March | 2010 | The Shin Guardian

Archive for March, 2010

30 Mar

MLS Jumble: Shippin’ Out!

Posted by matthewsf in MLS. Tagged: Omar Gonzalez. 19 Comments

The question: Which MLS player will make the move overseas? Or, which should?

Any doubt Gonzalez is destined for Europe in the near future?

Connor, Ninety Plus: Which MLS player will make the move overseas? Landon Donovan. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I think he enjoyed England too much not to return soon.

Which one should? Chad Marshall. His potential is quickly rotting away, after raking in two MLS Defender of the Year awards, constant injuries caused his play to suffer for the Nats, and now his place on the plane has been lost to an emerging Clarence Goodson.

Charles, MetroStars: Any MLS player with the chance to sign overseas in a situation where they play first team football should go. Go for no less than 1 year, and if they’re not playing regularly no more than 3 years, before playing in MLS. The MLS player that should move to Europe is anyone that is out of contract and is offered a contract overseas, provided they are given a fair run-out to impress.

Chris, Dynamo Fan: Which most likely will: Omar Gonzalez of the Galaxy and Geoff Cameron of the Dynamo.

Which should: Robbie Rogers from Columbus and Marvell Wynne (now of Colorado). Both those guys show outstanding athletic ability but I think need that next level of training to be able to really excel (Rogers has spent a season in Holland). Wynne has world class speed and could be a top outside back if he can really learn to play the position.

Joe, Miami Monsters: Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers. Chad is ready to move up and showcase his defensive skills while Rogers needs to show that he can play along the best in the midfield.

30 Mar

MLS Jumble: Picking Up Donuts & A ROY Award

Posted by matthewsf in MLS. Tagged: Ike Opara. 9 Comments

Who's sliding home with the 2010 award?

…and we’re back, next question:

Who’s your MLS Rookie of the Year? (Look I’m no egomaniac, but not one of these guys choose TSG, what gives?!)

Joe, Miami Monsters: Strong draft class for 2010. I am going with two guys here: Ike Opara wins it by strengthening the San Jose defense or Corben Bone, Chicago Fire, by doing what he does best: create and set-up goals.

Everybody just loves Ike Opara....(getting exposed here by RSL)

Chris, Dynamo Fan: Rookie of the Year is tough to call in MLS because of the varied player backgrounds (college, youth, international) but I’m seeing some great young talent around the league. Joel Lindpere from the Red Bulls had a confident strike in his first match, Philly has a few very promising youngsters in Jack McInerney, Danny Mwanga, and Roger Torres. Ike Opara is starting at centerback as a rookie for San Jose, and Andy Najar from DC United looks like he could have some real potential.

Connor Walsh, Ninety-Plus: Ike Opara, San Jose Earthquakes. San Jose’s backline was was leakier than a wicker tub last season, and US U-20 stand out Opara is mean enough to overcome the green in his first season.

Charles, MetroStars: Ike Opara for MLS Rookie of the Year. Also on my list for consideration were Corben Bone, Dilly Duka, Andrew Wiedeman, Jack McInerney, & Danny Mwanga. Of these six, I figure that Opara will have the most first-team opportunities, as the Quakes desperately need to reduce their goals against. I watched Opara, Duka, and McInerney play in a youth World Cup. I’ve seen Wiedeman play several matches in Berkeley – poaching goals predator-style.

30 Mar

MLS Jumble: MLS Most Improved?

Posted by matthewsf in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

Simply, who’s your most improved player?

Brian Ching? Landon Donovan? Maybe I'm grumpy, but what about some younger guys....

Chris, Dynamo fan: Not that he’s a player you’d think of as needing improvement, but I’m really intrigued to see how Landon Donovan’s Premier League success affects his MLS play. I think after his stint at Everton he’s seeing the game at a different speed, and if he can take that experience to the Galaxy he could be just unstoppable this season.

Charles, MetroStars: Brian Ching of Houston will likely be Most Improved Player. The reason I select him is simple. It is easier to mark the improvement of forwards than it is to measure the improvement of defensive-minded players. Last season, I believe that Ching had an injury that limited him to 19 games. He scored 8 goals last season. Before that, he had never scored less than 15. Ergo, return to form for Ching = award.

Joe, Miami Monsters: Sacha Kljestan. He wont make the WC squad which will push him to work harder than ever and become a solid player. I HOPE!

