Sportsnet.ca looks ahead to the 2012 Major League Soccer season by previewing the Eastern Conference.
CHICAGO FIRE
2011: Sixth in the East (9-9-16, 43 points), missed the playoffs
Additions: GK Jay Nolly (trade from Vancouver), DF Arne Friedrich (free transfer), DF Hunter Jumper (MLS draft) FW Kheli Dube (Re-entry, New England), MD Rafael Robayo (free transfer), FW Federico Puppo (free transfer), DF Austin Berry (MLS draft)
Departures: FW Gabriel Ferrari, FW Cristian Nazarit, MD Baggio Husidic, GK Jon Conway, GK Alec Dufty, FW Diego Chaves, DF Mike Banner
First game: March 17 away to Montreal Impact
Season Outlook: The Fire stumbled out of the gate last season, before putting together a solid second half of the campaign. Chicago had trouble scoring in 2011, so it’s interesting to note that their two biggest off-season signings were defender Arne Friedrich and midfielder Rafael Robayo. It’s hard to see where the goals will come from, but if the Fire can stay defensively strong, they’ll sneak into the playoffs.
COLUMBUS CREW
2011: Fourth in the East (13-13-8, 47 points), lost wildcard playoff to Colorado
Additions: DF Carlos Mendez (Re-entry, New York), GK Matt Lampson (homegrown), MF Milovan Mirosevic (free transfer), FW Olman Vargas (free transfer), FW Ben Speas (homegrown), FW Ethan Finlay (MLS draft)
Departures: DF Josh Gardner, MF Santiago Prim, DF Dejan Rusmir, FW Andres Mendoza, FW Jeff Cunningham, MF Kevin Burns, MD Robbie Rogers
First game: March 10 away to Colorado Rapids
Outlook: This looks to be a transition year for the Crew, who lost several key players in the off-season, including influential midfielder Robbie Rogers to Leeds United. With Rodgers and forward Jeff Cunningham gone, all the pressure will be on playmaker Milovan Mirosevic and Olman Vargas to lead the attack.
D.C. UNITED
2011: Seventh in the East (9-13-12, 39 points), missed the playoffs
Additions: DF Robbie Russell (trade from Salt Lake), MF Nick DeLeon (free transfer), MF Maicon Santos (free transfer), MF Danny Cruz (trade with Houston), DF Emiliano Dudar (free transfer), FW Hamdi Salihi (free agent), MF Marcelo Saragosa (free transfer), GK Andrew Dykstra (free transfer)
Departures: FW Charlie Davies, MF Santino Quaranta, DF Marc Burch, GK Steve Cronin, MF Clyde Simms, MF Brandon Barklage, FW Joseph Ngwenya, DF Jed Zayner, MF Blake Brettschneider
First game: March 10 home to Sporting Kansas City
Outlook: Robbie Russell will strengthen the defence and designated player Hamdi Salihi will try to supply the goals in the wake of Charlie Davies’ return to France. But all eyes will be on Dwayne De Rosario, who has his contract sorted out and can just concentrate on soccer. If he can have another MVP-calibre season, look for United to finish near the top of the East.
HOUSTON DYNAMO
2011: Second in the East (12-9-13, 49 points), lost MLS Cup final to LA
Additions: MF Nathan Sturgis (trade with Toronto), FW Colin Rolfe (MLS draft), GK Erich Marscheider (free), FW Macoumba Kandji (trade with Colorado)
Departures: MF Francisco Navas Cobo, FW Carlos Costly, GK Evan Newton, DF Hunter Freeman, DF Eddie Robinson, MF Danny Cruz, FW Jason Garey
First game: March 11 away to Chivas USA
Outlook: With the Brian Ching saga settled, the Dynamo can focus at the task at hand, but replicating last year’s run to the MLS Cup final may prove difficult. They face a seven-game road trip to begin the season before they move into their brand new stadium. Failure to pick up sufficient points during that stretch could force them to play catch-up for the rest of the year.
MONTREAL IMPACT
2011: Spent in NASL, finishing seventh overall and failing to make the playoffs. 2012 will mark Montreal’s first season in MLS.
