Black And Red United - 2018 MLS preview series: How does D.C. United compare to everyone else?They can't hold us back. We are United.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47471/blackandred-fave.png2018-03-02T19:34:29-05:00http://www.blackandredunited.com/rss/stream/168285212018-03-02T19:34:29-05:002018-03-02T19:34:29-05:002018 MLS Western Conference preview: Uncertainty for teams on the playoff bubble
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<img alt="MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy at Houston Dynamo" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yxHZ9nG5YgAWV92ZO0AGDXHxdpc=/132x0:2783x1767/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58886525/usa_today_10312622.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>There’s a lot of “could be good, could be bad” in the West’s middle tier</p> <p id="NdfpRD">The 2018 MLS season hasn’t started yet, but it was fairly easy to figure out who would struggle in the Western Conference. It also wasn’t too hard to figure out who the top sides will be. What’s not as easy to sort out is the fate of everyone else, because there are a lot of big variables with each team. Everyone we’ll talk about in this post could be right up there with the contenders, but it’s just as likely that they’ll see the wheels fall off and possibly “contend” for the Wooden Spoon.</p>
<p id="PRy88i">Let’s get to it:</p>
<h4 id="xJWgGa"><a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a></h4>
<p id="2pCMUK"><em>Last year:</em> 11W-13D-10L, 0 (48 for/48 against), 46 points, 7th place.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Gonzalez; Cannon, Hedges, Ziegler, Nedyalkov; Gruezo, Acosta; Barrios, Diaz, Mosquera; Urruti</p>
<p id="pNrhBp">On July 22nd last year, Dallas was 9W-7D-3L, riding a three-game winning streak, meeting widespread expectations that they’d be among the top teams in the West for a third year running. And then...the cliff. Dallas lost their next game 4-0 at home to Vancouver, starting a ten-game winless streak. They picked up 12 points in their final 15 games, the kind of pace that would leave a team far adrift as MLS’s worst if kept up for a full season.</p>
<p id="L90Jbx">Even with that astounding dip in form, Dallas was in the playoffs entering stoppage time on Decision Day. Winning 5-1 over the Galaxy, they just needed San Jose to fail to beat Minnesota at the same time. Justice was served, though, and the painful fall from grace was completed when Marco Ureña <a href="https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2017-10-22-san-jose-earthquakes-vs-minnesota-united-fc/details/video/139172">scored in the third minute of stoppage time</a> to send the Quakes to the postseason instead.</p>
<p id="ufxTzd">What’s strange is that the whole thing is hard to explain. There were some injuries at center back, but FCD was deep there. <span>Oscar Pareja</span> had rotated his team all season to keep them fresh. <span>Mauro Diaz</span> was back and healthy. The wheels fell off, and there wasn’t one clear thing to point to.</p>
<p id="9jAuEt">As a result, there have been some changes. <span>Walker Zimmerman</span> is with LAFC now, replaced by former Premier League defender Reto Ziegler. Dallas spent seven figures to land left back Anton Nedyalkov, and Young DP Santiago Mosquera seems like an improvement over <span>Roland Lamah</span> to improve their attack. Pareja has also made homegrown player <span>Reggie Cannon</span>, 19, the club’s starting right back.</p>
<p id="J4H3nf">Is that enough to reverse the decline in Dallas?</p>
<p id="d3sa8i"><em>Prognosis:</em> Based on their embarrassing CONCACAF <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> elimination against Tauro FC (a club that would not be a sure bet to win the USL title, much less contend in MLS like Dallas is supposed to), it certainly hasn’t reversed that decline right away. FCD might be a work in progress, and that includes some significant experimentation with a 352.</p>
<p id="7l0Pct">There is a ton of talent here, and Pareja guided them to 60+ points in 2015 and 2016 for a reason. The question marks all seem to be about mentality and consistency from individual players. If the Toros put all of their ingredients together, they’ll probably make the playoffs without much trouble. If not, their finish to 2017 might carry over for a full season. There might not be a team with a bigger gap between their best and worst possible outcomes.</p>
<h4 id="1Lb7SH"><a href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a></h4>
<p id="bG69hX"><em>Last year:</em> 13W-11D-10L, +12 (57 for/45 against), 50 points, 4th place. Eliminated in the conference finals.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Seitz; K. Garcia, Machado, Senderos, Beasley; Cabezas, Alexander; Elis, Martinez, Quioto; Manotas</p>
<p id="f4qdZK">Last year, the Dynamo were a bit of surprise. Wilmer Cabrera’s rebuilding project seemed solid enough, but Houston never fell off. Even when the playoffs arrived, they were largely counted out, only to knock Kansas City and Portland out before coming undone against Seattle. It was still an impressive showing, with the Dynamo seeming far ahead of schedule.</p>
<p id="Qn9DaL">They started the winter off right, selling Erick Torres (who, despite leading the team in scoring, was clearly a back-up to Mauro Manotas by the time summer ended) and freeing up plenty of cap space. They paid the purchase clause to make <span>Alberth Elis</span>’ move from Monterrey a permanent one, and then...</p>
<p id="OvKW2D">...well, that was it. <span>Arturo Alvarez</span> and Darwin Ceren are solid additions, but neither would start for playoff teams. The rest of their moves of note appear to be players promoted from Rio Grande Valley Toros, their USL affiliate, and a few draft picks. Venezuelan center back Alejandro Fuenmayor is one for the future, but at least for now appears to be Cabrera’s fourth-best option at the position. Aging veterans <span>DaMarcus Beasley</span> and Philippe Senderos are still unquestioned starters, as is skilled but injury-prone midfielder <span>Eric Alexander</span>.</p>
<p id="ELU0du"><em>Prognosis:</em> The good news for Cabrera is that his team is a nightmare on the counter, and playmaker Tomas Martinez used the back half of last season to adjust to MLS. They’re also quietly very good on set pieces, and that’s long been a recipe for picking up points in this league.</p>
<p id="YmUz07">However, it feels an awful lot like Houston stood in place during the winter. Selling Torres and retaining Elis were important moves, but they didn’t make this team any better. Their starting eleven is very strong, but there’s precious little in terms of impressive depth, particularly up top (where Elis or Rommel Quioto may have to fill in, as lumbering 6’7” back-up Mac Steeves is going to struggle to keep up with the Dynamo’s counterattacking style of play).</p>
<p id="xefsaj">Of last year’s playoff teams out west, Houston seems like they might be the most vulnerable. That’s not to say they’re in trouble, but that they <em>could</em> be in trouble if they fall off just a little bit from last season.</p>
<h4 id="qghqfa"><a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a></h4>
<p id="iOPH2m"><em>Last year:</em> 8W-8D-18L, -22 (45 for/67 against), 32 points, 11th place.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Bingham; Feltscher, Ciani, Skjelvik, Cole; Kitchen, J. Dos Santos; Alessandrini, G. Dos Santos, Boateng; Kamara</p>
<p id="QbZSi6">Last year’s Galaxy finished dead last in MLS. I’ll say it again, because it’s fun: Last year’s Galaxy finished dead last in MLS. They won just twice in their final 19 games of the season, prompting fans to <a href="http://cornerofthegalaxy.com/2017/09/17/behind-closed-doors-all-not-normal-la-galaxy/">demand someone come out</a> after a particularly embarrassing home loss to TFC and provide answers. It was telling that the man who came out to face the music, <span>Romain Alessandrini</span>, was a) LA’s only good player in 2017 and b) someone who hadn’t even played a part in the match.</p>
