SB Nation - Michael Umana

Once A Goat: Former Chivas USA Players Begin Club Seasons

Alicia Ratterree — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:00:56 -0000

It has been a little while since we last checked in with the former Chivas USA players plying their trade abroad. When we last recounted the exploits of the former Goats, Sacha Kljestan won the Belgian Jupiler League title with Anderlecht last season. Considering he is the highest profile former Chivas player getting regular playing time, we might as well as start with him.

Kljestan's team has begun the season in two main competitions this season, the domestic league and the UEFA Champions League. Earlier this month, Kljestan played an integral part in Anderlecht's advancement into the next round of Champions League qualifiers after a 6-0 win over Ekranas of Lithuania in the second leg of their playoff. Kljestan scored the first goal of the match and set up another, so he may be seeing more playing time. Anderlecht has a new coach and formation, and Kljestan has been coming off the bench mostly so far in the Jupiler League. He went through a similar process after joining the team, however, so one hopes he will find a way to crack the starting eleven again.

In other former Chivas news, Brad Guzan re-signed with English Premier League club Aston Villa in the offseason, and has remained with the team, a completely bogus rumor claiming he was coming back to Chivas notwithstanding. Although many pundits have wondered why Guzan stayed with Villa when he's hardly played for them, there is a school of thought that believes this season could be his breakthrough, as incumbent starting keeper Shay Given is getting old and increasingly injury-prone, and could make way for Guzan soon. Although Guzan hasn't found much playing time, he is only 27, which is practically a baby for goalkeepers, so if this is indeed his year, he still has many productive years ahead of him. Still, Given was the preferred choice on opening day Saturday, but a 1-0 loss to West Ham may mean that Guzan could get a chance yet.

The ballad of Jonathan Bornstein rolls on, and the defender's outlook has not improved. With five rounds of the Liga MX Apertura down, Bornstein has played four minutes this season, coming off the bench at the end of Tigres 4-0 thrashing of Jaguares on the first week of the season. Otherwise, he continues to cool his heels while his team performs around him. I would expect transfer rumors to swirl again for Bornstein when the January transfer window opens.

Elsewhere in Mexico, Mariano Trujillo has joined Jaguares as a player/coach. Although he was hired recently as a coach, he suited up for the first team in a Copa MX match in July, setting up the winner in that match. No word on whether the 35-year old will continue to play for the team, who have had a terrible start to the Liga MX season, but even if he stays on the coaching side, it looks like he's making a transition in his post-playing career.

Fan favorite Francisco Mendoza is currently playing in Mexico as well, with second division side Universidad de Guadalajara. The leones negros have a distinguished history in the Mexican top flight, so if he could help them move towards promotion, that would be a significant accomplishment.

Defender Michael Umana has remained with Comunicaciones in Guatemala for a second season. Although Umana initially spoke highly of the move, he reportedly had difficulty adjusting to the league and country, and claimed his family was being harassed. The situation has evidently improved, however, as Umana has already contributed to the scoring this season for the cremas. Although Comunicaciones is often a fixture in the CONCACAF Champions League, they did not earn a spot for this latest tournament, so we won't be seeing him play in the CCL this year.

Forward Giancarlo Maldonado, a teammate of Alejandro Moreno's on the Venezuelan National Team, has left Atlas in Mexico and returned to Venezuela, where he currently plays for Mineros de Guayana. Although I don't profess to know much about the Venezuelan Primera, the team finished second last season, so perhaps Maldonado has a chance at some silverware in his home country.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!

2012 Midseason Report Card: Defenders

Alicia Ratterree — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:00:41 -0000

Yesterday we kicked off the midseason report card for the Chivas USA by looking at the goalkeepers. Today, we turn to the defense. Collectively, the defense has been quite strong over the course of the season, and currently sit tied for third in the league in goals allowed with 18. With the exception of blowout losses to the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake, the defense has been strong as a unit. Have they been perfect? No. But they have held up their end of the bargain for the club so far this season, and even the trade for Danny Califf seems to have improved the defense further. The scoring needs to come on in greater volume and more consistency, but we'll worry about that in evaluating the midfield and forwards. For now, let's discuss the defenders:

James Riley: The only Chivas player besides Dan Kennedy to play in every league match this season, Riley has been a fantastic addition to the team. He is the fastest defender on the team and certainly one of the fastest players on the entire squad, and his defending has been consistently strong. On top of that primary responsibility, Riley frequently moves up the field and gets involved in the attack as well, and is tied for the team lead in assists, with two, including a great diagonal cross to Juan Agudelo for a goal when Chivas played Riley's former team, the Seattle Sounders.

Riley is a two-way fullback with a mature reading of the game. The case has been made for why he should be an All-Star on this website, and I have no complaints with that endorsement. He seems to have a pretty good chance of actually getting the nod, and if he continues the quality of performances he's been putting in so far, he'll be an outstanding return on Robin Fraser's investment in the offseason.

Riley's midseason grade: A

Ante Jazic: The Canadian continues the Indian summer of his career with another great start to the 2012 season. Unlike Riley, who bombs up and down the field for 90 minutes, and often makes the crazy runs to recover when he needs to or when a teammate needs help, Jazic plays a much more tactical game and is very smart at figuring out where to place himself depending on the situation at hand. He's also made runs up into the attack, but he hasn't been credited with an assist yet this season. He should have a qualified assist, however, as his cross set up Casey Townsend's goal against Real Salt Lake, only Nick Rimando bobbled the cross before Townsend scored the goal. But Jazic has been strong, only struggling in one match, when he led the late game meltdown against Colorado by giving up a silly penalty. He's also been recalled into the Canadian Men's National Team, and has helped keep Canada in the hunt for a World Cup spot during the recent qualifiers. Jazic is the true veteran of the backline, but he keeps on producing, and Chivas have to be happy about that production.

Jazic's midseason grade: B+

Rauwshan McKenzie: What a difference a year makes, for Chivas and McKenzie. Prior to this season, McKenzie saw the spottiest of spot duty in MLS, and when RSL cut him in the offseason their depth made it seem like it wouldn't be any real loss. Although RSL probably doesn't miss McKenzie much, their loss is certainly Chivas' gain. Think about the situation last season, as Andrew Boyens, Michael Umana and David Junior Lopes split time at center back, and is there anybody out there (besides their mothers) who would rather have any of them to McKenzie? I didn't think so. McKenzie has a good mix of strength and speed, and while his assignment seems to change depending on the opponent, he has been good on the whole at neutralizing strikers. He's played in 15 league matches and all three U.S. Open Cup matches, and he has set himself apart from his main competition, John Valencia, to establish himself as a first option at the position. If he has any drawbacks, it is that he seems to shut off occasionally and can make a mental lapse from time to time, and he seems liable to lay an egg over the course of a game once in a while. That said, he's been remarkably consistent for Chivas, and all in all, Fraser and company made a terrific addition in signing McKenzie in the offseason.

