With the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League about to kick-off CSN ranks the 24 teams involved. See our picks below the jump:
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1. Monterrey
One of Mexico’s all-time great clubs and currently playing at the top of its game. CSN’s (really early) pick for CCL champion.
2. UNAM
Not only do they have the best strips in football (no, really), but have also been solid over the past 12-months (last 6-years, really). In a hyper-competitive Mexican league, it’s hard to ignore Pumas.
3. Morelia
Not exactly a traditional power, but a club seemingly on the raise. They’re Mexican, so don;t look past them as a possible winner.
4. Santos Laguna
Maybe the best overall Mexican team of last 5-years, but they don’t seem to be able to get over the hump in CONCACAF.
5. Alajuelense
Lately Costa Rica’s “other” team, but historically every bit a power. The big two in Costa Rica continue to appear as the most likely to end Mexico’s dominance.
6. Los Angeles Galaxy
It all comes down to what kind of effort they put into it. If the Galaxy respect the competition, they could easily be this year’s Salt Lake. Few think they will respect the competition.
7. Motagua
TFC fans should be familiar with the traditional Honduran No 3. However, they’ve improved in the last 12 months and look to be the best hope outside of Costa Rica, Mexico and MLS.
8. FC Dallas
If you want a true sleeper, Dallas might be it. Like in league play they will surprise teams if they don’t play them seriously. Like LA, there is some question as to how much stock they will put into the competition.
9. Real España
Not on the same form as Motagua, but the Honduran league can bite you in the you-know-where if you don’t take its teams seriously.
10. Seattle Sounders FC
They will take it seriously, but one wonders whether it’s realistic for a MLS team to chase every competition in the way that the Sounders do. That said, they could easily make this pick look foolish.
11. Herediano
A wildcard. They got by Saprissa to get into the competition, and that’s something, but they’ve been a clear No 3 or worse in Costa Rica for many, many years. Are they ready to compete with the region’s best? It’s possible, but we’ll need to see more before we’re willing to bet on it.
12. Puerto Rico Islanders
This is a team that lives for this competition and plays a style that is designed to frustrate more talented opposition. They do it well and have knocked off some giants (relatively speaking). The issue is that the talent isn’t there to have a real chance of winning. It’s hard to win the way they win and they eventually run out of miracles. No one wants to draw them though .
13. Colorado Rapids
They are banged up and unlikely to take the competition at all seriously. An argument can be made for the Rapids to be lower, but on the off chance they do play the first team No 13 seems about right. They won’t though.
14. Olimpia
Olimpa remain a power in Honduras, but have not been a major player in the region for some time. Motagua is the team in Honduras to watch this year.
15. Municipal
The best team in Guatemala. That’s worth a CCL spot, but one as a well known minnow.
16. Toronto FC
An easy draw makes the group stage likely, but Pumas and FC Dallas in the group will be tough. If you’re reading this we likely don’t need to tell you about TFC’s ever changing line-up and defensiveness horror show. The only reason to think Toronto could make a mark in the CCL is because “it’s all they have left to play for.” That’s not enough.
17. Tauro
Panama is a baseball country, really. The domestic league is improving (as is the quality of the sport overall), but still a step behind. They will likely rely on the old reliable tactics of sitting back, diving all over and generally annoying the opposition.
18. Comunicaciones
A Guatemalan power that had a bit of a step back and is now coming around. But, they are Guatemala. They have enough experience to not embarrass themselves, but are not likely to go far either.
19. Alianza
They made their return to the top of El Salvadorian football after a seven year draught. Good for them, but not good enough.
20. San Francisco
We hate to stereotype, but we pretty much covered it with the other Panamanian team. San Fransico has some experience and has loaded up domestically, but are still a step behind the top 10 or so. The thing about CONCACAF, however, is most of the next 10 can pull an upset, especially at home.
21. Isidro Metapán
Relatively new to the scene, coming from a weak league, and lacking any substantial history. It’s difficult to justify a higher ranking.
22. Real Esteli
As outlined in an article yesterday, the Nicaraguan league is likely the second weakest, outside of the Caribbean, in CONCACAF (Belize would be the weakest). This ranking reflects that.
23. Alpha United
We’re not going to pretend to know much about the Guyana league, but it is kind of neat that the CONCACAF Champions League includes a team from South America. They played Puerto Rico fairly well in the Caribbean championship, which is all we can really look at. The great thing about the CCL is fans get exposed to teams from different places and Alpha United, regardless of talent, will do just that this year.
24. Tempête
They are the three time champions of Haiti. That’s all we have.