2003 MLS East Team Capsules

Chicago Fire

2002 Record: 11-13-4 (38 points), Eastern Conference third place, playoff quarterfinals

Coach: Dave Sarachan (first season)

Who's back: F Ante Razov, M DaMarcus Beasley, M Chris Armas, M Jesse Marsch, D Carlos Bocanegra, D C.J. Brown, GK Zach Thornton

Who's new: M Andy Williams, F Nate Jacqua, M Justin Mapp

Who's gone: F Josh Wolff, F Hristo Stoitchkov, M Peter Nowak, M Dema Kovalenko

What's ahead: Chicago dumped a ton of talent for a second straight year to stay under the salary cap, but this year's changes were particularly brutal. Nowak, the Fire's original player and captain its first five seasons, is gone, as is rising national star Wolff. But Chicago wasn't exactly gutted, with enough talent left to make most teams envious. Beasley is one of U.S. soccer's brightest stars, and great things are expected of youngsters Mapp and Jacqua. Bocanegra, the league's best defensive player last season, and a healthy Armas will lead the tough defense. The Fire also lost coach Bob Bradley, who went back home to coach the MetroStars. But Sarachan is a lot like Bradley, and already knows most of the Fire's roster from his days as a national team assistant.

Columbus Crew

2002 Record: 11-12-5 (38 points), Eastern Conference second place, playoff semifinals

Coach: Greg Andrulis (third season)

Who's back: F Brian McBride, F Jeff Cunningham, F Edson Buddle, M Kyle Martino, M Freddy Garcia, M Brian Maisonneuve, D Duncan Oughton, D Mike Clark, D Brian Dunseth, GK Jon Busch

Who's new: D Frankie Hejduk, M Ross Paule

Who's gone: M John Harkes, D Chris Leitch

What's ahead: Give the Crew the MLS all-time mediocrity award: They are exactly .500 in the regular season (99-99-16) and .500 in the playoffs (11-11-2). They finally won a title last year -- although not the big one -- when they beat the Galaxy 1-0 for the U.S. Open Cup, a 90-year-old tournament that includes pro teams from every level. The psychological boost could carry over for a team with little offseason turnover. The Crew have a solid array of forwards, but again it's the suspect back line that has to come through. Guatemalan national Garcia was a solid late-season pickup; he scored the winning goal in the Open Cup final. McBride was impressive during an offseason loan to English Premier League team Everton, where he scored four goals in eight games.

D.C. United

2002 Record: 9-14-5 (32 points), Eastern Conference last place, did not qualify for playoffs

Coach: Ray Hudson (second season)

Who's back: M Marco Etcheverry, M Bobby Convey, M Santino Quaranta, M Ben Olsen, M Ryan Nelsen, D Milton Reyes, D Brandon Prideaux, GK Nick Rimando

Who's new: F Earnie Stewart, M Hristo Stoitchkov, M Dema Kovalenko, D Galin Ivanov, D Mike Petke

Who's gone: D Eddie Pope, F Jaime Moreno, M Richie Williams

What's ahead: Once the glory franchise of the league, United has missed the playoffs three straight years -- quite a feat in a league that lets nearly everybody in. Hamstrung by the salary cap, they broke up the remnants of their championship teams by trading Pope, Moreno and Williams to the MetroStars for Petke and draft picks. That freed up money to snag Stewart, making his MLS debut after 14 years in the Netherlands, and 36-year-old Bulgarian star Stoitchkov, who will double as an assistant coach. Still, there are so many question marks -- Olsen's health, Convey's sputtering development, filling the void left by Pope -- that United's most realistic goal might be just to finish anything other than last.

Metrostars

2002 Record: 11-15-2 (35 points), Eastern Division fourth place, failed to qualify for playoffs

Coach: Bob Bradley (first season)

Who's back: M Clint Mathis, D Steve Jolley, D Craig Ziadie, D Joe Addo, GK Tim Howard

Who's new: D Eddie Pope, F Jaime Moreno, M Richie Williams, F Mike Magee

Who's gone: F Rodrigo Faria, F Mamadou Diallo, D Mike Petke, M Ross Paule, D Marcelo Balboa, M Tab Ramos

What's ahead: After five years in Chicago, where he won an MLS title in 1998, Bradley comes home to try to fix the MetroStars, who also did some cosmetic fixing by dropping the clumsy "New York-New Jersey" part of their official team name. Bradley thoroughly overhauled the roster, leaving intact the force at the front (Mathis) and the rock at the back (Howard, who has led the league in saves two straight seasons). In between, Pope and Moreno bring proven talent, and draft pick Magee could quickly blossom into a scoring threat. The MetroStars have won just one playoff series in their seven-year history.

New England Revolution

2002 Record: 12-14-2 (38 points), Eastern Division first place, MLS Cup runner-up

Coach: Steve Nicol (second season)

Who's back: F Taylor Twellman, F Wolde Harris, M Steve Ralston, M Brian Kamler, D Joey Franchino, D Carlos Llamosa, GK Adin Brown

Key Addition: F Joe-Max Moore

Who's gone: M Alex Pineda Chacon, D Jim Rooney

What's ahead: Nicol took over at midseason and led the Revolution to the title game. Virtually the same lineup is back, boosted by the return of Moore after three seasons in England with Everton. Twellman scored 23 of New England's league-high 49 goals, but it'll be hard to keep that pace playing for a coach with a conservative offensive philosophy. This team needs to stay healthy -- the bench looks pretty thin.

 

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