McKenzie's midseason grade: B

Danny Califf: The initial returns make it appear that Chivas definitely got a great deal in indirectly swapping Heath Pearce for Califf. When Califf joined the team, Chivas were just starting to click, and they've only lost one game since he joined the team. And while Pearce has more upside, he was the best trade chip for Chivas and they ended up getting Agudelo out of the trade, all while picking up Califf. In a couple of years, this trade may drift back in the New York Red Bulls' favor, but for now, Chivas have to be happy. Califf brings a vocal leadership component to the field that Chivas were sorely lacking, save for Peter Vagenas, who is not a regular starter. He's also been composed at center back and been very consistent in helping Chivas keep opponents' goals out of Kennedy's net. Califf jumped into the lineup straightaway and helped Chivas finally beat the Galaxy, and then helped the Goats rattle off a run in both league and Cup play, only interrupted by the RSL loss. The only reason I'm not giving him a higher grade is that his sample size is pretty small, and it is unclear if he's helped to elevate the team's form or if he lucked into a team rounding a bend. I think the first possibility is more likely, but we need to see him more before a full assessment can be made. Still, the future looks bright for the backline with Califf in it.

Califf's midseason grade: B

John Valencia: The Colombian was signed in the offseason, with the expectation that he would probably start at center back alongside Pearce. It is safe to say things haven't gone exactly as planned so far for Valencia. He suffered an injury before the season opener against the Houston Dynamo, and McKenzie stepped up and didn't really look back. Meanwhile, Valencia had to wait his turn to see a game, and finally had his debut against the Chicago Fire May 4. He played a good, if somewhat shaky game, and it seemed like any concerns probably stemmed from rust rather than ability. Chivas lost at the last minute in that match, but Valencia acquitted himself well. He started the next match, against the San Jose Earthquakes, but his lapse in failing to properly mark Alan Gordon meant Chivas dropped two points after holding a lead for nearly all of the match. He then started three matches later, against Seattle, but he was again at least partially responsible for giving up the equalizer by David Estrada, which resulted in another two points dropped for the Goats. He was subbed out in that match, and while he's started two U.S. Open Cup matches (and they won both of those games) he was subbed out in one of those games as well. It seems like Fraser doesn't quite trust Valencia and I don't blame him. I think the issue is that if any of the starters suffer an injury or suspension, the backups seem at least a step below, and in the current pecking order, Valencia very much appears to be a backup at the moment. Still, his sample size is quite small, and we could be in for a surprise if he actually sees regular action and gets into a rhythm in the second half of the season.

Valencia's midseason grade: C-

Scott Gordon: He hasn't played much this season, so it's hard to assess him at this point. Coming on three times as a sub in the league for a total of 23 minutes, his appearances appear to be late-game strategic moves to solidify the defense and waste time. He's also started Chivas' first two USOC games, and while he looked pretty frantic against the Carolina RailHawks, he helped Chivas get the win. Here's an interesting stat: every time Gordon has played this season for Chivas, they have won. I'm not sure that will get Gordon in the lineup, but you can't argue with the results so far.

Gordon's midseason grade: Incomplete

Jorge Villafana: The longest-serving Goat hasn't seen much action this season, playing six games in all competitions and only starting three. He's also moved back and forth between left back and left-sided midfielder in limited action, but he's played left back in all three starts this season, winning both of the U.S. Open Cup starts. He's looked serviceable but not spectacular, and it's unclear if he is going to become a defender or midfielder permanently, or whether his lot will be to move back and forth over the course of his career. With a sample size of three, it's hard to really assess sueno, so we'll leave it undetermined for the moment.

Villafana's midseason grade: Incomplete

What do you think? Leave a comment below!

How have the other MLS teams done in the off-season Part 3: The West Coast

Nick Fedora — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:02:27 -0000

The West Coast teams no doubt have a great amount of talent and continued to add to it throughout the offseason. Defending MLS Cup champions and Supporters' Shield winners LA Galaxy enter the season on top, but the West is filled with teams ready to take the crown for themselves. After the jump is the final installment of my off-season transaction review as we look at Chivas USA, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, San Jose, and Vancouver. If you missed them earlier, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the series.

Chivas USA

IN: Ryan Smith, James Riley, Oswaldo Minda, Miller Bolanos, Casey Townsend, Tim Melia, John Valencia, Marvin Iraheta, Rauwshan McKenzie, Peter Vagenas, Cesar Romero

OUT: Justin Braun, Gerson Mayen, Zarek Valentin, Paulo Nagamura, Chukwudi Chujindu, Simon Elliott, Zach Thornton, Mariano Trujillo, Michael Umana, Marcos Mondaini, Sergio Arias, Victor Estupinan

Minutes XI Returning: 7/11

Minutes Gameday 18 Returning: 11/18

After losing twelve men on their roster (thirteen if you count Jimmy Conrad's pre-mature concussion retirement), Chivas USA is in a rebuilding phase. The losses of promising young talent in the form of Justin Braun and Zarek Valentin certainly boggled the minds of many, especially after losing Valentin in the expansion draft without receiving anything in return. Valentin's Generation adidas contract may have been up, but the upside is still there. Michael Umana offered a considerable amount of assistance in the back line last season appearing in 22 games, Simon Elliott's veteran experience will be missing, and Marcos Mondaini provided almost 1,500 minutes of service. Chivas USA will have a completely different look in 2012.

Part of that new look is James Riley who was acquired from Montreal via trade for Umana and Braun. As Seattle's right back, Riley played an enormous amount of last season and performed very well. Chivas USA also traded for midfielder Ryan Smith from Kansas City for first and third round Supplemental Draft picks. Smith should find time right away playing on the outside of the midfield. At the back, Chivas added Colombian defender John Valencia who played for 2011 Colombian Fall champions Atletico Junior. The real impact signings come in the form of Oswaldo Minda and Miller Bolanos, both Ecuadorians with experience from their nation's top division. Minda will add some needed talent and experience to the midfield as his 13 national team caps boasts a strong pedigree. Bolanos is a young, versatile attacking player that may pick up the slack of striking duties when 36-year old Juan Pablo Angel inevitably is injured. Chivas USA may not be ready to clash with the big boys in the West, but the pieces are there for a possible run in the future.

Los Angeles

IN: Andrew Boyens, Chris Leitch, Pat Noonan, Marcelo Sarvas, Jose Villareal, Nick Noble, Tommy Meyer, Kenney Walker, Edson Buddle, Kyle Nakazawa

OUT: Gregg Berhalter, Donovan Ricketts, Miguel Lopez, Chris Birchall Jovan Kirovski, Dasan Robinson, Chris Leitch, Frankie Hejduk, Yuri Gorentzvalg

Minutes XI Returning: 10/11

Minutes Gameday 18 Returning: 14/18

Los Angeles brings back an enormous portion of its championship winning squad losing a few players to retirement or depth players that were replaced in the starting line up. Donovan Ricketts finds himself in Montreal now and Frankie Hejduk is a free agent. With the subtractions of Berhalter, Rickets, and Hejduk, The Galaxy clears up over $350,000 of cap room.