<p id="Zb3g54">Under pressure with LAFC in town, the Galaxy have scrambled to improve. Signing Perry Kitchen (thanks for all that allocation money, by the way) addressed one major problem, as last year’s team had a bunch of box-to-box midfielders and no one capable of staying home and defending a woeful back four. Adding Ola Kamara from Columbus will provide Alessandrini with some help on the attacking end. Jorgen Skjelvik, acquired for Norwegian power Rosenborg, and Venezuelan national team defender Rolf Feltscher were acquired to fortify the defense, as was #2 overall draft pick Tomas Hilliard-Arce.</p>
<p id="NoxUes">There’s some solid depth to go with those likely starters. LA added Chris Pontius as a free agent signing, while they grabbed Servando Carrasco via the Re-Entry Draft. Finally, and perhaps most vitally, they have <span>Sebastian Lletget</span> back fit again, though it appears Sigi Schmid is going to repeat Bruce Arena’s mistake by using him wide more often than playing him in the central role that he starred in back in 2016.</p>
<p id="UY3O2D"><em>Prognosis:</em> LA needed a big response to an awful season, and it appears they’ve provided it. Schmid isn’t going to try to reinvent the wheel; it’s just about adding better players, putting them in the right spots (well, except for Lletget), and focusing on being solid first.</p>
<p id="uo743x">They’ve put together a playoff-caliber roster on paper, but that’s only if everyone plays up to their potential. Both Giovani Dos Santos and Jonathan Dos Santos have been largely disappointing, with Gio’s form erratic and Jona’s interest levels appearing less than sufficient. If they both bring something approaching their best soccer, the Galaxy could be one of MLS’s best teams going forward. If not, a defense that still seems a bit flimsy (the right side in particular looks vulnerable) might undermine a potentially free-scoring attack.</p>
<h4 id="Om9vvw"><a href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a></h4>
<p id="db0d4U"><em>Last year:</em> 13W-7D-14L, -21 (39 for/60 against), 46 points, 6th place. Eliminated in knockout round.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (442) - Tarbell; Lima, Cummings, Quintana, Salinas; Eriksson, Jungwirth, Godoy, Vako; Wondolowski, Hoesen</p>
<p id="hBtlsH">San Jose’s organizational shift started last year with GM Jesse Fioranelli pursuing more technical, mobile players than the Bash Brothers Quakes had been previously associated with. Mikael Stahre, who has managed in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/sweden">Sweden</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/greece">Greece</a>, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/china">China</a>, has been brought in as their new head coach despite Chris Leitch getting the Earthquakes into the playoffs as interim boss.</p>
<p id="BKQZGJ">However, they haven’t made a bunch of big moves. Winger/forward Magnus Eriksson was the joint-top scorer in the Swedish top flight last year, while young loanee center back Yeferson Quintana appears to have supplanted Swiss international <span>Francois Affolter</span> as a starter. <span>Harold Cummings</span> — who was signed last year but missed the entire season injured — will give San Jose a huge speed boost in the other center back spot, though the Panama national team regular’s discipline levels are a big concern.</p>
<p id="tOxQGZ">That’s about it, though. They made sure to keep <span>Danny Hoesen</span>, who improved once San Jose moved towards a more progressive style of play mid-season, and <span>Quincy Amarikwa</span> should be able to replace Marco Ureña after a long road back from a major knee injury. <span>Florian Jungwirth</span>, who was one of MLS’s most underrated signings last season, has been moved into a midfield role due to an influx of center backs, but it might be something of a misallocation of resources.</p>
<p id="ypIoI4"><em>Prognosis:</em> The Quakes are deep enough that we’re only just now mentioning Vako, the DP attacker they added last year, and winger Jahmir Hyka. Jackson Yueill, <span>Tommy Thompson</span>, and <span>Fatai Alashe</span> are also pretty good players to have available on the bench. That’s probably crucial, because San Jose doesn’t appear to have an elite match-winning player in their squad. They’re also still relying heavily on <span>Chris Wondolowski</span>, who turned 35 during the offseason.</p>
<p id="w3a5me">That depth isn’t just good for keeping the team fresh, or getting through the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a>-enforced absence of Cummings and Anibal Godoy. It’ll also allow Stahre the freedom to make changes and experiment as he learns a new league without having to sacrifice much in terms of overall ability.</p>
<p id="OouBEu">The Quakes certainly aren’t a bad team, and if Stahre adapts to MLS quickly, they have a real shot at making the playoffs again. However, if he needs time to get up to speed, or can’t quite fit a solid set of pieces together, they’ll probably finish somewhere in the 7th-9th place range.</p>
<h4 id="JFaPI8">
<a href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/">Vancouver Whitecaps</a> FC</h4>
<p id="xNhCyM"><em>Last year:</em> 15W-7D-12L, +1 (50 for/49 against), 52 points, 3rd place. Eliminated in the conference semifinals<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Marinovic; Nerwinski, Waston, Maund, de Jong; Felipe, Juarez; Techera, Reyna, Davies; Kamara</p>
<p id="tlFETs"><span>Carl Robinson</span> made sure that someone in MLS took up Dominic Kinnear’s mantle, making the playoffs by sitting deep, playing a ton of long balls, and relying on good set piece play to provide most of the offense. It was not at all pretty, but Vancouver got themselves into the postseason despite not really ever convincing. The Whitecaps won ten different games by one goal last year, showing a knack for grinding out results in tight games.</p>
<p id="8Rwubj">Last year, it seemed like VWFC made moves to get away from this approach. This year, they’re leaning into it pretty hard. <span>Kei Kamara</span> is a far better fit for the amount of aerial challenges the lone Vancouver striker has to win than <span>Fredy Montero</span> was, and they’ve added Venezuelan speedster Anthony Blondell to improve their forward depth.</p>
<p id="11gzeY">Trading Tim Parker away for Felipe (plus some xAM) might seem like a curious choice given Parker’s value to Vancouver and their relatively low need for defensive midfielders, but the Whitecaps have some solid center back depth, including <span>Aaron Maund</span>, <span>Jose Aja</span>, and Doneil Henry, who has returned to MLS after a more or less disastrous spell with West Ham (despite three different loans to lower-level clubs, Henry made just 8 appearances from 2015 through 2017).</p>
<p id="S2IvYR">Curiously, Felipe will probably partner <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110446/efrain-juarez">Efrain Juarez</a>, a Liga MX veteran who hasn’t been very good in recent years. More importantly, Juarez is a career right back that Vancouver is turning into a defensive midfielder for unclear reasons. We may eventually see <span>Aly Ghazal</span>, a more traditional defensive midfielder, emerge as Felipe’s partner, but Juarez will probably get plenty of chances due to the expenditure to bring him in.</p>
<p id="tbgP4s">A speedy, creative attacking midfield crew including <span>Yordy Reyna</span>, <span>Alphonso Davies</span>, <span>Cristian Techera</span>, and <span>Bernie Ibini</span> will provide a viable source of counter attacks, and the Whitecaps should be a major threat on set pieces again this year. Basically, the Whitecaps look like they can Whitecap harder than last year, which means you should underrate them at your peril.</p>
