Self explanatory. I think we would all agree our expectations are higher than last year, when just having a team was good enough.
Before I answer, is this counting toward the Grouchy (tm) points or is this just some side show poll?
I am going to wait to give my non-expert and purely speculative opinion once we get closer to the season.
Then why even have a poll? Crew Lose By 2. Too many new pieces not to have the 'need to gel' period early on. Still scared about how the team's potency would drop if Zardes picks up any kind of injury. Not thinking we will threaten for Supporters Shield but hopefully get into the playoffs comfortably.
As of now i see us in the 5-7 spot but after the preseason maybe I’ll change my mind but i think anyone voting 3-4 or up is being extremely generous
I voted 3rd or 4th. Drinking the kool aid. I agree it depends on Zardes staying healthy but we were a good team the last third of 2018 and adding Zelarayan should help considerably.
All I've read is that we have had a stellar offseason, we have new owners, and we were a top team in the league once we had all the players available. Yet I am in the vast minority saying we'll finish higher than third. Cowards. Keyboard commandos. Paper tigers. All of you. Embarrassing.
I went with 5th. I like us on paper. But we’ve made enough changes that you have to wonder about chemistry. How well will things work, and how long will it take to get there? Plus, NYC, Atlanta and Toronto haven’t switched to the Western Conference, and they’re pretty good.
It's because you are a romantic and a dreamer until the rubber hits the road when the season actually starts up so we can see what this team looks like on the field. Then the bloom is off the rose... And I am surprised that you are thinking higher than third given that the one major position, head coach, is not changed from last year. The start of the season will say a lot or be excused a lot... We start with the top team from the East in 2019 before playing #2 West 2019 (and 2019 MLS Cup champions), #3 West 2019, Nashville, and the other 2019 MLS Cup finalist (Toronto). These new players will be tested early so hopefully we get a good look at who they are.
I am a romantic, thanks for noticing. I think NYCFC takes a pretty significant step back next year. Atlanta is what they are, but without Nagbe, and we match up well with them. And I don't expect great leaps forward from Toronto, Philly, DC, or Red Bulls. The chance for a significant leap in the standings is there. The nice thing about that difficult start to the season is we also have 4 of the first 6 at home. Hit the ground running.
I think we might start fast like we did last year myself. What they need to do is be consistent and play better with squad rotation , hopefully avoid the injury plague of 2019 and have a lil more hunger. I think last year when things went bad we lacked a on field leadership that the entire team bought into. This team hopefully has a new attitude and perspective .
I was tempted to vote a 3rd/4th place finish but until I hear some stories about chemistry in Training Camp or see it for myself in the Tucson Cup matches, I'm going to stick in the 5th through 7th range. An improvement to be sure but I think there will be room for growth. I like Steven's prediction of making the playoffs and outperforming the seed. And I think this poll will provide an interesting look at the initial BS mood until we all blow our Grouchy Points by drinking the koolaid made by the 2020 Tucson Cup Champs. We appear to be a tentative group for now.
Just for kicks, this was the line-up from our last pre-season match vs. FCC last February: Steffen Jimenez Mensah Sauro Francis Trapp Artur Santos Higuain Meram Zardes Afful came in for Jimenez in the 61st minute. Robinho came in for Meram in the 75th. Obviously losing Valenzuela in pre-season was huge. In any event, that was pretty much our best 11 (or 13; swapping in Afful as a starter and using Jimenez as a sub). A common third sub would probably be Williams. Our bench was pathetic. I know that we have a lot of unknowns this year. But the new guys have some pretty decent (some far more than decent) pedigrees, and reputations for being productive professional footballers. And we have legitimate competition at many positions. In general, it's hard to argue that we're anything but vastly improved over where we were 12 months ago. I'll be a bit anxious until I get an update on Valenzuela's status. Still, this roster is world's better than it was going into 2019.