Los Angeles did well to pick up some decent depth through the re-entry draft, as they will have the added responsibility of CONCACAF Champions League to play through. Andrew Boyens, Chris Leitch, and Pat Noonan are MLS veterans that will patch up the squad when starters need resting and Bill Gaudette returns to MLS after spending some time in the lower divisions. LA also signed Marcelo Sarvas, a player whom they played against in the CONCACAF Champions League. Sarvas is a 30-year old Brazilian and a two-way midfielder that should rotate with Juninho and David Beckham in central midfield. The Galaxy also traded for former Philadelphia Union midfielder Kyle Nakazawa who registered 2,006 minutes in the past two seasons.

The most impactful transaction the Galaxy made this off-season may be re-acquiring Edson Buddle as a free agent. Buddle spent some time in the German second division before FC Ingolstadt released him from his contract. Buddle will have to find time to play behind an intimidating forward line of Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane.

Portland

IN: Jose Adolfo Valencia, Brent Richards (HG), Andrew Jean-Baptiste (GA), Brendan King, Hanyer Mosquera, Kris Boyd, Charles Renken, Franck Songo'o, Joe Bendik

OUT: Kevin Goldthwaite, Ryan Pore, Adin Brown, Rodrigo Lopez, Peter Lowry, Brian Umony, Kenny Cooper

Minutes XI Returning: 10/11

Minutes Gameday 18 Returning: 17/18

A high percentage of gameday players will return to a Portland squad that finished strong in 2011 and will look to make a push to the MLS Cup playoffs in 2012. Kenny Cooper finished the season with eight goals, but his loss may be addition by subtraction as Kris Boyd now joins the team. Boyd led the Scottish Premier League in goal scoring four times, as he registered 164 goals in 296 appearances for Hearts and Rangers. Feeling the need for additional firepower, Portland also signed their first young Designated Player, 19-year old Colombian forward Jose Adolfo Valencia. The Timbers also addressed a backline that allowed the second most goals in the Western Conference in 2011. Portland brought in another Colombian in the form of Hayner Mosquera who played for four seasons in the Colombian top division.

In the midfield, Charles Renken and Franck Songo'o are the newcomers to Rose City. Renken is a U.S. youth international from Edwardsville, IL who appeared for the U-19 youth squad of German club Hoffenheim. The main concern with Renken is his two knee injuries and lengthy amount of time recovering from those injuries. Songo'o, however, has proven to be an immense pick-up as he has provided two assists in a 4-1 win against Los Angeles and two more assists in a 2-0 win against Chicago.

Kenny Cooper is the only major loss in Portland's squad and as I have already mentioned, that will likely end up benefitting the team. The Timbers will be relieved of Cooper's $250,000 cap hit as well as Brown's $72,000 and Goldthwaite's $110,000. Brown and Goldthwaite combined for only 325 minutes last season so dropping them from the team was a no-brainer move. Exciting times are in store for Rose City as the Timbers may be the most improved team this offseason.

San Jose

IN: Shea Salinas, Jean Alexandre, Marvin Chaves, Victor Bernardez, Sam Garza, Jacob Hustedt, Chris Blais, Sercan Guvenisik, Tressor Moreno, Simon Dawkins

OUT: Bobby Burling, Matt Luzunaris, Bobby Convey, Chris Leitch, Andre Luiz, Jacob Peterson, Scott Sealy, Andrew Weber

Minutes XI Returning: 9/11

Minutes Gameday 18 Returning: 14/18

San Jose looks to be getting ready for the big time by bringing in some strong talent and outgrowing some of their depth. Bobbys Burling and Convey headline the outgoing list. Burling became a mainstay on the Earthquake backline as his immense size was too good for Montreal to pass up in the expansion draft. Convey's story is a little different as his rift with head coach Frank Yallop and large price tag made him an easy target to get shipped out in the offseason. After Convey and Burling, the Earthquakes lost some marginal depth. Jacob Peterson and Scott Sealy combined for less than 1,000 minutes, Chris Leitch appeared in less than 15 games and the contributions of Luzunaris, Luiz, and Weber were negligible at best.

Joining the fray for San Jose is Shea Salinas, Jean Alexandre, and Marvin Chavez. The north California club traded the first round Supplemental Draft pick to Real Salt Lake for Alexandre, which should help shore up the bench. Salinas and Dawkins return to San Jose after some time away. Salinas played his best years for San Jose and will try to regain that form he showed for the Quakes a few seasons ago. Dawkins was a critical part of San Jose's attack and should find himself in the starting line-up from the get go. However, a solid signing from the Earthquakes was getting Tressor Moreno, a 33-year old Colombian attacking midfielder who has played in Mexico, France, Peru, Chile, and Colombia will likely play behind Steven Lenhart and Chris Wondoloski in a playmaking role for an improved Earthquakes side.

Seattle

Michael Gspurning, Marc Burch, Adam Johansson, Christian Sivebaek, Andrew Duran, Babayele Sodade, Andy Rose, Cordell Cato, Eddie Johnson, Andrew Weber

OUT: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Tyson Wahl, Terry Boss, Taylor Graham, Nate Jaqua, Pat Noonan, Erik Friberg, Mike Fucito, Lamar Neagle

Minutes XI Returning: 7/11

Minutes Gameday 18 Returning: 11/18

Seattle's roster took a major hit this off-season losing their immensely influential goalkeeper, starting right back, and depth at every position. Kasey Keller was an immense part of Seattle's early success making critical saves often and organizing a talented defense. Part of that defense was veteran James Riley and promising youngster Tyson Wahl who are no longer with the team. Forwards Nate Jaqua, Pat Noonan, and Mike Fucito have been dispersed to different squads across North America and midfielders Lamar Neagle and Erik Friberg have also left the country. From the aforementioned Sounders, 186 league appearances are now gone from last year's team.

The question now is if the incoming talent will pick up the slack. Michael Gspurning is a 6'5" presence that will take over in goal and has recently played in the Greek top division. Gspurning hails from Austria and looks to be a solid replacement for Keller. Adam Johansson is a fantastic signing on paper as a 28-year old Swedish right back that has played 129 games for Goteborg in the Swedish Allsvenskan and has recently found playing time for the Swedish national team. Seattle also signed another Scandinavian in the form of Christian Sivebaek, a 23-year old midfielder who has appeared for various Danish youth national teams. Sivebaek will likely add attacking depth to a dauntingly deep attacking midfield.

