cover photo belongs to Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The 2020 season is only a couple weeks away and everyone is scrambling to finalize their MLS goalkeeping hot takes. Well scramble no longer as Everybody Soccer has twenty-six atomic-sized predictions to point you in the right direction when it comes to goalkeeping narratives. While most teams’ seasons are most likely to be lacking of any real fireworks, Everybody Soccer dives into a more adventurous projection for each outfit.
Each team only has 3-4 goalkeepers listed for the sake of simplicity. For a more robust coverage of each team’s goalkeeping depth, head over to the MLS Goalkeeper Roundup.
# - projected
^ - currently on USL contract
Atlanta United
Starter: Brad Guzan (35)
Backup: Alec Kann (29)
In Reserve: Brendan Moore (27)
Coach: Liam Curran
Prediction: Brad Guzan isn’t in GOTY contention and Atlanta fans are fine with it. Guzan quietly had a positive year in 2019 and don’t expect that to change in 2020. Guzan faced the least shots per game last year of any starter at 3.9/game. Atlanta needs a goalkeeper who’s able to be fairly removed from the game for 89 minutes but come up with a big save in the 90th to keep the result. Guzan’s stat lines aren’t the sexiest but his trophy case won’t look empty when it’s all said and done.
Chicago Fire
Starter: Kenneth Kronholm (34)
Backup: Bobby Shuttleworth (32)
In Reserve: Connor Sparrow (25)
Coach: Adin Brown
Prediction: Chicago will try to platoon the position to varied success. There’s a universe where all three goalkeepers see game time. Kronholm looked up and down last year as both he and Shuttleworth are in the waning hours of their career. Chicago has some incentive to get their project, Connor Sparrow, some traction if they have any longterm planning with the position. Similar to last season, this feels like whoever makes the first mistake will get benched for the next goalkeeper in line.
FC Cincinnati
Starter: Przemyslaw Tyton (32, Poland)
Backup: Spencer Richey (27)
In Reserve: Bobby Edwards (24)
On Loan: Ben Lundt (German, 24, to Louisville City)
Coach: Jack Stern
Prediction: Tyton is gone after 2020. Coming to a new country is always difficult and while 2019 was plagued by injuries for the Polish goalkeeper, Tyton was outplayed by a goalkeeper making less than a quarter of what he was. Tyton needs a big year to prove to management he’s worth the investment but he’s going to have continued pressure from Richey. If Richey can stay healthy and continue to make his case for the starting position, the franchise’s sophomore year may take a significant change once the season wraps up.
Colorado Rapids
Starter: Clint Irwin (30)
Backup: Andre Rawls (27)
In Reserve: Abraham Rodriguez (17)#
Coach: Chris Sharpe
Prediction: Irwin plays every game. The only way I don’t see this coming to fruition is injury, of course, or if Colorado is completely out of playoff contention by the end of the season. Irwin hasn’t played 20 league matches in a season since he was last with the Rapids in 2015. The Rapids don’t have a ton of depth as their backups combine for a grand total of zero MLS appearances. Colorado can’t afford too many injuries or else they may be looking at a high school senior in net.
Columbus Crew
Starter: Eloy Room (30, Curacao)
Backup: Matt Lampson (30)
In Reserve: Jon Kempin (26)
Coach: Tim Hanley
Prediction: The Crew will have a very, very normal if not outright boring season in goal. The Crew are normally pretty decent at limiting shots on goal and Room isn’t known for catastrophic errors. Ask any coach at any level, the less their goalkeeper uses their hands the better the team is defending as a whole unit. So if you don’t hear about any Crew goalkeepers next year, it may just be part of the plan.
D.C. United
Starter: Bill Hamid (30)
Backup: Chris Seitz (32)
In Reserve: Earl Edwards (27)
Coach: Zach Thornton
Prediction: Hamid has a quiet season. With the USMNT having CONCACAF Nations League and 2022 World Cup qualifying matches in the calendar year, most of the workload will land on Zack Steffen. Hamid might get a match or two in the year but with a much needed positive start for the 2022 World Cup campaign, few will be clamoring for any goalkeeper not named Zack Steffen to get minutes. Despite the public comments that he’s better than the current crop of USMNT goalkeepers, Hamid’s national team days will be winding down over the next couple years.
