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| Friday, September 14, 2001 24:13 EST |
Tampa Bay Mutiny: 2001 Outlook
[ESPN.com news services]
The high scoring Mutiny will look to break a familiar pattern in 2001. Tampa Bay went 16-12-4 a year ago, but was bounced out of the MLS Cup playoffs in the first round for the second consecutive season.
Mamadou Diallo looks to light up MLS scoreboards again in 2001. |
The Mutiny did score the second most goals (62) in the league last season and under new head coach Alfonso Mondelo have vowed to shore up the defense in order to join MLS' elite. Mondelo added first-round SuperDraft pick Craig Demmin, a Trinidadian international, to bolster the back line. Returning players like Joe Addo, Chad McCarty and Steve Trittschuh will have to adjust to Mondelo's system. However, it will take Trittschuh a bit longer to get comfortable as he suffered a broken leg in training on April 4 and could miss 12 weeks.
The offense figures to again be one of MLS' best units, led by the league's all-time assist leader, Carlos Valderrama. "El Pibe" has shown no signs of slowing down, dishing out an MLS-record 26 assists at age 38 a year ago. Adding to an impressive midfield are wingers Steve Ralston and Eric Quill, who can both score and setup goal-scoring chances.
The main beneficiary in 2000 of the Mutiny's creative midfield was striker Mamadou "Big Mama" Diallo. The All-Star game MVP posted 26 goals in 28 games and figures to benefit from the presence of first-round SuperDraft choice Ali Curtis as a partner up front.
Goalkeeper Scott Garlick set an MLS record by making 184 saves a year ago, a dubious mark that pointed to the Mutiny's defensive inconsistencies. Mondelo's system figures to cut down on shots against, as Tampa Bay looks to become a complete team that can challenge for MLS Cup 2001.
Key Additions:
D Craig Demmin, F Ali Curtis.
Key Departures:
M Dominic Kinnear, M Manny Lagos.
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2000 Fire Leaders
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Goals
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26, Mamadou Diallo
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Assists
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26, Carlos Valderrama
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Points
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56, Mamadou Diallo
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GAA
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1.53 Scott Garlick
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Keep an eye on:
F Mamadou Diallo (26 goals, 56 points) made quite a splash in his first MLS campaign. "Big Mama" possess a combination of speed and power that is difficult for most defenders to handle. M Steve Ralston (five goals, 17 assists) is a constant threat on the right flank, while M Eric Quill (five goals, 11 assists) is developing into a similar player on the opposite wing. D Joe Addo (started all 32 games) was a workhorse a year ago, and may receive more attention in 2001.
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