<p id="to1bmt"><em>Prognosis:</em> I can’t shake the suspicion that Vancouver, regardless of aesthetics, will get themselves into the postseason. Kamara and <span>Kendall Waston</span> on set pieces is a nightmare, and Robinson has shown the ability to get his team to scrape wins out of otherwise even games. It won’t be fun, but Robinson certainly doesn’t care about that.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/mls/2018/3/2/17064824/2018-mls-western-conference-preview-la-galaxy-fc-dallas-san-jose-earthquakes-houston-dynamoJason Anderson2018-03-01T11:00:03-05:002018-03-01T11:00:03-05:002018 MLS Western Conference preview: Tough times ahead for some unsurprising sides
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<img alt="MLS: Colorado Rapids at Minnesota United FC" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/80Ikb70DlLjdEnp1FuJpxu6xLBU=/0x52:1589x1111/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58861875/usa_today_10028358.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Three teams in the West needed to do a ton of work. Two didn’t do enough, while a third didn’t really do anything</p> <p id="tiyI1p">Our 2018 MLS season preview series rolls on, leaving our main competition in the East for a look at the Western Conference. Last year saw the balance of power shift out of the West for the first time in ages, and things appear to be the same this season. That could open the door for, say, teams that were on the bottom last year or an expansion side to get into the playoffs.</p>
<p id="5W9mba">“Could” doesn’t mean “will,” though, at least for two teams that struggled last year and one that is taking their first steps in MLS.</p>
<h4 id="phcSNO"><a href="https://www.burgundywave.com/">Colorado Rapids</a></h4>
<p id="biEFDV"><em>Last year:</em> 9W-6D-19L, -20 (31 for/51 against), 33 points, 10th place.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (532) - Howard; Hairston, Ford, Wilson, Smith, Castillo; Aigner, Price, Boateng; Badji, Mason</p>
<p id="Ef5fXp">The good news for the Rapids is that there finally appears to be an attempt to shake this organization up after years of just sort of existing. Anthony Hudson’s only previous gig as a pro head coach on these shores was with Real Maryland Monarchs, the short-lived USL side whose name is somehow being re-used by <a href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a>’s USL club Real Monarchs. He has some fresh ideas after a globe-trotting career that has taken him from the USL to the English Conference to Tottenham Hotspur’s reserves to Bahrain to a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-cup-qualifying">World Cup qualifying</a> playoff with New Zealand.</p>
<p id="JaVuRn">To go with that, the roster has seen plenty of turnover. Former Wolverhampton midfielder <span>Jack Price</span> looks like a good addition, and they’ve also signed his Wolves teammate Joe Mason on loan to boost their front line. Three different members of Hudson’s New Zealand national team squad have been signed, along with Swedish midfielder <span>Johan Blomberg</span> and <span>Enzo Martinez</span>, a two-time USL Best 11 member with Charlotte Independence (Colorado’s USL affiliate).</p>
<p id="smZtdO">Against <a href="https://www.wakingthered.com/">Toronto FC</a> in the CONCACAF <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>, the Rapids looked a lot like Hudson’s New Zealand sides: committed, willing to do some unorthodox things tactically (their right- and left-center backs both stepped into the midfield for spells of play, while target man <span>Jack McBean</span> dropped in to provide a fourth midfielder when TFC had the ball), but ultimately lacking game-changing players. Dominique Badji’s speed was most of what the Rapids had to offer, though to be fair to them, <span>Stefan Aigner</span> and <span>Shkelzen Gashi</span> did not appear in either leg.</p>
<p id="2Vaawt">Even with those two, though, it seems like the Rapids are going to be a hard-working team that have zero room for error if they’re going to win games. It’s not like Mason, who has never been capped by the Republic of Ireland, is a big upgrade over the man he has ostensibly replaced (Irish national team fixture <span>Kevin Doyle</span>).</p>
<p id="Rptu9W"><em>Prognosis:</em> Hudson has his team buying into the intense work rate required to overcome having a less talented roster than most other MLS teams...for now. Colorado’s limitations were revealed by Toronto FC, who beat them 2-0 in Commerce City without lifting themselves out of 2nd gear.</p>
<p id="ZmYPWR">As <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> fans, we’ve seen this sort of team make the playoffs when the early results go right, and everyone plays at or near their ceiling, and you get good goalkeeping, and you catch 5-6 opponents when they happen to have suspensions and injuries to key players, and...you get the point. It is possible to get to the playoffs built like Colorado, but it takes a whole lot of things going right at the same time.</p>
<p id="JvlMDx">We’ve also seen this sort of team when your non-star starters are merely in average form for themselves, and when there’s no early momentum, and when the goalkeeping is not good (note: the best Colorado goalkeeper in 2018 is <span>Zac MacMath</span>, but <span>Tim Howard</span> is going to be out there looking like a shell of himself because he’s a big name), etc. I don’t think the Rapids will be atrocious by any means, but they just don’t look like they’re good enough to be anything other than a pesky opponent. Expect a lot of narrow 2-1 losses.</p>
<h4 id="HWaa6V">Los Angeles FC</h4>
<p id="owncwu"><em>Last year:</em> They didn’t exist.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Miller; Beitashour, Zimmerman, Ciman, Moutinho; Gaber, Feilhaber; Blessing, Vela, Rossi; Ureña</p>
<p id="bBiquA">LAFC has done some pretty smart things building up to their debut season. <span>Carlos Vela</span> is a ticket-selling big name in his prime, and they’ve landed a promising Young DP in Diego Rossi. To that, they’ve added players who have been very good in MLS at their positions, including <span>Steven Beitashour</span>, center backs <span>Laurent Ciman</span> and <span>Walker Zimmerman</span>, and Benny Feilhaber. Egypt national team defender/midfielder <span>Omar Gaber</span> has a very strong resume.</p>
<p id="3gfgjR">Add to that mix <span>Bob Bradley</span>, who should instantly give LAFC an edge in the coaching department. Between his success with an MLS expansion club (the <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a>) and his good years in California (believe it or not, <a href="https://delete.sbnprivate.com/">Chivas USA</a> nearly won a Supporters Shield on his watch, finishing 2 points behind D.C. United in 2007), it’s fair to expect him to be ready for the challenges to come.</p>
<p id="Mbk14F">It’s just that there’s not much else to bolster those moves. Vela can run very hot-and-cold, and he’ll be flanked by a youngster in a new league and a different youngster who was inconsistent with KC last season. There’s no convincing depth here, and at 33 Feilhaber is being asked to transition from attacking midfield to a more labor intensive linking role. Up front, Marco Ureña fits the profile of what Bradley wants from a forward (he’s a fast, relentless worker, more than a little like <span>Charlie Davies</span> back in the day), but he hasn’t shown much of a knack for carrying his team’s scoring load before.</p>
<p id="PpxNgc"><em>Prognosis:</em> Injuries have <a href="https://www.angelsonparade.com/2018/2/27/17059784/lafc-bradley-injury-updates-carlos-vela-laurent-ciman-omar-gaber-walker-zimmerman-sounders-morris">already started to hit</a>, testing the depth of a team that until very recently didn’t even have 20 players under contract. A late series of signings has filled the roster out, but should a team that was founded in 2014 be scrambling at the last second like this?</p>
