Is this finally Chivas USA's year?

2009-05-08T15:22:31-04:00

2009-05-08T13:50:19-04:00

2009-05-08T15:22:31-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/479/247/thumb/Butters.jpg 1835 WA

Pawn

479687

3 im not sure how an article can be written about chivas usa without mentioning their dirty style of play 5349786

2009-05-08T15:12:25-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/531/098/thumb/Fire.jpg 474 IL

rhussmann

Chicago 531538

2 They do have a very good quality squad and should be able to hold up through the long season. I would love to see Chivas finish near the top (my Fire for the win) for the Supporters Sheild, and have LA Galaxy finish in the basement! 5349619

2009-05-08T14:32:27-04:00

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dynamic

235540

1 Yes! Thank you for writing this. Thornton looks great, can't wait to go to his rematch against his old team when the roll into town. That team is no joke! They deserve more credit and coverage! They have a great formula for finding and developing players that will prove to be model of success in the MLS. [b][i]America is afraid of Chivas USA![/b][/i] 5348823

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/noah_davis/04/08/week.4/chivas-usa.jpg" alt="Double Click to select a Photo" width="298" height="261" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Can Chivas USA avoid the injury jinx and finally win a title? Juan Miranda/MLS via Getty Images</div> </div> They've got no Beckham, Blanco or Ángel. In fact, outside of Sacha Kljestan, they really don't have any recognizable stars at all. But thus far this season, Chivas USA has been the class of Major League Soccer. At 6-1-1, the Goats have the league's best record and have allowed only three goals against, also a league best. They're also MLS' deepest, most complete team and already look like a surefire favorite to be contending for MLS Cup come November. If this sounds familiar, it should -- this is the third year running that Chivas USA is looking formidable. Of course, the team still doesn't have that first league title in the trophy case. What it does have, however, is a growing list of hurt players. And if that also sounds familiar, it should -- injuries have derailed Chivas' title ambitions the last two seasons in a row. In 2007, Chivas finished atop the Western Conference and looked perhaps stronger than any team in MLS. Then it lost both its leading scorers -- Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov -- just before the playoffs and was upset by lowly Kansas City. Last season the injury bug really hit, as 10 players missed more than five games each. Head coach Preki was forced to trot out 28 different lineups over the 30-game regular season. Meanwhile, Chivas was forced to play in three additional tournaments outside league play, testing its depth to no end. Still, the side finished second in the Western Conference before getting shocked by upstart Real Salt Lake in the playoffs. This season hasn't been much better. Galindo again has missed significant time, Razov is out following ankle surgery, old hand Claudio Suárez has yet to play a game after a calf strain, defender Ante Jazic is out after a concussion ... the list goes on. Eleven players have spent time out of the lineup. But somehow, it feels different this time. "We've started off a lot better," explains left back Jonathan Bornstein. "We're finding ways to not give up goals and we're finding ways to win. We can throw anybody on the field and have confidence in them." Indeed, no Chivas USA team has ever blazed out of the gates like this one and, even though no lineup has looked the same through the first eight games, everyone has contributed and there doesn't appear to be a weak link. That's to say nothing of the biggest surprise, veteran keeper Zach Thornton who, at age 35, has looked spectacular in goal. Also working in Chivas' favor this year is the fact that its schedule won't be as congested, as it'll only be participating in U.S. Open Cup play and SuperLiga (and not, thankfully, CONCACAF Champions League). Still, that elusive first MLS Cup appearance is what the Goats want. Kljestan sums it up best: "We need to go full steam ahead this year, because we really need to win something." True enough. What do you think? Does it finally look like Preki's squad has what it takes to go all the way? And can you think of a more star-crossed team in pro sports? ** Twitter fans: I caved. You can follow me at <a href="http://twitter.com/jonahfreedman" target="_blank">jonahfreedman</a>. 64181 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/459/8/thumb/freedman_jonah.jpg 12 CA

Jonah Freedman

San Francisco 4618