Views
13
Comments
7
  • April 08, 2008 05:50 PM ET

Soccer nation Tourney Round 1: Who will be the worst team in MLS this year?

indycolts:isgone for now (30-29-7) vs killadelphia (1-2-0)
5
Votes
6
Votes
5
Votes
6
Votes


2 Rules: A. You can't pick Toronto FC or San Jose because they are expansion teams from the last 2 years.

B.Pick First argue second

Ok I am going to go with the Real Salt Lake(RSL). Last year RSL finished with a +/- goals ratio of -14. They allowed 45 goals while only scoring 31. RSL again will have trouble scoring. They have 3 very good goalies but only 1 can play at a time. Chris Seitz as well as Nick Rimando will share time. In the draft instead of picking up a scorer like F Patrick Nyarko they took no guys who could step in and help on offense right away. They did help their defensive talent but other than the 3rd pick Beltran the other picks will need some time to develop. RSL will have difficulty putting the ball in the net again.

Also RSL traded Alecko Escadarian to Chivas giving up one of their biggest playmakers. Their GK situation should help- them in the long run but right now with the poor defense and unsteady attack RSL will not improve very much this year.


I'll take the Columbus Crew. In recent years, this team has been absolutely helpless. They are on a two or three year playoff drought with a combined record of 17-26-19 over the past two seasons.

They have made no significant improvements over last season. They have brought in a few draft picks that could eventually develop into decent players, but I don't expect much from any of them this season.

You forgot to mention that RSL signed the Colombian Defender Jamison Olave who should significantly bolster their defence. He impressed a lot of people with his play for Deportivo Cali. Beckerman and Sturgis are also beginning to develop into fine defensive minded midfielders. The scoring will also come in time as Movsisyan and Findley develop. I have RSL down as my surprise team of the year.

For Columbus though, with little to no improvement over a poor roster, and rumors of a growing rift between Schelotto and coach Sigi Schmid, I just don't see much besides another early end to the season.


Forfeited Turn


See comments for indycolts' argument.

Andy Iro will get a good amount of pt this year. I agree. However, I don't see him being a true impact player this year.

I didn't forget about Schelotto. He is an incredible talent. However, rumors are floating around that he is unhappy in the Crew's current style of play and that his relationship with Sigi Schmid is deteriorating. Unhappy leaders make unhappy teams. Unhappy teams make poor teams.

Movsisyan and Findley are two young players that should each develop into quality strikers. Movsisyan is very young and has all kinds of potential, but Findley is the real gem. Findley was an excellent college player (4 time all Pac 10) who hasn't really had a chance to flourish in MLS until now. He is a player that doesn't do anything that is aesthetically overwhelming, but he simply puts the ball in the net. Given time to develop over the end of last season and the start of this one, this strike team will flourish.

For CC, Moreno hasn't been "his normal self" since 2005, and I don't see any signs of him bouncing back. He's serviceable at best.

RSL, with lots of youth, can improve, while CC is only deteriorating or stagnant at best.


The Crew may be deteriorating at some positions but RSL young players will not beready to contribute right now. There 3 best players arguably are all GK and look what that did for them last year. GK is important but you need to have an offense to win. RSL did not improve their offense. Where Columbus struggled last year was on the defensive end and arguably they got the best player in the draft Iro to fill that hole. RSl's main hole was offense they did nothing to improve on that so why should it be any better. Their defense is solid but you need to be able to score to win. With this current club they have nobody who will score more than 12 goals in a season.

RSL needs to be able to score to win. Until they get some talent up front they have no hope of competing in MLS. However Columbus missed the playoffs by 3 points last year and has basically the same team. With one more years playing together this team should again compete for the playoffs.


Forfeited Turn

Comments (7) Add A Comment

April 8, 2008  09:05 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

sorry meant to add delte rule 2 after I was done w/ my argument but forgot

April 9, 2008  05:00 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Its cool man. Good luck.

April 11, 2008  03:13 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Here is my argument

Columbus still however has some very experienced players and play in the easier eastern conference. In the west you have Chivas, Colorado, Dallas, LA, and Houston who are all contenders to win the cup this year while in the east only the Revolution and the Wizards have a shot. RSL has no offense. Even with their defense improved they still had 14 less goals scored than goals allowed. They didn't add anybody who can score. So how will they improve in putting the ball in the net when they have nobody new and the old players didn't get it done.

Columbus did add a very good player in Andy Iro this year. He will be a dominating defender and will start this year. You also can't forget about M Guillermo Barros Schelotto. He is a playmaker. Anyways the Crew last year were a very good team. They only missed out on the playoffs by 3 points. That is 1 win. It's not like they lost anybody eithier so why would they drop off that much. Also Alejandro Moreno had an off year last year. He should back bounce to his normal self and then the Crew will make the playoffs.

April 12, 2008  01:28 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

tough arguments, ill wait on the last one

April 12, 2008  06:49 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Sorry, I had to work all day and couldn't post my last argument so here it is:

I'll say it again, RSL didn't need to go out and find talent at forward. They got it last year. The partnership between Movsisyan and Findley is only getting better. Also, their defense is only getting better. The addition of a few solid players has constructed a defensive unit that should give up nothing cheaply. RSL has made the right move and decided to show faith in their young talent and not go for a roster overhaul. They have one of the youngest rosters in the league with many players on the cusp of emerging as great talents in the league.

Columbus, on the other hand, as you admit, is deteriorating. Older players and unhappy players do not perform well over the course of an entire season.

The real question is, which team would you pick to finish higher, a team with only upside, or a team going downhill?

April 12, 2008  08:25 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Columbus gets my vote.

 
April 13, 2008  01:05 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

i like kila here

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


Leaderboard

  Fan W L T Win %
1 YODA 46 3 2 92.2%
2 Porkins: You're all my dupes 154 14 1 91.4%
3 Detroit... 132 9 8 91.3%
4 The Ram 148 17 4 88.8%
5 Baun-de... 61 7 2 88.6%
6 FoosBal... 82 12 2 86.5%
7 Hyped78 128 19 5 85.9%
8 PhillyE... 75 11 4 85.6%
9 [The] Coach 103 18 5 83.7%
10 Sooner in WA- beat Tex Tech 53 12 3 80.1%

Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    T.O. frustrated with Cowboys offense
    Views
    12035
    Comments
    1553
  2. 2
    Red Sox to break bank for Teixeira
    Views
    23003
    Comments
    1270
  3. 3
    Would Red Sox dare to shop Big Papi?
    Views
    8885
    Comments
    1250
  4. 4
    Romo takes homeless man to movie
    Views
    6868
    Comments
    608
  5. 5
    Big 12 could get 3 BCS bids
    Views
    16699
    Comments
    321

Most Active Users

Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns

  1. 1
    PimpyLooka
  2. 2
    bcoltrinari
  3. 3
    Epoch1
  4. 4
    Dyhard is Jimmie Johnson
  5. 5
    Three Tracks In Dirt

Message Boards

  1. MMA > Fight Club

    A mockery, or publicity boost?
    Views
    727
    Replies
    6

  2. MMA > Fight Club

    Fitch Back
    Views
    348
    Replies
    4

  3. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    The love for USC had died
    Views
    287
    Replies
    63

Blogs

SI.com

Swimsuit

Janipher ChoiJanipher Choi
Ana Beatriz BarrosAna Beatriz Barros

SI Photos

College Football's Unusual TrophiesCollege Football's Unusual Trophies
Baseball's $100 Million MenBaseball's $100 Million Men