Here is the Green Army’s first installment of its MLS preview. Today we look at the bottom half of the Western Conference. The lack of goal scoring options and experience will keep these teams in the bottom half the stacked West. The West also introduces two new teams to the league in the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

6. San Jose

The San Jose Earthquakes believe they should’ve gone on to the MLS Cup final last season. The team returns Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski and a strong defensive group in McDonald, Corrales, and Ike Opara. San Jose needs to figure out how they are going to score goals this season. They relied heavily on Wondolowski’s goals last season but he can’t do it alone in 2011. The loss of playmakers Geovanni and Arturo Alvarez doesn’t help their offensive outlook. The team gets a boost by the return of veteran Brazilian midfielder Andre Luiz but the key man is going to be forward Ryan Johnson. If the Jamaican international can find his scoring form the Quakes will be a force this season.  Another variable to their success is their move to a 4-3-3 in the offseason. Bobby Convey will man the left wing in this formation, and, if he maintains his good form, I can see the Earthquakes finishing in the top half of the table.

7. Portland Timbers

Although Portland has gone undefeated this preseason, I still expect them to struggle a bit. They’ll definitely win games but won’t win enough to make the playoffs this season. So far, they are doing the right things. They brought in veterans in goalkeeper Adin Brown, striker Kenney Cooper, midfielders Jack Jewsberry and Adam Moffat, and defenders Eric Brunner and Kevin Goldthwaite. They also have a group of very talented young players in attackers like Sal Zizzo and Darlington Nagbe, and defenders Rodney Wallace and Jeremy Hall. The Timbers will score goals. Zizzo and Nagbe should create opportunities for Cooper and Colombian striker Perlaza, both reliable goal scorers. Midfielder Ryan Pore, who excelled in the second division last season, and striker British Eddie Johnson are also capable options for the Timbers on the offensive side of the ball. Team chemistry looks to be coming along nicely and the players are buying into the blue collar identity of the club. The trick is to the keep the team focused and playing as unit for thirty four games. I think that’s a tall order for Timbers in their first season.

8. Chivas USA

Chivas USA made some big changes in the offseason, too many to be a real contender in the stacked Western Conference. New and first time head coach Robin Fraser has bulked up the backline with national teamers Jimmy Conrad and Heath Pearce. Fraser also got one of the top young defenders at the Superdraft in Zarek Valentin. Chivas USA need a reliable goal scorer. At the moment their most experienced striker, Alejandro Moreno, only scored two goals last season for the Philadelphia Union, and Chivas leading goal scorer last season, Justin Braun, only notched nine. Ecuadorian striker Estupinan and Tristen Bowen are promising young talents but won’t be the answer this season. The creative workload will fall to the midfielders, specifically Francisco Mendoza, Blair Gavin, and Gerson Mayen. Before injuries sidelined Gavin in 2010, Gavin looked like a rookie of the year candidate and the Chivas answer to the attacking mid role. His ability to link with the strikers will determine the teams success this season. Mayen showed glimpses of his potential and attacking prowess in 2009 before regressing in 2010.   Another unknown commodity for Chivas USA is Argentinean wide midfielder and striker Marcos Mondaini. Recently signed Mondaini brings a ton of experience from South American leagues but not many goals. Chivas might be a boring team to watch this season. I see 0-0 ties and 1-0 victories all season.

9. Vancouver Whitecaps

The Whitecaps, like the Timbers, are going to have a tough first season. The Whitecaps made key signings in US national team defender Jay Demerit, big French striker Eric Hassli, veteran midfielder John Thorrington, and veteran goalkeeper Joe Cannon. The team also has good role players in speedy midfielder Shea Salinas, defender Jonathan Leathers, and striker Attiba Harris. The other pieces are falling into place but they aren’t quite as far along as the Timbers. The rest of the squad and trialists consist of USL D-2 players, US youth internationals, and college players. Although the group has little to no MLS experience, seventeen year old Omar Salgado and UCSB grad Michael Boxall look like they might be ready to contribute right away. Salgado has shown pace and skill this offseason, but the Whitecaps might not get to field the young forward until September, Salgado’s eighteenth birthday. Boxall recently got a call up to New Zealand’s full national team. The young centerback is in a battle with Greg Janicki to see who partners Jay Demerit.