Of course, the signing that stole all the headlines was the Eddie Johnson trade. Johnson joins the squad from Preston North End in England's League One after Seattle gave up fan favorites Neagle and Fucito. The positives from this trade are the partnership with Fredy Montero could lead to a devastating strike force if Johnson finds his previous MLS form and he returns to the league relatively cheap making $100,000 this season. For someone who used to be one of the highest paid domestic talents in the league, that is quite a bargain. However, his price has likely fallen so much because of his misadventures outside the league making a minimal difference with Fulham, Cardiff, Aris in Greece, and finally Preston North End. (As an aside, I remember watching him play for Fulham and it looked like he completely forgot how to play the game.) Now Johnson returns to the league with a team that has talent loaded up and down the roster. If he can't step on the field and produce, there will be someone on the bench who will.

Vancouver

IN: Bryce Alderson, Lee Young-Pyo, Matt Watson, Martin Bonjour, Darren Mattocks, Brad Knighton, Jun Marques Davidson, Sebastien Le Toux, Barry Robson, Lee Nguyen

OUT: Jeb Brovsky, Bilal Dickett, Nizar Khalfan, Alexandre Morfaw, Shea Salinas, Greg Janicki, Pete Vagenas, Jonathan Leathers, Jay Nolly, Geinler Garcia, Mustapha Jarju, Phillippe Davies, Lee Nguyen

Minutes XI Returning: 8/11

Minutes Gameday 18 Returning: 12/18

Taking a different strategy from their 2011 expansion brethren, Vancouver made a considerable amount of roster moves over the off-season. The Whitecaps dropped four players who appeared in more than 20 games in Jeb Brovsky, Shea Salinas, Nizar Khalfan, and Jonathan Leathers. Greg Janicki, Lee Nguyen, and the seemingly ageless Pete Vagenas were also let go during the offseason to make room for a stack of new talent. Nguyen just joined the club through the weighted lottery and soon found himself out the door not being able to secure himself a spot on the overwhelmingly deep attacking line-up.

Of course, the name that grabs the attention here is Sebastien Le Toux who has been a legitimate MVP contender for the past two seasons. Only having to trade Philadelphia allocation money, Vancouver adds an enormous amount of attacking talent to their line up in just that one move alone. While on the topic of attacking talent, second overall draft pick Darren Mattocks has impressed throughout pre-season and will likely be a killer option off the bench. Lee Young-pyo comes in as a left back on the wrong side of 30, but is one of the most capped South Korean players of all time. Martin Bonjour is another new arrival that will make an immediate impact on the defensive line. Bonjour is a 26-year old Argentinian center back that will pair up with Jay Demerit to make a much-improved center back duo. Head coach Martin Renni also recruited former Carolina RailHawk Jun Marques Davidson who looks to be another solid addition to a team needing healthy central midfield talent. Vancouver has stocked up a great amount of better players and may make a strong push to the playoffs.

Wild Wild West

The West looks to be a knockdown, drag-out brawl for positioning. Los Angeles still has a vast amount of talent that only gets stronger with the return of Edson Buddle. The defense took a massive blow when Omar Gonzalez picked up a long-term knee injury over the offseason and they have not been able to adequately replace him. Seattle looks dangerous as well, but the questions remain if their roster overhaul can retain their strong form from last year. If last night's 2-1 win over Santos in the CONCACAF Champions League is any indication, they are well on their way to another successful season. Portland and Vancouver have both strengthened their line-ups adding some seriously potent attacking firepower and tightening up weaknesses from last year. Vancouver can be especially dangerous if the veteran duo of Jay Demerit and John Thorrington can stay healthy throughout the season. San Jose may be the dark horses in this group as they collected solid depth players from around the league, fortified their attack, and will get the services of Ike Opara back. Two injuries on the same foot have kept Opara out of action for the better part of two years and if he regains his form, he could be one of the better young American center backs in the league. Chivas USA made some improvements as well, but it will likely not be enough to keep up with the rest of the West.

The majority of MLS teams have made significant additions to their squads (mainly in the form of Colombian playmakers) and the league will only benefit as a result. Teams have brought in a large amount of attacking talent throughout the offseason and an abundance of goals may be on display this season. This may be the most exciting season of Major League Soccer yet.

Portland Timbers vs. Chivas USA Preview Interview with Alicia Ratterree

Geoff Gibson — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:06:15 -0000

So the first pre-season tournament game has come and gone. Honestly, it wasn't the result or performance that I was hoping for. Granted a few key players were missing: Eric Brunner, Kris Boyd, Franck Songo'o to name a few, but I still expected more from a home opener and I expect more from them tomorrow night against Chivas USA, a team which suffered a disappointed 2-nil loss against Swedish side AIK.

While I did watch the Chivas USA-AIK game Monday evening, I still thought it better to refer to our resident SB Nation expert, Alicia Ratterree, on Chivas USA and ask her a few questions about what Chivas has been up to in the offseason and what we can expect to see tomorrow night. Read more from her about Chivas USA on her blog The Goat Parade.

Enjoy!

So, obviously, it's been a big off season for most MLS teams. What has Chivas done in the off season?

Would you like the short version or the long? haha

Let's start with the short version and see where it goes.

Ok... Chivas enters the 2012 season with an incumbent coach, Robin Fraser, and this year he got a full offseason to prepare. While a key core of players remain, the poor finish in 2011 meant changes needed to be made. Most reserves were cut loose, as well as a few starters, including forward Justin Braun (traded to Montreal), defender Zarek Valentin (selected by Montreal in the Expansion Draft), and defender Michael Umana (signed with Comunicaciones in Guatemala. Several incoming players, in a variety of positions, have Chivas fans excited about the possibilities, including SuperDraft selection Casey Townsend (Forward), Ecuadoreans Oswaldo Minda (midfield) and Miller Bolanos (M/F), and Colombian John Valencia (defender).

The result is that there's been yet another season of turnover, but it seems these players could really help improve Chivas' prospects in 2012

Speaking of Justin Braun, I always saw him as a bit of a play maker for you guys (correct me if I'm wrong)... how does his absence affect the 2012 Chivas squad?

Braun is a mercurial player. He has matches where he looks like a beast, and he has matches where he can't do anything right. He is big, and works hard, but the inconsistency was a major issue. I think Chivas' fans were sad to see him go, but I also think most were aware of his limitations. I did think he played well as a playmaker (I would argue he would make a great support striker for a pure scorer), but he didn't have much chance to do that properly with Chivas.

And what about Juan Pablo Angel? Is he a keeper for the team or a wasted investment?

He's technically not signed, which makes me nervous although JPA and club alike swear he will sign. He played great with Chivas last season (7 goals in 9 games), and I think the fact that he didn't play for Chivas in the match against Portland at Jeld-wen was one reason why it was a turning point for the Goats (in a bad way).

