October 29, 2001 / Soccer America/ 17www.socceramerica.com

A few of theleague's biggest names slippedout of the top slots as theirteams faltered in 2001.

By Ridge Mahoney

he dilemma faced annu-ally by Soccer America ishow to rank players byposition when many of

them play different roles indifferent systems.

This task is not only compli-cated by what form of 3-5-2 or4-4-2 a team might play but alsoby rating those players requiredto play more than one position.

The Galaxy played 4-3-3much of the u

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Alex Pineda Chacon is a superb attackerwith a great knack for finishing as well asfinding teammates.T

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17 2001 PlayerRankingsBy Ridge Mahoney

19 The Coaches andThe CommentsBy Ridge Mahoney

21 D.C. Seeks Coachand DirectorBy Will Kuhns

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Contents

season, which transformed Cobi Jonesinto a winger instead of a midfielder. Sothis season he is ranked as a secondforward.

The categories listed refer to aplayer's place on the field, not necessar-ily to the corresponding position in aparticular system i.e., left back in a 4-4-2 formation is precisely what WadeBarrett plays, but Diego Gutierrez — aleft-sided defender in the 3-5-2 Chicagonormally used by Chicago — is alsolisted as a left back.

Central midfielders is a catch-allcategory for defensive mids like ChrisArmas and dual-purpose players such asRichard Mulrooney and Simon Elliott.

To address the versatility issue, the2001 positional rankings include acategory for Mr. Utility as acknowledg-

ment of those players pressed intoservice in more than one spot.

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Tim Howard (MetroStars)Nick Rimando (Miami)Zach Thornton (Chicago)Joe Cannon (San Jose)Tom Presthus (Columbus)Tony Meola (Kansas City)

For leading the league with 146saves, the top spot goes to Howard. Forbeing blessed with brilliant reflexes andthe audacity to wear shoes of any colorexcept black, next up is Rimando.

Thornton is just a shade behind thetop two; the big man made some bigsaves in the playoffs. Cannon seldom

erred; and Presthus' superb reflexesbailed out the Crew more than once.

Tony Meola was injured and KevinHartman was benched for much of theregular season.

Without peer as an attacking back,Hendrickson causes teams fits on thedribble and in the air on set plays.

He looks gangly and easy to beat, buthis strength and long reach often scrapethe ball away at the last second.

Mastroeni sometimes finds himselfin the middle as the Fusion whirlsaround the field. He really blossomedthis season; his pace and skill will likelydraw offers from foreign clubs.

Both Brown and Petke had to adjustto a variety of partners. Clark cut downon his mistakes.

Garcia dropped from his outstandingrookie season. The Wizards' defensivewoes exposed him somewhat, and hisseason ended with a smash to themouth from Diego Serna.

A slew of defenders earned highgrades this season. Ex-D.C. Unitedstalwarts grabbed the first two slots.

Agoos dominated the defensive ranks.Moved into the middle of a 4-4-2 andmade captain by Coach Frank Yallop, heforged the league's best defense with hisstrength and anticipation.

Llamosa's cool play anchored theFusion's free-wheeling system and itsuncanny strength down the middle.

Vanney, like Agoos, moved insidefrom the left-back slot and anchored his

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1.2.3.4.5.6.

Ezra Hendrickson (Los Angeles)Pablo Mastroeni (Miami)C.J. Brown (Chicago)Mike Petke (MetroStars)Mike Clark (Columbus)Nick Garcia (Kansas City)

Right Backs

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

Jeff Agoos (San Jose)Carlos Llamosa (Miami)Greg Vanney (Los Angeles)Jorge Rodriguez (Dallas)Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago)Troy Dayak (San Jose)Tenywa Bonseu (Columbus)Steve Jolley (MetroStars)

Goalkeepers

Central Defenders

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Most of TimHoward's league-high 148 savesdidn't requirethese acrobatics.

defense. Bocanegra also shifted to acentral spot and in only his secondseason continued to refine his game.

Gutierrez's bending balls up the leftflank are a prime weapon in the Fire'sattack, and his speed usually makes upground when the ball is played over hishead. He doesn't miss many tackles, either.

McKinley is an experienced customer.He can hit a good long ball, particularlywhen switching play, and not manyattackers get past him cleanly.

Barrett missed most of 2000 with abroken leg. He tackles tenaciously andwhips in the occasional cross. Hesometimes is overpowered in toe-to-toeduels, yet usually takes the right anglein tracking back and can nick the balloff anyone.

Caligiuri performed well in his finalMLS season, Perez was a revelation, andDuhaney had a good season.

Paul Broome filled in admirablywhen the Burn went to a 4-4-2.

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Steve Ralston (Tampa Bay)Petter Villegas (MetroStars)Ian Russell (San Jose)Chris Klein (Kansas City)Brian West (Columbus)Tyrone Marshall (Miami)

Nobody had a superb season, asRalston did last year with 19 assists. Hestill rates highest of a group that wasgood but not great.

