ASN: Seattle, LA, and Dallas Are Finest in Revamped West

Los Angeles is loaded once more. Dallas appears harmful. And Seattle might be stewing over lacking out on a treble final season. Here is a rundown of the revamped MLS West, with best- and worst-case eventualities.

BY

John Godfrey

Posted
March 14, 2015
11:25 AM

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PARITY IS A PRIORITY for Main League Soccer commissioner Don Garber, a former NFL govt who views a lot of that league’s enterprise mannequin—and all of its TV scores—with envy.

And as long as MLS maintains its paltry wage cap—final 12 months it was $3.1 million per workforce; this 12 months’s quantity has not been revealed—roster depth shouldn’t be a viable possibility. So even the best-run MLS franchises might be a significant harm or two away from utterly cratering and lacking the playoffs.

And that is a type of parity, proper?

Here is a fast have a look at MLS’ revamped Western Convention, with best- and worst-case eventualities for every workforce.

Colorado Rapids

THE ESSENTIALS: If the league gave out trophies for facial hair, Pablo Mastroeni and his marvelous mustache can be silverware shoo-ins. Because it would not, the Rapids will hope that the numerous new faces on the roster discover ways to play collectively, and shortly. A revamped midfield (Juan Ramirez, Lucas Pittinari, Marcelo Sarvas) appears promising, however huge questions stay in regards to the assault (Deshorn Brown, Dominique Hadji) and a protection that gave up a league-worst 62 targets in 2014.

KEY LOSSES: Chris Klute, Marvell Wynne

KEY ADDITIONS: Juan Ramirez, Marcelo Sarvas, Zac MacMath, Sam Cronin

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: U.S. nationwide workforce hopefuls Dillon Serna, Shane O’Neill, and Dillon Powers present regular enchancment from their promising 2014 campaigns; the veteran additions present essential management; six-foot-seven rookie defender Alex Sjoberg establishes himself as an imposing presence on the backline; and the Rapids sneak into the postseason.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: The Rapids cannot rating targets and might’t cease different groups from scoring targets, ending lifeless final within the Western Convention.

FC Dallas

THE ESSENTIALS: Every part is wanting up for FC Dallas, a talent-laden workforce that includes a younger core of gamers who ought to solely get higher because the season progresses. It would not damage that the workforce’s coach, Oscar Pareja, will get essentially the most out of his troops and looks as if a person on a mission. With Matt Hedges anchoring the protection, Fabian Castillo operating circles round opposing midfielders, and 2014 MLS Rookie of the 12 months Tesho Akindele able to pounce within the penalty space, FC Dallas might be powerful to beat.

KEY LOSSES: Raul Fernandez, Andres Escobar

KEY ADDITIONS: Dan Kennedy, Michael Barrios

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Mauro Diaz and Blas Perez return to type after injury-plagued seasons in 2014 and FC Dallas leans on each its depth and uncooked expertise to win the Supporters Protect. With the workforce wholesome because the postseason begins, the membership runs over the competitors and lifts MLS Cup in December.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Akindele suffers a sophomore droop, Castillo cannot discover any consistency, and FC Dallas limps to a disappointing fourth- or fifth-place end within the West.

Houston Dynamo

THE ESSENTIALS: New head coach Owen Coyle began 5 30-somethings in Houston’s season opener on Saturday, a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew that flattered the victors. Can a Beginning XI that options Brad Davis, DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Taylor, Ricardo Clark, and Oscar Boniek Garcia maintain up over a protracted, scorching Houston summer season? The midseason arrival of Erick “Cubo” Torres will little question spur an assault that depends a bit too closely on Giles Barnes and the enigmatic Will Bruin.

KEY LOSSES: Omar Cummings, Tally Corridor, Andrew Driver

KEY ADDITIONS: Erick Torres, Raul Rodriguez, Leonel Miranda

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: The charismatic Coyle convinces his gamers to leap tall buildings in a single certain, everyone stays wholesome, and the Dynamo safe the final playoff spot.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: The wheels fall off the wagon early and by the point Torres arrives on the scene, a demoralized Dynamo workforce is already occupied with 2016.

