How the MLS players in the U.S. squad performed
American stars play all over the world but it was one that is based in MLS that grabbed all the headlines at the World Cup.
Landon Donovan’s goals against Slovenia and Algeria helped lead the team to the knockout round and, although he didn’t perform as well as he would have like against Ghana, he still showed nerves of steel when he dispatched his penalty for his third goal of the World Cup.
Landon can be proud of his displays at the Cup but the only problem for MLS is that the rest of the World has now finally taken notice of his talent and a big money offer could see MLS lose its best player.
Jonathan Bornstein also saw significant playing time and although not spectacular, he was solid enough to suggest he has a good future ahead at international level.
Robbie Findley also played heavy minutes and although his work-rate was superb, he showed he still has a long way to go before he can be considered a top-level talent.
dson Buddle was not really given enough time to impress but he should not be simply cast away now that the World Cup is over. He has done enough over the first half of the season to warrant an extended look in the side. It’s not like he can score fewer goals than our current forward line.
Should Bradley stay or go?
The U.S. soccer team never had a better opportunity to make a deep run into the World Cup, but a second round clash against a young Ghana side which would have been followed by a quarterfinal clash with Uruguay side was simply not in the cards.
With that considered, this U.S. team missed out on a tremendous opportunity to go further that any other American team at the World Cup in the modern era and the manager has to shoulder a large portion of the blame for that.
Some people see early or half time substitutions as the work of a manager who can read the game quickly and make the necessary adjustments, but more often than not it is the sign of a manager that has gotten his original line-up wrong in the first place.
Bob Bradley has done a good job in charge of the national team but now would be the perfect time to give someone else the chance to build on his work. The only problem for fans wanting a home-based manager is that there are not many quality contenders in MLS.
Jason Kreis still needs a few more years of coaching under his belt while Dominic Kinnear’s blossoming coaching career has stalled recently at Houston. The most obvious candidate in MLS is Bruce Arena, but with the federation unlikely to take that route it is likely that a foreign coach will take over if Bradley is released.
There are many candidates who would fit the fill but none more so than Juergen Klinsmann. The German has international experience and living in the U.S. means he is a lot closer to the grassroots side of the American game than most other suitable candidates.
Back in action
As MLS actions starts again here are some of the teams that have impressed far.
The Colorado Rapids, Toronto FC and Columbus Crew deserve honorable mentions as sides that have started the season well, but here are the three sides that have impressed me the most since the start of the season.
The L.A. Galaxy has been head and shoulders above everyone else over the first few months of the campaign. Their ability to grind out results without key players has been their most impressive trait as Bruce Arena has prepared a squad that has tremendous faith in their own ability. The Galaxy has always been the biggest name in MLS -- the only difference now is they back that up with their play on the field.
RSL has struggled with consistency in the past but there have been signs over the last few weeks that they are maturing into a team that can put together a run of results that could see them challenge for the regular season crown and give them a chance to defend their MLS title. Jason Kreis is fast becoming one of the top coaches in the league and another successful year could see him become a contender for the biggest job in U.S. soccer.
This time last year the Red Bulls were the laughing stock of MLS, but the arrival of Hans Backe has seen this club become a contender again. The squad hasn’t changed too much from last year, but Backe’s experience and tactical knowledge has finally given Red Bull fans a team they can be proud of. The opening of Red Bull Arena has also helped this team feel like it has a home and, if they do finally add Henry to the squad, then the Red Bulls could very well be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
Teams that need to step it up
It would be quite easy to talk about how the Kansas City Wizards and Chivas USA have been horrible to start the year, but when you look at the squad of players that they have it is hard to really expect anything from either side. Here are the sides that I believe have underachieved the most over the opening months of the season.
The Houston Dynamo were once the top team in MLS but they have looked a shadow of their former selves while losing seven of their opening 13 fixtures. The likes of Craig Waibel and Richard Mulrooney have been tremendous servants to the club but their best days are arguably behind them. This squad is in need of a fresh injection of talent if they are to once again compete for trophies. Dominic Kinnear has developed a reputation as one of the best coaches in U.S. soccer and returning this team to their former glory may be his toughest task yet.
The Seattle Sounders had a superb debut season and hopes were high that they could challenge for the regular season crown in their second, but so far they have failed to live up to the hype. Sigi Schmid is a superb coach but he has failed to continually get the best out of a talented squad with Freddie Ljungberg particularly failing to shine and starting to feel the heat from a frustrated Sounders fan base.
Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero are two of the most talented attackers in the league and their talent needs to be better utilized if this team is to turn their season around and make a playoff push.
