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Eastern Division preview
By Will Kuhns, Soccer America The Eastern Division features four teams in graduating degrees of transition. While D.C. United undergoes a substantial overhaul, Miami adds four experienced players to its starting lineup. New England tinkers with its existing core while trying to acquire a new conductor. The MetroStars are obvious favorites, upgrading the defensive midfield of a group that came within one game of MLS Cup last year.
D.C. UnitedYounger, yet already ailingMarco Etcheverry reported to D.C. United's Spring Training 13 days before the season opener. He missed the team's two-week stay in Ft. Lauderdale while on loan to Oriente Petrolero in Bolivia. When he rejoined the team, he met the players who have replaced the seven United veterans that were traded away in February. There are 11 new players in United's camp since it finished second-to-last in the MLS regular-season standings in 2000. Most prominent among them are goalkeeper Mike Ammann, defender Mark Watson, midfielder Ryan Nelsen and forward Abdul Thompson Conteh. The new United is much younger -- 13 players are under the age of 24, and the average age of the team is 24.5. United sought a fitter Etcheverry by loaning him, but getting him acquainted with those newcomers -- and vice versa -- is a crucial step in United's dramatic retooling efforts. Coach Thomas Rongen has had very little time to work with his first team. Compounding his challenge are injuries to forward Jaime Moreno (knee), defender Eddie Pope (toe) and Ammann (hamstring) that threaten to keep each of them out of the opener against Kansas City April 7. Furthermore, United must play an FC Giants Cup match April 4 at Jamaican club Arnett Gardens. "I think some teams are a little further ahead right now than we are," Rongen said. "That doesn't concern us over a long season because you don't want to peak now, but it is a concern that we haven't been able to have one unit play a lot of games with each other." Rongen says he would like to play with three forwards this season in order to utilize the pace and one-on-one abilities of Moreno, Conteh and Chris Albright. But doing so raises questions about the midfield, where Etcheverry and Nelsen are certain starters. Nelsen, who played at Stanford and has international experience with New Zealand, replaces Richie Williams in defensive midfield. The left side could be manned by 17-year-old Bobby Convey or Brian Kamler, if the latter is not used on defense. Ben Olsen is the favorite at right midfield, but he first must recover from one, possibly two ankle surgeries and may not return until midseason. Meantime, 21-year-old Peruvian Jose "Chino" Alegria will get a look. Rookie Mark Lisi could see time there, but he will not be available until he graduates from Clemson in May. The defense will be anchored by Pope, when healthy, and Watson, a Canadian national team member, with Carey Talley on the right and second-year Eric Denton battling Kamler on the left. Rongen said he wants to get off to a good start; a 4-0 licking from Los Angeles started last season's downward spiral. Less than two weeks before the season, few factors pointed toward a smashing debut.
MetroStarsExpectations suddenly greatWhile its three division foes sort out their starting lineups, the MetroStars find themselves in an entirely new position as one of the most established teams in MLS. By acquiring Colombian Pedro Alvarez and U.S. international Richie Williams, the MetroStars solidified their midfield and left themselves with primarily intangible questions to answer. "It is brand new territory for us because now we are expected to win," Coach Octavio Zambrano said. "But I welcome that because I think our team needs that kind of pressure. It is in that kind of an environment that you can see the real players." Most opponents will know how the MetroStars will play. Tim Howard takes over for Mike Ammann in goal. Daniel Hernandez centers a three-man defense with Steve Jolley and Mike Petke. It is a relatively young defense, especially with Orlando Perez and Steve Shak providing depth, and Hernandez will be tested. Williams patrols the area in front of them winning possession of the ball and feeding Alvarez or Tab Ramos, who pull the strings on offense. Petter Villegas moves from the middle to the right flank, where his speed and straight-ahead approach works better; Mark Chung cuts in from the left. Clint Mathis, an MVP finalist last year, roams behind Adolfo Valencia for a menacing combination up front. Alex Comas comes off the bench to give defenses headaches with clever passing. Given that other teams know what to expect, Zambrano has some guesses as well about how his opposition will play. "It's inevitable that some teams will pack it in against us and play the counterattack," Zambrano said. "So we need to adjust to that and take it as a more than likely scenario. But there are no weak teams now." Last year the team rallied behind Ammann, one of its most popular players, when he was injured by Tampa's Mamadou Diallo. Many fans and some players frowned when Ammann was traded, and his departure automatically changes the locker room dynamic. Zambrano will be keeping an eye on his team's leadership. "I think part of the challenge we face is to remain hungry and humble," Zambrano said. "We have to stay with it. We can't get comfortable."