Let me know your thoughts on how these teams are shaping up. Tomorrow I’ll have the top half of the West.

Last year’s rookies really made an impact in the league.  Guys like Steve Zakuani, Sam Cronin, Omar Gonzalez, and Chris Pontius became key players for their respective clubs.  I think we’ll see more of the same this season.

This years crop of  newcomers boasts a ton of attacking talent.  There are always surprises in this category, but here is a quick look some of the players I think you should pay attention to.

Forwards:

Danny Mwanga: Mwanga was drafted #1 and will play a major role in the Union’s attack.  The young forward has the speed, strength, and skill to be an impact player this season. It looked like he would get the start alongside Moreno this season, but Sebastian LeToux might have slipped into that spot. Nonetheless, Mwanga is a top talent.

Teal Bunbury: The young forward is a natural goal scorer, something the Wizards haven’t had in a while.  His 17 goals for Akron last season were the highest in the nation but we’ll see if he can translate that form to the pros. The Wizards don’t have a proven goal scorer so the position is his for the taking.  He has some competition but he has the tools to succeed in MLS.

Andre Akpan: Akpan slipped in the draft and slipped in most people’s minds. He has shown glimpses of his potential during the offseason but needs playing time to beat the learning curve. Luckily, the Rapids recently waived forward Pat Noonan and have forward Ross Schunk out due to a long term injury.  That only leaves Akpan to back up Casey and Cummings. This isn’t good news for Rapids but its great news for Akpan, who could see playing time right away.

Jack McInerny: The U17 standout has done more than expected in the offseason. Most have him penciled in as a dominating striker in two or three years.  I think we might see him progress sooner than that.  Will he be the next Jozy Altidore? That might be a stretch, but I expect him to score goals this season.

Zack Schilawski: The Wake Forest product had a solid preseason leading the Revs in scoring with four goals and one assist in five games. The young forward will likely come off the bench but if Twellman isn’t ready to go, he’ll jump right into the starting lineup.

Midfielders:

Eric Alexander: Third round draft pick Eric Alexander is quickly and quietly becoming one of the key players in FC Dallas’ midfield.  The kid can flat out play and has put in some solid preseason performances. He has a solid work ethic and is a competent passer. He’ll serve as a backup to Daniel Hernandez.

Michael Stephens: The UCLA product couldn’t have asked for a better situation in his rookie year.  He is getting developed by one of the best coaches in the league, Bruce Arena, and gets to play alongside experienced veteran midfielders in Landon Donovan, Eddie Lewis, Clint Mathis, and Chris Klein. Stephens isn’t a finished product, but he’s shown glimpses that might make him the Galaxy’s third Rookie of Year in as many years.

David Estrada: Seattle surprised everyone when they picked up Estrada in the first round.  The UCLA product has plenty of tools to make him an excellent player MLS. Estrada fits in nicely at Seattle because they play an attractive and skillful type of soccer. He will benefit from the talent around him and make an impact this season.

Tony Tchani: The incredibly talented midfielder had a slow start to his preseason but he’s the real deal.  The kid can play and should work his way into the starting lineup. Carl Robinson and Joel Lindpere look like the starting pair but Tchani isn’t far behind.

Defenders:

Ike Opara: Opara was the best defender in the draft.  The kid can step in and start right away.  He has a ton of athleticism and plenty of upside. The league is kind to young defensive players, meaning, Opara should excel this season.

Tim Ream: The Red Bulls second round draft pick looks like a lock as a starting center back.  Red Bulls new coach, Hans Backe, holds Ream in very high regard and stated that Ream has the potential to be a national team defender. Ream is a smart player and could work his way into Rookie of the Year contention much like Omar Gonzalez last season.