New York Cosmos 2-0 New York Red Bulls
For my first pre-season game of three, i decided to put a young team out to see the standard of the youth setup of this club, needless to say it didn't go well. In terms of English standard it was a premier league team playing a league 1 team. i hope that our team cohesion as well as our tactics get better.
San Antonio Scorpions 0-3 New York Red Bulls - (Klasnic 48,52) (Miller 80)
Second game of pre-season went better saw my formation of 4-1-2-3 look good and we comfortably won without breaking stride. My last game i will put my first team in the first half and my reserves in the second half.
Charlotte Eagles 5-5 New York Red Bulls - (Iaquinta 39), (Klasnic 43, Pen 69), (Christanson 51), (Gilberto 75)
Fantastic game for the neutral but not for my defence. Klasnic already has found his feet in this country and i have high hopes for him scoring most of my goals. It was also good to see a couple of youngsters score too.
Mixed results may look indifferent but the team cohesion looks settled and the attacking talent in my team fills me with postives. Klasnic, Henry and Cahill should score most of the goals, whilst Olave should keep things solid at the other end.
The MLS season 2014 looks set to be the best yet. ESPN looks at the season ahead and looks at each club and where they expect to be.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
CHICAGO FIRE
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Manager: Frank Klopas (2011)
Top Players: Carlton Cole, Alberto Fernanadez, Joel Lindpiere
Prediction: 5th - Should reach the playoffs especially if New Signing Carlton Cole finds form but the title may be too much.
COLUMBUS CREW
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Manager: Carlos Valderamma (Dec 2013)
Top Players: Matteo Ferrari, Federico Higuain, Chad Marshall
Prediction: 14th - This is Colombian legend Carlos Valderamma's first job and he may struggle to achieve much with this Columbus side. Higuain needs to score on a regular basis and Marshall will need to "marshal" his defence. Play-offs will be seen as a huge success.
D.C. UNITED
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Manager: Ben Olsen (Aug 2010)
Top Players: Dwayne De Rosario, Peguy Luyindula, Jermaine Taylor
Prediction: 16th - A season of struggle seems set for united as the squad has been weakened during close-season. New french striker Luyindula arrives from New York to spear D.C.'s attack
HOUSTON DYNAMO
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Manager: Dominic Kinnear (Aug 2005)
Top Players: Giles Barnes, Ricardo Clark, Andrew Driver
Prediction: 12th - A season of consolidation is on the cards for Dynamo this campaign. Vastly experienced manager Dominic Kinnear could rally his troops to excel and possibly sneak into the playoffs.
MONTREAL IMPACT
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Manager: Marco Schallibaum (Jan 2013)
Top Players: Marco Di Vaio, Sidney Govou, Alessandro Nesta
Prediction: 4th - Contenders for the championship with a trio of talented european players. Di Vaio will be up near the top of the goal scoring charts, as Nesta should keep things safe at the back.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
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Manager: Jay Heaps (Nov 2011)
Top Players: Chad Barrett, Stephen Cherundolo, Saer Sene
Prediction: 17th - Perennial strugglers New England Revolution will more than likely have another poor season. With a lack of depth of quality and no outright goal scorer, Revolution will do well to score in games.
NEW YORK RED BULLS
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Manager: Desmond Pugh (Dec 13)
Top Players: Tim Cahill, Thierry Henry, Mohammed Sissoko
Prediction: 2nd - One of the favourites, New York with new manager Desmond Pugh have assembled a talented squad and should reach the semi-finals at least, can they win the championship?
PHILADELPHIA UNION
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Manager: John Hackworth (Jan 2012)
Top Players: Freddy Adu, Sebastien Le Toux, Patrick Owomoyela
Prediction: 11th - Union remain postive they can reach the play-offs despite a leaky defence, May just miss out....just.
Sporting Kansas City
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Manager: Peter Vermes (Nov 2006)
Top Players: Matt Besler, Stephen Hunt, Graham Zusi
Prediction: 8th - Will reach the playoffs all being well. Kansas has a fine selection of home grown talent at their disposal and with Vermes they have a man who knows the MLS inside out.
TORONTO F.C.
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Manager: Ryan Nelsen (Feb 2013)
Top Players: Stephen Caldwell, Simon Davies, Danny Koevermans
Prediction: 19th - Despite talent from the U.K. Toronto lack the grit of a homegrown team. Last season they finished bottom. but somehow Nelsen kept his job. This year will be no different.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
CHIVAS USA
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Manager: Jose Luis Real(May 2013)
Top Players: Carlos Bocanegra, David Carney, Gabriel Farfan
Prediction: 18th - Chivas USA didn't win a single game away last season and look set to struggle on the road again. Lack of firepower up front is their problem.
COLORADO RAPIDS
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Manager: Oscar Perja (June 2013)
Top Players: Hendry Thomas, Anthony Wallace, Marvell Wynne
Prediction: 6th - The Rapids are a solid outfit in the MLS and look set to reach the post-season. A solid defence is the key and Perja prides himself on cleansheets.
FC DALLAS
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Manager: Schellas Hyndman (June 2008)
Top Players: Fabian Catillo, Kenny Cooper, Steve Zakuaini
Prediction: 10th - FC Dallas frontman Kenny Cooper has targeted that his goals will take his team all the way, in a realistic world however FC Dallas will do well to reach the post-season.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
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Manager: Bruce Arena (Aug 2008)
Top Players: Landon Donovan, Juninho, Robbie Keane
Prediction: 1st - The team to beat in the MLS. The days of Beckham may be long gone, but with Donovan and Keane, the Galaxy look set to take this year's Championship by storm. Arena may be the key.
PORTLAND TIMBERS
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Manager: Caleb Porter (Dec 2012)
Top Players: Will Johnson, Donovan Ricketts, Mikael Silvestre
Prediction: 7th - The Portland Timbers are a good solid outfit in the MLS, playoffs is a must for this team but i doubt they will get any further. Veteran Donovan Ricketts has already stated this will be his last season.
REAL SALT LAKE
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Manager: Jason Kreis (Nov 2007)
Top Players: Kyle Beckerman, Robbie Findlay, Nick Rimando
Prediction: 9th - R.S.L. are always in the mix come post-season and this time shall be no different, however they don't have the wow player to make a difference come the play offs.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
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Manager: Steve Nichol (Dec 2012)
Top Players: Alan Gordon, Stephen Lenhart, Chris Wondolowski
Predictions: 13th - The Earthquakes possess a potent attack trio but their defence is the weakness, inconsistent results last term may be result in the same this year. No playoff journey again.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
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Manager: Sigi Schmid (July 2011)
Top Players: Clint Dempsey, Brad Evans, Obafemi Martins
Prediction: 3rd - Seattle have a talented squad and if Dempsey can fire on all cyclinders then the Sounders may just be celebrating come October. New York and L.A. Galaxy stand in their way.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
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Manager: Martin Rennie (Jan 2012)
Top Players: Jay DeMerit, Darren Mattocks, Kenny Miller
Prediction: 15th - Vancouver like Toronto look set to disappoint this season, this will be unless Mattocks lives up to his potential. DeMerit can not do it all by himself.
Hope you enjoyed the preview... next up the first couple of months of the season
