To complete our MLS preview we spoke with former USMNT defender and current ESPN analyst, Alexi Lalas. Due to his late entry to the party, if he correctly picks the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup winners, there will be an asterisk next to his name in the record books! Lalas is a tireless promoter of the beautiful game and his goal celebration against England at Foxboro Stadium is etched in my memory forever. Check out his daily podcast "The Shot" and follow him on Twitter @AlexiLalas
Soccer Banter: Which team(s) will win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2012? How much more important will the Supporters Shield be with MLS Cup being played at the home venue of the participating team with a higher regular-season point total?
Alexi Lalas: It is a hard choice for the Supporters Shield, but I am going to go with the Seattle Sounders. For MLS Cup, I am picking Sporting KC. Supporters Shield has taken a hit because of the unbalanced schedule, but I still think it has value, whether that is hosting MLS Cup, the money for winning it, or for earning a spot in CONCACAF Champions League. I believe the Supporters Shield is worth focusing on. I think at the end of the year some people will be crying foul about the unbalanced schedule, as it might not necessarily be the best team to win the regular season.
SB: Which clubs were the winners/losers this off-season with their transactions?
AL: I can’t think of another off-season where more clubs went out and tried to make themselves better, on paper at least. I think the most improved clubs are Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Galaxy tweaked their rosters a little bit, but that’s all they needed to do as they both have a good thing going. Having the benefit of a few weeks into the season, I have real concerns with Philadelphia and DC United. Philadelphia more than DC could have been really good, but first their transactions and now their performances are raising eyebrows. I am not saying these clubs fortunes can’t change, but are they able to rectify their situation?
Soccer Banter: Which team(s) will win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2012? How much more important will the Supporters Shield be with MLS Cup being played at the home venue of the participating team with a higher regular-season point total?
Alexi Lalas: It is a hard choice for the Supporters Shield, but I am going to go with the Seattle Sounders. For MLS Cup, I am picking Sporting KC. Supporters Shield has taken a hit because of the unbalanced schedule, but I still think it has value, whether that is hosting MLS Cup, the money for winning it, or for earning a spot in CONCACAF Champions League. I believe the Supporters Shield is worth focusing on. I think at the end of the year some people will be crying foul about the unbalanced schedule, as it might not necessarily be the best team to win the regular season.
SB: Which clubs were the winners/losers this off-season with their transactions?
AL: I can’t think of another off-season where more clubs went out and tried to make themselves better, on paper at least. I think the most improved clubs are Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Galaxy tweaked their rosters a little bit, but that’s all they needed to do as they both have a good thing going. Having the benefit of a few weeks into the season, I have real concerns with Philadelphia and DC United. Philadelphia more than DC could have been really good, but first their transactions and now their performances are raising eyebrows. I am not saying these clubs fortunes can’t change, but are they able to rectify their situation?
SB: On the topic of off-season transactions, who do you believe will win Rookie of the Year and Newcomer of the Year?
AL: For Rookie of the Year, I really like Luis Silva in Toronto. I also think Kelyn Rowe and Casey Townsend are playing on teams that are going to struggle, but if they rise above that and have multiple shining moments in games they will be contenders. For Rowe specifically, if he can take a hold of a game, which is hard for any player, let alone a rookie, I think he could become the Rookie of the Year. For Newcomer of the Year, Kris Boyd in Portland. The Timbers still have yet to prove they can win or even score on the road, but if Boyd can be the man to score goals, with it being Portland, him being a designated player, it will go a long way.
SB: Which designated player will have the biggest impact on his teams success this season?
AL: Robbie Keane in Los Angeles. The Galaxy are most likely going to lose David Beckham this summer due to the Olympics, and if the Galaxy juggernaut is going to continue, Keane will need to score goals. An impact can be positive or negative and Keane scoring goals consistently will be very important for the Galaxy. I also believe Rafa Marquez will have a huge impact. He will either figure out to coexist and help define New York Red Bulls or he will implode once again and we will all watch the fireworks.
