Over the past few years, MLS has truly become a global league, and to further prove that fact, we spoke to Kristan Heneage, a Journalist based near Newcastle, England. He has covered Major League Soccer for FourFourTwo and MLS Talk, amongst others. Follow Heneage on twitter: @KHeneage
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?
Kristan Heneage: I know a lot of people will be tipping the Galaxy to retain their crown, but I just see a late play-off slip up for them. I think Gonzalez is a big miss in the back and Boyens hasn't filled me with confidence yet.
With that in mind, I think maybe Seattle or New York could win it - provided the latter get Luke Rodgers back. I think I'll go for Seattle having been really impressed with them against Santos Laguna this past week. That midfield of Rosales, Alonso and Hernandez has real talent, and I think this is year Montero finally fulfills his potential.
As for the Supporters Shield I think the general consensus is LA will take it. I think it's hard to even find a competitor for it this year. That incentive is huge really, we've all seen how important home field advantage can be in soccer, and I think sometimes having your own fans outnumbering the away support can really spur you on - they call it the twelfth man for a reason!
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?
Kristan Heneage: I know a lot of people will be tipping the Galaxy to retain their crown, but I just see a late play-off slip up for them. I think Gonzalez is a big miss in the back and Boyens hasn't filled me with confidence yet.
With that in mind, I think maybe Seattle or New York could win it - provided the latter get Luke Rodgers back. I think I'll go for Seattle having been really impressed with them against Santos Laguna this past week. That midfield of Rosales, Alonso and Hernandez has real talent, and I think this is year Montero finally fulfills his potential.
As for the Supporters Shield I think the general consensus is LA will take it. I think it's hard to even find a competitor for it this year. That incentive is huge really, we've all seen how important home field advantage can be in soccer, and I think sometimes having your own fans outnumbering the away support can really spur you on - they call it the twelfth man for a reason!
SB: Which clubs were the winners/losers this offseason with their transactions?
KH: I think it’s difficult to say. The Guardian made a good point in their round up that for the fans, they all think they’ve won. Personally, I’m very unsure of Peter Nowak’s decision to send Sébastien Le Toux to Vancouver. It might have earned them a nice profit, but money in the bank doesn’t score goals, and I don’t think Lionard Pajoy will either.
I guess as a consequence that makes Vancouver a winner. Their rivals Montreal made some iffy moves though. Eddie Johnson looks a good deal, but the Brian Ching trade was protracted and somewhat embarrassing - in the end leaving them with little gained and a lot of time lost.
I think D.C. United made a shrewd move in getting Hamdi Salihi on a designated player deal. At 28 he should be entering his prime, and his record in Austria was very good. With De Rosario pulling the strings behind, expect a lot of goals at RFK this year.
The only other deal I’m questioning is Kris Boyd. Meritt Paulson sounds almost too confident about Boyd’s potential, and having watched him a lot for Middlesbrough I know he’s going to need a lot of good service if he’s to thrive. It’s also a big financial investment for the Timbers, so they’ll be praying night and day that he comes off.
KH: I think it’s difficult to say. The Guardian made a good point in their round up that for the fans, they all think they’ve won. Personally, I’m very unsure of Peter Nowak’s decision to send Sébastien Le Toux to Vancouver. It might have earned them a nice profit, but money in the bank doesn’t score goals, and I don’t think Lionard Pajoy will either.
I guess as a consequence that makes Vancouver a winner. Their rivals Montreal made some iffy moves though. Eddie Johnson looks a good deal, but the Brian Ching trade was protracted and somewhat embarrassing - in the end leaving them with little gained and a lot of time lost.
I think D.C. United made a shrewd move in getting Hamdi Salihi on a designated player deal. At 28 he should be entering his prime, and his record in Austria was very good. With De Rosario pulling the strings behind, expect a lot of goals at RFK this year.
The only other deal I’m questioning is Kris Boyd. Meritt Paulson sounds almost too confident about Boyd’s potential, and having watched him a lot for Middlesbrough I know he’s going to need a lot of good service if he’s to thrive. It’s also a big financial investment for the Timbers, so they’ll be praying night and day that he comes off.
SB: On the topic of offseason transactions, who do you believe will win Rookie of the Year and Newcomer of the Year?
KH: I think Kelyn Rowe or Darren Mattocks. The latter choice is more personal indulgence I admit, but Mattocks has impressed me from what I’ve seen. Although New England will struggle this year, Rowe will get his chance, and I think as a consequence of that it will bring him on a lot as a player.
Newcomer, I’m going to go with the Albanian Salihi. He’s just got a lot of the components you want in a striker, and I think the title is his to lose.
SB: Which designated player will have the biggest impact on his teams success this season?
KH: It’s potentially Kris Boyd. Cooper’s 8 in 34 last year wasn’t good enough, and if Boyd can do better then it will likely see Portland make the playoffs. I’d also give a special mention to Torsten Frings,, though. At 35, he oozes experience when you watch him, and I think his natural leadership qualities will shine through now he’s had some time to settle in.
SB: If you could pick one MLS match this year to attend just as a fan, which would it be?
KH: It has to be Le Toux’s return to Philadelphia. That will be such an emotionally charged event for both him and the fans. If he scores, the atmosphere will be incredibly awkward- which is kind of what makes it so appealing. His story is the kind of subplot MLS needs and I’m going to be watching with baited breath for sure.
SB: Bonus Question: Off-topic, but with the Olympics happening this summer, if the United States qualifies, who do you think will be selected as the three overage players?
KH: Dempsey, Bocanegra, and Bradley- with no real reasoning other than that’s who I’d take.
KH: I think Kelyn Rowe or Darren Mattocks. The latter choice is more personal indulgence I admit, but Mattocks has impressed me from what I’ve seen. Although New England will struggle this year, Rowe will get his chance, and I think as a consequence of that it will bring him on a lot as a player.
Newcomer, I’m going to go with the Albanian Salihi. He’s just got a lot of the components you want in a striker, and I think the title is his to lose.
SB: Which designated player will have the biggest impact on his teams success this season?
KH: It’s potentially Kris Boyd. Cooper’s 8 in 34 last year wasn’t good enough, and if Boyd can do better then it will likely see Portland make the playoffs. I’d also give a special mention to Torsten Frings,, though. At 35, he oozes experience when you watch him, and I think his natural leadership qualities will shine through now he’s had some time to settle in.
SB: If you could pick one MLS match this year to attend just as a fan, which would it be?
KH: It has to be Le Toux’s return to Philadelphia. That will be such an emotionally charged event for both him and the fans. If he scores, the atmosphere will be incredibly awkward- which is kind of what makes it so appealing. His story is the kind of subplot MLS needs and I’m going to be watching with baited breath for sure.
SB: Bonus Question: Off-topic, but with the Olympics happening this summer, if the United States qualifies, who do you think will be selected as the three overage players?
KH: Dempsey, Bocanegra, and Bradley- with no real reasoning other than that’s who I’d take.
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