Expansion Draft: DF Zarek Valentin, MF Justin Mapp, DF Jeb Brovsky, DF Collen Warner, DF Josh Gardner, MF Sanna Nyassi
Other Additions: MF Patrice Bernier (free), DF Matteo Ferrari (transfer), DF Nelson Rivas (transfer), DF Tyson Wahl (trade with Seattle), FW Justin Braun (trade with Chivas USA), MF Bryan Arguez (free), MF Davy Arnaud (trade with Kansas City), GK Donovan Rickets (trade with LA), GK Greg Sutton (free), DF Andrew Wenger (MLS draft), MF Callum Mallace (MLS draft), MF Felipe Martins (transfer), DF Gienir García (trade with Vancouver), Df Shavar Thomas (free), FW Michael Fucito (trade with Seattle), FW Lamar Neagle (trade with Seattle)
Carryovers from NASL: GK Evan Bush, MF Hassoun Camara, MF Sinisa Ubiparipovic, FW Eduardo Sebrango, MF Miguel Montano
First game: March 10 away to Vancouver Whitecaps
Outlook: Montreal is going to be bad — very bad. The Impact have depth at the goalkeeping position, but that’s about it. They’re pretty thin everywhere else on the field, especially up front where the likes of Justin Braun and Michael Fucito will be expected to lead the line. Justin Mapp, Davy Arnaud and Patrice Bernier add strength to the midfield, but after them the quality drops off rather sharply. Owner Joey Saputo promises he’s going to sign a DP in the summer, but whether or not he can pull it off and what it’ll mean to the club remains to be season. Gear up Montreal fans — this is going to be a long season.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
2011: Ninth in the East (5-6-13, 28 points), missed the playoffs
Additions: MF Clyde Simms (Re-entry, DC), DF Jhon Lozano (free transfer), MF Fernando Cardenas (free transfer), FW Saer Sene (free transfer), MF Lee Ngyuen (free transfer), FW Jose Moreno (free transfer), MF Kelyn Rowe (MLS draft), DF Tyler Polak (MLS draft)
Departures: MF Pat Phelan, DF Ryan Cochrane, DF Otto Loewy, FW Alan Koger, MF Andrew Sousa, FW Rajko Lekic, FW Kheli Dube, FW Milton Caraglio, FW Monsef Zerka, MF Franco Coria
First game: March 10 away to San Jose Earthquakes
Outlook: Last year was a disaster and 2012 might only be marginally better. The Steve Nicol era is over, with young coach Jay Heaps taking over. Signing captain and midfield veteran Shalrie Joseph to a DP deal was a smart move, but this is a young rebuilding team, and Heaps is going to have a hard time of it in his first coaching assignment.
NEW YORK RED BULLS
2011: Fifth in the East (10-8-16, 46 points), lost conference semifinal to Los Angeles
Additions: FW Kenny Copper (trade with Portland), DF Conor Lade (homegrown), DF Jonathan Borrajo (free transfer), DF Markus Holgersson (free transfer), DF Wilman Conde (free), GK Jeremy Vuolo (free), GK Ryan Meara (MLS draft), MF Victor Palsson (free)
Departures: DF Tim Ream, MF Carl Robinson, GK Frank Rost, GK Greg Sutton, GK Bouna Coundoul, DF Chris Albright, DF Carlos Mendes,
First game: March 11 away to FC Dallas
Outlook: The Red Bulls have great attacking options up front with Thierry Henry and Juan Agudelo, and the addition of Kenny Cooper gives them another dangerous weapon. But there will be serious issues at the back end, as all three goalkeepers from last season are gone, and star defender Tim Ream has joined Bolton in the Premiership.
PHILADELPHIA UNION
2011: Third in the East (11-8-15, 48 points), lost conference semifinal to Houston
Additions: FW Josue Martinez (transfer), MF Jimmy McLaughlin (homegrown), MF Gabriel Gomez (transfer), DF Porfirio Lopez (transfer), DF Chris Albright (free), FW Lionard Pajoy (free), DF Raymon Gaddis (MLS draft), MF Greg Jordan (MLS draft), FW (MLS draft)
Departures: FW Sebastien Le Toux, MF Justin Mapp, DF Juan Diego Gonzalez, GK Thorne Holder, MF Stefani Miglioranzi, MF Kyle Nakazawa, GK Faryd Mondragon, DF Joe Tait, MF Ryan Richter, FW Levi Houapeu
First game: March 12 away to Portland Timbers
Outlook: This side went through a major roster overhaul in the off-season, prompting GM Nick Sakiewicz to write an open letter to fans asking them to keep faith. Philly lost too many quality players — most notably Faryd Mondragon, Sebastien Le Toux and Justin Mapp — that they are going to be hard-pressed to finish in the top half of the conference standings.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY
2011: First in the East (13-9-12, 48 points), lost conference final to Houston
Additions: MF Paulo Nagamura (trade with Chivas USA), MF Bobby Convey (trade with San Jose), MF Jacob Peterson (free), MF Michael Thomas (free), FW Dom Dwyer (MLS draft), MF Cyprian Hedrik (MLS draft)
Departures: MF Davt Arnaud, FW Omar Bravo, FW Ryan Smith, DF Scott Lorenz, DF Shavar Thomas, MF Jefferson, MF Craig Rocastle
First game: March 10 away to D.C. United
Outlook: The best team in the East last year, and more than likely the best again in 2012, even with the departure of Omar Bravo. The additions of veteran Bobby Convey and rookie Dom Dwyer should more than make up for the Mexican’s absence, and will fit in nicely with Kansas City’s past-paced system.
TORONTO FC
2011: Eighth in the East (6-13-15, 33 points), missed the playoffs
Additions: DF Miguel Aceval (free), MF Reggie Lambe (free), DF Jeremy Hall (trade with Dallas), MF Luis Silva (MLS draft), DF Aaron Maund (MLS draft)
Departures: DF Andy Iro, MF Gianluca Zavarise, FW Javier Martina, MF Elbekay Bouchiba, FW Peri Marosevic, DF Mikael Yourassowsky, DF Danleigh Borman, DF Eddy Viator, MF Leandre Griffit, DF Kyle Davies, MF Demitrius Omphroy, MF Matt Gold
First game: March 17 away to Seattle Sounders
Outlook: Will the Reds’ playoff drought finally come to an end in 2012? It just might, if for no other reason the East is pretty wide open and then there’s an extra playoff spot available. Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans have entire seasons ahead of them, and should be able to exert even more influence than they did in 2011 when they came in mid-way through the season. But serious questions remain about the defence (the league’s worst last year) and if they continue to leak goals, they may not even been good enough to finish top five in a weak conference.