He's not young, and there's a risk he could be totally ineffective, but I think consensus is that he deserves another season, at least.

So looking ahead to Thursday's game who should Timbers fans look out for? Or which players will be the biggest threat in either end o the field?

Michael Lahoud and new signing Ryan Smith have been playing on the wings this preseason, and they have looked really good. Their chemistry together has been remarkable, as I saw them criss-cross at one point and play on opposite wings, leading to a goal for Lahoud in their match last week against Club Tijuana. A switch like that only works if both players can pull it off and work together.
Additionally, new forwards Townsend and Cesar Romero have been playing very well in preseason. If they can play well under the bright lights Thursday, it will be a good omen come the regular season.

Does the loss Monday night affect any of your current outlooks on the upcoming season? What did you take away from the match?

First, a disclaimer - I couldn't watch Monday's match, so I had to rely upon the word of others as far as actual performances.

I'm of two minds about Monday's loss. On one hand, it's preseason, and messing up a whole bunch during the preseason doesn't matter if you can get results during the regular season. It's a belief I hold in any sport, not just soccer.

On the other hand, from the loss and from what I have seen of Chivas this preseason, I am still quite concerned about their defensive abilities. I think they need time to gel, as half of the starting backline is new, but I worry they will be liable for bad goals heading into the season.

And just to conclude, what's your predicted starting line up for tomorrow?

Hmmm...I don't know if they will play a new lineup or play some of the guys from Monday.

I'll use the assumption they'll play some new guys, so here's my best effort:

GK: Dan Kennedy
DEF: Matt Dallman (trialist), Rauwshan McKenzie, David Junior Lopes, James Riley
MID: Laurent Courtois, Nick LaBrocca, Ben Zemanski, Blair Gavin
FWD: Casey Townsend, Cesar Romero

Once again, big thanks to Alicia. You can read more from her about Chivas USA over at her blog The Goat Parade.

Chivas USA Roster Depth: Defensive Midfielders

Alicia Ratterree — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:47:45 -0000

Yesterday, I discussed the idea that defensive midfielder is a crucial position, not only generally in the sport, but in MLS in particular. Today, I thought we would narrow the focus and figure out Chivas USA's probable options in that role for the 2012 season.

Again, the formation(s) coach Robin Fraser uses will make a significant impact on who fills in this slot, but let's start with the presumption that the team will start the season with a 4-2-3-1 formation, where two defensive mids will play in front of the defense. Obviously, that means the position will become all the more crucial, and the two players in this role will probably have slightly different focuses on the field. One would probably become a deep-lying distributor, like Simon Elliott was last year for Chivas, or will play as a box-to-box midfielder, a la Juninho with the LA Galaxy. In other words, covering the defense and winning balls in the middle of the field will be their main role, but they will be expected to chip in on the attacking end a few times a game. I would then expect the second defensive mid to stay at home, and really focus on the defensive side of the game and pretty much leave the attacking to the attackers.

Let's now turn our attention to the potential options for these slots for Chivas.

Oswaldo Minda: The Goats made a splash by buying three South Americans this offseason, and big things are expected of all three. Minda has been getting good reviews by the front office upon his signing, and first-hand accounts of him in preseason training have been good as well. It seems likely that he will be in the starting eleven on opening day of the regular season, especially if Fraser uses two defensive midfielders.

Based on the available game footage of Minda floating around the internet, I think he will play as a box-to-box style midfielder. He looks like he can take over possession from opponents in midfield, but it also looks like he floats around the field where he is needed as well. He may score an occasional goal or two, but he probably can't be expected to hit more than three or four in a season. Although the hype for Minda has been pretty high in Chivas circles, he has barely been mentioned leaguewide, and he may sneak up on opponents in the first couple months of the season, which should be good for Chivas. If he can adjust to the MLS game, and life in the United States, Minda could really be a special player. He could be a building block for a squad that needs more core players.

Peter Vagenas: The most controversial signing of the offseason has featured heavily in preseason matches, and I think Fraser plans to use him from the start of the season. He's been paired with Minda a couple of times now, and it seems like it could be a fruitful partnership in the midfield. If Minda is given a role where he can play box-to-box, and can roam around some, I would expect Vagenas to stay back, in front of the defense, and mostly deal with the defensive duties in the middle of the pitch. If he's given a major role this season, I could see him becoming the on-field marshal and directing the action, with his play and his words (by the way, how's his Spanish?).

Chivas fans don't want to root for Vagenas, and I think it will be a matter of him proving himself on the field before the reservations start to drift away. Although he has said some inflammatory anti-Chivas things in the past, he's on the team now, and if he can strengthen the team, that's got to count for something, right? But if he can't hack it, watch out. He is in line to take over from Michael Umana as the team scapegoat if times are bad this year. Still, with a month to go it looks like Vagenas will likely be in the starting eleven come March 11.

Ben Zemanski: If I had my druthers, I would argue that Zemanski should be groomed as the defensive midfielder of the future for Chivas. How can a young player be groomed to take over the position for the next several years? You have to play him in the position. With his skillset that is so versatile, Zemanski does have an important function filling in everywhere except forward when necessary, but you know what they say about a jack of all trades. He has demonstrated he has the qualities to become a solid (and possibly more) holding midfielder, so why not start getting him the reps in an established position immediately? Yes, there will probably be growing pains, but I would advocate Zemanski and Vagenas in a timeshare in 2012, with the veteran and youngster splitting the time in the defensive midfield. Vagenas is 34, which means he could play beyond 2012 if it works out, but it is ultimately a short-term move. Zemanski is 23, and if he locks up the position, it could also add to Chivas' core players and offset the instability that has racked the club since it's founding.

Of course, Zemanski could become a supersub all over the field, or he could become a man without a position and fall out of the rotation altogether. I think this would be a mistake. With him returning to training next week after suffering from a concussion, we may see where Fraser puts Zemanski on the depth chart heading into the season.

Nick LaBrocca: Nick the Quick spent most of his MLS career as a defensive midfielder, before a complete void of midfield attacking talent last season led to his emergence as an attacking midfielder. If he continues his second-half slump from 2011 and has trouble scoring, moving back a little may ease the pressure and allow him to pick his attacking spots as a box-to-box midfielder. Plus, if Miller Bolanos is as talented an attacking midfielder as some believe him to be, it may make sense for LaBrocca to make way, especially if there will only be one central attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Still, the presumption is that he'll start the season in the attacking role he made his own in 2011.

Michael Lahoud: It seems likely that Lahoud will play in midfield this season, and so far he has been playing on the wing this preseason. But given his history playing at full back and even as a defensive midfielder, he could also be an option in the role. It will be interesting to see the speed of the new players coming in, but last season, Lahoud was perhaps the only speed guy on the entire team. Typically, speed in central midfield, either at a defensive or attacking level is undervalued compared to all other areas of the field, so if the team is as slow this year, his speed may be wasted as a holding mid. Still, like Zemanski he has versatility that may lead to him playing as defensive midfielder in 2012.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!

