At a Quakes training session Friday a colleague asked me if it felt like the MLS season started a month ago, and reflecting on all the CBA stuff I’d read and written during that time I feltcompelled to agree, with a caveat.
Once games commenced, as occurred Thursday when the expansion teams of 2009 and 2010 played in the rain before a pumped-up crowd at Qwest Field, thosefeelings of fatigue and frustration would fade. And if the opener itself didn’t wipe them out, surely this weekend’s slate of seven games will generate far sexier talking points thanunilateral options and 401(k) contributions, as important as they are.
Ridden with faults yet buoyed by the CBA agreement, MLS embarks on its 15th season with the strongest sense ofstability in his history from a business perspective, yet also imbued by as much volatility as can be generated in a single-entity league festooned with parity.
Ergo, here is presentedperhaps the most intriguing element of each of MLS’s six Saturday matches:
CREW CALL. Preki’s move northof the border to take over Toronto has prompted a few personnel changes; right back Marvell Wynne joined the list of departees earlier this week in a trade withColorado. Preki starts off his second head coaching job with a tough test at Columbus Crew Stadium, where the fans are still seething over last year’s playoff elimination by RSL, which ralliedfrom a 2-1 aggregate deficit to win, 4-2 in the conference semifinals. Question: Did the Crew’s narrow 5-4 aggregate loss to Toluca in the Concacaf Champions’ League indicate the Crew isback on track?
TEXAS TEST. The retirement of left back and captain Wade Barrett casts yet another variableinto the Dynamo equation from which Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark have already been subtracted. FCD Dallas nearlysnuck into the playoffs last year with a late-season surge forged by some personnel changes. Question: Without Dave van den Bergh, can FCD take advantage athome of a good opponent testing out a few tweaks?
STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND. Speaking of new, Carlos de LosCobos and Hans Backe coach their first MLS games against each other when Chicago “helps” New York unveil Red Bull Park on Saturday. The RedBulls new playground drew rave reviews last week as the hosts dismantled the Santos Teenage All-Stars. Question: Can the Red Bulls come close to matching their spiffy, impressive surroundings againsta perennial Eastern Conference contender?
REVENGE REMATCH. Curt Onalfo starts off his stint at D.C. Unitedagainst the team that fired him last year, but regardless of how the Onalfo-Peter Vermes schism plays out, Wizards’ fans need assurances that the change,as well as the radical roster renovations that ensued, have steered their team back on-course. Question: Can Kansas City, which moves into a new stadium next year, shake off the malaise that hasplagued it at CommunityAmerica Ballpark?
THE RSL REPEAT. San Jose sets out on its third season with political approval for the funding mechanism ofits stadium project and a stronger roster than it had a year ago. It opens at home against RSL, which by building a championship-winning team constantly reminded how far behind were the Quakes intheir own guest for success. A lot of elements have to fall into place for the Quakes to challenge for a playoff spot, yet they brought in Bobby Convey lastyear to do just that, and he didn’t make all that much of a difference. Question: Can he parlay his impressive season form into real results?
RUEFULREVS. During their injury-riddled 2009 season, New England needed Shalrie Joseph to be superman just about every week. He played up top, he took overplaymaking duties when Steve Ralston went down injured in August, he took on the burden of willing his team into the playoffs. He succeeded, but with Ralston,Jay Heaps and Steve Larentowicz gone and starting keeper Matt Reis injuredsidelined for the start of the 2010 season, the Revs will play the Galaxy at Home Depot Center without Joseph as well. Question: Without so much leadership and experience, who can lead the charge?