In many ways, MLS has never been so star-studded. Hardly a week went by all summer without a new big-name player being linked to an MLS side — none bigger than Andrea Pirlo, who went from running the midfield for Juventus in the UEFA Champions League final to donning the light blue of New York City FC, all in the space of a single summer.
Pirlo and company at NYC FC might have the brightest stars of all, with Spanish striker David Villa leading the line and veteran England midfielder Frank Lampard on the books. Add in U.S. national team midfielder Mix Diskerud, and New York City has an expansion team that's ready to sell some serious jerseys — and sign the checks on the league's third highest payroll, to boot.
Despite the big money, the team lacks any sense of cohesion on the field. The Yankee Stadium crew is seventh in the Eastern Conference, out of the playoffs and just a nose ahead of last-place Chicago. Last Sunday, the first-ever Los Angeles-NYC match was heavily promoted, playing up the big-name players in the game — and the Galaxy duly destroyed the visitors, winning 5-1 in a game that wasn't nearly that close. After the game, Villa called out the lack of cohesion on the team, pleading to the media, "I need teammates at my side that can help me. I can't do this alone."
Pirlo, with his suddenly wayward passing and utter lack of defensive effort, has been a lightning rod for criticism in NYC. Lampard has been hurt. Diskerud has been ineffective. It might be telling that Kwadwo Poku, who played 25 games for Atlanta in the NASL last year, has been the team's best player.
NYC's fellow expansion team Orlando City is having the same problem, having constructed a team with the league's fourth highest payroll — most of which is spent on Brazilian superstar Kaká. The Lions, too, are sliding; Orlando has one point in four games, a stretch in which it has been outscored 13-1. While Kaká has been a constant, the team needs more than just an aging midfielder.
The gold standard, as ever, seems to be Los Angeles, which retooled this summer by signing superstars Steven Gerrard and Giovani dos Santos and now flying high. Its defense is what really makes the difference; Los Angeles is the rare MLS team that combines a high-powered attack with a reasonably solid back line, with standout players like Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza regularly featuring in the back four.
As Minnesota United looks toward building an MLS team, it'd be wise to avoid the pitfalls of this year's expansion teams. One glance at the goals-against column in the MLS standings — where Orlando and NYC are worst and second worst — should be enough to remind them that success begins from the back.
Soccer short takes