<p id="j5IXg3">There’s a lot more Minnesota to LAFC right now than there is Atlanta, is what we’re trying to say. While Bradley will get this group to overachieve a bit, there are just too many unanswered questions to see this group challenging for a spot in the playoffs.</p>
<h4 id="5jzgKU">
<a href="https://www.epluribusloonum.com/">Minnesota United</a> FC</h4>
<p id="xRjQl4"><em>Last year:</em> 10W-6D-18L, -23 (47 for/70 against), 36 points, 9th place.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (433) - Shuttleworth; Mears, Boxall, Calvo, Thiesson; Schuller, Ibson; Finlay, Martin, Molino; Ramirez</p>
<p id="POWe3q">If you followed the Loons last year, you recognize a ton of these starters. They’ve added <span>Tyrone Mears</span>, a 35 year old right back who was phased out by Atlanta a year after being phased out by Seattle. They signed several first-round caliber draft picks, though none of them appear to have a shot at starting any time soon. Cameroonian duo <span>Frantz Pangop</span> and Bertrand Owundi might be diamonds in the rough. <span>Luiz Fernando</span>, brought in on loan from Fluminense, may end up becoming a starter due to Sam Cronin’s continued concussion troubles.</p>
<p id="Sgu7QI">Does any of that sound like enough to make up for the fact that MNUFC gave up seventy (!) goals last year? This is still a team prepared to start <span>Michael Boxall</span>, who wouldn’t make most MLS rosters. <span>Jerome Thiesson</span> is a natural right back having to play on the left, because the only other option is Marc Burch. Rasmus Schuller is listed as a starter here, and Minnesota loaned him out last year because he was not comfortable in MLS.</p>
<p id="GiBEHd">The Loons were one of MLS’s worst teams last year, and they basically stood still. It’s inexplicable, especially given how much work other teams were able to do.</p>
<p id="Dq0hSI"><em>Prognosis:</em> While it’ll be cool to see a front three of <span>Christian Ramirez</span>, <span>Ethan Finlay</span>, and <span>Kevin Molino</span> go into every game knowing they need to put goals on the board for Minnesota to have any shot at getting results. For United fans, it’ll also be fun if <span>Collin Martin</span> finally, at long last is given a chance to start in MLS. It looks like that’s the case at the moment, but if the Loons need defensive help, he might get dropped for Luiz Fernando or Collen Warner. Let’s hope he makes some noise.</p>
<p id="ImJIac">None of that makes for a good team. Minnesota’s roster is poorly constructed (ask any MNUFC fan about how many wingers they have), and while <span>Francisco Calvo</span> is a very good defender, he would need to have the best season by a center back in MLS history to bail out the group around him. By the way, Calvo will miss a chunk of the season with Costa Rica at the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a>.</p>
<p id="jifPLu">We said that Philly and New England would struggle in the East, but they’re a step above Minnesota. So is LAFC, and unless the wheels completely fall off for the Rapids, it’s hard to see Minnesota keeping up with them either. For the Loons to avoid the Wooden Spoon, they’re going to need that front three (plus <span>Abu Danladi</span>, who may actually be a starter over Ramirez despite Ramirez being one of MLS’s better strikers) to be spectacular. That’d still leave them short of a playoff spot, and Adrian Heath has given observers no reason to believe he can take a bottom-tier roster and get them to scrape out results all year long.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/mls/2018/3/1/17064586/2018-mls-preview-lafc-colorado-rapids-minnesota-united-western-conferenceJason Anderson2018-02-28T16:14:46-05:002018-02-28T16:14:46-05:002018 MLS Eastern Conference preview: Toronto FC and their challengers
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<img alt="MLS: MLS CUP-Seattle Sounders vs Toronto FC" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RVCFkWAq_SUckZz2QNbJp40N60I=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58856113/usa_today_10490887.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The balance of power in MLS remains in the East, but even among the upper crust there’s a clear 1%er hoarding all the talent</p> <p id="84WJtP">The 2018 MLS season is less than 100 hours away, and it’ll get started with a doozy: Toronto FC will host the Columbus Crew at 1pm Saturday. This pits two of the best teams in the league against each other, which seems like a good way to kick the season off. However, the fact that this is just half of the Eastern Conference’s power teams says a lot about how strong the top of the East is. If you’re looking for an MLS Cup favorite, most of them will be discussed in this piece.</p>
<h4 id="2Aupe8"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/atlanta-united">Atlanta United</a></h4>
<p id="oWt0T2"><em>Last year:</em> 15W-10D-9L, +30 (70 for/40 against), 4th place. Eliminated in knockout round.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Guzan; Escobar, Larentowicz, Gonzalez Pirez, Garza; McCann, Nagbe; Villalba, Almiron, Barco; Martinez</p>
<p id="HvdNph">Losing Yamil Asad and <span>Carlos Carmona</span> means the hellacious ATL press has lost two of its three key cogs (the other, FYI, is <span>Miguel Almiron</span>). Asad makes way for colossally expensive teenager <span>Ezequiel Barco</span>, while Carmona’s replacement is Darlington Nagbe. That is to say, Tata Martino’s high-octane style of play is going to lean heavily on a player who turns 19 next month and a guy who has never produced enough defensively to play as an 8 in a 4231.</p>
<p id="VLs7vB">Nonetheless, ATL is one of the East’s strongest teams. Almiron, <span>Josef Martinez</span>, and Hector Villalba will terrify defenses all year, <span>Leandro Gonzalez Pirez</span> is a Best 11-caliber center back, <span>Greg Garza</span> and <span>Brad Guzan</span> are high-end at their positions, and most teams would kill to have <span>Julian Gressel</span> as their first sub. <span>Franco Escobar</span> is probably an upgrade at right back, and if he isn’t, <span>Sal Zizzo</span> is a viable Plan B.</p>
<p id="XO51wF"><em>Prognosis:</em> The Five Stripes are weaker up the gut, and might have to move to 433 to bring Almiron’s work rate into a deeper spot to shore things up. They’re going to be constantly entertaining though, and as <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2018/2/26/17053526/atlanta-united-season-preview-2018-mls-miguel-almiron-ezequiel-barco">Kevin McCauley pointed out</a> they can cover many of their flaws by simply gambling on their attack even more. Few MLS teams have ever been able to say that, but ATL’s cure for losing Carmona is probably just forcing other teams to get into shootouts with them every week. They’ll win those regularly.</p>
<p id="HFB69b">Atlanta should get into the playoffs comfortably, and if they have the mental strength to endure a season of wild-ass games (and if Martinez is healthy come autumn), they’re a legit contender.</p>
<h4 id="RHsN60"><a href="https://www.massivereport.com/">Columbus Crew SC</a></h4>
<p id="ACM2ph"><em>Last year:</em> 16W-6D-12L, +4 (53 for/49 against), 5th place, 54 points. Eliminated in conference final.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Steffen; Afful, Mensah, Abubakar, Valenzuela; Trapp, Artur; Martinez, Higuain, Santos; Zardes</p>
<p id="L2HEQO"><span>Gregg Berhalter</span> has made a bunch of changes, but three of their new starters (<span>Lalas Abubakar</span>, <span>Cristian Martinez</span>, and <span>Gyasi Zardes</span>) have MLS experience, and two of them were Columbus players last year. The fact that the Crew are so well-versed in their system will help the new guys get up to speed.</p>
