By Dario Camacho - MIAMI, FL (Jan 20, 2012) US Soccer Players -- As with any new year, all teams in Major League Soccer are in a period of transition. Whether it is a minor tweak here or there, or a full system reboot, most teams will see a few new faces in training camp. In recent years, that's been due to the predictable disruption caused by expansion teams coming into the fold. It's not just the changes losing players in an expansion draft creates, it's the changes to all the other teams. That requires multiple face lifts, with continuity at a premium in this League.
Add the countless drafts, overseas free agency, trades and transfers, and some teams are likely to have an entirely new core of players to work from. Change is good if you're a struggling club, but what about those that had solid 2011's? Successful teams look to build, not reconfigure. Keeping that nucleus of players, the ones that got you to the playoffs and beyond, is job one for these clubs.
Not only do teams with successful squads probably have depth that can be plucked away in an expansion draft, but also the monetary stresses caused by a strict budget cap. Keeping it together while also keeping everyone happy and motivated isn't easy. In practical terms, maintaining greatness is as hard as adding to it.
With that in mind, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Real Salt Lake are the teams with the most to lose from the offseason offload. All told, there have already been over 50 player transactions involving these three teams, with either players waived, traded, drafted, retiring, or signed. Keep in mind that two of these teams will have CONCACAF Champions League business in the early part of the year, and that all of these three teams will feature in the 2012-2013 edition of the CCL. Depth will always be a necessity.
LA will have to deal with a few key loses dealt by retirement. In defender Gregg Berhalter and goalkeeper Jon Conway, the Galaxy have lost a key leadership figure and the only other seasoned goalkeeper in their squad. Giving the reigns to Josh Saunders and dealing Donovan Ricketts to Montreal, the back-up goalkeeper position will have to be given priority, unless they plan on giving more meaningful playing time to fourth year keeper Brian Perk.
David Beckham signing a new deal keeps their designated players in place, something that immediately separates them from every other team in the League. Still, the Omar Gonzalez injury, Juninho leaving, and yesterday's comment from coach Bruce Arena that Frankie Hejduk and Jovan Kirovski won't be coming back means a different LA in 2012.
What they've added speaks to the need for depth as much for starting lineup replacements. Veteran forward Pat Noonan, and defenders Chris Leitch and Andrew Boyens, along with Marcelo Sarvas hopefully filling some of Juninho’s role.
Up in the Pacific Northwest, the Sounders have also had to deal with a keeper change. With Kasey Keller retiring and joining the commentary booth and his back-up Terry Boss retiring due to concussions, the new man in the net is Michael Gspurning. How he adapts to the nature of MLS, as well as the Champions League, will be key in determining the success of the Sounders.
Given how the back line is also under reconstruction due to the departures of defenders James Riley and Tyson Wall, a strong goalkeeper will have to organize a new partnership in the last line of defense. In that new defense is Swedish defender Adam Johansson and Danish defender/midfielder Christian Sivebæk. Having European players in the mix has had its risks for the Sounders. With former designated player Freddie Ljungberg leaving on bad terms, and Erik Friberg never seeming to quite fit in, it will be interesting to see how both of these players adjust to the North American environment.
Then there's Real Salt Lake. The team will be back in the CCL later this year and with that the added pressures of keeping a deep squad in order to compete in all fronts. Still conservative with their designated player approach, Salt Lake's success has had as much to do with depth as any team in MLS.
Using a system that players follow is key. The problem is finding players that can succeed within the demands of such a system. Through this offseason, RSL has lost quite a few of those. Andy Williams and Robbie Russell, two first-eleven choice players, due to retirement and trade leads that list. Jean Alexandre (trade to San Jose) and Collen Warner (expansion draft) only adds to the needs of finding replacements that understand their roles within the team, especially coming off the bench.
To that end RSL’s main source of talent reload has come from the drafts. A gamble of sorts, as you never know the true value of a player drafted out of college. It’s also not know when that player will become a regular part of the lineup. The draft could turn into something that makes an immediate impact, or even a great draft class could take a few seasons to pan out.
Immediacy might not be something a team like RSL might need, but through the course of a season, injuries will no doubt dwindle that talent. Again, depth is paramount, at least one thing all of these teams have in common.
Dario Camacho made the move from regular commentator as Pesmerga7 to columnist. He writes weekly for US Soccer Players. Follow him on twitter at DarCam7.
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