MLSÆs new divisional alignment has weakened the challenge in the West to the Los Angeles Galaxy, which should face little resistance to its reign now that the Chicago Fire and Dallas Burn, its chief rivals, have departed. The Galaxy, MLS Cup finalists in 1999, expects to be better, while its Western Division opposition ù the Colorado Rapids, San Jose Earthquakes and Kansas City Wizards ù works at rebuilding in quests for postseason life.
Colorado
Same old story in infirmary The Colorado Rapids finished last season with a goalless span that, including their playoff losses to Los Angeles, stands at 679 minutes and counting. Coach Glenn ôMoochö Myernick has to wonder how much longer it can go on.
He strengthened his front line, nabbing speedy forward Henry Zambrano from the MetroStars to complement Julio Dely Valdes, but the spate of injuries that has wracked his squad promises that the going will be very tough early on.
ôIÆve never experienced this before,ö grumbled Myernick, who has had as few as 13 healthy players for training. ôItÆs very, very frustrating. ItÆs difficult to do tactical preparation when youÆve got 13 players on the field.ö
The midfield is particularly hard-hit, with three regulars ù Anders Limpar (hamstring), Ross Paule (patella) and Joey DiGiamarino (ankle) ù missing and a fourth, Paul Bravo, just back from injury. Limpar and Paule might be ready by opening day; the status of DiGiamarino, who hasnÆt played since October, isnÆt so clear.
Then thereÆs defender David Vaudreuil, out with a torn calf muscle. And Wes Hart, one of three first-round draft choices, dealing with tendinitis.
This is nothing new for the Rapids, who last season lost a combined 50 starts to injury by Bravo, Limpar, DiGiamarino, Paule and Jason Bent. They led the West from June to September, falling to fourth as they scored just three times in their final 13 games.
Myernick dumped seven players from that team (including captain Peter Vermes, Matt McKeon and Wolde Harris) and picked up Zambrano, defender Scott Vermillion (from Kansas City), goalkeeper David Kramer (San Jose) and midfielder Jason Moore (D.C. United).
Moore and Kevin Anderson figure to start in LimparÆs and PauleÆs absences.
The biggest acquisition arrived in the draft: Olympic team goalkeeper Adin Brown, who will share duties initially with Kramer. Fourth-round pick Lance Key will start in VaudreuilÆs absence. There remains space for one foreigner and a discovery option Myernick would like to use on an attacking midfielder.
There is depth, when there is health, in the back and in midfield. Chris Martinez, who fell from 28 starts in 1998 to eight in 1999, will step into VermesÆ shoes, next to Marcelo Balboa in the center of defense. Bent moves from right back to defensive midfielder.
Everything remains tentative; it could take weeks before the Rapids are ready to flow. Likely theyÆll have scored by then.
Kansas City
Aging Wizards get younger Bob Gansler believes he has satisfied the Kansas City WizardsÆ gravest needs after successive last-place finishes in the West. A turnaround could rely upon how well the teamÆs aging anchors hold on.
The Wizards have become appreciably younger in the back despite the addition of 33-year-old Peter Vermes; Olympic hopeful Chris Brown appears ready to battle for a starting job up front.
This nonetheless remains an aging team, with Vermes paired with Uche Okafor (32) in central defense, Mo Johnston (36) and Preki (36) playing key roles in midfield, and Alex Bunbury (32) vying with Brown to play opposite Danish allocation Miklos Molnar. Even Tony Meola has hit 31, prime territory for goalkeepers.
Vermes offers strong leadership capabilities while taking over for retired Alexi Lalas; he arrived from Colorado with original Wizard Matt McKeon, who will play alongside Johnston in center midfield.
Molnar, the most significant addition, is a direct, aggressive forward who has scored at will during spring training. That may bode well for a team whose attack slumped from 57 goals in 1997 ù when the Wizards finished first in the West ù to 45 in æ98 and 33 in æ99.
PrekiÆs output has declined every year, and last season he managed just seven goals (25 points). His primary role will be as a spark off the bench.
ôI told him, æItÆs not so important that you start, itÆs more important that you finish,Æö Gansler said. ôWeÆll see if itÆs the right role for him.ö
Meola, recovered from knee surgery, has been rejuvenated by his return to the national team. His defense ù either 3- or 4-man ù will look young out wide, with Indiana All-American Nick Garcia and John Wilson, both first-round draft selections, in contention with sophomore Brandon Prideaux for playing time.
Chris Klein, only 24, could be a consistent scorer on the right flank; veteran Chris Henderson is reuniting with Molnar, his teammate four years ago in the German Second Division.
The Wizards want to be better at possessing the ball; to do so, Gansler went after versatile players and has been rewarded with depth. If everything clicks, they could provide L.A. its stiffest competition in the West.