FC Dallas
Starter: Jesse Gonzalez (24)
Backup: Jimmy Maurer (31)
In Reserve: Kyle Zobeck (29)
Coach: Drew Keeshan
Prediction: Jesse Gonzalez struggles to live up to the big contract. Gonzalez was on $231,000 guaranteed last year and with the recent four-year deal finalized last month, he should be around $300,000 to $400,000 until 2023. While Gonzalez drew interest in a possible transfer during the offseason, the new deal puts pressure on Gonzalez to step up his game. The real question now is if the FCD fanbase will view Gonzalez as a “young, promising shot-stopper” or a top goalkeeper in the league, one that mirrors his pay. He didn’t show many signs of being worth the investment last year, sitting fourth from last in Goals Saved Against Replacement.
Houston Dynamo
Starter: Marko Maric (24, Croatia)
Backup: Michael Nelson (24)
In Reserve: Cody Cropper (26)
Coach: Paul Rogers
Prediction: Maric is worth the money. For the first time in MLS history, a team has paid a transfer fee for a young goalkeeper to become an immediate starter. Previously, and somewhat still currently, teams would look to pick up a goalkeeper on a free, hoping to assemble a winning team from the bargain bin. At some point, MLS teams are going to start spending more on goalkeepers, both in wages and transfer fees. Maric has significant sell-on that could establish Houston as one team that’s miles ahead of the curve when it comes to bringing in foreign talent.
Inter Miami
Starter: Luis Robles (35)
Backup: John McCarthy (27)
In Reserve: Drake Callender (22)
Coach: Sebastian Saja
Prediction: Robles shows up RBNY while still showing his age. Circle March 21st in your calendars as Robles’ former team, the New York Red Bulls, travel south to play newly minted Inter Miami, with Miami returning the visit in September. Robles had an up-and-down season last year and at 35 don’t expect that to change. Robles still has gas left in the tank and he’s going to be prepared to show the Red Bulls just what they’re missing out on but he may struggle to play 30+ games again.
Los Angeles FC
Starter: Kenneth Vermeer (34, Dutch)
Backup: Pablo Sisniega (24)
In Reserve: Phillip Ejimadu (20)#
Coach: Zak Abdel
Out:
Prediction: LAFC finds their goalkeeper position in shambles. While many will point to Vermeer’s resume - 5 caps with the Netherlands and 103 appearances with Ajax - it should be noted that Vermeer is on the wrong side of 30. His last cap was in 2015 and left Ajax in 2014. More interestingly, his most recent club, Feyenoord, is only 16 spots higher in 538’s global ratings. Feyenoord is happy to move on from the former Dutch international for rising star, Justin Bijlow. Outside looking in, LAFC is picking up Feyenoord’s backups for close to a free transfer, despite the two teams being near equally-talented. Vermeer looks increasingly stiff in goal and Sisniega raised more questions than solved them in 2019. 2020 could be a bumpy year for LAFC fans who were used to Tyler Miller’s consistency.
Los Angeles Galaxy
Starter: David Bingham (30)
Backup: Justin vom Steeg (22)
In Reserve: Eric Lopez (20)
Coach: Juan José Romero
Prediction: Eric Lopez makes his first-team debut. Not exactly a thrilling proposition but LAG has methodically moved Eric Lopez up the ladder, most recently by granting him an MLS contract after he spent four years in the USL. Lopez will likely still see a bulk of his action in the second division but LAG seems keen on rewarding players who are on a track to eventually start in MLS, if not beyond. Look for Lopez to get a match or two in LAG’s US Open Cup run.
