Who has the most talent in the MF in the western conference, and who will be able to get the most from it? LA: Elliot, Jones, Cienfuegos, Vagenas & Co. SJ: Donovan, Ekelund, Lagos, Mulrooney & Co. Colorado: Grimandi, Chung, Henderson, Maestroni & Co. Dallas: Pareja, Brad Davis, Vaca, Deering, Broome, Ronnie O'Brien & Martinez KC: Preki, Klein, Zavagnin, Armstrong, Quill IMO: Dallas is the most loaded, but can't put that many guys on the field. KC will rely too much on Preki, and Klein will help, but it won't be enough. In Colorado, Grimandi is an enigma at this point, if he and Maestroni can solidify the middle, Chung & Henderson can man the flanks. SJ has lost alot in the back, which will keep Mulrooney busy, but they have enough to be solid. LA are the champions, but Cien is old, Vagenas had a good Olympics, but has been marginal in MLS, Jones is fast, but his touch hasnt gotten better in the last 10 years, Elliot is solid. Well coached, strong in the back, who knows. What do you all think? James
EDIT - Pineda Chacon signed for LA. And everyone underrates Sasha. I was an idiot and didn't register "Jones" as "Cobi," hence the edit.
I've always thought LA's midfield was the most underrated in MLS. I guess I still do. Their midfield will be the reason they repeat as MLS champs this year.
Based on the results so far, I'd say that San Jose has the most under rated midfield in the MLS. Not sure why Colorado is doing so well. I know Chung & Henderson both had good years last year, but who has honestly seen Grimandi play in the last couple of years? On paper, I still say Dallas is looking good. James
West: ------- the Quakes' biggest asset is their midfield tandem and hard running/working wingers. It is the reason why we won so many games in the past two seasons. LA probably has the the second best balanced midfield after say San Jose simply because of Cien's age, but with Memo coming in....(another, better version of Martino?) Colorado is almost as balanced as San Jose, but their wingers won't have the same support as it will be a more defensive orientated one sans El Pibe. KC, has the best right winger in the league, but outside of Preki,impressive quality is severely lacking. Dallas, with Vaca and Davis/Martinez as wingers looks to be beautiful on attack, but even with Pareja in the centre, I'd say that area (centre mid) is their weakest point. East: ------ DC is a bit of anyone's guess really. Poetntially very dangerous with the likes of Olsen, Convey, Kovalenko, and Stweart, with Kiwi boy and Ivanov in there look to be intimidating...depends on how they gell...but if lightening strikes twice for Hudson, we're looking at MLS Cup contenders, if not 4x champions. Metros this is sort of a construction area, as this seems to be the weakest part of the team. It has the potential to be quite solid if unspecatualr this season. Defensively set with Clark, just need an offensive lynchpin. Columbus probably has the midfield with the most flair. What San Jose do as a well oiled machine, Columbus try to do with improvisation and youth on the flanks and in the centre. In another season could be the most fun midfield to watch. Chicago looks to really be missing both Kovalenko and Nowak. If they move Beasely into the centre and play Mapp out left I think it will take the better part of this season to find the sort of coherence that the old system had. Not great, but very solid...not sure in DMB is the man to run the middle. Revs probably the weakest midfield by far. Solid on the right with Ralston and in defense with Hernandez but oddly lacking in a quality left wing and offensive creative presence...long season in store, or is Noonan the man to make the change?
in regard to KC, there's a chance that the Wizards will play 3 in the back and push Talley or Guiteriez up to midfield. Z-man, Klein, Guiteriez or Talley, Quill, Preki. That left flank with Guit and Quill over lapping would be difficult to defend. Also, Steven Armstrong would probably sub Preki or even start in place of him.
Galaxy. However, if that big haired Columbian passing machine didn't retire last year, I would have given it to Colorado.
El Pibe ? The reason Colorado is getting votes is because that guy is gone. As for LA, you can't forget EZ, with the three back set, Ezra plays on the outside now, with great results (see MLS Championship).
West Midfields If Gilles & Pablo figure out how to work together, then I'd pick the Rapids. If not, Galaxy narrowly over Burn.
Connolly (ESPN) says that ex Metro Brad Davis will vie for time in the middle, battling Pareja, Vaca & Deering for time. Burn are set on the wings with Martinez on the left and the other guy... Ronnie O'Brien Isnt getting much talk at all. He is the reason I think the Burn will be so good. The ex Juve, ex EPL guy who's only 23 from Ireland? He was pretty good in limited time last year, and will break out this year. James
the rapids midfield to add with their forwards will charge through the season and into MLS Cup, no repeat for LA, not enough offensive power.
Depends on how the league handles Carlos Ruiz. If he is contained, the Galaxy will be as harmless as the Revs at the start of last seson.
Re: Re: Western Conference Midfields I feel bad for the rest of the league, then. People have been keying on the guy since last May, for all the good it does them. He only has to break through once a game. I realize that's true of any forward, but many forwards don't break through once every three games. Ruiz is also notorious for getting his in the waning moments, which tells me he's in better shape than the guys marking him more often than not. If I had to try to beat the Galaxy, I'd do it by controlling possession at all costs. Keep their chances of breaking through to an absolute minimum, and make them chase the ball instead of my guys. I don't know if that would work, but the ten men behind the ball/cover Ruiz stuff sure hasn't.
Note on KC: For the last 4 pre-season games the midfield as looked closer to this: RM-Klein, DM-Talley, Preki, Gomez, LM-Gutierrez. Arm, Quill, Jewsbury, and Zags off the bench - Quill is getting almost no minutes at all. I'll take Colorado today if pressed.
Colorado - best offense midfield Galaxy - best defensive midfield Quakes - best central midfield Overall, Colorado...
Corrales has found his position... inside midfield. He's pretty good there. Too bad he'll play left wing... unless there is a just God and San Jose gets Joey DiGiamarino. Till then, I'd still tap Colorado or the Gals for the best midfields. How 'bout that Chacon factor, ya know?
LA LA has the type of midfield that could help them repeat as Champs and with the addition of Guillermo Gonzalez there are just too many good players fighting for spots Mauricio Cienfuegos, Ezra Hendrickson, Cobi Jones, Peter Vagenas, Sasha Victorine, Simon Elliott...and thoes are just a few.