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Kansas City Wizards preview Posted: Wednesday April 09, 2003 7:55 PM
By Ridge Mahoney, Soccer America Not since the national team stints of Roy Lassiter and Preki have so many Wizards been in the running for U.S. playing time. Josh Wolff joins Kansas City from Chicago, Nick Garcia and Chris Klein have been called up regularly by Coach Bruce Arena, and Tony Meola remains in the picture. A rather heavy slate of U.S. games might complicate their task, since player absences breed inconsistency, and nothing marked Kansas City more last season than skyrocketing highs and plummeting lows. "We were far too inconsistent. We played extremely well at times and extremely poorly at other times," says Klein of a 9-10-9 record and 36 points, just one more point than the woeful MetroStars. In an Open Cup semifinal, Kansas City led, 2-0, but lost to the Crew, 3-2. It led the Galaxy, 2-1, but lost, 3-2, in the first game of the playoffs, romped 4-1 in Game 2, then got blown out, 5-2. Coach Bob Gansler reacted by cutting loose veteran defenders Peter Vermes and Mike Burns and midfielder Matt McKeon. Vermes and McKeon were two primary reasons Kansas City won its only title in 2000. Times since then have been rough. "We've been the eighth seed the last two years, and that's a tough place to come from," says Klein of sub-.500 seasons and first-round playoff exits.
The Wizards must avoid the ups and downs of last season. Only three teams conceded more goals than the Wizards did last year (45) and only D.C. scored fewer than their 37, so Gansler has tinkered up top and in the back. Wolff adds to the team a goalscorer to complement senior internationals Igor Simutenkov and Dario Fabbro, both of whom are more suited to playing underneath as the second forward, and Chris Brown. "He can fly," says Gansler of Wolff, who missed half of the 2002 season with a torn ACL and scored five goals in 14 games. "He stretches the field for us. Josh is ready to go downtown, go all the way, every time." Meola, the league's MVP in 2000, has been hobbled by injuries the past two seasons, during which he played only 34 of 55 games. Garcia takes Vermes' role in central defense and will be partnered by Jose Burciaga and ex-Quake Jim Conrad. Burciaga missed the entire 2002 season with a torn ACL and has played only three MLS games, so he'll need guidance from Garcia. "Nick has done this for a long time," says Gansler. "He's always been a leader and has played in a variety of positions." Preki, who turns 40 this season, is still the playmaker. He's hit double-digits in assists every year. Supporting him are linkman Francisco Gomez and Carey Talley, who has been moved up from the back line. Diego Gutierrez brings ferocity on the left side and Klein works the right flank goal line to goal line better than anyone in the league. The elements seem to be in place, save one. "It was mental rather than an ability thing," Gansler says of last season. "I don't think we won any scrappy games. We'd flat out-play people and win, but we've got to be able to win games when we look good and when we don't look so good."
AT A GLANCEPivotal: Nick Garcia. The heir-apparent to Peter Vermes as defensive linchpin and a budding national teamer has to solidify the back line and be loud.Worth Your Money: Preki. Cutbacks, curling free kicks, insidious passes. Any questions? Make or Break: Francisco Gomez. Signed a new four-year deal and must be the link between attack and defense. Best Youngster: Jose Burciaga. On the fringe of excellence. Underrated: Diego Gutierrez. Can serve it up from the left side and is a good tackler. Overrated: Dario Fabbro. Argentine has yet to prove he's worth a senior international slot.
RosterAvg. Age: 26.2 (oldest in MLS). Capped players: 8 (6th in MLS).Goalkeepers - 30 Taly Goode, 1 Tony Meola (USA), 25 Bo Oshoniyi. Defenders - 18 Chris Brunt, 6 Jose Burciaga (P40), 12 Jimmy Conrad, 21 Kevin Friedland, 3 Nick Garcia (USA), 26 Taylor Graham. Midfielders - 16 Stephen Armstrong (SI), 8 Chris Brown, 10 Francisco Gomez, 7 Diego Gutierrez (USA), 14 Jack Jewsbury, 17 Chris Klein (USA), 11 Preki (USA), 19 Eric Quill, 4 Carey Talley, 5 Kerry Zavagnin (USA). Forwards - 22 Davy Arnaud, 9 Dario Fabbro (SI), 20 Igor Simutenkov (Russia/SI), 15 Josh Wolff (USA). Head coach: Bob Gansler (MLS record: 44-47-21, 4 seasons). * Countries for which players have been capped (through March 25) are in parentheses.
Ridge
Mahoney is a senior editor at Soccer America magazine.
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