Of the three beginning Cascadia goalkeepers (maybe 4 when you take into account the back-and-forth in Vancouver between Joe Cannon and Brad Knighton), Michael Gspurning is probably the most constant performer. Particularly within the 2012 MLS Playoffs, his skill carried Seattle so far as it went, supremely evident in an awesome goalkeeping duel with Actual Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando within the Convention Semifinals.
DEFENDERS
Alain Rochat (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Alain Rochat performed typically within the midfield for Vancouver final season, however a transfer to exterior again has seen him have extra of an affect within the attacking third on this younger 2013 season. Each Vancouver and Portland like their exterior backs to assault, however the Whitecaps gamers have had extra of an affect up to now.
Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Despite the fact that he’s injured, Jay DeMerit continues to be possible one of the best heart again within the northern I-5 hall. The Whitecaps have been within the playoff match final 12 months with the Los Angeles Galaxy till DeMerit needed to go away with an damage—at which level all of it fell aside.
Andy O’Brien (Vancouver Whitecaps)
An enormous a part of the explanation Vancouver received’t crumble once more with out DeMerit is Andy O’Brien’s expertise proper subsequent to DeMerit’s regular place. O’Brien’s veteran presence has a relaxing impact on the center of the Whitecaps protection, and he’ll proceed to guide whereas DeMerit is out and Brad Rusin will get his bearings in MLS.
Lee Younger-Pyo (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Rounding out an all-Vancouver again 4 is the ageless Lee Younger-Pyo, who at 35 is coming into the final 12 months of his contract and can possible retire on the finish of the season. Within the meantime, Lee will proceed bombing down the correct flank for the Whitecaps, inflicting opponents extra hassle in assault than a number of wingers.
MIDFIELDERS
Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC)
Particularly with exterior backs who wish to get ahead, a holding midfielder who can sweep up in entrance of the middle backs is important, and Osvaldo Alonso supplies simply that. It’s largely resulting from his and Michael Gspurning’s presence that the Sounders get away with pedestrian defending at instances. The MLS Greatest XI midfielder is one of the best ball-winner within the league, and his take-no-prisoners method additionally makes him an awesome chief.
Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)
Caleb Porter has taken to utilizing Darlington Nagbe as a large midfielder, however he can even play within the center. He tends to float centrally to create most of his alternatives anyway, and his skill on the ball mixed with lethal ending from distance offers him probably the most harmful ability units at this place within the league. Nagbe is at the moment a Liberian citizen, but when he will get his American citizenship, he’s primed for a U.S. look.
Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
Diego Valeri has taken up a freewheeling function underneath the goal striker for the Portland Timbers this season. He checks again to search out the ball deep, makes runs off Ryan Johnson to get in behind, and can even maintain possession when needed. He’s solely on mortgage in Portland, however making Valeri’s deal everlasting have to be a precedence for the Timbers group.
FORWARDS
Steve Zakuani (Seattle Sounders FC)
After getting back from a horrific leg break, Steve Zakuani is again to his outdated self this season. He can transfer simply as rapidly, and his creativity in one-on-one attacking permits him to get behind defenders and reduce crosses again into the penalty space. With Zakuani and Mario Martinez’s velocity and Mauro Rosales serving skill, Seattle can be lethal from large areas this 12 months.
Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)
Eddie Johnson, ranked N0. 20 within the ASN 100, scored 9 targets together with his head final 12 months, displaying each his ability and the way a lot Seattle depends on ending off crosses to get on the board. Johnson’s acquisition in Seattle obtained a combined reception as he was traded for 2 fan favorites, however his efficiency has rapidly erased all adverse emotions—each on the town and across the nation.
Mario Martinez (Seattle Sounders FC)
Latest kind has Mario Martinez rapidly gaining favor from the largest fan base in MLS. He scored the decisive objective towards Actual Salt Lake within the playoffs final 12 months, and he companions properly with Steve Zakuani on the opposite flank. Martinez’s efficiency has been ok to push Mauro Rosales out of his regular spot within the Seattle beginning lineup this season, and he terrorized the USA protection in Honduras’ Hexagonal opening victory.
Honorable Mentions: Darren Mattocks and Gershon Koffie (Vancouver Whitecaps); Kalif Alhassan and Diego Chará (Portland Timbers); Brad Evans and Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC).
Who would you choose as your Cascadia XI? Submit a remark beneath and tell us.
Liviu Chook is a contract soccer journalist primarily based in Seattle. Observe him on Twitter.