AL: For Rookie of the Year, I really like Luis Silva in Toronto. I also think Kelyn Rowe and Casey Townsend are playing on teams that are going to struggle, but if they rise above that and have multiple shining moments in games they will be contenders. For Rowe specifically, if he can take a hold of a game, which is hard for any player, let alone a rookie, I think he could become the Rookie of the Year. For Newcomer of the Year, Kris Boyd in Portland. The Timbers still have yet to prove they can win or even score on the road, but if Boyd can be the man to score goals, with it being Portland, him being a designated player, it will go a long way.
SB: Which designated player will have the biggest impact on his teams success this season?
AL: Robbie Keane in Los Angeles. The Galaxy are most likely going to lose David Beckham this summer due to the Olympics, and if the Galaxy juggernaut is going to continue, Keane will need to score goals. An impact can be positive or negative and Keane scoring goals consistently will be very important for the Galaxy. I also believe Rafa Marquez will have a huge impact. He will either figure out to coexist and help define New York Red Bulls or he will implode once again and we will all watch the fireworks.
SB: If you could pick one MLS match this year to attend just as a fan, which would it be?
AL: I think when you go to a game in Portland, it is something so special and unique. As soon as you say Portland, all the Sounders fans go nuts. The refurbished stadium and its urban access has a retro feel to it. MLS now has many powerful places to watch games, but Portland is unique, let’s say its powerfully unique. If I had to pick one, it would be Portland.
SB: Bonus Question: Well the original bonus question was going to be, 'which overage players should be brought to London for the US Olympic team?", but that’s a little outdated now. So what are your thoughts on the U23’s being eliminated from the group stages of Olympic Qualifying?
AL: It was disappointing, a failure, but no way is it the death note of American soccer. I hope that it hurts the coaches, that it hurts the players, but that they take that hurt to move the game forward. For those that aren’t soccer fans, the Olympics are just as big as the World Cup. The Olympics are wonderful, but nothing compared to the World Cup. The goal of the Olympic soccer team is to further develop the chance of winning the World Cup. For those players that join the full national team in future, I hope this hurt drives them on and then it could be the best lesson that they could of learned.
Other contributers to "Five Minutes with Five People That Know MLS"
Bobby McMahon - Fox Soccer Analyst
Travis Clark - Staff Reporter and Editor at TopDrawerSoccer.com
Marc Connolly - Chief Researcher and editorial consultant for ESPN's MLS and UNMNT soccer broadcasts
Kristan Heneage - Newcastle based journalist featured in FourFourTwo and MLSTalk
AL: I think when you go to a game in Portland, it is something so special and unique. As soon as you say Portland, all the Sounders fans go nuts. The refurbished stadium and its urban access has a retro feel to it. MLS now has many powerful places to watch games, but Portland is unique, let’s say its powerfully unique. If I had to pick one, it would be Portland.
SB: Bonus Question: Well the original bonus question was going to be, 'which overage players should be brought to London for the US Olympic team?", but that’s a little outdated now. So what are your thoughts on the U23’s being eliminated from the group stages of Olympic Qualifying?
AL: It was disappointing, a failure, but no way is it the death note of American soccer. I hope that it hurts the coaches, that it hurts the players, but that they take that hurt to move the game forward. For those that aren’t soccer fans, the Olympics are just as big as the World Cup. The Olympics are wonderful, but nothing compared to the World Cup. The goal of the Olympic soccer team is to further develop the chance of winning the World Cup. For those players that join the full national team in future, I hope this hurt drives them on and then it could be the best lesson that they could of learned.
Other contributers to "Five Minutes with Five People That Know MLS"
Bobby McMahon - Fox Soccer Analyst
Travis Clark - Staff Reporter and Editor at TopDrawerSoccer.com
Marc Connolly - Chief Researcher and editorial consultant for ESPN's MLS and UNMNT soccer broadcasts
Kristan Heneage - Newcastle based journalist featured in FourFourTwo and MLSTalk
RSS Feed