www.mlsnet.com/content/03/firstXI0311.html Bradley has us above the likes of KC and Colorado this season and finishing third in the conference by default of his 'top 10' system regardless of conference. Quite frankly I think that is a fair assessment especially since we really only have one glaring hole, keeper. Granted that probably wouldn't have been as big an issue with Conway, but as Saunders is a newbie... Up top is a question mark simply because outside of Donovan, no one knows who's going to step up and be a big time contributer in terms of goals. But having said all that, we still have one of the best midfield tandems in the centre, and wingers when healthy. That and add the fact we have one of the most cinsistent and solid defences in all the league and I think he has a point.
Couldn't help but notice that, too-- and that Jeff's predicting an MVP-type year for Landon Donovan. Of course, it's all up to the team surrounding LD, and I don't think it's as much doom-and-gloom that has surrounded these boards during the offseason. Truth be told, the spine of the team-- a.k.a., how it looks up the middle-- is still intact, with LD, DeRosario, Ekelund, Mulrooney, Agoos and Dayak firmly in the fold. And seeing Lagos and Russell returning to their 2001 form would be a promising sign also. Based on that evidence, I'd like to echo Jeff Bradley's predictions-- but bump that up to a top-three finish, on an aggregate single-table format. The backline as a whole should be a bit of a question mark, but that should be sorted out relatively quickly, given Frank Yallop's track record of integrating players into new roles in rapid fashion. The starting XI, subject to change when we get closer to the season: --------------Donovan----------DeRosario------------- -------------------------Ekelund------------------------ --Lagos--------------------------------------Russell--- ---------------------Mulrooney-------------------------- ---Corrales-----Dayak-------Agoos-------Dunivant*-- ---------------------Saunders**-------------------------- *- or Robinson **- the most volatile part of the equation, pending the signing of another 'keeper
In fairness to most other Quake posters, I have been the main source of the doom-and-gloom......oh, and Beerking too......and we could hardly "surround" these boards.
1.) Crew 2.) Galaxy 3.) Colorado 4.) Burn 5.) Wizards 6.) United 7.) Revolution 8.) Metrostars 9.) Fire 10) Quakes You heard it here first! Crew will win it all....they have youth, depth, chemistry and momentum.
Although I don't think LA will be 2nd (3rd or 4th), I don't have many problems with the top five. For the bottom five, it's too close to call. The order can change with injuries and team chemistry which are completely unpredictable. However, I would have the following: 6.) Revolution 7.) Quakes 8.) United 9.) Fire 10) Metrostars
Good argument about Columbus, I can see them winning the Supporters Shield, also. But the Quakes winning the league's version of the "wooden spoon", two years after winning the MLS Cup? I know that there are limitations within the chemistry of MLS, single entity and all, which causes teams to bottom out far before their time, but all due respect, LDB, best-to-worst within a two-year period is utterly ridiculous. I stand by my top-three prediction for the Quakes. My predicted order of regular-season finish: 1) Columbus 2) Los Angeles 3) San Jose 4) Colorado 5) Dallas 6) New England 7) D.C. United 8) Kansas City 9) MetroStars 10) Chicago That might change within the next few weeks, before the season opens, but only ever-so-slightly. The top four, however, you can count on that being the order.
As of today, my view of the final table would read: 1. Columbus 2. Galaxatives 3. Dallas 4. MetroStars 5. Quakes 6. Colorado 7. DCU 8. New England 9. Kansas City 10. Chicago As I also stated in another thread, I pegged the Crew to knock off Dallas in MLS Cup, 3-1. (but I hope the Quakes are in the final!)
Just as an FYI - because of the switch this year to conference-based playoffs, the 9 and 10 spots willbe split evenly between the two conferences (even if the last-place team in the West this year has a better record than the #4 team in the East Conference, or vice versa). Some of y'all might want to fix your lists
OK, in that case... West 1) Los Angeles 2) San Jose 3) Colorado 4) Dallas ----------------- 5) Kansas City East 1) Columbus 2) New England 3) D.C. United 4) MetroStars ------------------ 5) Chicago
Interesting. That really changes it around. It's crap though, considering how the the West lapped pretty much the entire East last year. It'd be funny if it happened again this year. With the conference-oriented brackets, I see Chicago missing out on the playoffs much more likely. I really don't want to have them that low, especially since they haven't missed a playoffs since their inception. I wouldn't be surprised at a 4th place finish, especially with Onstad now signed on to the team. FY has a good group of players that play team football, in addition to a few players that are itching to have breakout years (Donovan, Corrales, Robinson, DeRosario?).
west: ------ LA -1 Dallas-3 San Jose-4 Colorado-5 --------- Kansas City East: ------ Columbus-2 DC United-6 Chicago-7 Metros-8 ------- New England Quarter Finals: --------------- West: ------ LA v Colorado Dallas v San Jose East: ----- Columbus v Metros DC United v Chicago Semi Finals: ------------ West: ------ LA v San Jose East: ----- Columbus v Chicago Final: ----- San Jose v Chicago MLS Cup Champions: -------------------- San Jose - 2-0