Los Angeles Galaxy

THE ESSENTIALS: The place there is a Bruce, there is a manner. The Galaxy enter the 2015 season as favorites to repeat as champions regardless of Landon Donovan’s retirement and Marcelo Sarvas’ transfer to Colorado. Why? As a result of common supervisor/head coach Bruce Enviornment is one of the best entrance workplace man within the league and all the time finds a approach to 1) mix wily vets with promising children and a pair of) get essentially the most of his gamers.

KEY LOSSES: Landon Donovan, Marcelo Sarvas

KEY ADDITIONS: Steven Gerrard

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Keane will get off to a robust begin, Robbie Rogers begins to thrive at left again, Gyasi Zardes builds on his outstanding 2014 season, and the defending MLS champions escape of the beginning blocks shortly. Gerrard arrives in July and instantly elevates the workforce, which works on to repeat as MLS champs.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: After a sluggish begin, Enviornment’s facet loses Omar Gonzalez, Gyasi Zardes, and Robbie Rogers through the 2015 Gold Cup, after which Gerrard struggles to combine into the workforce. The Galaxy nonetheless qualify for the playoffs however lose within the first spherical.

Portland Timbers
THE ESSENTIALS: Which Portland workforce will present up this season—the 2013 model that outplayed nearly each workforce within the league or the 2014 model that did not even make the playoffs? Carryover accidents to Will Johnson, Diego Valeri, and Ben Zemanski will not assist Caleb Porter’s workforce early in 2015, however defensive worries will stay even when the three midfielders return. The membership added high-upside defenders Nick Besler and Andy Thoma within the MLS SuperDraft, however they should not be counted on as difference-makers so early of their careers.

KEY LOSSES: Steve Zakuani, Donovan Ricketts, Michael Harrington

KEY ADDITIONS: Nat Borchers, Adam Kwarasey

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: A Borchers-led protection hunkers down and bunkers the Timbers to a .500 document on the All Star break. The ailing midfielders all return, reclaim their previous glory, and information the workforce right into a fourth-place end.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Impatience guidelines the day in PDX when Darlington Nagbe will get off to a sluggish begin and the offense sputters. Porter opts for a high-risk method and the injury-ravaged Timbers lose seven or eight in a row within the first half of the season. One of the best followers within the league miss out on the postseason once more.

Actual Salt Lake
THE ESSENTIALS: Will Actual Salt Lake’s seven-year postseason run come to an finish in 2015? Thanks largely to participant continuity, RSL weathered the 2013 departure of Jason Kreis and completed in third place final season. However now that longtime stalwarts Nat Borchers, Ned Grabavoy, and Chris Wingert have additionally left Utah, the burden falls squarely on the shoulders of long-in-the-tooth veterans like Kyle Beckerman, Nick Rimando, Alvaro Saborio, and Jamison Olave. In the meantime, perennial prospect Luis Gil might want to step and really be a difference-maker if Jeff Cassar’s workforce is to succeed.
KEY LOSSES: Nat Borchers, Ned Grabavoy, Chris Wingert

KEY ADDITIONS: Jamison Olave, Demar Phillips

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Joao Plata—now a delegated participant however nonetheless very brief—recovers shortly and returns to a distinguished function within the assault, everyone else stays wholesome, the brand new 4-3-3 alignment works similar to Cassar drew it up, and RSL cruises to a third- or fourth-place end within the new and improved Western Convention.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Accidents strike a couple of of the thirtysomethings, Gold Cup responsibility calls a number of others away, Gil solely makes incremental enhancements—and RSL watches the 2015 playoffs on TV.

San Jose Earthquakes
THE ESSENTIALS: A shiny new stadium and a wily outdated coach have raised expectations in San Jose, however let’s not overlook that this workforce had the worst document within the Western Convention—worse than hapless (and defunct) Chivas USA. You simply know that coach Dominic Kinnear will get one of the best out of his expenses, however will that be sufficient to raise this Island of Misfit Toys-like assortment of expertise into playoff rivalry? Every part must go proper, and new DP Harmless Emeghara might want to show he is price each penny he is making. Additionally: New York will get Frank Lampard, Orlando will get Kaka, Los Angeles will get Steven Gerrard—how a few celebrity signing within the Bay Space?