Devil's Advocate: Letting Valentin Go Was Correct Move

Alicia Ratterree — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:52:17 -0000

Note: This week, The Goat Parade will offer a series called "Devil's Advocate," looking at some of the big decisions that have taken place for Chivas USA and offering a different perspective. In today's entry, we'll be looking at Chivas leaving Zarek Valentin unprotected for the Expansion Draft this offseason, which led to his selection in said draft.

The purpose of the MLS SuperDraft is to build for the future, and when Chivas USA selected Zarek Valentin fourth overall in 2011, he seemed to be a defender for the future for the Goats, possibly following in the footsteps of former Chivas defender Jonathan Bornstein to MLS accolades and U.S. Men's National Team. And while he had some growing pains, he played a significant role for Chivas on the field in 2011, when he played 25 appearances along the backline. He was also a fan favorite, and his goofy personality seemed capable of making him something of a media darling in a short time. With all of the turmoil on the squad, it appeared at least one guy's spot was affirmed.

Certainly, the fact that Chivas left Valentin unprotected in the Expansion Draft came as a shock, and as soon as that news was released it seemed inevitable that Montreal Impact coach Jesse Marsch would snap him up. Valentin had a pedigree, with the Akron program, and the youth national team chops, as he's progressed up the ranks and looks set to start in the USMNT U-23 squad during next month's CONCACAF Qualifying tournament. And the fact that Chivas coach Robin Fraser trusted Valentin enough to throw him into the lineup straightaway meant that he clearly has the MLS-level skills.

When explaining the front office's decision to leave Valentin unprotected, Fraser complained that Valentin should never have been "graduated" from the Generation Adidas program after just one year. Fraser maintained that young Zarek had a great deal of development before he could be a competent pro, and so deciding Valentin was through with the program because of the amount of games played was foolish.

Fraser's rationale was widely panned - why take a guy who played regularly if you were just going to dump him for nothing after a year? I still think this is pretty convincing, but this series is called "Devil's Advocate" for a reason, so let me build a case that argues losing Valentin isn't a complete catastrophy.

The germ of this argument comes from my assessment of Valentin's 2011 season from December. Coming into the 2011 season, here was the depth chart for defense:

- Center backs: Jimmy Conrad, Zarek Valentin, Michael Umana, Andrew Boyens, Seth Owusu

- Full backs: Heath Pearce, Ante Jazic, Mariano Trujillo

- Midfielders who could play defense: Michael Lahoud, Ben Zemanski, Jorge Villafana, Francisco Mendoza

Valentin started the 2011 season opener for Chivas at center back, but he was moved over to right back for most of the season. Conrad was the established center back, and Fraser looked around for a partner in the middle. After Conrad's career-ending concussion in the second match, Heath Pearce, originally intended as a full back (where he played his whole career) was center back for the rest of the campaign, and had a generally solid season in a brand new position. So that meant Chivas were down a defender, a key defender it must be added, from almost the very start of the season.

Boyens and Umana partnered with Pearce in the middle for most of the season, although new signing David Junior Lopes started the last handful of the season. Meanwhile, Jazic played most of the season at left back (he was only out for injury) so that position was settled. Right back was open, however, and rather than put Valentin in the middle and leave the center very inexperienced, Pearce slotted in and his old position was open. So the logical thing happened, where Valentin played on the right.

As I argued in December, injuries hurt the defensive depth of the team, and Fraser's claim that Valentin was not yet sufficiently developed makes a great deal of sense, especially moving over to right back from his college position of center back. If Conrad had been healthy, it is entirely possible that Valentin would not have played anywhere close to 25 matches in 2011. But the coaching staff had little choice, and therefore he had a baptism by fire.

Another reason (perhaps the key reason) why Chivas' front office decided to let Valentin go was because of his salary. If you read this blog with any regularity, you are no doubt aware that under the Generation Adidas program, players get paid a premium salary, in order to entice them to play in MLS before finishing college, but teams with GA players do not claim their salary in the salary cap figures. Valentin made $80,000 base salary in 2011 ($132,000 guaranteed compensation), which is high compared to other players of comparable experience. I previously used the example of New England Revolution defender A.J. Soares, also a rookie in 2011, who played 28 matches last season. He was not in the GA program, and he made $42,000 in base salary, $82,000 guaranteed. I'm not necessarily arguing Soares and Valentin are of a comparable quality, but for teams that struggled in the standings that both had rookie defenders, the pay scale was considerably different.

Even the player who looks set to replace Valentin in the starting lineup, James Riley, made $92,000 in base salary last year for the Seattle Sounders ($97,962.50 in guaranteed compensation). Riley is a seven-year veteran of MLS, and has made 178 career regular season appearances in MLS, plus 12 playoff appearances. He has experience and will likely prove to be a more consistent player in the short term than Valentin. The drawback, of course, is that Valentin's career is most likely to be longer than Riley's, considering the latter is 29 years old. But Chivas need to get better quickly, and waiting a few years for a player to fully develop at his position might be too much to ask for the club's prospects.

Finally, we all talk about the promise of Valentin, but potential is not the same thing as verified quality. He could turn out to be a very good professional, no doubt about it. He could even blossom into a good enough player to make the jump to a favorable situation in Europe. But it's not a done deal. It's certainly a risk for any player, but we need to see how he does down the line. If he turns out to be a rock and a perennial USMNT player and MLS Best XI selection, this move by Chivas will look very bad indeed. But we just don't know yet, and if he turns out to be an okay but not great player, maybe it was better to cut ties sooner rather than later, lest his unfulfilled promise tease the club and its fans indefinitely.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!

Final Update: Goals Per Game Statistics for 2011 Goats

Alicia Ratterree — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:44:24 -0000

As a companion to last week's final update on points per start statistics for Chivas USA's defenders in 2011, I thought it would be good to provide the final offensive output rates for each player who contributed a goal or assist for the Goats. The leader in the last installment of this series, at the end of September, was Juan Pablo Angel, while Nick LaBrocca was involved in the highest percentage of goals for the team. Let's see if any changes have taken place in the last part of the season.

Here's the team's record and goals scored for the 2011 season: 34 games, 36 points; Record: 8-14-12. Goals scored: 41; Assists: 45. Team goals per game rate: 1.21

The players with the best goals per game rate, in descending order, after the jump:

Juan Pablo Angel: 9 games played (9 starts). Goals: 7; Assists: 0. Goals per game: 0.78. Involved in 17% of Chivas' goals.

Jimmy Conrad: 2 games played (2 starts). Goals: 1; Assists: 0. Goals per game: 0.50. Involved in 2% of Chivas' goals.

