Questions to ponder with MLS in 10th year

[AreliusII]

By GLENN DAVIS
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
RESOURCES

With Major League Soccer kicking off its 10th season this weekend, the outlook is bright for a league many skeptics thought would not survive.

MLS has solid roots and fans have a lot to look forward to this season. Here are my top story lines to follow this season, in no particular order:

• Freddy Adu — What will his sophomore season bring?
This story transcended soccer last season, drawing global and national media to the MLS. Adu, 15, scored five goals in an MLS Cup winning season and grew as a player while smiling effortlessly through numerous commercials and interviews.

He exceeded my expectations in his first year and will continue to blossom in MLS.

• LD — Landon Donovan's performance for the Los Angeles Galaxy (by the way, how do you feel San Jose fans?) will be scrutinized in soccer-educated Los Angeles after Donovan left Bayer Leverkusen.
With his wish being granted to move to L.A., fans will want an MLS Cup and Chivas USA's scalp.

• Foreign talent — Complementing native talent with foreign talent is a tricky business in MLS. New signings like former Mexican national team member Ramon Ramirez (Chivas USA), French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff (MetroStars), former Udinese defender Samuel Caballero (Chicago Fire) and Flamengo midfielder Cassio (New England) requires adjusting to the demands of MLS.
• New strike partnerships — There are some intriguing pairs who will be playing up front in MLS, pairings that could provide a boatload of goals.
The Colorado Rapids' pairing of Haitian Jean Phillipe Peguero and former Crew striker Jeff Cunningham could be a handful. What about the blend of savvy, speed, and scoring capability of Carlos Ruiz and Eddie Johnson at FC Dallas?

How will Ante Razov and Edson Buddle pair in Columbus?

What about the all-time goal-scoring leader Jason Kreis and the eccentric Clint Mathis in Real Salt Lake?

• Coaches and GMs —- More responsibility than ever will be placed on general managers and coaches to provide not only results but entertainment value.
Vince Lombardi might have said "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing," but this does not apply to MLS.

In a nutshell, all teams need to entertain to make this a spectator sport.

• Loss of star players — World Cup qualifying, the Gold Cup and FIFA Youth World Championships will rob MLS of top talent for key games.
Expanded rosters and a new reserve arrangement will help alleviate the problem and will provide unknown talent an opportunity to step up.

• New stadium for FC Dallas — The complex in suburban Frisco looks like it will rival the Home Depot Center in Carson Calif., and Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, as some of America's top soccer venues.
Tthe season-ending MLS Cup final will be held in Frisco in November.

• Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake — How will these teams fare on the field and at the gate?
Will Chivas USA create sort of a United States against Mexico rivalry within MLS?

Will their style of play suit the fan base? How will Ramirez deal with MLS and its differences with the Mexican League?

Will Mathis find consistent form for Real Salt Lake? Is talented, but inconsistent, D.J. Countess ready to be a steady goalkeeper in MLS? Stay tuned.

• Future of San Jose and Kansas City — Both head coaches, Dominic Kinnear and Bob Gansler, are heading up squads that might be relocated.
Those are tough conditions to be under as players and coaches, yet these difficult situations could be turned into platforms of success.

• Houston area talent in MLS — Nine local area players are currently performing in MLS:
Chris Gbandi, Eric Quill and Arturo Alvarez at FC Dallas; Rusty Pierce and Nelson Akwari at Real Salt Lake; Ricky Lewis in Colorado; Davey Arnaud in Kansas City, Josh Gardner in Los Angeles and Marcus Storey in Columbus.

[Rover]

Some obvious stuff, but still some very good questions.

Obvious--expansion teams, the LD and Adu factors, loss of players to qualifying, blah, blah, blah.

But I'll be watching the new strike partners closely. Buddle/Razov in Columbus, Johnson/Ruiz in Dallas, Ching/DeRosario in San Jose, and, of course, Mathis/Kreis with RSL, although the last two pairs don't play as a classic front two.

And it is very important for MLS to square away the San Jose and Kansas City situations to keep the positive momentum this year has seen.

Thanks for the post.