<p id="T8fj4N">The big story is undoubtedly Zardes, who MLS fans have by and large completely written off. Here’s the thing, though: the total, inexplicable misuse of Zardes as a winger by both LA and the USMNT is no longer a problem. Berhalter understands that the guy that scored 16 goals as a striker is still in there, and it’s just about rebuilding his confidence.</p>
<p id="IzZUYo">Zardes is not as good as <span>Ola Kamara</span>, but he’s been scoring frequently throughout the preseason. The Crew play a system where a striker who runs the channels and has some speed will get a preposterous number of chances. Zardes doesn’t have to display the technical ability of Dennis Bergkamp to post 15 goals this season, because Columbus will make it easy for him. Don’t be surprised when you find yourself adding him to your fantasy team in a few weeks.</p>
<p id="jGjMeq"><em>Prognosis:</em> Despite the off-field turmoil surrounding a club that is trying to move to a city that doesn’t seem to want them all that much, Berhalter is going to lead this team to the playoffs with ease, and they’re going to look good doing it. Even starting 19 year old <span>Milton Valenzuela</span> at left back shouldn’t be an issue.</p>
<p id="7DzxTa">The one potential stumbling block: if U.S. Soccer can’t come to terms with Big-Name Head Coach after the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a> (and given the flailing mess that the USSF is these days, that’s a real possibility), you can be sure that Berhalter will get serious consideration to take the USMNT job.</p>
<h4 id="p9Bsxw"><a href="https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/">New York City FC</a></h4>
<p id="JBTji0"><em>Last year:</em> 16W-9D-9L, +13 (56 for/43 against), 2nd place, 57 points. Eliminated in conference semifinals.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (433) - Johnson; Tinnerholm, Chanot, Callens, Matarrita; Herrera, Ring, Moralez; Medina, Villa, Wallace</p>
<p id="cXWirP">NYCFC may have lost <span>Jack Harrison</span>, but they’ve immediately replaced him with a Young DP winger in Jesus Medina, and boosted their defense with Anton Tinnerholm (reputedly one of the best defenders from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/sweden">Sweden</a>’s top flight) to boot. <span>Yangel Herrera</span> is back for another year of seasoning before Manchester City promotes him up their ranks.</p>
<p id="8aaBDK">Their depth pieces are mostly young and improving, with <span>Jonathan Lewis</span> looking like MLS’s best game-changing sub at the moment and youngsters like Ebenezer Ofori and Ismael Tajouri improving the midfield and wings, respectively. <span>Frederic Brillant</span> has been replaced by Cedric Hountondji, though it must be said that the Beninese international is the only natural center back available (Patrick Vieira will probably make do by moving Tinnerholm and/or <span>Ben Sweat</span> into central roles if forced to go deeper).</p>
<p id="Pu6Hjd">The Pigeons even have an insurance policy if <span>David Villa</span>, at 36, starts to fall off his Golden Boot contender goalscoring pace. Jo-Inge Berget has seen time in Serie A, the Premier League, and has recent experience in the UEFA <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> with Malmö. On most MLS teams, a guy with that resume is someone you lead off with. For NYCFC, he’s improved forward depth. This team is good, folks.</p>
<p id="NFJmlM"><em>Prognosis:</em> New York’s only MLS team will once again make the playoffs by playing stylish, possession-oriented soccer. Villa shows no signs of slowing down, and there are numerous MLS teams that would love to start NYCFC’s B-team front four of Berget, Lewis, Tajouri, and Tommy McNamara.</p>
<p id="raX6sU">What holds this team back? Their home venue at Yankee Stadium arguably makes it harder for them to play their style than a stadium that allows for a field stretched to the maximum allowable dimensions would. <span>Maxi Moralez</span> looks like a complimentary piece rather than the Designated Player he is, and the defense (even if <span>Ronald Matarrita</span> is healthy all year) feels like it needs one more piece to make the Pigeons a wholly convincing challenger for TFC.</p>
<p id="vMpzfr">That said, NYCFC feels like the second best team in MLS as far as the regular season goes. Can they finally figure out how to apply their qualities in knockout round play? Or is this team that is far more likely to pursue a Supporters Shield than an MLS Cup or Open Cup?</p>
<h4 id="TBwlfq"><a href="https://www.wakingthered.com/">Toronto FC</a></h4>
<p id="XowjWE">Last year: 20W-9D-5L, +37 (74 for/37 against), 1st place, 69 points. Supporters Shield, MLS Cup champs.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4312) - Bono; van der Wiel, Moor, Hagglund, Morrow; Delgado, Bradley, Osorio; Vazquez; Giovinco, Altidore</p>
<p id="ZzbhtH">Here’s how far the Reds are ahead of everyone else: while most teams were trying to find 2-3 new starters, they signed an attacking midfielder from a strong club in La Liga (Ager Aketxe) <em>for depth</em>. They signed Gregory van der Wiel, who has 46 caps for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/netherlands">Netherlands</a> and was in Serie A before moving to MLS, without using a Designated Player spot. And they were already arguably the best team in MLS history in 2017.</p>
<p id="wlsKeY">TFC has shown an ability to win big games playing three different formations (the diamond 442 above, the 352 that was in place for most of last season, and a 3511 when missing one of <span>Sebastian Giovinco</span> or <span>Jozy Altidore</span>). They have no problem playing with a back five late in games either. They’re deep at nearly every position, and the only starter whose age might become a worry as the year goes on (<span>Drew Moor</span>) has two pretty good young center backs vying for minutes just behind him.</p>
<p id="oXGdrw">There’s not much point beating a dead horse telling you about how this is the best team in MLS. They should be seen as overwhelming favorites to repeat last season’s triple, which was itself unprecedented. So instead, let’s talk about what could possibly derail them. Michael Bradley’s only natural back-up is 20 year old homegrown signing Liam Fraser, who hasn’t broken through for a thin Canadian program at the senior level yet. A significant injury for Bradley would throw the door wide open for the rest of the teams in this piece.</p>
<p id="hLBzZp">The possibility of Giovinco and Altidore both being injured at the same time also looms, as neither has been extraordinarily durable throughout their respective careers. <span>Tosaint Ricketts</span> is a nice option to have as a third forward, but let’s be generous and call the rest of their depth here “unproven.”</p>
<p id="0eVZuS"><em>Prognosis:</em> Like I already said, this is the best team in MLS and their expectations should be nothing less than another three trophies. We can talk about NYCFC trying to close the gap in the Shield race, or teams like Atlanta and/or Columbus being a strong playoff threat, but realistically it feels like TFC increased the gap between themselves and the rest.</p>
<p id="lgN2td">They may actually be their own biggest worry, if their shrug-worthy performance in the CCL is any indicator. There, a talent-deficient <a href="https://www.burgundywave.com/">Colorado Rapids</a> side outplayed them for about 125 or so minutes across two legs, and a disinterested Toronto side was about 3 inches from <span>Dominique Badji</span> suddenly throwing things back open when he hit the post at BMO Field during the second leg.</p>