The homecoming of Curt Onalfo was supposed to breath new life into a D.C. franchise that has struggled over the last few years, but so far things have not gone according to plan.
D.C. was once seen as one of the leaders in MLS, but with the likes of Philadelphia and Toronto joining the Eastern Conference and playing in their own superb stadia, United is in danger of becoming one of the also-rans in the conference if they don’t turn things around quickly.
Onalfo has enough quality to get this side going in the right direction but D.C., like Houston, has many players in their squad whose best days are behind them. United’s form has begun to improve but they will still miss out on a playoff spot and that is not good enough for a team of this stature.
Player of the season so far
Edson Buddle has finally produced the kind of form we all knew he was capable of and has been the best performer in MLS so far this season. He has been deadly in front of goal but we have also seen an improvement in his link-up play that has allowed the Galaxy to play off their talented front man.
Buddle has been helped by the unselfish play of Landon Donovan, who has developed into the ultimate team player, but Buddle’s ruthlessness in front of goal should not be underestimated. It will be interesting to see if Buddle can reproduce his top form when he returns from the World Cup because if he can, the Galaxy will walk away with the regular season crown and Buddle will be the unanimous MVP.
Biggest disappointment so far
Freddie Ljungberg is a superbly talented player but so far this year he has not played to his potential and his team has suffered because of it. Sometimes it almost looks like Sigi Schmid is picking a team to accommodate Freddie, but so far we have yet to see the form that made him one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during his time at Arsenal.
Ljungberg is constantly getting involved with referees and you can’t help but feel if he just concentrated on playing instead of whining then his form would improve. Some of the Seattle fans have started to get on Ljungberg’s back and hopefully this will help motivate the former Swedish international to increase his level of play. If he can’t then Seattle may well become the most talented team to ever miss out on a playoff spot.
On to the MLS Power Rankings ...
1. Los Angeles Galaxy: A dour goalless draw at Toronto may not seem like a positive result but let’s not forget the Galaxy are still without their main attacking threats. Oh, and David Beckham is still out, too.
2. New York Red Bulls: Can we just give Hans Backe the Coach of the Year award now? The Red Bulls will be even better if they manage to sign one of the many world-class players they are being linked with.
3. Columbus Crew: The Crew had been in poor form before the World Cup break but there is nothing like a clash with D.C. to get your season up and running again.
4. Toronto FC: The city of Toronto had other things on its mind last Saturday and the attendance at BMO Field suffered because of it. Preki’s side still managed to hold the league leaders to a 0-0 draw and show they are a side going in the right direction.
5. Real Salt Lake: If RSL is to catch the L.A. Galaxy at the top of the west then they simply must win their matches against the likes of San Jose. No offense Frank Yallop!
6. FC Dallas: Dallas continued its recent good form with a win at Chivas although it doesn’t take much to beat the Goats these days.
7. Colorado Rapids: Normally a point at Houston would be considered a good result but the way the Dynamo are playing right now I am sure Gary Smith will see this result as two points dropped.
8. Chicago Fire: The Fire’s victory at New England sees them move to within one point of third place in Eastern Conference. Not bad for a team that has yet to play to its full potential.
9. San Jose Earthquakes: The addition of Sam Cronin adds quality to the San Jose midfield and there is no reason they cannot win the fight for third place in the west. Anything above that is beyond them.
10. Philadelphia Union: What a way to open a new stadium. A comeback win that includes a penalty save and a goal from your number one draft pick. The Philly fans could not have dreamed up a better scenario.
11. Seattle Sounders: The Sounders' miserable season continued with a shocking loss at Philadelphia, although credit the Union for opening their stadium in style. It is hard to see the Sounders make the playoffs on this form.
12. New England Revolution: New England has the look of a team just trying to keep its head above water and the news that Taylor Twellman will not return just adds to their woes.
13. Houston Dynamo: It is time for Houston Dynamo fans to face the fact that their side is simply not as good as they once were. Has Dominic Kinnear become too comfortable as head coach?
14. D.C. United: D.C. may point to the fact that Guillermo Barros Schelotto obviously handled on the all-important opening goal but in truth Curt Onalfo’s side didn’t do enough to get anything from this game.
15. Kansas City Wizards: The Wizards started the season off well but since then have been awful and that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon.
16. Chivas USA: Chivas miserable run of form continued and not even the return of Paulo Nagamura can save this side from finishing bottom of the west.
Keith Costigan is a writer for FoxSoccer.com covering Major League Soccer.
