New Look Kansas City Wizards Hope Changes Mean Return to Playoffs

In 2009, the Kansas City Wizards went from a playoff team to a bottom-three team in MLS. The team was plagued by a poor attack, scoring the second-least number of goals (33). The team spent the 2010 offseason making major changes to the roster in hopes of rectifying their offensive woes and getting back into the playoffs. Head Coach Curt Onalfo was axed and Peter Vermes was brought in to replace him. While Vermes and the front office indulged in quite a bit of player movement, there are three returning MLS veterans the team will lean on heavily: forward Josh Wolff, midfielder-forward Davy Arnaud, and defender Jimmy Conrad. Wolff was one of the top goal scorers last season (11) and is one of the active leaders in career goals (73). His 11 goals last year were a career high in his 11-year MLS career. The Wizards will need him to continue to stay hot and put the ball in the back of the net to be successful. He’s also made 52 appearances for the United States National Team and was a member of two World Cup squads. His experience will be invaluable to the team as everyone tries to gel. Arnaud has been with the ...

Ladies and Gentlemen: Introducing…The Buddlevan Connection

The Los Angeles Galaxy are just two games into the young 2010 Major League Soccer season, and already I will take the great leap of faith in throwing down the gauntlet and declaring 2010 to be the long-awaited Second Coming of Edson Buddle. No, I'm not talking about the Edson Buddle who scored a measly five goals last season. He can even that total with a brace against the Houston Dynamo on April 10. I'm talking about the Edson Buddle who tallied 15 goals two seasons ago.  If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. In an identical situation similar to Saturday's chance against the New England Revolution involving Alex Cazumba, Buddle made no mistake in finishing on a Landon Donovan through ball inside the box, slotting his third of the season past the Chivas USA goalkeeper to continue LA's dominance over its cross-stadium rivals 2-0 before 19,000-plus at the Home Depot Center. It was textbook placement and finishing. When Buddle is hot with his scoring touch, it takes a lot of steam off Donovan to be LA's bailout package. Landon facilitates, Edson finishes. Landon facilitates again, Edson finishes again. Repeat as necessary. "I ...

Los Angeles-Chivas USA: A Play-By-Play (and Other Miscellany)

T-180: This is the Honda SuperClasico between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Club Deportivo Chivas USA, currently in its sixth edition here at Victoria Street's very own Home Depot Center. You know, I've been hearing all this talk by some hoity-toity upstart about Red Bull Arena being named the new American cathedral of football. Nonsense. With all respect to the architecture of the new stadium and the people of Harrison, N.J., and vicinity, the national team does not train there. Though playing a few international friendlies there wouldn't hurt, I will admit... T-175: The Galaxy, long the only team in the City of Angels until the arrival of Guadalajara's sister team in 2004, dominate this series, winning four out of the last five editions. T-170: LA's last match with Chivas USA was a 1-0 victory off a Landon Donovan penalty. The G's would advance 3-2 on aggregate in the 2009 Western Conference quarterfinals. T-165: Chivas USA has a new man in charge: Martin Vasquez. Among the honors on his resume include work as an assistant for Bundesliga mainstay Bayern Munich. Vasquez looks to brings a fresh new attacking style to placate the likes of Legion 1908 ...

Real Salt Lake Attempting To Repeat As Champions

Last year many people scorned Real Salt Lake. The club finished the regular season with a losing record of 11-12-7, yet still made the playoffs and went on to win the MLS Cup. Many outsiders felt that this was an aberration and an embarrassment to professional sports. They chastised the MLS playoff format for allowing too many teams in. Head coach Jason Kreis believed in his team the whole way and got the job done, regardless of how they finished the regular season. In 2010 Salt Lake returns the majority off their championship-winning core and will be out to prove that they are a talented team, not a fluke. Real Salt Lake is a balanced team, efficient on both offense and defense. The defense is led by goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Rimando enjoyed what was arguably his best season in his 10-year MLS career. He posted a 1.14 goals against average, his lowest total since 2005. Rimando shined in the playoffs being the star in the team’s two penalty shootout wins, including in the MLS Cup championship that earned him MVP honors. His entire starting defense—Chris Wingert, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, and Robbie Russell—returns and the group's chemistry should be a huge advantage. U.S. international Kyle Beckerman ...