MiamiWill experience mean continuity?Ray Hudson inherited an unhappy hodge-podge of players early last season and with his charisma and energy prodded them into some memorable performances. He was not, however, able to guide them to a playoff spot. Changes have been made, and on paper, the Fusion's personnel seem more compatible than last year's peculiar group. Two of the main malcontents, Roy Lassiter and Henry Gutierrez, were sent on their way. Hudson has taken the hard-line approach with a third - striker Diego Serna. He also has brought in four highly experienced players in hopes of improving the emphasis on professionalism. Defender Carlos Llamosa comes via D.C. with a reputation for quietly diligent marking. Midfielder Ian Bishop brings an 18-year resume from England, including time in the Premier League. Forward Alex Pineda Chacon boasts six Honduran league titles in his career. And Preki, although dealt by Kansas City in part for his disagreements with the coaching staff, seems determined to prove himself a team player. "I want to get [Preki] on the field and let him play," Hudson said. "The guy's got more balance and nerve than a high-wire act. He's been a great guy in the locker room ... and he has integrated himself into the group as easily as an old man slips into a bath." Age and fitness could be factors, particularly for Preki, 37, and Bishop, 35, in the South Florida heat. The battle between goalkeepers Jeff Cassar and Nick Rimando for the starting spot is very tight. Llamosa will organize the defense, which could switch between three- and four-man formations. Pablo Mastroeni could be paired with Llamosa in the center or pushed to the right in a three-back line. Ivan McKinley will challenge Tyrone Marshall on the left, and Jay Heaps, Leo Cullen and Tim Sahaydak will all be pushing for a starting spot. The Fusion's midfield will likely feature five players in an unorthodox alignment. Preki and Chacon will both be advanced and given great liberties to hover as they please to make plays. Chris Henderson, when healthy, will act as a left flanker, but he may not have a counterpart on the right since Bishop and Jim Rooney will plug up the center. Serna may be left as the one true forward or paired with a newcomer like Greg Simmonds. Contrasting styles and conflicting ideas will again be hurdles for Miami, especially if Andy Williams gets thrown back in the mix. "Players have to learn to adapt to each other," Hudson said. "I'm not just throwing them together thinking it's going to be clicking all over the field. It's going to take time."
New EnglandMidfield heir up in the airConsidering its low turnover of players, the Revolution's outlook should not seem so cloudy. Yet as the club's efforts to secure an attacking midfielder, a second goalkeeper and a forward dragged deep into March, much was on hold. New England officially gave up on Mauricio Ramos as its playmaker by cutting him Jan. 20, but it did not have a replacement by the end of spring training. Coach Fernando Clavijo remained optimistic about extricating Honduran midfielder Julio Cesar De Leon from Olimpia, but his complicated situation had already become a distraction. If no deal is struck for De Leon, New England must hope that the parade of guest players during preseason yields a viable alternative. The leading candidate is 27-year-old Brazilian Cate, who is also being courted by English club West Ham United. Asking second-year midfielder Shaker Asad to shoulder the playmaking duties probably would be unfair. Clavijo wants to play a 3-5-2 and several pieces for that formation are in place: Mauricio Wright is accepting that he serves his team better as a responsible defender than by making frequent forays into the attack. "We brought [Wright] in to be the key player in the back three and he understands his role," Clavijo said. "He understands what he needs to do to help this team. If we manage to keep him like that for 90 minutes for 28 games, I think we're going to win a lot of games." Brian Dunseth and Rusty Pierce were set to flank Wright until the latter was injured. Alan Woods, acquired from Colorado, may cover the right side early on. Leonel Alvarez and Joe Franchino form a complimentary duo in defensive midfield and Wolde Harris is a staple up front. John Harkes moves out to the right so he can cross the ball and not get crossed up with Alvarez. The departure of disgruntled Imad Baba leaves the left side open for stalwart Ted Chronopoulos or shifty William Sunsing. A 90-minute striking partner for Harris was still on Clavijo's wish list while Eric Wynalda worked to improve his fitness. Johnny Torres and Jamar Beasley showed enough to keep themselves under consideration. In goal, Jeff Causey provides a stable option while the team pursues others -- like Juergen Sommer again. Once Clavijo finally lands the centerpiece of his offense, he can begin the process of infusing that player into his team. Unfortunately for New England, those kinks will have be worked out in games that count. While surveying the changes within the division, however, Clavijo remains confident. "I think Miami has gotten stronger, I think New York has done well in adding a couple players," Clavijo said. "I think people are looking at D.C. and saying 'no chance,' but I think people need to think a little longer about that. They could definitely surprise some people. But I do believe New England will be much better, too." Will Kuhns is an associate editor at Soccer America magazine.
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