McCarthy's Musings: Ten Down, Twenty To Go

By Kyle McCarthy

With a third of the season over for ten of the 15 teams (with two more joining that group tonight), it's time to take stock of the still-blossoming season.

For the purposes of this review, the teams are divided into seven categories. As a reminder, the MLS season is a marathon, not a sprint. Expect some shifting of the pack as the summer starts and teams evolve through trades and transfers. The business end of the season is a long ways off yet. One can only hope it will involve fewer draws.

Is the season over yet or is it just our supporters wishing that was the case?

FC Dallas, San Jose

To sum up San Jose's plight, I refer back to this preseason quote from general manager John Doyle regarding his striking pupu platter: “It's up to those guys to combine to score the ten goals [a proven MLS striker might score]. These guys have scored goals before. Weaver scored in USL1. Campos scored in PDL. I think that someone will emerge to give us the goals we need.” ... That hasn't happened yet, but Doyle couldn't have anticipated the defense going haywire and most of his players consistently underperforming either. ... FC Dallas vies with the Earthquakes for the weakest spine in the middle of the park, though Kenny Cooper gives FCD one cog worth keeping. ... David Ferreira has shown little when he was expected to show a lot. .. The FCD defense is a disaster, which should have been expected with the insufficient offseason signings designed to strengthen it.

Big market bummers

Los Angeles, New York

One of these years, Los Angeles will have to surround Landon Donovan with a team again. ... Donovan has directly contributed to nine of his team's 12 goals this season. If the Galaxy make the playoffs, he deserves strong MVP consideration. ... The defense is better with Gregg Berhalter adding some veteran nous. ... The problem for the Galaxy? They can't afford to open up the game because better teams can rip them apart in midfield. ... In New York, the knives are already out for Juan Carlos Osorio after a poor start to the season. ... With seven of his team's next nine games on the road, Osorio will need a minor miracle to survive that stretch if results turn sour. ... It's too bad for the Red Bulls because they finally have most of their team together now after battling injuries and transfer wranglings.

Downtrodden with a chance of frisky

Columbus, New England, Real Salt Lake

This isn't how Columbus wanted to start its title defense. ... At 1-2-6 through nine matches (number ten is tonight's gimme against San Jose), the Crew are six points out of fourth place in the East with two matches in hand. ... Injuries and poor form have contributed to the unfortunate start, but no blame lays at Guillermo Barros Schelotto's feet (five goals, one assist) ... New England's offense is bottom of the league with eight goals in nine matches. ... One has to wonder if there's too much pressure on Taylor Twellman to come in and produce right away once he returns. ... Twellman will need significantly better wide play in order to get the service he requires. ... Real Salt Lake won't be considered a good team until they find a way to obtain road results consistently. ... Cracks have started to appear in a reasonably solid defense, with both the individuals and the unit struggling to replicate 2008 form. ... Clint Mathis has been one of the best stories in the league this season because he has accepted his complementary role and has performed well in it when most people wondered if he was done.

The median

Colorado

Gary Smith has made believers out of a few skeptics in Colorado, but his side is a year away from challenging from real honors. ... That could change if the Rapids significantly bolster their squad in the summer, but former Crewe defender Julien Baudet doesn't really fit into that category. ... Conor Casey (six goals) is a sure-fire all-star candidate, while Colin Clark merits consideration as well.

Worth a punt

Kansas City, Toronto FC

Few teams can throw out the depth of attacking talent Kansas City boasts. ... Claudio Lopez is the pick of the bunch right now, but Josh Wolff and Davy Arnaud have also impressed. ... With all of the trading pieces in house right now, the Wizards should be in the market for an experienced defender. ... Toronto FC could challenge for MLS Cup with two key additions in the transfer window. ... No prizes for anyone who identified center back and striker as the pressing needs. ... Stefan Frei has made a lot of teams question why they passed on him in the SuperDraft.

