Current roster, most improved?

Discussion in 'MLS: General' started by filfc, Jan 25, 2008.

  1. filfc

    filfc Member

    Nov 4, 2007
    Which teams seems to have made the right moves? Who will start this season with a better team overall? Any "dark horse" team that might surprise everyone?

    Which team seem to be worse off this season?
     
  2. Matrim55

    Matrim55 Member+

    Aug 14, 2000
    Berkeley
    Club:
    Connecticut
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    San Jose.
     
  3. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    San Jose automatically starts the year with the best team year over year. No players < Some players.
     
  4. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    On whole, I think most teams have lost more than they have gained, up to this point at least.

    D.C. has made some nice moves, but did lose a lot as well. And probably Gomez.

    Galaxy got Ruiz, but lost Albright.

    I'd have to say, aside from San Jose, Colorado. Maybe Salt Lake. Or D.C.

    League wise, I'd say more talent has left than come in so far this year.
     
  5. MarkRFC_

    MarkRFC_ New Member

    Oct 21, 2007
    Reading, England
    RSL have added some highly touted South Americans in Olave and Cordoba, and of course they have Mantilla, Espindola and Morales who all made an impact at the end of last season
     
  6. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Colorado. With 80 minutes left of buisness time before training camp opens the total moves, not counting the draft, are cutting Osorno, Thorton, Cancela, and Sanneh, trading for a left back in Burciaga, and signing an unknown American left back who's been playing in Chile since he was passed over in the draft.
     
  7. kirsoccer

    kirsoccer BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 29, 2007
    To highlight this point, here was our starting lineup for the 1st preseason contest last season and our projected starting lineup this season.


    Preseason Game #1

    --------Harris--------Cunningham

    -----------------Adu-----------------

    Ballouchy------------------------Klein

    ----------Kreis-------Talley-------------

    Forko---------Pope------------Stewart

    ---------------Garlick-----------------


    Projected Starting lineup ‘08

    -------------Rimando------------

    Wingert--Mantilla--Olaveson--Joy

    -------------Talley----------------

    ----Beckerman------Cordoba----

    --------------Morales--------------

    -----Espindola-------Findley-------

    With Sturgis, Movsisyan, Andy Williams and Seitz likely to be key contributors off of the bench.

    Come to think of it, we were pretty close to the situation that San Jose is in. :D At least we know we'll retain the RMC this season. ;)
     
  8. tomwilhelm

    tomwilhelm Member+

    Dec 14, 2005
    Boston, MA, USA
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think the Crew might have you beat for offseason suckiness thusfar...
     
  9. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The offseason isn't over yet, but I think the most improved is FC Dallas. Ruiz and his contact are gone, so that freed up a lot of cap space for them plus gives Toja more influence on their style of play, Denilson won't be their DP this year so they have that spot open again, and they signed Duilio Davino without using the DP spot. They still have the cap-room to make more splashes in the season, and they have a solid foundation to build off of.
     
  10. Dre00

    Dre00 Member

    Oct 12, 2005
    H-town
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm not buying Dallas just yet. The best case scenario is addition by subtraction and while there may be something to that, I think you have to do more than that to be considered a team that helped themselves the most. Their draft was good but none of those players will make much of a mark in 2008.

    Houston hasn't done a thing except lose 2 forwards (3 if you count Dalglish but he wasn't really around last year so losing him isn't that tough). There's still time but Houston needs to make some additions in the next few weeks or else they won't be nearly as strong as last year.
     
  11. Boots Utd

    Boots Utd Member

    Jan 19, 2008
    Denver
    Is Cordoba to SLC official? Or is it one of those deals where everything is done except for the official announcement?
     
  12. MarkRFC_

    MarkRFC_ New Member

    Oct 21, 2007
    Reading, England
    Just got a feeling RSL will be opening up their new stadium with a play-off game this year :D Could be a breakout season
     
  13. adammac19

    adammac19 BigSoccer Supporter

    Jan 31, 2006
    Sydney Mines
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    I think Toronto FC could match, yes we got rid of some dead wood (Reda, Braz, Kenny, Canizalez etc) but we have not added one player besides draft picks.
     
  14. Boots Utd

    Boots Utd Member

    Jan 19, 2008
    Denver
    Never mind, from realslfan in the MLS 2008 player movement scorecard thread:
     
  15. Cidolfas

    Cidolfas New Member

    Jul 20, 2007
    UT Dallas
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    That's a much better lineup than the year before... I'm just wondering what it'll take to poach Findley from your sqaud.
     
  16. DrLudicrous

    DrLudicrous Member+

    Jun 28, 2002
    Houston
    We did get Boswell which I think will help. Especially if we don't get any forwards since we'll live and die by our defense.
     
  17. scott47a

    scott47a Member+

    Seattle Sounders FC; Arsenal FC
    Feb 6, 2007
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What's interesting about the posts so far is the answer appears to be "no one."
    (Well, except the San Jose now has players thing).

    I think you might be able to argue that Galaxy, of all teams, have done the best because they added a proven goal-scorer and appear to be adding a new defender soon.

    Based on history I trust the folks at DCU the most and believe their S. Americans will turn out the best and thus give them the best off-season. That's all based on track record though. I don't know much about the people they have brought in, just that guys like Emilio and Moreno and Gomez worked out well previously.

    Maybe it's just too early to tell???
     
  18. DoctorD

    DoctorD Member+

    Sep 29, 2002
    MidAtlantic
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Just go to the offseason roster change thread and compare the players IN to those leaving. For every team other than SJ, there are more leaving. Which means that a bunch of signings haven't happened yet.

    This season can't begin soon enough!
     
  19. Dr.Phil

    Dr.Phil Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think Chivas Usa has done a good job to improve their roster
     
  20. kirsoccer

    kirsoccer BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 29, 2007
    Reading the Chivas forum it doesn't seem that they agree.

    The answer to this question depends on how you measure it. If you take the roster now versus the end of last season thats one thing. Obviously if you take now versus the start of last season - I think it's RSL.

    If your taking it from the end of last season (which I assume was the intention) it's a bit tougher. Maybe we could start by naming the team's that it is not, and getting to the answer through the process of elimination. I'll start:

    Most improved team is not:

    CRapids
     
  21. jloome

    jloome Member

    May 18, 2007
    Edmonton
    I think our draft picks will make a larger impact than people are assuming, so TFC's lack of news on the signing front isn't worrisome yet. James, Phelan and Balc will all end out playing some minutes, I'm guessing. That much extra depth alone would help over last year's situation. If we can sign three or four more decent performers, that little run of wins (we did manage to beat Dallas, Houston and New York last season when most of the guys were healthy) might stretch out or be repeated a few times this coming season.
     
  22. FC Uptown

    FC Uptown New Member

    Feb 3, 2006
    H-town
    No question, LA.
    Albright basically didn't play last year, and Ruiz is a proven commodity plus will be getting world class service.
    Also, Gullitt is a big big believer in conditioning - he will have them in great shape, plus he's changed their formation to be more attacking.
    Dallas is looking to bring in some South Americans, so we'll see, but right now Dallas is down.
     
  23. paladius

    paladius Member

    Sep 27, 2003
    Frisco, Texas
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. RSL
    2. Galaxy
    3. DC United


    Biggest Step Backward Award:

    1. New England
     
  24. dredgfan

    dredgfan Member+

    MLS
    Nov 5, 2004
    Denver or NOLA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If TFC can keep Lapira that's a plus. If not, they better get some transfers in. I don't see the other draftee's doing much this year.
     
  25. kirsoccer

    kirsoccer BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 29, 2007
    If you are relying on draft picks - I'm worried for you.
     

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