<p id="q05I43">This isn’t the first time TFC has taken on the air of a team that feels irritated that they’re being made to play against a lesser team. Greg Vanney’s challenge this year is to keep this from happening more than a handful of times, and to limit those occasions to the first two-thirds of the season. This is obviously nit-picking, but keeping this group hungry is probably job #1 for the Toronto coaching staff. The talent here will take care of most of the rest.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/mls/2018/2/28/17056374/2018-mls-preview-toronto-fc-atlanta-united-nycfc-eastern-conference-columbus-crewJason Anderson2018-02-27T17:30:02-05:002018-02-27T17:30:02-05:002018 MLS Eastern Conference preview: D.C. United and the rest of the muddled middle
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<img alt="MLS: New York Red Bulls at D.C. United" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ocgC5ICo4rekpwi7RkbqTttBULw=/0x67:2539x1760/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58842953/usa_today_10363784.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Here’s what we expect from D.C. United’s competition for playoff spots</p> <p id="nLCrSq">Our 2018 MLS season preview series continues with a look at the Eastern Conference’s middle tier. This is where we have <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> at the moment, along with several teams undergoing what appear to be major changes. Every one of these teams has significant positives going for them, but each team listed below (in alphabetical order, not projected spot in the final standings) comes with at least one red flag.</p>
<h4 id="vDSRfL"><a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a></h4>
<p id="uBq42w"><em>Last year:</em> 16W-7D-11L, +14 (61 for/47 against), 3rd place, 55 points. Eliminated in knockout round.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Sanchez; Polster, Kappelhof, Campbell, Vincent; Schweinsteiger, McCarty; Katai, Bakero, Solignac; Nikolic</p>
<p id="OPXQvS">Chicago appears to have regressed this offseason. Aside from Schweinsteiger and McCarty both getting a year older after their previous teams decided it was time to cut bait before the aging cliff comes, there’s a real issue on the wings. David Accam is in Philadelphia, Michael de Leeuw is going to miss much of the season with a torn ACL from last year, and Arturo Alvarez landed in Houston.</p>
<p id="tLyX1e">On top of that, Joao Meira has left (though <span>Jonathan Campbell</span> and Grant Lillard might be long-term upgrades at center back), they’re handing the attacking midfield role to rookie <span>Jon Bakero</span>, and they failed to address their glaring goalkeeper problem. There’s also virtually no depth, as youngster <span>Djordje Mihailovic</span> will be out even longer than de Leeuw due to an ACL tear on the final day of the 2017 regular season.</p>
<p id="5DleEo">What went right? <span>Nemanja Nikolic</span> is probably going to put up 17+ goals, and <span>Aleksandar Katai</span> (despite the CV of a journeyman) is coming over from La Liga club Alaves to take over their right wing. <span>Matt Polster</span> and <span>Brandon Vincent</span> will continue to get better, and winger <span>Daniel Johnson</span> is going to surprise some people.</p>
<p id="hdUWf1"><em>Prognosis:</em> Normally a team that regresses like the Fire did this winter is a team that falls out of the playoff pack. However, Chicago might be bailed out by other teams falling off even more than they did, and 2017’s cohort of bad teams not all getting markedly better (spoiler: Orlando and United were the only non-playoff teams to take more than one step forward this winter). Right now, I think they luck into a playoff berth, but the gap between the East’s top 5 and everyone else will look more like a chasm.</p>
<h4 id="1n7HKr">D.C. United</h4>
<p id="HQkjrp"><em>Last year:</em> 9W-5D-20L, -29 (31 for/60 against), 11th place, 32 points.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4141) - Ousted; DeLeon, Brillant, Birnbaum, Kemp; Canouse; Arriola, Segura, Acosta, Asad; Mattocks</p>
<p id="uXDy0W">Given how 2016 was about United’s ceiling while 2017 was about the (sub-basement) floor, let’s talk ceilings and floors:</p>
<p id="pOBQyT">I see the ceiling for the Darren Mattocks/<span>Patrick Mullins</span> strike pairing as around 22 goals/10 assists between the two of them. The floor is probably around 9 goals/4 assists. Of course, if United opts for a big-time summer move, we might never find out how they’d do over a full season. I will say that United’s vastly improved midfield, which has improved both in terms of surface-level creativity and as a platform for creative play (Ulises Segura has routinely had the “pass before the pass” throughout preseason), is going to create chances for them.</p>
<p id="1BmEDM">In goal, I see the ceiling for David Ousted (and/or Steve Clark, since I’m not 100% sure this issue is settled) as top 5 MLS goalkeeper, possibly even an outside shot at a GKotY nomination. The floor is somewhere in the muddled middle. If Clark emerges as the starter, I’d recommend getting into yoga or meditation, because he will produce the spectacular and the bizarre.</p>
<p id="QOSxLd">The biggest ceiling/floor question mark, though, is undoubtedly Steve Birnbaum. His fall last season was stunning and inexplicable, and United can’t afford for him to have anything less than a strong bounce-back this year. So far in the preseason, he looks to have made progress, but at the same time I’d stop well short of saying he’s been at his best. He’s been alright, but a playoff spot is going to need more than “alright” from him and new partner Frederic Brillant. Right now, I’m more concerned with the defense than I am the attack.</p>
<p id="0DSl8i"><em>Prognosis:</em> I’ve spent the last month feeling like United is going to be a) much better than 2017 and b) not quite good enough to get themselves into the playoffs. This has crystallized into maybe the most rock-solid feeling about a final standings spot I have for any team in MLS: 8th place, 4 points out of the playoffs. I expect a thrilling late summer/early fall run-in, where United gets hot enough to be in the thick of the playoff race, but that Decision Day road game at Chicago coming on the back of so many at home feels like a gut punch waiting to happen.</p>
<h4 id="Ab44PZ"><a href="https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/">Montreal Impact</a></h4>
<p id="XahhvI"><em>Last year:</em> 11W-6D-17L, -6 (52 for/58 against), 9th place, 39 points.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Bush; Petrasso, Cabrera, Diallo, Raitala; Piette, Taïder; Edwards, Vargas, Piatti; Mancosu</p>
<p id="a5tCju">There are six new starters in that projected eleven, while defensive midfielder Samuel Piette only joined late last season. Some are good: Algerian international Saphir Taïder, at just 25 years old, has played over 100 games in Serie A, so he should be another example of owner Joey Saputo’s leveraging the fact that he owns two clubs (his other is Italian club Bologna, where Taïder was previously). Michael Petrasso is an upgrade at right back, Raheem Edwards is a speedy compliment to their attack, and Jeisson Vargas could be a very exciting addition.</p>
<p id="mouedt">However, it seems like there are too many question marks here. Vargas, at 20, may not be ready to be a full-time starter (in fact, Montreal has spent more time in the preseason playing a 433 with draft pick Ken Krolicki, a box-to-box player, starting alongside Taïder with Piette playing deeper). <span>Laurent Ciman</span> has been replaced by Zakaria Diallo, whose experience in Ligue 2 is a big drop-off from a current Belgian international. Putting aside the wonder that is <span>Ignacio Piatti</span>, the other holdovers (<span>Evan Bush</span>, Victor Cabrera, and <span>Matteo Mancosu</span>) are all...fine. The loss of Blerim Dzemaili looms, no matter how good Taïder is.</p>
