Soccer2010 MLS Western Conference predictions

Beginning of Story Content

CBC Sports commentator Jason de Vos breaks down Major League Soccer's Western Conference for the 2010 regular season.

 

Chivas USA 

 

The arrival of a new coach generally brings with it a clean slate for the entire squad of players. As a result, most teams under the guidance of a new boss find themselves rejuvenated, at least in the short term. 

 

Martin Vasquez has been brought in to replace Preki, who is now overseeing the fortunes of Toronto FC. Vasquez has a reputation as being a player's coach, and his more relaxed mentality will be a welcome respite for those players who ran afoul of Preki's disciplinarian ways. 

 

Sacha Kljestan is the star man for Chivas, but after a potential move to Glasgow Celtic failed to materialize at the start of 2009, he failed to build on the outstanding year he had in 2008. Look for him to bounce back this season. 

 

Chivas has lost quite a few players, most notably Paolo Nagamura, who has joined Mexican side Tigres, and Jesse Marsch, who retired. El Salvadoran international Osael Romero has been brought in to fill the gaps in midfield, and if he and Kljestan can strike up a partnership, it will help solidify Chivas' chances in 2010. 

 

Prediction - 6th 

 

Colorado Rapids 

 

The Rapids will have a few new faces in their line-up this season, with the arrivals of Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson via a trade with New England. I think Larentowicz is very underrated as a defensive midfielder, and his combative style will serve the Rapids well. 

 

The front pairing of Conor Casey and Omar Cummings was one of the most prolific in Major League Soccer last season, and it is a traditional "little and large" partnership. Casey is the target man who gets on the end of crosses, and Cummings provides the pace and mobility up front to keep defenders on their heels. 

 

Like many MLS squads, injuries to key players could be very costly to Colorado. If either Casey or Cummings goes down for any length of time, head coach Gary Smith will need to rethink his game plan to get the most out of his line-up. 

 

Prediction - 5th

 

FC Dallas 

 

Maybe he just doesn't like Canada?  

 

Whatever the reason, Jeff Cunningham went from dud to darling as soon as he left Toronto FC and landed in Dallas, ending the season as the league's top goal-scorer with 17 goals and eight assists. Another season like that will help his struggling team immensely. 

 

FC Dallas can be dangerous going forward, and Dax McCarty is capable of causing problems with his movement. He ran Amado Guevara all over the place last season when Dallas played Toronto FC, and McCarty needs to be the driving force in midfield for Dallas again this year. 

 

Unfortunately, at the other end of the park they just don't have the strength to match some of the better teams in the Western Conference, and this will be their undoing. They led the league in goals scored with 50 last season, but they were second in goals conceded as well, shipping 47.

 

That needs to improve if they are to have any chance of making the post season. 

 

Prediction - 7th

 

Houston Dynamo 

 

At first glance, it appears that Houston will have a difficult time being successful this season. Their two best players, Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark, have moved on to bigger and better things in Europe, and their replacements are not of the same calibre. 

 

But head coach Dominic Kinnear faced up to the loss of Dwayne DeRosario the year before and still managed to put out a contender, and I expect him to do the same again this season. 

 

Defender/midfielder Geoff Cameron will need to play a more advanced role, but he has the skills to do so. He is so versatile that he can play equally as well in central midfield as he does in central defence, and he has the potential to have a breakout year as the star man for Houston. 

 

The evergreen Canadian, Pat Onstad, is back in goal again for the Dynamo, and his experience will be vital for them at the back. No one managed to hit double digits in scoring for Houston last season, but if he can stay healthy, I expect Brian Ching to rectify that in 2010. 

 

Prediction - 3rd

 

Los Angeles Galaxy 

 

While the loss of David Beckham might not be such a blow for England's World Cup chances, it might be for the fortunes of the L.A. Galaxy. In 2009, after Beckham's return from a loan spell at AC Milan, the Galaxy was 9-3-5. Prior to his arrival, they were 5-3-9.  

 

In my opinion, while I think that Beckham's injury will hurt the Galaxy, I also think that they have the personnel to cope. Specifically, head coach Bruce Arena will be able to maximize the ability of his team to compensate for the loss of Beckham's influence.  