Villegas' scorching pace helped adepleted Metros' attack extend theGalaxy to a tiebreaker. Klein wasn't thedominant force he was in 2000 yet isstill among the best.

San Jose's scheme relied on Russell toshut down some dangerous players. Healso had nine assists in the regularseason and a sweet goal in the playoffs.

West didn't see a lot of time yetcaused a lot of problems.

Armas still commands great respectaround the league with his toughness,strong tackling and knack for droppinginto passing lanes at just the rightmoment.

Bishop (13 assists) is a toughcustomer and often kick-starts theFusion attack with the proper outletpass that sets it in motion.

Elliott plays a simple, effective gamebeautifully. Mulrooney has no peerwhen workrate, tackling, tracking andpassing are added up. Maisonneuve'sattacking prowess opened up space forJohn Wilmar Perez and JeffCunningham. u

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1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

Chris Armas (Chicago)Ian Bishop (Miami)Simon Elliott (Los Angeles)Richard Mulrooney (San Jose)Brian Maisonneuve (Columbus)Jim Rooney (Miami)Jesse Marsch (Chicago)Matt McKeon (Kansas City)

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Diego Gutierrez (ChicagoIvan McKinley (Miami)Wade Barrett (San Jose)Paul Caligiuri (Los Angeles)Orlando Perez (MetroStars)Mike Duhaney (Columbus)

Left Backs

Right Midfielders

Central Midfielders

Kids all overthe countryshould bepracticing theManny Move,Manny Lagos'insidiouscutback to themiddle.

October 29, 2001 / Soccer America / 19

20 / Soccer America/ October 29, 2001

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Manny Lagos (San Jose)Chris Henderson (Miami)DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago)Mark Chung (MetroStars)Eric Quill (Tampa Bay)Ted Chronopoulos (New England)

Lagos finally got the recognition hewas due after two good seasons inTampa Bay. Kids all over the countryshould be practicing the Manny Move,that insidious cutback to the middle.

Henderson runs, crosses, runs,tackles, runs, shoots. . .

The sky is the limit for Beasley andthose spindly wheels of fire.

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Preki (Miami)Peter Nowak (Chicago)John Wilmar Perez (Columbus)Oscar Pareja (Dallas)Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)Francisco Gomez (Kansas City)

Attacking Midfielders

Left Midfielders

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1.2.3.4.5.6.

Alex Pineda Chacon (Miami)Jeff Cunningham (Columbus)Landon Donovan (San Jose)Cobi Jones (Los Angeles)Dema Kovalenko (Chicago)Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)

Second Forwards

Classifying Alex Pineda Chacon (19goals) and John Spencer (14) is tricky.Miami's attack is so fluid any of theattackers can wind up anywhere, andSpencer adjusts his game to whom he's

If life truly begins at 40, Preki (8goals, 14 assists) has three years to hithis peak. That doesn't seem possibleafter an utterly brilliant season.

Nowak's scything runs and impec-cable passes are a joy to watch. Thegifted Perez made opponents lookfoolish with his deft passes and sneakypull-backs.

Pareja quietly logged 12 assists.Marco had some stinkers, but he's stillMarco.

Gomez suffered from inconsistencyyet threw in enough good games tosqueak past Carlos Valderrama andMauricio Cienfuegos.

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playing with and against.Both are superb attackers with a great

knack for finishing as well as findingteammates. We'll put Spencer at striker.

Cunningham just puts his headdown and goes for goal. Somehow (10goals, 13 assists) the ball winds up inthe net.

Donovan blossomed in his first proseason. Jones is always a threat. DemaKovalenko isn't as good a player as JaimeMoreno but had more good games.

Oughton made the rounds ofpositions like a late arrival at a party,and most of the first impressions weregood ones.

Paule played all over the place forthe Metros and Rapids.

Frye played on the left side ofmidfield and up front. Whitfield got alot of time at right mid and also playedin the back.

Hernandez moved into midfield wheninjuries hit the Metros. Victorine isn't thesharpest finisher but scored some vitalgoals when moved up front. ¢

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Duncan Oughton (Columbus)Ross Paule (MetroStars)Adam Frye (Los Angeles)Evan Whitfield (Chicago)Daniel Hernandez (MetroStars)Sasha Victorine (Los Angeles)

Mr. Utility

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Diego Serna (Miami)John Spencer (Colorado)Abdul Thompson Conteh (D.C. United)Ronald Cerritos (San Jose)Eric Wynalda (Chicago)Luis Hernandez (Los Angeles)

Strikers

Serna (15 goals, 15 assists) is the bestbad boy in the history of MLS. On hisgood days, he's unstoppable by legalmeans. Too much bold, unbridled talent.

Thompson Conteh scored one-third(14) of D.C. United's goals. He's limitedbut sticks the ball away.

Waldo reminded us of who andwhere he is with 10 goals after movingover to the Fire.

Luis Hernandez had eight goals inabout half as much playing time asAriel Graziani (11 goals).

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Ezra Hendricksoncauses opponents fitson the dribble and inthe air on set plays.

October 29, 2001 / Soccer America / 21