I can't predict how we will do until I know what Landon decides. Obv we will be a good team in any case, but his presence/absence is an very big factor in exactly how good we will be. One aspect of this is that Keano's expected # of goals for the upcoming season is probably 5 to 10 higher if Landon is on the field to provide him with service. Really, really hope Landon is with us on opening day!
I'd like to be playing for the Supporter's Shield this year and worrying about that race in the final weeks rather than trying to make the playoffs. However, that may not be possible if we wait until summer to fill DB's spot and Donovan takes a few months to come back.
Wow, not a single person on this poll believes we will will the Shield this year: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...2Bpost&utm_campaign=Twitter-MLSsoccer%2Btweet
I think one person picked a team in the West. The east still looks more uneven in quality this year while again the West looks stacked, so I would probably pick a team in the east as well...
Well, when our expectations by the league are low, that's when we are able to take advantage of the reduced pressure on us.
The joys of an unbalanced schedule. That's why our two Shields are the only legitimate ones in the history of the league. Remind me to care about the Shield again if the schedule ever gets balanced again. (Which, given travel times and economics is not really very likely I think.)
I don't usually make predictions. Partly out of respect for the Red Barber tradition. Partly because I don't want to use my head (at least on LAG games), I want to use my heart. BUT, I will make one semi-prediction. Put it in the "I hope" category. I hope/think that this will be a big year for Sarvas. Barring injury, he will get more minutes (at least in the first half of the season), he and Juni have good chemistry, and he now knows the league and knows what to expect. Maybe even he has a better reading on the refs and will know not to cross the line into the card zone too often.
2013 MVP Predictions: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlssoccer-com-editors-predict-2013-101138382--mls.html Looks like a tie between Keane and Henry. LD is mentioned in there as well!
Have to admit, unhappy that I am about Donovan’s not being here on Sunday if he has rediscovered his passion for the game MLS could be in for a shock. I fully expect LD to take the all-time leading goal tally this season.
I agree. Usually the 2nd season is when a quality foreign player really figures out MLS and shines... I agree on this as well.
I think we may have a tough time with the Shield due to Donovan being out and not having a 3rd DP until summer....although I wouldn't rule out a late run to it ala 2010. But it seems to me this team has a chance to be significantly better than last year by the end of the summer. Assume we get someone like Kaka or Lampard in the window----I think it's fair to say we can get someone as good as Beckham was the last year and at least have that be an even trade. Then you've got a defense that is actually healthy all year and has probably added Leonardo (plus a seasoned Meyer)....midfield is weaker early, but should be by summer with a DP added, and Juninho looks poised for a better year than last year, Sarvas will be in his second year in the system.....for strikers, when you have Donovan and Keane back, and then you have Zardes, Rugg, and Villareal and McBean instead of Buddle and Noonan.....Cudicini in for Saunders..... On paper, that's a much better team than last year. On paper, that is a team built to cruise through the playoffs. We shall see what happens, injuries can always derail things and bad form does happen....but I think anyone picking against the Galaxy in the playoffs is a little bit nuts.
Tim L. predicts MLS pundits can kiss his behind... "It astounds me that people don't understand the character and the commitment of our organization," said Leiweke. "We love being in that position, we love everyone underestimating us and last time that I checked, the most successful coach in this sport in this country is Bruce Arena and this team is the back to back champions. They can kiss my you know what...trust me when I tell you that the organization from Mr. [Phillip] Anschutz and AEG to Bruce Arena and Chris Klein, and to most importantly this team, we're committed to doing it again. We want everyone to look past us and we're going to continue to give this organization and [the fans] every resource necessary to create a team that one day they write books about."
Damn that's a good quote. Remember when we all hated Leiweke? Wasn't that long ago, back during the Yallop and Gullit eras. Seems a long time ago now. The moral: fans who have lived with losing for too long get really irrational and crazy.
Now that's some passion we can all get behind. This organization may make mistakes, but we are in some glory days as fans right now.
Wahl and Creditor pick Houston to beat us in the Final: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130228/mls-preview-roundtable/
I think Tim has matured as a soccer executive since then. He seems a bit more in tune with soccer, more at peace with the fans and more humble.
I don't think Henry will ever win it. He just doesn't play enough games. And he has too many "lackadaisical" type performances for me, where he gets too frustrated with his teammates or whatever and just doesn't make an impact. I definitely could see Keane winning it in a tight race over Landon.
Supporter's Shield MLS Cup US Open Cup Champions League Champion and end the year nicely with making it to the final of the FCWC ...yep, that'll do, that'll do
I think we DO need to target the Shield this year because the fact is, we lucked out that Houston had a rough first part of the season too and had less points than us. Can't count on that this year, probably won't happen, and I REALLY like having the Final at home. In the crazy postseason the MLS brings us, playing that one-off game at home is a big advantage. Doesn't matter so much in the first part of the playoffs, but that final....it's just nice to be home, and nothing like being able to go to the game with a huge group of fans and friends.