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Chivas USA: What Happened In 2009?
For the fourth consecutive season, Chivas USA bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. Zac Lee Rigg looks back at the 2009 season for the Goats.
Nov 20, 2009 12:45:55 AM
By Zac Lee Rigg
In a blistering start to the season, Chivas USA raced out to a 7-1-1 record in the first nine games. Easily the form team of the league in the opening half of the year, the Goats slowly tapered out. The starting personnel shifted and the team bore an air of one content to limp into the playoffs.
It did just that, losing two and drawing one of the last three games to finish fourth in the Western Conference when the Supporters' Shield title was available had Chivas won all three.
Once in the playoffs, Chivas USA's fourth consecutive visit in the club's five year history, the Los Angels-based club faced city rivals the LA Galaxy in the first round and lost, much like its record in the previous three years.
Head coach Preki finished his three year contract with the club having failed to progress in the playoffs and was not offered an extension to his deal as a result. The former United States international has since found a new gig with Toronto FC. Depending on who the club replaces him with, some of the squad could follow Preki out of Los Angeles.
"As the season has ended, all coaches and players are under evaluation," a Chivas USA spokesperson said.
What Went Wrong?
The first round playoff exit only affirmed the problems that had cropped up midseason. Once it became apparent that the team would likely make the playoffs, its form cooled considerably and the organization skated along. Star player Sacha Kljestan, perhaps melancholy over missing out on a move to Europe in the offseason, offered up jaded and stunted performances through most of the year, until U.S. coach Bob Bradley spoke with the 24-year-old and told him to improve or risk missing out on the World Cup next summer.
More confusing were some of Preki's personnel choices. New additions from the Mexican league, Eduardo Lillingston and Mariano Trujillo, were crucial cogs to the blistering start, but both soon fell out of favor. Trujillo made way for Ante Jazic (forcing both Jonathan Bornstein and Carey Talley to slide out of position to accommodate the Canadian), and Lillingston's loss of favor happened more abruptly. Ahead of a May 23 match against the Kansas City Wizards, the striker broke a team rule (the club never revealed his transgression) and his punishment involved sitting the bench against the 'Zards. Trailing at the hour mark, Preki threw Lillingston into the match and the Mexican responded by scoring the equalizer. Up to that point, Lillingston had started all but one game. After, he started only six games the rest of the season, usually coming in as a late substitute.
Another prime example is Jamaican Shavar Thomas. The towering central defender held down the line for Chivas in the past two seasons and only missed one match of the opening 17 in 2009. He then missed the next nine in a two and a half month spell when Preki tinkered with the backline.
Thomas' last starting match of the opening 17 games coincided with the first of Chivas USA's 4-0 demolitions. Away to the two Rocky Mountain clubs, the Goats and reserve goalkeeper Lance Parker conceded a humiliating amount of goals to Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids.
The team never really regained its pride after that.
What Went Right?
Despite all that, Chivas USA did make the playoffs, only three points off Western Conference leader Los Angeles. As previously mentioned, with three games to go, Chivas held the inside track on the Supporters' Shield.
The club had another big positive, and his name is Zach Thornton. The 36-year-old rejuvenated his career in the City of Angels, posting league-leading records in goals-against averages (0.87) and shutouts (12). The net-minder swept up three awards after the season: comeback player of the year, Best XI honors, and goalkeeper of the year, the latter he last won 11 years prior.
Another plus was the emergence of some young blood. Jorge Flores (20), Gerson Mayen (20), Yamith Cuesta (20), and Michael Lahoud (23) all contributed enough to indicate that they have futures in the league.
What Should The Team Do Differently?
Doing things differently won't pose a problem for the 2010 incarnation of Chivas USA. Any new coach will enact a different system of play and make differing personnel decisions.
Two team veterans in Claudio Suarez and Ante Razov will likely move on, allowing new players to step forward as the face of the club (neither played any minutes worth mentioning in 2009 due to injury).
Under Preki, the Goats ground out results well, performing respectably over the course of a season. However, the coach never elicited positive results in knockout competitions. The team has never won a playoff tie, has never made it out of the first stage of either the CONCACAF Champions League or the SuperLiga, and has never advanced beyond the round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup.
Putting more stock in those knockout competitions could help bring success to the young club for a new coach even if he can't deliver a Supporters' Shield or MLS Cup.
What Changes Will Be Made?
Many. Preki left, as will most of the coaching staff as a new man brings in his people. As mentioned above, Razov and Suarez will likely take no further part. Captain and MLS original Jesse Marsch expressed a desire to return, though his 36 years of age began to tell in the latter stages of the season.
U.S. international Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan could possibly see bids come in from abroad, though the club will try to hold on to the pair.
High-earners Jim Curtin, Kevin Harmse, Ante Jazic, Marcelo Saragosa, Bojan Stepanovic, and Sacha Victorine could be moved on, along with any other player the new coach doesn't fancy.
What Will happen Next Year?
It's far too early for any accurate prediction at this point. The Chivas USA that takes the pitch in the first match of the 2010 season will only vaguely resemble the one hitting the golf courses right now.
