With a week to go before First Kick it’s time to roll out out predictions for the 2011 MLS season. Over the next four days we will provide our rankings of each team from 18 to 1. A more comprehensive preview of the Canadian MLS teams will be presented next week.
Each Canadian Soccer News writer submitted their rankings and those were added to the votes of our readers to determine the final order. After the final part of the preview is released on Friday the fan’s rankings will be revealed so we can compare what readers thought versus what the so-called experts decided.
Today we start with the bottom – number 18-14
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]No 18 – Chivas USA
There is no there, there with Chivas. Preki huffed and puffed his way into terrorizing the no-name Goats into a couple solid years, but he’s gone now. And the problem with Preki-ball is that it’s cynical and unsustainable. It’s going to take another year for Chivas to recover from him.
This is a club with just average defence, terrible keeping and next to no offensive creativity. So, they’ll be boring, let in bad goals and struggle to score. That’s not good.
No 17 – New England Revolution
Shalrie Joseph was arrested for allegedly refusing to leave the hallway of the team’s hotel after he’d been kicked out of a party at 3 a.m. This is the Revs captain. Although the story that has since trickled out from the Revs camp seems to paint a picture of an overzealous cop you have to question the judgement and leadership of Joseph to ever be in a position to have a run-in win cops at 3 a.m.
You hate to pile on, but this is what Steve Nicol is dealing with. Well, that and a general lack of talent. The Revs are weak in all positions and, if history is any indication, New England fans should not expect reinforcements in the summer.
Nicol has squeezed a lot out of a little in the past, but 2011 seems too big of an ask.
No 16 – DC United
A lot will depend on Charlie Davies. If the American international can re-find his pre-accident form United could make this pick look foolish. However, without a massive improvement on the back-line there is only so far the original MLS dynasty can climb.
Of interest also will be the play of Andy Najar. Still a teen the talent is there. However, the maturity might still be developing (if his “what country should I play for” Twitter stunt is any indication anyway). It’s likely a bit much to expect a player to lead a team to the playoffs before they are old enough to vote.
No. 15 – Chicago Fire
The Fire loaded up for a run at the cup in 2009 and they are still paying the price for that. Gone are the expensive and older talent that formed the backbone of that side.
They are young and green. Sometimes in MLS young teams can surprise, but questions at every position – including the manager – make it difficult to see for the Fire in 2011.
Of interest will be watching Chicago’s home form. Over the past two years the Fire have really struggled at home, which goes way off form in a league that sees about 75 percent of home teams win. Creating a home fortress is an absolute necessity for any team – especially those that are as talent thin as Chicago.
No 14 – Vancouver Whitecaps
The Caps are doing things a little differently than other MLS expansion teams and, as such, they are hard to handicap. Although some people see the ‘Caps as capable of matching Seattle’s remarkable success out of the gate in 2009, most are defaulting to a wait and see attitude. Most expansion teams are horrible. There isn’t overwhelming evidence to suggest the ‘Caps will be any different.
This is a club that struggled to score at the D2 level and hasn’t added an established MLS scorer. That includes French DP Eric Hassli. Maybe Hassli converts his form from the Swiss league in 2009; maybe he doesn’t. If the Caps are to compete the way some of their fans thing they will, he absolutely needs to do something special.
Where the Caps will be solid is at the back. Jay DeMerit is a player that any club in the league would have wanted and Vancouver knows how to play defensive football. They likely won’t allow many goals.
They’ll just score even fewer.
Tomorrow No 13 to No 9...