Justin Braun: 29 games played (22 starts). Goals: 8; Assists: 5. Goals per game: 0.28. Involved in 32% of Chivas' goals.

Nick LaBrocca: 34 games played (34 starts). Goals: 8; Assists: 6. Goals per game: 0.24. Involved in 34% of Chivas' goals.

Alejandro Moreno: 24 games played (22 starts). Goals: 5; Assists: 2. Goals per game: 0.21. Involved in 17% of Chivas' goals.

Marcos Mondaini: 24 games played (20 starts). Goals: 3; Assists: 2. Goals per game: 0.125. Involved in 12% of Chivas' goals.

Victor Estupinan: 9 games played (3 starts). Goals: 1; Assists: 0. Goals per game: 0.11. Involved in 2.4% of Chivas' goals.

Laurent Courtois: 11 games played (3 starts). Goals: 1; Assists: 0. Goals per game: 0.09. Involved in 2.4% of Chivas' goals.

Mariano Trujillo: 12 games played (0 starts). Goals: 1; Assists: 2. Goals per game: 0.08. Involved in 7.3% of Chivas' goals.

Andrew Boyens: 12 games played (10 starts). Goals: 1; Assists: 0. Goals per game: 0.08. Involved in 2.4% of Chivas' goals.

Ben Zemanski: 28 games played (23 starts). Goals: 2; Assists: 4. Goals per game: 0.07. Involved in 15% of Chivas' goals.

Michael Umana: 22 games played (21 starts). Goals: 1; Assists: 1. Goals per game: 0.05. Involved in 5% of Chivas' goals.

Michael Lahoud: 23 games played (17 starts). Goals: 1; Assists: 3. Goals per game: 0.04. Involved in 10% of Chivas' goals.

Jorge Villafana: 25 games played (24 starts). Goals: 1; Assists: 1. Goals per game: 0.04. Involved in 5% of Chivas' goals.

Ante Jazic: 28 games played (28 starts). Goals: 0; Assists: 7. Goals per game: 0. Involved in 17% of Chivas' goals.

Heath Pearce: 30 games played (29 starts). Goals: 0; Assists: 3. Goals per game: 0. Involved in 7.3% of Chivas' goals.

Blair Gavin: 18 games played (11 starts). Goals: 0. Assists: 3. Goals per game: 0. Involved in 7.3% of Chivas' goals.

Simon Elliott: 24 games played (21 starts). Goals: 0; Assists: 2. Goals per game: 0. Involved in 5% of Chivas' goals.

Francisco Mendoza: 12 games played (2 starts). Goals: 0; Assists: 2. Goals per game: 0. Involved in 5% of Chivas' goals.

Paulo Nagamura: 11 games played (6 starts). Goals: 0; Assists: 1. Goals per game: 0. Involved in 2.4% of Chivas' goals.

Gerson Mayen: 4 games played (1 start). Goals: 0; Assists: 1. Goals per game: 0. Involved in 2.4% of Chivas' goals.

So the overall rankings remained pretty much the same through the end of the season, although some of the rates and percentages changed. The biggest change was that Victor Estupinan catapulted from out of the rankings altogether to 7th place with his lone MLS goal in the season finale against the Seattle Sounders.

A few other relevant figures for perspective. As a team, Chivas finished the season 13th in goals scored (Seattle led the pack with 56 goals, although there was a lot of bunching below that, with Sporting Kansas City and New York Red Bulls tied for second with 50 goals each). Somewhat surprisingly, however, is how well the Goats provided service to their teammates compared to other teams in the league. They finished fourth (technically tied for third), with only the New York Red Bulls (53), Seattle Sounders (50) and FC Dallas (45) getting more assists as a team than Chivas' 45. So Chivas were in the top quartile of team assists in 2011, but just above the bottom quartile in team goals. Hopefully some of the many new guys can help provide goals in 2012.

The last point I want to make is this: Chivas have shed players this offseason who combined scored 39% of Chivas' goals in 2011. If you include Juan Pablo Angel, who has not yet committed to playing for Chivas in 2012, that figure rises to 56%. Obviously, changes needed to be made in the offseason, and the expectation is that players like Casey Townsend, Miller Bolaños, Oswaldo Minda, Ryan Smith, and other new additions step in and step up, making up that rather large deficit and increasing the total number of goals for 2012. As I always say, gotta wait and see what happens on that front...

What do you think? Leave a comment below!

Final Update: Chivas USA Point Per Start Statistics for Defenders, 2011

Alicia Ratterree — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:07:13 -0000

Although I assume most folks want to look forward to 2012 instead of dwelling on the ultimate disappointment that was Chivas USA's 2011 season, I thought it would be useful to update and provide final statistics on points per start for Chivas' defenders. The last time we posted an update, it was mid-September, when Chivas were limping to the finish and only a sliver of hope of miraculously making the postseason. The leader in that last update? Zarek Valentin. Coming in second place? Andrew Boyens. Ouch, this might be more painful than first anticipated. At any rate, let's see who led the line for the Goats from the back in 2011.

Here was the final record for Chivas in 2011, to provide a baseline for the defenders: 34 matches. Record: 8-14-12. Points: 36. Points per match: 1.06

The defenders who performed the best, in descending order, based on points per start:

Andrew Boyens: Started 10 matches. Record: 3-3-4; Points: 13; Points per start: 1.3

Zarek Valentin: Started 24 matches. Record: 7-9-8; Points: 29; Points per start:1.21

Michael Lahoud (as defender): Started 16 matches. Record: 4-6-6; Points: 18; Points per start: 1.2

Heath Pearce: Started 29 matches. Record: 7-11-11. Points: 32; Points per start: 1.1

Michael Umana: Started 21 matches. Record: 5-8-8. Points: 23; Points per start: 1.1

Ante Jazic: Started 28 matches. Record: 6-13-9; Points: 27; Points per start: 0.96

David Junior Lopes: Started 7 matches. Record: 1-4-2; Points: 5; Points per start: 0.71

Jimmy Conrad: Started 2 matches. Record: 0-2-0; Points: 0; Points per start: 0

In the end, only one major change took place: Boyens leapfrogged Valentin and took the top slot for the season. Unfortunately for Chivas' fans, it was announced that he signed with the LA Galaxy today by Nick Green on his website. Of the defenders who finished above the team's baseline of 1.06, Michael Lahoud and Heath Pearce are still on the squad heading into 2012. Jazic somewhat surprisingly finished the season under the baseline, which detracts from the case that he had a career year that included seven assists, but I think you could project that he would have started more games if it wasn't for a leg injury he suffered that caused him to miss some time. Still, along with Lopes, two of the four returning defenders were below the baseline, and earned under a point per start. Again, Chivas as a team earned just over a point per match, but still cause for concern. It is also worth mentioning from a statistical perspective that Boyens, Lopes and Conrad each started less than a third of Chivas' league matches, so the sample size is pretty small. At least the two defenders with the most starts, Pearce and Jazic, are returning in 2011.

