2015 American Soccer Preview

Hello out there Suckyball readers! I hope you’re having a relaxing off-season and you can wipe the sleep out of your eyes after your winter hibernation.  I just finished watching the U.S.A’s win over Panama and I decided to brush the cobwebs off this site and put forth some Suckyball predictions for 2015.  One of the most enjoyable reasons I enjoy writing this blog is that because I don’t get paid for it, or have any editor or major news outlet to please … that means I can write whatever I want at any time.

1. Chris Wondolowski is beginning to lose his mind.

I get it.  He missed a play in the World Cup last year and Klinsmann doesn’t trust him as much.  So one of the first things Wondolowski does in USMNT uniform today was getting in a shouting match and drawing  a yellow card.  Believe it or not the USMNT has substantial depth this year and Wondo, as much as I want him to succeed, just looks average out there.  As always, I wish him the best, but he’s not going to be an MLS golden boot winner any time soon.

2.  If you think about supporting NYCFC just stop, please.

There might be a chance the Red Bulls drop close to last place but I’d rather support them then this sham farm team dressed up as a contender.  Is it wrong to imagine Yankees stadium supporting maybe 10,000 fans when the Philadelphia Union comes into the Bronx?  The crazy thing is that there’s a good chance the Red Bulls get sold and might turn into some team called New Jersey FC (but I would still support some wacky team called New Jersey FC or the Cosmos compared to the new MLS expansion team!).  It feels like NYCFC ownership paid $100 million dollars to Don Garber & Co. so they could do some dodgy, mysterious accounting work and save $150 million in England. Will they succeed? Maybe, but at least I’ll get to see the Galaxy and Sounders knock them around a bit in their first year.

3. ESPN is still treating America’s soccer audience like they’re eight years old.  I must’ve heard today that America hadn’t won in maybe six or seven games and today was a MUST WIN against Panama.  It was sooooo important for Klinsmann to win this game so America could get back on track??

It’s a friendly!! The Gold Cup’s first matches aren’t even that important so why is some cash grab at a not even filled Stub Hub Center today a must win? Call a friendly a friendly and don’t deceive the audience that somehow Klinsmann is on the hot seat.  He’s not sweating and has maybe four or five newer players stepping up to make his life easier.

4. This year will continue the trend of ‘Super Clubs’ breaking away from the others in MLS play.  No, they won’t be Manchester United or Chelsea but Seattle, L.A., New England and another cash rich club (Hey Toronto wake up) will go for the Supporter’s Shield and MLS Cup.  Some owners figured out how to play the system a bit better and know how to use their money, that means the other ownership groups will just have to take it on the chin.

5. Dear Orlando FC, don’t be upset if your team is close to imploding.

Right off the bat this team signed Kaka and is trying to sell over 60,000 tickets to their first game:

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/02/05/orlando-city-sc-launch-plan-draw-65000-fans-inaugural-mls-match-citrus-bowl

I love that they’re attempting to make a name for themselves already, but MLS teams are no joke.  As I mentioned before, a team like Seattle or LA isn’t going to let Kaka make easy passes.  Instead they’re going to have Obafemi, Robbie Keane, Jozi Altidore, Michael Bradley and the like push through and put shots on goal.  It’s their first year, and for some reason I want them to at least be stable.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I want them to do better than NYCFC.

 

Anyway, to end this post I’ll predict who will step up, and who will trip up in the 2015 Suckyball season.  I’ll come back at the end of the year to look it over.

STEP UPS:

Michael Bradley TFC – One of these games he’ll have to wake up and start assisting on goals, or at least make the play-offs.

Mix Diskerud NYCFC – He’s making a fair bit of change now  and there will be a ton of attention in the Big Apple.  He better take advantage of it.  If you can’t do well with David Villa (and Lampard) giving you passes then I don’t know what to tell you.

Lloyd Sam NYRB – All the spotlight will be on Bradley Wright-Phillips but Sam put together a decent season last year.  With Henry out of the picture the Red Bulls are expecting Sam to juke more defenders and handle a larger burden.

Luis Gil RSL – He dribbled past three or four defenders today and looks like he’s about to turn the corner with his career.  He has the experience against top MLS teams he just has to make the same jump Zardes did.  He’s 21 and if he plays well enough, maybe he can go to a foreign club (or at least get a decent pay raise).

TRIP UPS:

Jozy Altidore TFC – There are no more excuses for this guy.  He’s not at Sunderland and he’ll have plenty of passes going his way.  He’s great at getting around defenders and having a good shot, but there’s so been much invested in his development that if he plays mediocre it’ll be considered a waste of talent.

Dax McCarty NYRB – I want Dax to succeed so much and prove me wrong, but the way he plays the game can be too rough at times.  If he gets injured again the Red Bulls are in trouble and won’t get very far.  Cahill’s not there to take attention away and mid-fielders are going to try hacking him down.  Dax, best of luck but there’s a bulls-eye on you now (pun intended)!!

Jason Kreis NYCFC – Sure, why not put a coach here?  I get that he’s a legend at RSL but I get this feeling in my stomach that he’s going to end up losing his mind (like Wondolowski).  Manchester City won’t give him what he wants, his players will play on converted baseball fields half the time and he’s going to have to deal with NYC’s media far much more than he’d like.  I don’t think this year will be a disaster for him, I just think he’s put in a tough spot and reporters will ask why NYCFC isn’t always in the top five.  Good luck Jason, you’re going to need it.

Okay everyone, I’ll write more later, stay warm and get ready for the last days of winter!!