One thing for sure is that a decent squad lies underneath the disappointment of the playoff exit to the Galaxy. The new coach can rely on a strong core to the team. Zach Thornton, Jonathan Bornstein, Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan, and Maykel Galindo form a spine good enough to compete for honors.
Perhaps the biggest task of the incoming coach is to lure quality performances out of Jesus Padilla. On loan from sister club Chivas de Guadalajara, the youngster failed to live up to his hype in half a season in MLS. Coaxing consistent production from the temperamental attacker could hold the key to a positive season in 2010.
A successful season would involve making the playoffs and winning the first trophy in the club's history (the SuperClasico doesn't count).
Zac Lee Rigg is an associate editor of Goal.com
For more on the Major League Soccer playoffs, visit Goal.com's MLS page
In a blistering start to the season, Chivas USA raced out to a 7-1-1 record in the first nine games. Easily the form team of the league in the opening half of the year, the Goats slowly tapered out. The starting personnel shifted and the team bore an air of one content to limp into the playoffs.
It did just that, losing two and drawing one of the last three games to finish fourth in the Western Conference when the Supporters' Shield title was available had Chivas won all three.
Once in the playoffs, Chivas USA's fourth consecutive visit in the club's five year history, the Los Angels-based club faced city rivals the LA Galaxy in the first round and lost, much like its record in the previous three years.
Head coach Preki finished his three year contract with the club having failed to progress in the playoffs and was not offered an extension to his deal as a result. The former United States international has since found a new gig with Toronto FC. Depending on who the club replaces him with, some of the squad could follow Preki out of Los Angeles.
"As the season has ended, all coaches and players are under evaluation," a Chivas USA spokesperson said.
What Went Wrong?
The first round playoff exit only affirmed the problems that had cropped up midseason. Once it became apparent that the team would likely make the playoffs, its form cooled considerably and the organization skated along. Star player Sacha Kljestan, perhaps melancholy over missing out on a move to Europe in the offseason, offered up jaded and stunted performances through most of the year, until U.S. coach Bob Bradley spoke with the 24-year-old and told him to improve or risk missing out on the World Cup next summer.
 |
Another prime example is Jamaican Shavar Thomas. The towering central defender held down the line for Chivas in the past two seasons and only missed one match of the opening 17 in 2009. He then missed the next nine in a two and a half month spell when Preki tinkered with the backline.
Thomas' last starting match of the opening 17 games coincided with the first of Chivas USA's 4-0 demolitions. Away to the two Rocky Mountain clubs, the Goats and reserve goalkeeper Lance Parker conceded a humiliating amount of goals to Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids.
The team never really regained its pride after that.
What Went Right?
Despite all that, Chivas USA did make the playoffs, only three points off Western Conference leader Los Angeles. As previously mentioned, with three games to go, Chivas held the inside track on the Supporters' Shield.
 |
Another plus was the emergence of some young blood. Jorge Flores (20), Gerson Mayen (20), Yamith Cuesta (20), and Michael Lahoud (23) all contributed enough to indicate that they have futures in the league.
What Should The Team Do Differently?
Doing things differently won't pose a problem for the 2010 incarnation of Chivas USA. Any new coach will enact a different system of play and make differing personnel decisions.
Two team veterans in Claudio Suarez and Ante Razov will likely move on, allowing new players to step forward as the face of the club (neither played any minutes worth mentioning in 2009 due to injury).
Under Preki, the Goats ground out results well, performing respectably over the course of a season. However, the coach never elicited positive results in knockout competitions. The team has never won a playoff tie, has never made it out of the first stage of either the CONCACAF Champions League or the SuperLiga, and has never advanced beyond the round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup.
Putting more stock in those knockout competitions could help bring success to the young club for a new coach even if he can't deliver a Supporters' Shield or MLS Cup.
What Changes Will Be Made?
Many. Preki left, as will most of the coaching staff as a new man brings in his people. As mentioned above, Razov and Suarez will likely take no further part. Captain and MLS original Jesse Marsch expressed a desire to return, though his 36 years of age began to tell in the latter stages of the season.
U.S. international Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan could possibly see bids come in from abroad, though the club will try to hold on to the pair.
High-earners Jim Curtin, Kevin Harmse, Ante Jazic, Marcelo Saragosa, Bojan Stepanovic, and Sacha Victorine could be moved on, along with any other player the new coach doesn't fancy.
What Will happen Next Year?
It's far too early for any accurate prediction at this point. The Chivas USA that takes the pitch in the first match of the 2010 season will only vaguely resemble the one hitting the golf courses right now.
One thing for sure is that a decent squad lies underneath the disappointment of the playoff exit to the Galaxy. The new coach can rely on a strong core to the team. Zach Thornton, Jonathan Bornstein, Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan, and Maykel Galindo form a spine good enough to compete for honors.
Perhaps the biggest task of the incoming coach is to lure quality performances out of Jesus Padilla. On loan from sister club Chivas de Guadalajara, the youngster failed to live up to his hype in half a season in MLS. Coaxing consistent production from the temperamental attacker could hold the key to a positive season in 2010.
A successful season would involve making the playoffs and winning the first trophy in the club's history (the SuperClasico doesn't count).
Zac Lee Rigg is an associate editor of Goal.com
For more on the Major League Soccer playoffs, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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