So I was really psyched that DC United didn't have that much turnover and looks in my mind to be the deepest team in the MLS. Then I realized that it was just that I followed DC and knew thier entire reserve team that I thought they were better than other teams who played people I hadn't heard of because I don't follow other teams as closely. Still think United is up there but not sure they're at the top. Was wondering what everyone else thought.
I smell conspiracy. The deepest team by a good degree is the only one left out of the poll. How convenient.
you might as well just make a "who is your favorite team poll" thats what these inevitably turn into I say DC all around, except for our back 3, we certainly have 2, even 3 deep at forward/midfield
Well, it's probably easier to eliminate teams that don't have depth. Do you really think anyone will seriously say Colorado or SLC? I'd be curious why 2 people have put the Quakes (don't get angry, but would they be happy with their starting lineup at this point?) I agree that DC is deep-- probably the best 14, sure-- but the Fire does have a pretty interesting cast of characters and decent draftees.
Can we save everyone a bit of clutter and omit the Revolution (who haven't yet even replaced the players they lost in the offseason) from the list?
C'mon NR, you've got to take in its relative context. Depth for an MLS team means that the subs can sometimes trap. The reserve league can only help, right?
Is depth good or is it another way of saying there isn't much difference between the starters and subs.
Whatever, you two. A conceivable reserve team lineup for the Fire would be ------Barrett-----Jaqua------ --------Thiago Gaucho-------- --John-----------------Khumalo --------Pause----Capano--------- ---Stewart---Brown---Gray----- ------------Pickens------------ Leaving 2004 Hermann finalist Gonzalo Segares, 2003 All-Americans Scott Buete and Leonard Griffin, Canadian U-20 international Will Johnson, plus whoever the team drafted this year buried way down. If that's not depth, I don't know what is. (And I'm, by no means, a Fire fan.)
The Crew aren't bad. Assuming the same lineup they finished up with - and any changes necessary to cover for departed players - the Crew's 2nd 11 looks something like this: Jordan Herdsman Kelly Lagos Barclay Szetela Vasquez Testo Mediate Washington Cameron First team: Busch Oughton Fraser Marshall Hejduk Elliott Paule Martino Wingert Buddle Razov Of course, prior to this season you could have plugged Akwari in the back, and Maisonneuve into that midfield, plus Oughton would have been pushed to the 2nd 11 by Sanneh. Or Cunningham. As it is, non-starters on the Crew have a combined 36 years of MLS experience going into this season. A full 5 of the players have at least 4 years of MLS experience. The starters have 53 years of experience - nearly 5 years experience per starter on average.
I was in a toss-up with the Fire and KC. I did give the edge the my team considering some of Chicago's players are unproven. I will admit though that I'm unfamiliar with most teams' benches. If you listed teams bench players then that would've helped.
How can anyone talk about relative talent depth when PARITY ruled the day last season? ("relative" as in one team significantly more than another) The teams with nobodies, who may have "lacked" depth, did about as good as the teams loaded with stars. ... DC finished 4th out of 10 in points, with BARELY a winning record (one game). Sure, a good run of games to win MLS Cup in Oct/November, but that could have just as much been because they hit their stride and peaked at the right moment, as it is a reflection of actual talent difference (or "depth"). Who did they play to get to the Cup? Metrostars & New England (two teams with losing records during the season), yet were competitive games? MLS Cup is a small "tournament" that represents play over what 30 odd days? The season represents much more in terms of depth/talent and performance over time. What does the season tell us? Even Columbus and KC averaged only 1.6 points per game (slightly better than a "tie" per game) while DC averaged 1.4 points per game. In the West, best record (14-9-7) versus worst record (10-14-6)... 13 point difference.... How can anyone come to any conclusion other than: MOST MLS teams are about the same in talent and anyone can win on any given day. Stated another way, the WORST team in the West was only 6 points (2 wins) behind DC United - eventual Cup winners. For DC, a 5 year gap between MLS Cups with some missed playoff appearances during that time does not say "Depth" or "Dynasty" for the current team. God Bless them for winning because it is cool to have one team claim 4 out 9 Cups - but the dominance of the late 90's is a VERY different team than the one who took the Cup last year. Particularly, considering they recently missed the playoffs during what was probably the MOST favorable (as in "easy to make") playoff structure in sports (8 out of 10). MLS is full (the US is FULL) of good, solid, mid-level talent... with a sprinkling of "stars" - none of which, can actually take over a game and dominate it, let alone a season. Just trying to point out a contrarian view... flame away!
Honestly, who could answer this? Depth is going to come down to how a lot of rookies end up shaping out, and aside for a few thats just a crapshoot. And "the answer" now may be very different then "the answer" 4 months from now, when those rookies get some seasoning. Im not trying to be flip about this, I litterally have no clue how someone could evaluate MLS depth at this point in the season.
i think we all realize that but this poll is simply a paper determination as things stand right nowbased on peoples projections using some arcaic mental gymnastics to arrive at a totally unproved conclusion. Maybe its Columbus, have you heard Frankie talk..he's a pretty deep guy.
this poll should have been changed early. I think right now it's a close race between Chicago and DC with DC having a little bit higher talent on the upper end, Chicago a little stronger on the lower end. This poll does little to answer the question with DC edging Columbus 32-7 right now. Why it wasn't changed after being noticed so early? Isn't there a mod to step in?