Article: MLS PREVIEW Soccer league braces for World Cup's effect Tournament to siphon off several standout players; MLS PREVIEW EASTERN CONFERENCE Columbus Crew 1997 record: 15-17 (39 points), third place. Coach: Tom Fitzgerald (third season). Key departures: GK Brad Friedel, MF Doctor Khumalo, MF Jason Farrell. Key acquisitions: GK Juergen Sommer, GK Mark Dougherty, F Stern John, F Andrew Williams. Outlook: What looked like a major loss, Friedel, has turned into a plus with the acquisition of a likely World Cup backup (Sommer, if he goes to France) and a proven veteran in Dougherty. A healthy Brian McBride should have more than adequate help from the Caribbean Connection of John and Williams. Miami Fusion 1997 record: Expansion club. Coach: Carlos "Cacho" Cordoba. Key departures: None. Key acquisitions: MF Carlos Valderrama, MF Marcelo "Popeye" Herrera, MF John Maessner. Outlook: Goalkeepers Scott Budnik and Jeff Cassar have potential but have never been tested. Defensive midfield seems to be the weak spot, playing behind what is obviously the strength: offensive midfield. Valderrama easily has the best final pass in the league. New England Revolution 1997 record: 15-17 (37 points), fourth place. Coach: Thomas Rongen (second year). Key departures: D Alexi Lalas, GK Walter Zenga, F Giuseppe Galderisi. Key acquisitions: F Raul Diaz Arce, MF Edwin Gorter. Outlook: The Revolution is probably the most changed team in the league. New England was 0-10 without Zenga in goal, and the goalkeeping situation has not improved. Diaz Arce gives New England a true center-forward for the first time. New York-New Jersey MetroStars 1997 record: 13-19 (35 points), last place. Coach: Alfonso Mondelo (first year). Key departures: F Antony de Avila; MF Roberto Donadoni; D Brian Bliss; F Shaun Bartlett. Key acquisitions: MF Wellington Sanchez; D Alexi Lalas; F Paul Dougherty; D MF Diego Sonora. Outlook: Revamped team will be coached by the very intense, but not as well-known, Mondelo. Sanchez is expected to fill Donadoni's role and will have to meld with Tab Ramos when he recovers from knee surgery. Tampa Bay Mutiny 1997 record: 17-15 (45 points), second place. Coach: John Kowalski (second year). Key departures: MF Carlos Valderrama, GK Mark Dougherty, D Cle Kooiman. Key acquisitions: GK Thomas Ravelli, D Jan Eriksson, MF Dominic Kinnear. Outlook: The Mutiny will look much different without Valderrama, a loss which Tampa Bay sees as a positive considering the amount of time the Colombian is expected to miss for the World Cup. The defense is improved despite the loss of Kooiman. Washington D.C. United 1997 record: 21-11 (55 points), first place. Defending champions. Coach: Bruce Arena (third year). Key departures: F Raul Diaz Arce, MF John Maessner, D David Vaudreuil. Key acquisitions: D Geoff Aunger, F A.J. Wood. Outlook: Lost three players to expansion draft, Maessner, Vaudreuil, Kris Kelderman, and one to the salary cap, Diaz Arce. The loss of Diaz Arce comes as Roy Wegerle i

Article from:

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)

Article date:

March 15, 1998

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