USMNT hopeful Cronin...

Connor, Ninety-Plus: Sam Cronin, Toronto FC. I know I’m not alone in thinking that Cronin could be one for the future as far as the US Mens National Team goes. With the departure of Amado Guevara, now Cronin will have his best chance to shine in midfield.

29 Mar

MLS Jumble: Cup Winners and Surprises

Posted by matthewsf in MLS. 12 Comments

2010: Who's Hoisting?

(Your MLS Jumble participants)

Let’s get cracking….

Okay guys, lobbing a softball here to start:

Who’s your 2010 MLS Cup favorite? Who’s your MLS sleeper team?

Chris, Dynamo Fan: My MLS Cup pick this season is Seattle. They return all their critical pieces, have a fantastic home field advantage, and are very well coached. If Ljungberg can stay healthy and Steve Zakuani continues to mature as a player I think they’re the team to beat.

My dark horse is the Dynamo, Dom Kinnear is the best coach in the league and I think Houston could contend again this year, all depends if Geoff Cameron, Brad Davis, and others can fill the void left by Holden and Clark and if they can find/add another scoring threat to complement Brian Ching.

Everyone's favorite?

Charles, MetroStars: My pick for MLS Cup are the Seattle Sounders. Kasey Keller, Freddy Ljungberg and a cast of resolute role-players seem ready to add to their shiny new US Open Cup. They have a fine coach in Sigi Schmid. When all in Qwest Field sing the folk song “Seattle” your hair will stand on end. Welcome MLS challengers…welcome to Seattle.

Philadelphia for a sleeper splash. No one knows them…it worked for Chicago in 1998.

Connor, Ninety-Plus: MLS Cup Favorite…. Seattle Sounders FC. The Sounders not only made themselves stronger by signing Blaise N’Kufo, but retained the services of Freddy Montero, Jhon Hurtado, Kasey Keller, and Fred Ljungberg. Coupled with their ferocious home crowd, I expect the Sounders to add to their trophy case in November.

MLS Sleeper Team: New York Red Bulls. Yes, the worst team in the league last season could very well come out and be a contender in the East. They picked up a lot of key role players to support Juan Pablo Angel, and their undefeated preseason and convincing win over Brazilian club Santos is hard to ignore.

Joe, Miami Monsters: Columbus Crew- 2 Shield Trophies in a row, leading scorer, strong overall team…whats not to like!!

Sleeper team: Can’t consider the Galaxy since they made the final so I will say the Revolution. Made every playoff since 2002 and if healthy they have some serious game .

29 Mar

Meet Our MLS Jumble Participants

Posted by matthewsf in MLS. 8 Comments

I found this ol' thing just lying around the Internet...

In this corner, someone (me) who knows a pinky’s worth of MLS.

Around the Jumble Roundtable, well a whole nother story. Dare I say, experts. Thanks guys.

The topic this time: MLS 2010: Beyond the CBA.

• He’s a 6’0 writer (no real idea on his height) out of the University of Kentucky. He penned one of the first pieces on this publication not written by Brothers TSG, but writes over at his publication Ninety Plus. He’s a card-carrying member of the American Outlaws, a “proud founding fan of US Soccer Supporters Club, a FIFA certified soccer official–for whatever that’s worth–and a Kentucky Youth Soccer Coach. Meet Connor Walsh, take a seat Connor.

• Next up, a Masters student from Miami,FL.–take that Connor–who plays for a local side, the Miami Monsters. He lost his way in college playing baseball, but now he’s back to soccer, realizing it’s much more “exciting”…and he’s headed to South Africa to support the U.S, Joe Orfely.

• Did we say expertise? Try this one on for size. Houston man Chris Figat is a graphic designer by day and a Dynamo supporter by day, night and everything in between. Chris’s current claim to fame, keeping up with high schoolers in indoor soccer (I couldn’t possibly fathom doing that) after dabbing his foot in Division I of the HFA (Houston Football Association).

• We’ve got expertise; how about expertise and history? Bay Area-by-way-of-New York’s Charles Therrell still considers himself a faithful man of the “star-crossed MetroStars.” His counts Paul Caliguiri’s “Shot Heard Round the World” as the event that began fueling his USMNT support. Charles has also played for four amateur teams from 1985 to 1998. Well done Charles.

Charles is also an unabashed Andrew Wiedeman supporter and writes his own publications: Boots, Sticks & Controllers.