KEY LOSSES: Jon Busch, Atiba Harris, Sam Cronin, Jason Hernandez

KEY ADDITIONS: Harmless Emeghara, Sanna Nyassi, Marvell Wynne

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Chris Wondolowski runs away with the MLS Golden Boot award, Clarence Goodson and Victor Bernardez carry the protection on their shoulders, and the Earthquakes are nonetheless within the operating for the sixth and last playoff spot in September.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: A repeat of 2014—final place within the West.

Seattle Sounders
THE ESSENTIALS: Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins give Seattle essentially the most potent assault within the league—because the pair demonstrated in opposition to New England in final Sunday’s 3-0 season-opening victory. The midfield—Marco Pappa, Gonzalo Pineda, Lamar Neagle, and (the presently injured) Osvaldo Alonzo—has a near-perfect mix of talent and chunk. Certain, the backline has a couple of query marks however it’s secure to say that Sigi Schmid’s males might be trying to enhance upon their two-trophy haul from a 12 months in the past.

KEY LOSSES: DeAndre Yedlin, Jalil Anibaba

KEY ADDITIONS: Tyrone Mears, Cristian Roldan

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Alonso returns to well being, the considerably aged core stays wholesome, the Emerald Metropolis Supporters proceed to make loads of noise, and the Sounders win the trophy that eluded them final 12 months.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Growing older joints and synthetic turf are a foul mixture, however even when a couple of gamers go down for prolonged spells, the Sounders qualify for the playoffs.

Sporting Kansas Metropolis
THE ESSENTIALS: The perennial playoff powers misplaced their manner final season, and Peter Vermes’ workforce could have a brand new look in 2015. However questions on those that stay with SKC will decide the destiny of this facet. Can Matt Besler and Graham Zusi bounce again from poor post-World Cup showings? Is Dom Dwyer the second coming of Chris Wondolowski or had been these 22 targets final season a little bit of a fluke? And which Benny Feilhaber will present up on any given night time—the technically gifted creator or the easy-to-dispossess defensive legal responsibility? SKC, previously a beast within the East, must step up its sport to compete in MLS’ loaded Western Convention.

KEY LOSSES: Aurelien Collin, Soony Saad, C.J. Sapong, Claudio Bieler

KEY ADDITIONS: Jalil Anibaba, Roger Espinoza, Krisztan Nemeth, Luis Marin

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: The return of high-energy midfielder Roger Espinoza units the tone for the squad, Besler and Zusi bounce again, and no one even notices that the tall, brash, bald, collar-popping French man is now not on the again line. SKC makes the playoffs and wins a spherical earlier than bowing out within the convention finals.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Krisztan Nemeth and Dwyer do not click on and Besler and Zusi proceed their struggles, as KC misses the postseason for the primary time since 2011.

Vancouver Whitecaps
THE ESSENTIALS: Vancouver struggled to attain all final season, sneaking into the playoffs regardless of simply 42 measly tallies and a plus-two aim differential. Will the assault enhance in 2015? Exhausting to say. Designated Participant Octavio Rivero scored a aim within the dwelling opener, however the Uruguayan additionally missed an all-time sitter within the 3-1 dwelling loss to Toronto. Nerves? A portent for the season? Extra worrisome for the British Columbian facet was that its vaunted protection gave up three unanswered targets to a Toronto workforce that’s nonetheless making an attempt to determine if it is any good.

KEY LOSSES: Mehdi Ballouchy, Andy O’Brien, Sebastian Fernandez

KEY ADDITIONS: Octavio Rivero, Pa Mouda Kah

BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Rivero lights up the assault, singlehandedly adjustments the defensive-minded tradition of the squad, and Vancouver surprises everyone and qualifies for the final playoff spot.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Cannot rating, cannot defend, cannot win.

That is what John Godfrey thinks—what do you suppose? Share your predictions within the Feedback part beneath.

John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.