So what do you think of these stats? Helpful? Not so much? Surprising in any way? Leave a comment below!

Chivatown Post: Catching Up Edition

Alicia Ratterree — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:32:45 -0000

Let's see: with the recent holidays, news didn't come fast and furious around Chivas USA, but it's high time we take a look at some of the notable news from the past couple of weeks. If I missed something, leave a relevant link in the comment section. On with the news!

Hot off the, er, presses, comes news from Chivas beat writer Adam Serrano, who spoke with Robin Fraser. The coach confirmed what has been rumored for about a week, that the quartet of Michael Umana, Marcos Mondaini, Victor Estupinan, and Sergio Arias are out. Umana has already gone to Comunicaciones, as I wrote about last week, while Mondaini and Estupinan are both believed to be returning to Ecuador, Mondaini with Emelec and Estupinan to an unknown club. Arias is going to Mexican Liga Ascenso side Irapuato. I'm sure we'll have reason to discuss these moves, and parse Fraser's comments in the coming weeks, but the clear out continues.

Now, for some good news on a couple of highly touted Chivas Youth Academy players. Midfielder Marki Delgado and forward Ben Spencer were both called up to a U18 U.S. Men's National Team training camp in Florida. They are training with U18 coach Richie Williams and 22 other U.S. Development Academy program players, scheduled to run January 2-9. Both Delgado and Spencer have been racking up accolades and opportunities in recent months, between playing in Chivas' reserve league team for several matches and taking part in a special showcase match with the top players at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Showcase last month in Florida, among others. This current training camp is meant to be just that, as there aren't any tournaments on the horizon (and U18 isn't really an age group in international tournaments). But the camp can do for Delgado and Spencer what similar call ups to USMNT training camps can do for Chivas' first teamers Jorge Villafaña and Heath Pearce: a chance to learn from coaches and teammates, to stay fit, and to impress coaches the next time competitive matches come around. Congrats to Delgado and Spencer!

Serrano has an article on the league website from December 30 about Arturo Alvarez, who as you will recall was selected by Chivas in the first phase of the Re-entry draft last month. Although Chivas own his MLS rights, he is not under contract at the moment, and he discusses the fact that he's exploring options in Europe. Initially, word was that he was looking to play in Mexico, but with the FMF starting up again this weekend, I guess he probably would have signed with a team by now if there was interest. Meanwhile, Europe remains the holy grail for players in North America, so it's not a surprise he would like to try his luck there. But for Chivas, no news concerning Alvarez, and whether he'll be a Goat in 2012, yet.

Serrano also wrote an article on the league website from December 28 that commented on Alvarez, as well as French midfielder Nicolas Dieuze, from Chivas' perspective. Coach Robin Fraser sounded like he was hedging away from both players, so the club may be running out of patience concerning Alvarez, and may be moving on from Dieuze. Still, the situation could change considerably.

Serrano also has an article, also on the league website, about the signing of Ecuadorean midfielder Oswaldo Minda. He really seemed to impress the coaching staff while scouting in Ecuador, so hopefully he can make a positive impact on Chivas.

At ESPN, Los Angeles soccer writer Scott French has a plethora of articles looking back on 2011. His entire double series on the stories of 2011 in Southern California and in U.S. soccer is worth taking a look at, but he had a few articles on Chivas. First, from December 23, he discusses the breakout season of Nick LaBrocca and his importance to the Goats in 2011. Then, from December 25, he recounts the journey of Juan Pablo Angel around the Home Depot Center last year. Obviously, this was one of the strangest stories in MLS during the year. From December 26, he notes the efforts that both Chivas and the Galaxy made in developing their academies in 2011. On December 27, he takes stock of Robin Fraser's first season in charge of Chivas, and endorses him so far (I agree with his assessment). He followed that up December 28 with a brief assessment of Chivas' season. Finally, from January 1, he ponders over the major storylines for soccer in Southern California for 2012. Chivas' bid to make the MLS Cup playoffs in 2012 are his top priority for the Goats.

Over at Goal.com, Alex Labidou has an editorial about the lack of black coaches in global football. The article was spurred by the firing of Antoine Kombouaré over at Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, but Labidou notes that Robin Fraser is currently the only black head coach in MLS. I haven't really seen any comment on this in the past year, which I suppose is a good thing as far as it not being a remarkable event in North America, but it is interesting to see how short of a leash black coaches typically get, including those in MLS in the past.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!

A Speculative Current Chivas USA Roster

Alicia Ratterree — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:28 -0000

No doubt about it, Chivas USA have been very busy so far this offseason. There is still more than two months before the 2012 MLS season begins, and there will likely be more moves to come. Rumors have been flying about several players departing, and there have been additions and re-signings. Let's take stock of what we know, what we've heard, and what is up in the air. With that, I'm going to attempt to identify who is on the first team roster, and who is not or may not be.

Weigh in with your opinions and any info you might have heard below in the comments. Let's see what the lay of the land is at the start of 2012:

As close to 100% sure as possible on roster:

Ryan Smith

Jorge Villafaña

Ben Zemanski

Should be back, but played little to no time in 2011, so status may be uncertain

Chris Cortez

Bryan de la Fuente

Status Uncertain

Juan Pablo Angel

Kevin Guppy

Rumored/Reported to be gone - front office has not confirmed publicly

Sergio Arias

Victor Estupiñan

Marcos Mondaini

Michael Umana

Out of contract, probably won't be back

Simon Elliott

Zach Thornton

Mariano Trujillo

100% gone from Chivas

Tristan Bowen (technically on loan, but I doubt he will return to Chivas)

As you see in the first category, Chivas only have 14 players who seem pretty clearly on the current roster. The team's official website lists 20 players, including Cortez and de la Fuente and the four players rumored and/or reported to have left, so any of those players could move into the top group. As for JPA and Guppy, I would guess both players will sign with Chivas in 2012, if they have not already. Obviously money is the sticking point for Angel, so it could very possibly fall through, but it seems quite possible both sides can make it work. Guppy has bounced back and forth between being a goalkeeper for Chivas, and for a period last season, with the Portland Timbers, but he was also an MLS pool goalkeeper in the past. If Thornton and Arias are out, however, Guppy may be an affordable option that has some MLS experience, as limited as it may be.

The league minimum for a first-team roster in 2011 was 18 players. Bear in mind that is a remarkably small squad, however, and the maximum was 30. Regardless, it looks like Chivas still have major work to do, especially if the players who are believed to be leaving will actually leave. The SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft coming up will help the club get new players and prospects, and hopefully these selections can be part of the strategy to build a winning team in 2011.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!