The challengers

D.C. United, Houston, Seattle

D.C. United coach Tom Soehn secured his future for now with a good start (3-1-7) to the season. ... Soehn's emphasis on squad rotation should pay off down the road, but it has led to dropped points in the short term. ... Jaime Moreno and Ben Olsen have inspired United when on the field. For United to reach the pinnacle, they'll have keep them on the field and hope the defense holds. ... Houston rebounded nicely after yet another slow start. ... Geoff Cameron looks like he could play in this league for a long time. ... Stingy defense and dangerous wide play have fueled the Dynamo's current six-match unbeaten streak. ... Seattle has impressed just about everyone with its start to the season. ... Kasey Keller and Osvaldo Alonso are the keys, but don't undersell the contributions of central defensive pairing Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Tyrone Marshall. ... With a diverse attack, a top-class striker (Fredy Montero) and a resolute defense backed by a top-flight goalkeeper, Seattle is built for the playoffs.

The favorites

Chicago, Chivas USA

If I had to pick one of these two to take it all home right now, I'd go with Chicago. ... Brian McBride (six goals) ages like fine wine; there isn't a striker in the league who can match his aerial dominance. ... Teams should be scared because the Fire has ripped off a ten-match unbeaten streak (4-0-6) without looking particularly good defensively. ... Chivas USA grinds out results better than any team in the league. ... Paulo Nagamura and Jesse Marsch make a great team in the center of the park, while goalie Zach Thornton and right back Mariano Trujillo deserve all-star nods. ... The engraver charged with altering the coach of the year trophy should warm up his machine now; it'll take some time to etch Predrag Radosavljevic into the name plate. ... The former U.S. national team player has done a magnificent job in cobbling together an effective lineup despite the annual rash of injuries and without much of a contribution from Sacha Kljestan.

Around the League

- The two midweek matches couldn't be any more disparate. Bottom feeders Columbus and San Jose tussle tonight at Crew Stadium, while Chicago and Chivas USA square off in a rare meeting of conference leaders – the fifth such meeting after the ten-game mark in the past ten seasons – tomorrow night at the HDC.

- Suspensions will deprive Columbus and San Jose of key defensive cogs. Danny O'Rouke sits after picking up two quick yellows at the tail-end of the Crew's 1-1 draw in Los Angeles on May 17, while Chris Leitch was handed a one-match ban by the MLS disciplinary committee yesterday for a knee to Brian Ching's head in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Houston.

- Leitch's suspension is somewhat surprising considering a foul was called, but no card was issued on the original play. It is somewhat less surprising when one actually views the play.

- As for replacements, Eric Brunner is likely to come into the Columbus defense in O'Rouke's place. Jed Zayner is on standby if Frankie Hejduk can't go with a groin injury. For San Jose, Kelly Gray is most likely to come into the side with Aaron Pitchkolan another option.

- The Quakes announced the long-rumored signing of Cornell Glen yesterday. His status for tonight's match remains uncertain. In order to make room for Glen, San Jose waived forward Davide Somma.

- Chicago traveled directly to Los Angeles after Sunday's 1-0 win at New York. “It was the right thing for us to do. It was a holiday weekend and we're coming off a Sunday afternoon game,” Fire keeper Jon Busch said. “If you make that stop back in Chicago for a day or a day and a half, it breaks everything up.”

- Busch, on opposing netminder Thornton: “Big Zach is playing very well for them in goal. He's found the fountain of youth here in California. I'm happy for him. He's had some tough times the past few years, but he's playing fantastic. He's put the team on his shoulders and done a great job so far this season.”

- Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan is questionable for the clash after suffering a left ankle sprain in the 1-1 draw in Kansas City at the weekend.

- I'll take a Columbus win, a draw between the conference leaders and Manchester United to retain the Champions League, if you're keeping track at home.

- A Kevin Forrest goal gave Seattle a 1-0 win over Colorado to send Sounders FC to the Open Cup. Judging solely from the Twitter feeds, it appears a just result. Both teams played primarily reserves, though Keller, Hurtado, Sebastien Le Toux and Nathan Sturgis started for Seattle and Terry Cooke played in midfield for Colorado.

- U.S.S.F. is expected to release the U.S. Open Cup draw today, according to usopencup.com. Teams will be grouped regionally for the first time this year, theoretically cutting down on travel for lower-league teams. MLS teams enter in the third round, which is scheduled to take place on June 30.

Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

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