 

Bringing in the experienced American boss was a masterstroke, and his strength as a leader shone through last season, as L.A. made it to the final of MLS Cup before losing on penalties to Real Salt Lake. 

 

He will be reliant on their franchise player, Landon Donovan, who returns from a very successful loan spell in England with Everton. He will be the star of the show once again, but he will be ably supported by the defensive strength of Gregg Berhalter and Omar Gonzalez. Arena has brought in three young Brazilian players who could make the Galaxy the most dynamic team in the league - if they prove to be as good as their reputations suggest. 

 

Prediction - 2nd 

 

Real Salt Lake 

 

The defending MLS Cup Champions will find the defence of their title much more difficult than actually attaining it. It is always harder to repeat a victory, especially when it catches everyone by surprise.  

 

Real slipped into the playoffs on the last day of the season, and they rode a wave of momentum all the way to final, where they upset the L.A. Galaxy. Real Salt Lake will be stronger because of that experience, but they lost a key piece of their puzzle in the off-season. 

 

Yura Movsisyan left to join Randers FC in Denmark, and he has been replaced by up front by Costa Rican international Alvaro Saborio. The striker will need to find his feet quickly in MLS in order to provide some assistance to the lively Robbie Findley in attack. 

 

Kyle Beckerman is one of the league's best midfielders, and I like the central defensive pairing of Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave - no-nonsense defending at its most effective. Watch for Canadian international Will Johnson to have a strong season in midfield. 

 

Head coach Jason Kreis will need to find an answer to Real's struggles on the road, as they were an appalling 2-11-2 on their travels in 2009. Despite being defending champs, it is important to remember that they nearly missed out on the playoffs altogether in 2009. I expect an improvement from them, but it might not be as easy as some would have you believe. 

 

Prediction - 4th

 

San Jose Earthquakes 

 

Last season was a painful one for the San Jose Earthquakes, and I fear that they are in for more of the same this year.  

 

Like on many MLS teams, there has been player movement in San Jose during the off-season. Gone are crafty Englishman Darren Huckerby and promising youngster Shea Salinas, while New Zealand international Simon Elliot and Canadian Antonio Ribeiro were recently let go as well. 

 

Incoming players include Brazilian front man Eduardo, signed from Swiss club FC Basel. Head coach Frank Yallop has so far been impressed by his abilities: "Both Ryan Johnson and Cornell Glen get their chances by outrunning people. I think Eduardo brings other players into the game; he's a good hold-up player, and he's good on the ball. He's more of a target, but he can run too. He's got a nice mixture to him." 

 

Another familiar name to Canadian soccer fans is Joey Gjertsen. The American player had recently been playing for the Montreal Impact, where he had a major say in their success both domestically and in the CONCACAF Champions League, in recent seasons.  

 

Gjertsen will be a decent addition to the Quakes' line-up, but as is always the case, the success of their season will rest on how well their new signings can replace their departed players. 

 

Prediction - 8th

 

Seattle Sounders 

 

When Seattle joined MLS last season, their season got off to a tremendous start. They won their first three games of the campaign, and despite having a few setbacks along the way, never looked like struggling to make the playoffs. 

 

Head coach Sigi Schmid has built an excellent team, and it all starts for them in goal. Kasey Keller is not just a tremendous asset as a goalkeeper; he is also a leader and a winner. That mentality is essential to any team, especially one in its infancy as a franchise like Seattle. 

 

At the back, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado will anchor the defence. While he is getting on a bit, Jamaican international Tyrone Marshall has proved to be an able partner for Hurtado.  

 

In midfield, Seattle has the creativity of Freddie Ljungberg on one hand and the athleticism of Steve Zakuani on the other. Osvaldo Alonso holds it all together in the middle of the park, and he provides the defensive protection that the back four requires.  

 

Up front, the tandem of Fredy Montero and Nate Jaqua will be assisted after the World Cup by the arrival of Swiss international Blaise NKufo. On their own, Montero and Jaqua proved to be a handful for opposing defenders last season. With the arrival of the powerful Nkufo, Seattle could have enough to go all the way. 

 

Prediction - 1st

End of Story Content

Back to accessibility links