<p id="xp5IPH">I also have questions about how this is all supposed to fit together going forward. Piatti often creates for himself; Mancosu and Anthony Jackson-Hamel don’t rack up many assists; Vargas is supposedly more of a goalscorer than creator; Taïder is more goal-scoring midfielder than creative #8; and Edwards is a complimentary piece. Who is supposed to pull the strings here? If Piatti going to have to focus more on assists than goals? It seems like Remi Garde, himself a question mark since he’s never been involved with MLS before, has a lot to sort out.</p>
<p id="ZFj0qr"><em>Prognosis:</em> This feels too much like a work in progress for me to say the Impact gets to the playoffs. There are just too many things that have to go right all at once, much like what we’re looking at here with the Black-and-Red. Piatti and Taïder could haul this group over the red line and into 6th place (like I said above, I see the East being five really strong teams, and then the rest), but I think they’re going to come up short.</p>
<h4 id="PJCHf3"><a href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a></h4>
<p id="VftVO0">Last year: 14W-8D-12L, +6 (53 for/47 against), 6th place, 50 points. Eliminated in the conference semifinals (lol)<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Robles; Murillo, Collin, Long, Lawrence; Felipe, Adams; Muyl, Kaku, Royer; Wright-Phillips</p>
<p id="73uoOw">For the second straight season, the Red Bulls have jettisoned their captain, and in both cases the player a) was in their central midfield and b) went to a conference rival. There’s an argument for NYRB moving players over 30 out the door before they fall off rather than after, but it’s harder to defend when <span>Dax McCarty</span> helps resurrect Chicago, or when <span>Sacha Kljestan</span> is a key piece to Orlando’s rebuild.</p>
<p id="tB5CJW">The 3331 formation from last season appears to be on the back burner for the time being, with <span>Jesse Marsch</span> returning to the 4231 of past seasons. However, the bigger news is the addition of Argentine under-20 Kaku after an absurdly protracted transfer saga. The 23 year old has a reputation as a winger, but it seems that the Red Bulls will be playing him in Kljestan’s old spot. The pressure is on, as the newcomer has to replace the player who has produced the most key passes in MLS over the past few years.</p>
<p id="gi6ow0">As for their other moves, there’s a reason to question them. Marc Rzatkowski is this year’s “NYRB gets a player from Red Bull Salzburg on loan” acquisition, none of which have ever panned out before. <span>Carlos Rivas</span> and <span>Tommy Redding</span> came in the exchange that sent Kljestan south, but Rivas is probably never going to be anything other than maddening, and Redding is still not ready for prime time yet.</p>
<p id="h1zIaK"><em>Prognosis:</em> Last year’s team was worse than 2016’s, and unless Kaku has a Nicolas Lodeiro-level ease with adjustment to MLS, it seems like this year’s team is worse than last year’s. <span>Bradley Wright-Phillips</span> turns 33 in about two weeks, which is not a promising situation for a team that only has one other scoring threat (the underrated <span>Daniel Royer</span>). BWP has shown no signs of getting too old just yet, but we’ve seen plenty of top MLS players have drastic fall-offs that come out of nowhere at this age.</p>
<p id="4jVrH3">On top of that, with <span>Michael Murillo</span> and <span>Fidel Escobar</span> probably heading to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a>, a thin defense will be stretched even more than usual during the summer months. <span>Aurelien Collin</span>, who already looks like a declining force, still feels indispensable. What happens during his seemingly inevitable injury absence(s)?</p>
<p id="AiH3O0">It seems from the outside that the Red Bull organization has overestimated either the players on their roster or Marsch’s ability to make it all work. There’s a Jenga feel to this Red Bulls team, and I’m on record as saying they miss the playoffs. That’s not an expectation based on a dislike for the team, either. Put this roster, coaching staff, and infrastructure in, say, Dallas or KC, and I’d say the same.</p>
<h4 id="amlZkR"><a href="https://www.themaneland.com/">Orlando City SC</a></h4>
<p id="WgjQDY">Last year: 10W-9D-15L, -19 (39 for/58 against), 10th place, 39 points.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Bendik; Sutter, Spector, Sane, Toia; Rosell, Yotun; Colman, Kljestan, Meram; Dwyer</p>
<p id="DuzKD6">The offseason champs did a number on what was the worst team in MLS from May onward last year. The entire attacking midfield corps has been remodeled, and they made two of the biggest defensive signings in the league this winter by signing Werder Bremen center back Lamine Sane and former <a href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a> anchor man Uri Rosell (who has spent the last five years with Portuguese giant Sporting Clube).</p>
<p id="9MN2yj">Those midfield changes are positives for more than just strict on-field reasons. Kljestan and Justin Meram both joined the Lions from other playoff teams in the East, while Josue Colman (a 19 year old Young DP) fits the sort of progressive mold (i.e. he’s a player that can be developed and sold at a profit) that teams around the MLS are going for these days. It’s smart business for a club that both wants to win ASAP — make no mistake, Jason Kreis enters this season with the hottest seat in the league — and that wants to have a more sustainable future.</p>
<p id="xWmlcj">Orlando improved their depth as well. <span>Will Johnson</span> and <span>Dillon Powers</span> are probably not going to start this season, unless the preseason rumors of 4231 (Orlando has made every effort to keep their preseason lineups a secret) actually end up being a smokescreen. Draft pick Chris Mueller has drawn rave reviews during the preseason, and highly touted youngsters like Cam Lindley and Pierre da Silva might not see more than 500 minutes between them.</p>
<p id="yM65H2">That’s not to say their offseason has been perfect. <span>Dom Dwyer</span> has managed to pull a hamstring and a quad before the season begins, and he’ll be out for the season opener. The only out-and-out striker depth on the team is Stefano Pinho, who has had plenty of NASL success. However, while Christian Ramirez’s success translated when moving up the ranks, there have been several NASL Best XI players who were simply not up to MLS standard (just look at Minnesota’s 2017 roster).</p>
<p id="0vqN9E">Maybe more alarming is the lack of center back depth. With Jose Aja traded to Vancouver, Orlando’s entire list of center backs is Sane, Spector, and <span>Amro Tarek</span> (who didn’t look good enough for MLS during his time in Columbus in 2016). Rosell played center back in his youth days, and our friends at The Mane Land have indicated that left back <span>Donny Toia</span> is being given some training reps in the middle, but neither of those options is palatable. With Orlando’s years-long tendency towards having more muscular injuries than just about anyone in the league, an injury crisis could sabotage all their good off-field work.</p>
<p id="hG8cJA"><em>Prognosis:</em> There’s so much talent on this roster that it’s hard to pick against Orlando. Even if Pinho can’t duplicate his NASL success while Dwyer is out in the early going, the chances that will be created for him should be good enough for the Lions to stay afloat through March. Kljestan and Meram are going to torment opposing defenses, and if Colman needs an adjustment period, Mueller can plug in straight away. We haven’t even mentioned <span>Yoshimar Yotun</span>, who is one of the best #8s in MLS.</p>
<p id="F4R2wF">While there is heavy pressure on Kreis to start the season well, there is also a solid reason to expect him to succeed. On paper, Sane and Spector should be among the best center back pairings in the league, and they’ll be helped by Rosell. The holdovers from last year were good choices (particularly right back <span>Scott Sutter</span>).</p>
