Cleaning out the notebook from MLS preseason practices

That in a series of strange dreams two nights before, I was participating in a practice at an indoor soccer facility, taking a bunch of shots … with Rimando in goal.

I don’t believe dreams really mean much, just bits and bytes plucked indiscriminately from the big hopper of people, places and things in our minds, then stitched together with indifferent intent. (The role of late night Tex-Mex and how it affects this process does, however, deserve further study.)

All that said, I chose not to mention it to Rimando. That’s something you can mention to someone you know a little better – someone who already knows you're not a weirdo. I think I made the right call.

In the spirit of random bits and bytes, here is a little buffet of random observations and tidbits from a few days in and around MLS preseason practices going on in Phoenix, including some 411 on the L.A. Galaxy, league champion Colorado, Real Salt Lake and much more.

• I spoke to Teal Bunbury a day before his elbow dislocation. A very pleasant guy. It was difficult to see him almost exactly 24 hours later, lying very near the same spot where we spoke, moaning loudly in obvious pain. Let’s hope this isn’t too much of a setback. All things considered, it could be much worse.
• Bunbury, on what he got out of the month in national team camp: “The biggest thing was the movement off the ball, thinking faster, getting myself in good spaces where I’m open. Because at that level, the time you have on the ball gets smaller.”
• Bunbury’s target for this season: 15 goals.
• There is rarely a reason to ask MLS coaches if they are still pursuing players or attempting to bolster the roster. Almost without fail, they are going to say, “We are always looking to improve, if the opportunity is right.” That’s like a soda pop – made completely of empty calories. In other words, from an information gathering standpoint, it does nothing for you. So why even bother with the exercise?
• For fans or journalists who look for meaning in preseason results, I say this: While I applaud your enthusiasm and appreciate your attention to MLS preseason, but I can only remind you, that is a very, very bad idea.

• I spoke at length to Kansas City assistant Kerry Zavagnin, who was filling in for Peter Vermes for a couple of days. He’s a smart fellow, someone to keep an eye on going forward. At present, he says the plan is to play Omar Bravo on the left, especially while winger Ryan Smith continues to recover from injury. Later, the veteran Mexican international could play underneath the striker in Sporting KC’s 4-3-3.
• Last tidbit for now on KC: rookie Konrad Warzycha, son of Columbus coach Robert Warzycha, is a pretty big fellow. Bigger than his dad. He was apparently getting his share of healthy meat ‘n taters while growing up in the heartland, in Ohio.
• I may have been a wee bit hard on Columbus when I began wondering how in the world they were going to compete in MLS with so many untested players. I was reacting to a practice where I saw a staggering number of unfamiliar faces. In all honesty, I failed to consider that Eddie Gaven, Danny O’Rourke and Emilio Renteria (all quality players) were missing from that particular workout. Now, having said that, the Crew is still without 10 core contributors from last year’s side. So, maybe they’ll be a little better than I thought at the time of last week’s blog entry. And it’s true that in the weakened East, everything is up for grabs. Still, I see some tough times ahead – even if things won’t be quite as tough as I indicated last week.
• Does Crew manager Robert Warzycha want more from Robbie Rogers this year? “I don’t have to tell him that we need more. He knows. It’s obvious.” Boil it down, and where does the Crew boss believe Rogers can get more from his raw talent? “His last decision (near goal) was always questionable. That needs to be better.”
• Colorado manager Gary Smith is a hoot to work with. Not only does he maintain a pleasant disposition, he’s just so quintessentially English! For instance, he finishes interviews with “Lovely to speak to you.”
• That said, he’s got an edge about him around the practice field. That also is quintessentially English. That practice “pitch” is sacred ground. You can have a good time – so long as you’re busting your ass while the ball is in play. Here’s a moment that says it all: during one drill, Smith found a small stack of cones in the area of the drill. Not a biggie, really. But right in the middle of matters, he charged over, picked up the cones and tossed them almost comically to the side. “F-----g cones on the practice pitch!” he admonished loudly to no one in particular.
• In the Columbus Crew-Colorado Rapids scrimmage, the difference in level of communication was striking. Every player for the league champs constantly provided information, encouragement and occasional admonishment for one another. Columbus did too – but markedly less so.
• Yes, MLS has a salary cap. But that doesn’t mean MLS is some socialist state where all things are equal. Some teams spend more than others. Case in point, while some teams in Arizona are staying at relatively frugal, mid-level hotels, others are quartered at the fancy-schmancy. The Galaxy, for instance, are at a nice resort in a swank area of town. Further evidence that AEG doesn’t mind spending: while most teams train at one of three complexes that are more or less public areas, the Galaxy has rented Arizona State University’s women’s soccer stadium for its practices.
• Most any college campus is full of pleasant scenery, if you know what I mean. ASU has its share and then some. That’s all I’m saying.
• Once outside of ASU, talking about greater Phoenix … meh. There’s a lot of LA-wanna-be in Phoenix. And by the way, when did they start making extremely low-rise jeans for men? I hadn’t been in Phoenix for 10 minutes (seriously, I was at the rental-car counter) when I saw these fashion abominations. Lord, forgive us our trespasses and please don’t let this unsightly trend catch on. (This late 20-something white dude was also wearing a cap with the brim turned sideways … so I think we can tell a little something about the kind of people who might dare to wear these things.)
• Every team in Phoenix enjoyed having good, competitive matches to break up the monotony of practice and to properly evaluate young talent. For instance, Chivas USA got in three scrimmages last week, allowing new coach Robin Fraser a good opportunity to see a lot of players matched against comparable talent. By contrast, here what happens when teams go overseas: they schedule matches against reserve teams of name brand clubs. But bad weather intercedes and reserve league schedules get backed up. So, rather than playing, say, Tottenham’s reserves, the MLS sides get stuck in an unsatisfying mud-wrestling match with Tottenham’s under-17s. Or they get their match cancelled altogether – and head back to the field for another practice, one that looks a lot like yesterday’s practice and the one the day before, etc.
• I always find it amusing that we call these practice games “scrimmages,” a term derived from American football. A scrimmage in the classic definition is an American football practice contest where the teams don’t kick off or punt. Rather, they just run a series of plays “from scrimmage.” Hence the name – which has nothing whatsoever to do with soccer, of course. But so what? It doesn’t bother me a bit … it’s just funny.
• I have a hunch that Jason Garey could be a very good pickup for Houston. On the other hand, he’s got a battle ahead just to get on the field, as Brian Ching and talented, hard-working rookie Will Bruin maybe ahead at the moment. And Cam Weaver is in the mix somewhere, too.
• Drew Moor, speaking on Omar Cummings: “He’s the kind of kid who can carry this team at times. And over a long season, there are times when you need somebody like that.”
• Pablo Mastroeni , 34, seems to enjoy the fact that he is not the senior member of the championship side. That moniker belongs to recently acquired, 36-year-old defender Tyrone Marshall. Congrats, Pablo!
• MLSSoccer.com analyst Jonah Freedman has declared Cummings his early choice for league MVP. Please note that it was an unofficial declaration, one perhaps influenced by a long day in the blazing and squint-inducing Arizona sunshine. He reserves the right to edit his choices before the March 15 league kickoff.