|
|
Nick Rosano: Five storylines to follow in Mexico's Clausura
Mexico's Clausura kicks off on Friday night, and Goal.com picks five story lines for fans to watch out for in the upcoming campaign.
Jan 5, 2012 8:12:00 PM
By Nick Rosano
Christian Benitez, Antonio Gallardo - América vs Chivas
Much of the Mexican soccer world’s focus will be squarely on Club America, which cleaned house after a calamitous Apertura campaign that saw the club finish second from bottom. During the offseason, the team has certainly given the impression that it’s worked hard to turn things around.
Moises Muñoz will be counted on for his steady hands in goal, while Venezuela international Oswaldo Vizcarrondo will shore up what has been a consistently poor back line. Pint-sized playmaker Christian ‘Hobbit’ Bermudez has also arrived at the Estadio Azteca, and if he can recapture some of the magic moments he showed with Atlante, he could reach Tolkien-esque heights.
This is not to forget new head coach Miguel Herrera, who joined Muñoz and Bermudez in coming from Atlante. The 43-year-old coach is looking to take the next step in a promising managerial career after achieving good results with Atlante. However, Herrera has not yet overcome that final hurdle of winning a championship and his ability to handle high-pressure situations (which are a given at America) has not been thoroughly tested.
America certainly has some promising pieces in place and could make a run at the playoffs, but the club that is Mexican soccer’s biggest novela never fails to surprise.
2. Triumphs and troubles in Monterrey
There was a striking contrast in the fortunes of the two Monterrey-area teams in 2011. Early on, Monterrey, fresh off another championship, rode that momentum to the CONCACAF Champions League title. Both Monterrey and Tigres made the playoffs and lost in the first round, but Tigres’ loss was especially spectacular, as it was soundly beaten by bottom-seeded Guadalajara in the first round.
Contrast that to the second half of 2011, when a hobbled Monterrey stumbled through its Apertura campaign, missing out on the playoffs and putting in a poor showing at the Club World Cup. Tigres, meanwhile was formidable throughout the regular season and deservedly earned its first title since 1982.
Tigres is in a good position to defend its title.
Monterrey on the other hand, is in a less certain situation, with Humberto Suazo’s status at the club uncertain after trying to force a transfer. If Suazo leaves, new signings Angel Reyna (a year removed from being scoring champion), promising forward Othoniel Arce and a possible international signing (Gustavo Canales from Universidad de Chile is a rumored target) will be expected to pick up the slack. However, the club has done little to address the defensive issues that saw the team miss out on the playoffs and will likely be the biggest reason why Tigres stays ahead of its archrival.
3. Can Cruz Azul get it together in the playoffs?
Cruz Azul has consistently put together some of the strongest teams in Mexico in recent history. However, the team is probably even better known for its consistent – and often spectacular – playoff flameouts. Out of Mexico’s traditional powers, la máquina azul has gone the longest without a title, since 1997, so given the team’s huge fan base and well-publicized playoff troubles, this always makes for an interesting question.
The bottom line is, despite a quiet offseason, Cruz Azul still has a team capable of competing for the title. Omar Bravo brings experience up front, though the loss of Cesar Villaluz could hurt. Throw in a Copa Libertadores campaign that involves long trips to Brazil, Venezuela and Paraguay, though, and things start to look a little dicey.
Enrique Meza proved at Toluca and Pachuca that he is a competent coach, but after nearly three years in charge, he has failed to buck the trend of Cruz Azul’s disappointing playoff defeats. He is capable of winning championships, but if Cruz Azul goes another season without a title, he could have to do it somewhere else.
4. Who will surprise?
In an environment as fluid as the Primera Division, every year offers a chance for a surprise team. Last year, it was unheralded Queretaro which made the playoffs and even upset Chivas in the first round. This year there are a couple candidates.
Puebla showed flashes of promise in the 2011 Apertura season, and while its signings to date haven’t caught the eye, the team still has the option of bringing in an international forward to replace Duvier Riascos (Tijuana) after a deal for Eddie Johnson fell through. Of the players it did buy, there is the enigmatic Luis Angel Landin, who has failed to stick at any club after impressing as a youngster, and 24-year-old Uruguayan defender Jonathan Lacerda, who should help overcome some of the defensive deficiencies of last year’s team.
New head coach Juan Carlos Osorio could do well at Puebla.
Finally, the team will be led by Colombian head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who looks to be a good pickup. Though MLS fans remember the 49-year-old for his mixed results in Chicago and New York, he is fresh off a successful two-year stint in Colombia that saw him take Once Caldas to a league title, a playoff final and the knockout stages of two Copa Libertadores, reaching the quarterfinal in 2011.
Other teams that failed to make the playoffs in the Apertura but could force themselves in this time around are San Luis, which has quietly put together a good transfer campaign, Atlante and Tijuana.
5. Who will go down? Who will come up?
Tijuana’s underperformance in the Apertura after a summer of high-profile signings threw an interesting wrench into the relegation fight. Instead of contending for playoff places, there is now a very real concern that the big-spending, big-talking team could go straight back down.
However, Tijuana has done arguably the best job out of the relegation candidates in reinforcing its squad, and even if Dayro Moreno’s rumored departure materializes, it should be in better shape than Estudiantes Tecos or Atlas. Both teams were highly active during the winter transfer window, buying a combined 14 players and showing the same total the door.
Tijuana and Atlas will be locked in a battle to stay in the top flight.
In the Liga de Ascenso, UAT Correcaminos, from the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, emerged from a very tight field to win the Apertura, earning it the right to contest a place in the 2012-2013 Primera Division with the Clausura champion. However, it faced many close calls along the way, and the remainder of the teams will feel confident about denying Correcaminos a clean sweep of the second division.
Follow NICK ROSANO on 
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
3 Comments
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.
-
McCARTHY: Harrisburg springs its wildest Open Cup upset to date
The City Islanders fought back from three goals down with nine minutes to play and won the game on penalty kicks in a stunning game on a wild night for the U.S. Open Cup.