Major League Soccer – 2011 Handicapping Preview

2011 MLS Season Preview

The 2011 Major League Soccer season is set to kick off on March 15 as the Seattle Sounders face off against the Los Angeles Galaxy on ESPN. There is already a lot of buzz surrounding this season, as Major League Soccer is quietly emerging as one of the country’s ways to pass the summer time sports blues.

Here are my 2011 team previews, odds and picks to make all your MLS soccer wagers winners.

Last year’s expansion Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls constructed new state of the art soccer specific stadiums and in 2011, Sporting Kansas and the Houston Dynamo will launch new stadiums as well, while new darling Vancouver will call renovated BC Place their home.

Vancouver, the second Canadian team in MLS, will be accompanied by the expansion Portland Timbers, bringing the total to 18 MLS teams this season.

The Western Conference

1. Real Salt Lake: The 2009-10 MLS Cup Champions should be one of the favorites to win it all again this season. RSL’s season has already begun with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Columbus in the CONCACAF Champions League. Real didn’t add much in the offseason, but what they did add was quality depth. Arturo Alvarez is one of those additions. Missing will be Robbie Findley. Javier Morales, Alvaro Saborio, Fabian Espindola, Kyle Beckerman, and goalkeeper Nick Rimando round out a solid championship squad.

2. LA Galaxy: Los Angles will retain the super stardom of Landon Donovan and David Beckham, while acquiring striker Juan Pablo Angel, but losing rising young talent Edson Buddle. Other additions include defender Frankie Hejduk from the Columbus Crew, and 16 year-old forward Jack McBean, and Uruguayan midfielder Paolo Cardozo to enhance the already strong roster.

3. Vancouver Whitecaps: The Whitecaps enter the MLS arena as one of two expansion teams in 2011. They are under the ownership of Greg Kerfoot, Jeff Mallet, Steve Nash, and Steve Luczo. They are poised to make a decent run at this season’s cup chase with the likes of French goal scorer Eric Hassli and U.S. National Team defender Jay Demerit to captain the team.

4. FC Dallas: FC Dallas has silently emerged as a surprise squad behind the superb play of 2010 MLS MVP David Ferriera and 2010 Goalkeeper of the Year, Kevin Hartman. They should continue to challenge as one of the league’s younger contenders.

5. Seattle Sounders: After a dazzling inaugural 2009 season, Seattle staggered and then fell flat on their rears in 2010. The side should regroup with the help of returning star striker Fredy Montero and goalkeeper Kasey Keller. The Sounders have the best fan support in the MLS, and with that should propel them to a far better season in 2011.

6. Chivas USA: Chivas had an awful showing last season and have nowhere to go but up with the addition of former RSL Assistant coach Robin Fraser as new boss, along with RSL program creator Greg Vanney appointed assistant coach. Justin Braun will should see the back of the net more often with the help of playmakers Paulo Nagamura and Jusus Padilla. Defender Jimmy Conrad will provide leadership and emotion.

7. Colorado Rapids: 2010 MLS Champion Colorado has continued to improve. They have assembled some of the league’s best young talent and should make another deep run through the postseason under the direction of head coach Gary Smith.

8. Portland Timbers: The second of two new teams in 2011 finished fourth in the USL in 2010, and are under the leadership of new head coach John Spencer. The Timbers will rely on returning striker Kenny Cooper and draft pick Darlington Nagbe for goals, and Jack Jewsbury and Peter Lowry for creation. If any of these players succumb to injury, Portland could have a rough go of its inaugural season.

9. San Jose Earthquakes: With the return of surprise Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski, Bobby Convey’s impressive 2010 comeback, and the signing Steven Lenhart, San Jose will have a lot to prove. I’m not sure they can repeat last year’s impressive performance.

The Eastern Conference

1. New York Red Bulls: New York is sure to be a contender for the MLS Cup this season. They have raised the bar by bringing in Thierry Henri and Rafa Marquez, but rode the backs of midfielders Mehdi Ballouchy and Joel Linpere last season. If John Rooney can live up to expectation, they should be there at the end.

2. DC United: This season just has to be better for DC. With  Ben Olsen at the helm, strikers Charlie Davies and 18 year-old sensation Andy Najar, along midfielders Santino Quaranta and Dax McCarty, and veteran goalkeeper Pat Onstad. This could be a team to watch.

3. Philadelphia Union: Philly continued to improve in 2010, and with scattered moments of brief success should be a force to be reckoned with, especially for unsuspecting sides. Boss Peter Nowak will continue to rely on  top striker Sebastien LeToux as well as Guatemalan Carloz Ruiz and young American Jack McInerney, who will all need a 100 percent effort to help make the re-charged Union a force in 2011.

4. Columbus Crew: Coach Robert Warzycha will have his work cut out for him as he rebuilds a Crew side that lost many of their top players in the offseason.  Columbus turned in a strong performance against RSL in the CCL quarterfinals and shouldn’t be ruled out to make a run in MLS action this season.

5. Chicago Fire: The Fire continues to be a work in progress. Led by the dynamic attack of Marco Pappa, Baggio Husidic, and Patrick Nyarko, Chicago has a decent base to build upon. However, coach Carlos De los Cobos has a long way to go before his side catches “fire” again.

6. Houston Dynamo: The Dynamo will begin the season in their new stadium, and have taken up residency in the Eastern Conference in 2011 because of Western expansion Portland and Vancouver. They failed to make the playoffs in 2010, and Brian Ching will be the top goal scorer on an otherwise anemic team.

7. Toronto FC: Move over NHL, these crazy Canadians have found a new sport to satisfy their appetitive. Top -notch striker Dwayne De Rosario will lead a hungry Reds squad as real contenders for this year’s Cup.

8. New England Revolution: The Revs have restocked their roster after a dreadful 2010 season, with French internationals Didier Domi and Ousame Dabo, Nigerian winger Michael Augustine and a few decent draft picks, including A.J. Soares and Ryan Kinne. Boss Steve Nicol has the goods, but can he bring home the hardware?

9. Sporting Kansas: A name change and a beautiful new stadium may not be enough to bring a championship back to KC. Omar Bravo and 2011 draft pick Konrad Warzcha, son of Columbus coach Robert Warzcha, will be leaned upon as boss Peter Vermes tries to bring back the magic of earlier Wizards days.

Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian, the Oregonian, the Springfield Republican, the Sacramento Bee, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.

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