ôItÆs now a matter of refining what we have,ö Gansler said. ôWe felt we needed to address our forwards, finding a complement to Bunbury, and certainly on defense. On paper, we feel weÆve done that.ö
Los Angeles
Same as the old boss The Los Angeles Galaxy, still the best bet to challenge D.C. UnitedÆs MLS supremacy, has gotten younger, deeper and more talented while surrendering just one key figure from the team that reached the MLS Cup last fall.
The Galaxy won three of four regular-season titles in the Western Conference, including the last two, and everybody of importance ù except forward Carlos Hermosillo ù returns from a team that allowed a record-low 29 goals in 1999.
Whether or not a promised allocation arrives, anything less than the championship would be a disappointment.
ôOne of the things we want to establish for our team,ö said Coach Sigi Schmid, ôis that we have the kind of ability and attitude and call it panache that we expect to win, and that winning is what we want to be about. Right now, the epitome of that in the league is D.C. United, and we want to get to that same plateau.ö
Schmid answered concerns about the GalaxyÆs age down the middle by drafting three Olympic hopefuls and changing attacking tactics.
L.A. figures to be much more mobile up front, as when they scored 85 goals in 1998. Roy Myers has been given a free role in attack, with strikers Clint Mathis, by nature a creative midfielder, and Cobi Jones adjusting to his decisions.
Schmid expects increased output from Jones (8 goals and 8 assists last season after netting 19 and 13 in æ98). Between the two forwards, Schmid says, ôwe need between 25 and 30 goals.ö
Roles could change if a Mexican forward arrives ù maneuvers to acquire Jose Manuel Abundis collapsed with a knee injury.
To get younger, Schmid let Hermosillo (35) return to Mexico and drafted Project-40 defender Dan Califf and UCLA midfielders Sasha Victorine and Peter Vagenas as successors to playmaker Mauricio Cienfuegos (32), defensive midfielder Danny Pena (31) and central defenders Robin Fraser (33) and Paul Caligiuri (36). Victorine, the MAC Award winner, appears likeliest to contribute immediately, in midfield or up front.
The Galaxy had to let potential superstar DaMarcus Beasley, just 17, get away to pick up Califf. Vagenas is seen as an understudy to Cienfuegos who also can spell Pena, Simon Elliott or Joe Franchino behind the Salvadoran.
Schmid has returned to a four-man back line, with left back Greg Vanney, Steve Jolley or Califf ready should Fraser or Caligiuri need a break.
International commitments and the Olympics could severely hamper Galaxy depth.
San Jose
New dawn? Just rebuilding The San Jose Earthquakes are hoping a new moniker signals a new dawn for the perennial stragglers, but itÆs going to take more than a name change to contend in the West.
Lothar Osiander, who took over for Brian Quinn last fall after San Jose ù then the Clash ù failed to reach the MLS playoffs for the third successive season, understands this. Rebuilding, he reminds, takes time.
TheyÆll often have to do without one or more of their three most important players ù winger Eddie Lewis, Salvadoran forward Ronald Cerritos and Costa Rican defender Mauricio Wright ù and Osiander lacks depth except in defense.
ôIÆve got 20 or 21 players that are identical except for [Lewis and Wright],ö says Osiander, who guided the Galaxy into the first MLS Cup. ôTheyÆre all good, but not outstanding, players.
ôAs a unit, I think weÆll do well, but the problem is we need a couple guys who freakinÆ elevate the game.ö
A promised allocation up top would help ù Iranian Khodadad Azizi is expected. Until one arrives, discovery signing Abdul Thompson Conteh is CerritosÆ likely partner.
Cerritos has 40 goals and 31 assists in three seasons, but El SalvadorÆs World Cup qualifying schedule could keep him from many EarthquakesÆ matches. A breakthrough year from either Project-40 forward, Scott Bower or Esmundo Rodriguez, would help.
So would something special from Dario Brose, who made little impact last season after seven years in Europe. The attacking midfield spot is BroseÆs to keep, but a change in tactics awaits if he fails. Osiander might look for a foreign playmaker if Costa Rican midfielder Mauricio SolisÆ foot injury doesnÆt soon heal.
The defense should be sturdier. Wright, whose propensity to go forward sometimes led to trouble, will be anchored next to captain John Doyle, 33, who delayed retirement to play for Osiander. Jimmy Conrad can spell Doyle when needed.
First-round draft choice Travis Mulraine, one of two Trinidadians Osiander grabbed, will play in front of a 3-, 4- or 5-man back line, and A-League veteran Justin Evans will back him up.
Wade Barrett, who shared defensive midfielder duties with indoor departure Braeden Cloutier, was moved to left back when neither defensive draft selection panned out. Barrett is expected to provide better cover for Lewis, who is much more effective when he can focus on attacking.
by Soccer America senior editor Scott French