<p id="9u41Ml">If anything, it’s a bit unfair to include Orlando in this middle group. I think they have a solid claim to being one of the East’s five high-end teams. The only reason they’re down here is a nagging sense, between their history with injuries, a tendency towards having too many off-field distractions, and a few rocky seasons for Kreis since he left RSL, that something could go wrong. If they avoid the pitfalls, the Lions have the hallmarks of a playoff team (and one that might make a bit of a run once they’re there).</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/mls/2018/2/27/17054890/2018-mls-preview-dc-united-eastern-conference-orlando-city-rbny-chicago-fire-montreal-impactJason Anderson2018-02-27T10:00:02-05:002018-02-27T10:00:02-05:002018 MLS Eastern Conference preview: Here’s who should expect to struggle
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<img alt="MLS: Philadelphia Union at New England Revolution" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0dnCluY-fDTonE3jbp7PZB1b6uQ=/0x0:1700x1133/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58834511/usa_today_10185802.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It doesn’t look like it’ll be a good year to wear dark blue</p> <p id="e1tPpQ">The 2018 MLS season is nearly upon us. As this is being typed, Toronto and Columbus will kick off the league’s 23rd season in under 114 hours. <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> will get underway against <a href="https://www.themaneland.com/">Orlando City</a> later that evening. As such, it’s time to run the rule over the league’s 23 clubs and try to sort the wheat from the chaff.</p>
<p id="xgVzDP">This series will be in six parts, splitting both the Eastern and Western Conferences in half and going from there in three groups: the teams that will struggle, the iffy teams that will straddle the red line, and the genuine front-runners. Right now, we’ll start with the teams that look set to finish near the bottom of the East. After that, we’ll start the whole process over out west.</p>
<p id="KoB16I">Without further delay, let’s get to it:</p>
<h4 id="rQMnoJ"><a href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a></h4>
<p id="m8Nhkc"><em>Last year:</em> 13W-6D-15L, -8 (53 for/61 against), 7th place, 45 points.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Cropper; Farrell, Delamea, Dielna, Somi; Zahibo, Caldwell; Bunbury, Rowe, Fagundez; Agudelo</p>
<p id="1ivku0"><a href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/revolution-commentary/2018/2/26/17052302/revolution-preview-2018-lee-nguyen-mls-playoffs">The Bent Musket</a> brings us a start statement about the Revs: despite giving up 61 goals (that’s more than anyone in the East), they’ve made precisely one change to their back four. Swedish-born Syrian left back Gabriel Somi is the only new face, and New England gave up 2+ goals in three different preseason games (including to San Antonio FC of the USL).</p>
<p id="lRgmnB">Elsewhere, new defensive midfielder Wilfred Zahibo got a red card within 10 minutes of his preseason debut, and that appears to point towards something the Revolution committed to throughout the preseason. Brad Friedel is not going to re-invent the wheel, or even change formation. What he does appear to want to change is to make his team hyper-physical (he’d probably just call it “committed” or “brave”). The Revs apparently want to dive in on tackles and be aggressive in an attempt to get themselves an advantage.</p>
<p id="L5JHjP">That’s an old-school MLS move, and speaking of old-school, Friedel has responded to Lee Nguyen’s holdout by refusing to grant him a move. Nguyen eventually reported, but was left to build his fitness in New England while the rest of the team finished up camp in warmer climes. Because of that, expect <span>Kelyn Rowe</span> to start the season as their attacking midfielder. There is real depth here, as <span>Krisztian Nemeth</span> and Cristian Penilla will join Nguyen in fighting for time underneath <span>Juan Agudelo</span> (who will finally be regarded as the undisputed starting #9).</p>
<p id="aKZlC9">Is that enough?</p>
<p id="BK0M3g"><em>Prognosis:</em> No, it is not. Despite all the talk over the years about how much attacking talent New England has, the only consistent game-breaker has been Nguyen. If he’s unhappy, it’s doubtful that he’ll produce at the near-MVP level he did last year. On top of that, the defense has no standouts, goals will dry up whenever Agudelo is injured (and he usually picks up at least one muscle strain a season), and Friedel has no experience coaching in MLS or any professional club team. Too many things have to go right for this team to sniff the playoffs, much less get in.</p>
<h4 id="XReOU2"><a href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Philadelphia Union</a></h4>
<p id="4UMEMx">Last year: 11W-9D-14L, +3 (50 for/47 against), 8th place, 42 points.<br><em>Likely starters:</em> (4231) - Blake; Rosenberry, Elliott, Trusty, Fabinho; Medunjanin, Bedoya; Picault, Fontana, Accam; Sapong</p>
<p id="xXoylS">The fact that last year’s Union finished with a positive goal difference is stunning, because last year’s Union was not a good team. That’s not to say they lack for talent, though. <span>CJ Sapong</span> was the best USMNT-eligible goalscorer in MLS last year, while <span>Andre Blake</span> is probably the best goalkeeper in MLS now that <span>Bill Hamid</span> is playing in Denmark. Haris Medunjanin is a sublimely talented passer and set piece taker, and <span>Alejandro Bedoya</span> (like him or not) has been part of the USMNT for years due to his all-around game.</p>
<p id="m2Vpx1">To that group, they’ve added <span>David Accam</span>, who has been MLS’s best left winger not named <span>Ignacio Piatti</span> for the past two years. So what’s the problem? Well, Accam is their entire offseason. Aside from Accam, they promoted Cory Burke from Bethlehem Steel and signed some homegrown players. It looks likely that the Union will sign Czech midfielder Borek Dockal to add to their ranks, but it remains to be seen whether he’s as good as those five or, like <span>Roland Alberg</span> before him, another poor signing for Philly.</p>
<p id="8NjlEQ">As currently built, Philadelphia will field five starters who could get into most MLS teams (Blake, Medunjanin, Bedoya, Accam, and Sapong) and six who are either projects for the future (US under-20 <span>Auston Trusty</span> is one to watch), run-of-the-mill MLS players, or a substantial question mark (Dockal). It’s the kind of roster-building strategy MLS teams began to grow out of a decade ago.</p>
<p id="XQIg5m"><em>Prognosis:</em> The Union will always play hard, and they’ll occasionally get wins when their star-caliber players all perform on the same day, but this is the team with the least talent in the East. It really does drop off after their five big names, and even those five come with some issues. Sapong, for example, has gone ice cold at times in his career. Medunjanin and Bedoya are very good players, but they’re not exactly rock-solid when it comes to shielding a back four that desperately needs to be shielded.</p>
<p id="8VXtB0">There are positives about Philly, believe it or not. Their suddenly heavy reliance on homegrown players (we haven’t even talked about <span>Derrick Jones</span>) will make for tough results in 2018, but it should also pay off in 2019 and beyond. But this preview is about 2018, and in 2018 the main thing that will keep them from getting the Wooden Spoon is some worse teams out west.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/mls/2018/2/27/17055730/2018-mls-eastern-conference-preview-new-england-revolution-philadelphia-unionJason Anderson