Article by Matt Lichtenstadter
If this column was condensed into a 140 character tweet, the answer would be an emphatic “no”. But since I have the gift of no character count, we can better expand upon the answer to the question, “are two games in MLS enough to make a fair judgment of a team?” With a myriad of weird, unexpected and strange results to pick from in the league’s first 20 games, the answer might not be as clear cut as thought.
The two major questions that are extensions from the original one are most likely these two: “is this team really as good as they looked?” or “is this team in any sort of trouble?” Because MLS is such a weird league in which teams can be horrible until August and still win MLS Cup, the answers might not matter much, especially in March, but these questions might help us determine what surprises the new campaign may have in store.
Firstly, we’ll look at the positive surprises, and there is no other place to start besides Houston. The Dynamo have been, well, dynamic in their first two wins over Seattle and Columbus, and Wilmer Cabrera has gotten quite a lot out of his strike force, especially one Cubo Torres. It was amazingly three years ago that Cubo set the league alight with Chivas USA, but since has been lost in the proverbial MLS wilderness, either on loan or unable to find form. However, now that Cabrera is back in charge, and with Cubo having help in the form of Alberth Elis and RomellQuioto, the Dynamo look like the team that once dominated MLS and won multiple MLS Cups. But, as always, there is a caveat. Last year, they won 5-0 over FC Dallas in the season’s second week, and scored 11 goals in the first three games of the season. However, it took them another 13 games to score their next 11 goals of the campaign. There is evidence that their starts may well be fool’s gold, but they look good again at home to start the new season. However, they need to find consistency that they have sorely lacked in recent years to prove doubters wrong.
Atlanta United channeled their inner Atlanta sports team in week one against the Red Bulls, but against their fellow expansion team, and in the driving snow, they hung six on Minnesota United, complete with a Josef Martinez hat trick and two goals from Miguel Almiron. The thought of this team putting that attack out all season must be terrifying for opposition managers, especially now that they know what can happen when they’re at full tilt. But the biggest questions from that match are more about the opposition rather than ATL themselves, even with the goal scoring outburst. If anyone needed a sign showing Atlanta is a real threat this season, there might not be a better sign than that one.
And briefly on the other teams with good starts: San Jose won their first two games in very different ways, and with the new attacking talent they’ve brought in, it seems to have unlocked some potential. Sure, they were helped by a silly red card to Vancouver’s David Ousted, but credit Dominic Kinnear’s men for putting the Whitecaps to the sword. Kinnear has a lot of pressure on him this season to perform, and early on, his team is responding. The Timbers and Red Bulls, both league powers, have both started the campaign with two wins as well. Both needed to struggle a bit to beat LA and Colorado respectively, and both have dealt with injury issues that made their tasks just that little bit harder. And since neither really hit their stride yet, both sets of fans have much to be excited about, especially Portland, who are notorious slow starters.
But with the good, comes the not so good. There are some concerning starts for a few teams that need mentioning, and first among equals are the LA Galaxy. Two home games, and two losses, both in somewhat heartbreaking fashion, which has them limping to their first 0-2 start in 16 years (though they played for the Cup that season anyway). Injuries and suspensions have dealt this team a few big bodyblows, and it showed down a man against Portland. They lack some of the ruthlessness and cutting edge that Galaxy teams of old had. Curt Onalfo has the chops to get the Galaxy out of these problems, but he hasn’t been dealt a great starting hand for sure. Maybe the savior comes in large, Swedish striker form in the summer…
Another team off to a slow start, but probably feeling decent about themselves are the defending champions from Seattle. It sure looked like they were on course for another 2-0 defeat in Montreal, but they showed great resolve clawing back a point at the Olympic Stadium. Their depth looks to be better than it has in season’s past, especially going forward, but they have major issues at right back that need to be solved. However, after their disastrous start last season, a few problems in March will probably not freak out Sounders fans all that much.
There is one team that has legitimate concerns, and that team is in Minnesota. In two games, they’ve shipped 11 goals, and not look once assured at the back. This team is still growing together, and was not expected to do much of anything right away in MLS, but being torn to shreds by both Portland and Atlanta is not a good sign. This is statistically the worst start for any team in league history, which should send a few alarm bells ringing. Vadim Demidov is a major question mark at centerback, the formation seems off, and they lack verve going forward. Should Adrian Heath make changes sooner rather than later? Absolutely, especially considering they have Colorado next; a team that doesn’t score very often. That game in Commerce City seems to be the perfect tonic for their defensive woes, but if something doesn’t change soon, then they could be in some serious trouble.
Is it worth crowing a team, or panicking about them, after only two games? In MLS, probably not. However, there are items from each trend to identify and expand upon, and look to see whether they change as the calendar turns and the season hits its full stride. What looks to be certain in MLS almost never is, however, if something does stay constant, that says quite a big deal about teams, players and managers.