Minnesota United
Starter: Tyler Miller (26)
Backup: Greg Ranjitsingh (26, Trinidad and Tobago)
In Reserve: Dayne St. Clair (22, Canada)
Coach: Stewart Kerr
Prediction: Miller makes LAFC regret letting him walk. $200,000 in allocation money isn’t nothing - it’s more than twice Miller’s salary, after all - but Minnesota gets an upgrade over Mannone for dirt cheap. Miller is entering his prime and while he wasn’t the centerpiece for LAFC’s Supporters’ Shield run, his consistency will be quickly embraced for a team still on the rise.
Montreal Impact
Starter: Evan Bush (33)
Backup: Clement Diop (France, 26)
In Reserve: James Pantemis (Canada, 22)
Coach: Remi Vercoutre
Prediction: Diop gets some time in net but leaves the fanbase polarized for 2021. Bush’s time in the league is winding down and Montreal has a potential future starter in Diop. The French 26-year-old left the Galaxy two years ago and we haven’t seen much from him since, with just two league appearances in the last two years. If Montreal are going to start preparing for the future, Diop should be earning close to double digits in appearances with the Impact. Diop has shown sparks of talent but he’s out of rhythm, which won’t help convince fans one way or the other.
Nashville SC
Starter: Joe Willis (31)
Backup: Adrián Zendejas (24)
In Reserve: Elliot Panicco (23)#
Coach: Matt Pickens
Prediction: Willis returns to 2018-form, but it won't matter much. Similar to Vancouver’s season last year, having a goalkeeper stand on his head doesn’t mean you’ll finish above last in the table. Willis played like a top goalkeeper in the league in 2018 but in 2019 he looked like a completely different player. Now in a new environment, Willis should have the breath of fresh air he’ll need to show fans what he’s capable of. Unfortunately, expansion teams don’t always live up to expectations and Nashville might be more Cincinnati than Atlanta in their first season.
New England Revolution
Starter: Matt Turner (26)
Backup: Brad Knighton (34)
In Reserve: Jeff Caldwell (23)
Coach: Remi Roy
Prediction: Turner never leaves MLS. Turner’s at an odd stage in his career where he’s garnering some international attention yet isn’t quite at an age that makes European clubs want to roll the dice on him. Looking at how terrible Bill Hamid’s situation was in Denmark, there’s not a ton of incentive for Turner to leave the Revolution. Turner was on $75,000 last year and is likely facing a massive salary jump for 2021. If the Revs continue to treat Turner well, don’t be surprised if the Fairfield alum ends up spending a decade in New England.
New York City FC
Starter: Sean Johnson (30)
Backup: Brad Stuver (28)
In Reserve: Luis Barraza (23)
Coach: Rob Vartughian
Prediction: Poor U23 performance works in Johnson’s favor this time. This is a little roundabout but Johnson has largely been viewed as a “safe” inclusion with the national team. Despite the blunder in the 2012 Olympic campaign, the NYC goalkeeper has been one of the more consistent goalkeepers in the league, especially over the past five years. He may not produce the top end saves you’d like to see from a national team goalkeeper, but he’s a known quantity and a confident addition to any roster. That said, the U23s look shaky in the goalkeeping department. Ideally, the 30-year-old backups should be getting pushed out for younger talent but if a disappointing Olympic campaign unravels once again, like most US fans are familiar with, don’t expect Johnson to get pushed out from the national team any time soon.
New York Red Bulls
Starter: David Jensen (27, Denmark)
Backup: Ryan Meara (28)
In Reserve: Kendall McIntosh (25)
Coach: Preston Burpo
Prediction: David Jensen isn’t great but Meara won’t be an upgrade. Pulling most of this from my roundup, the 27-year-old Danish goalkeeper brings in a wealth of experience but ultimately I think he can be best summed up as a standard MLS 1.0 goalkeeper: strong, safe shot-stopper who can handle crosses but don’t trust him with the ball at his feet. He’s probably the slowest starting goalkeeper in MLS now, both in terms of sprint speed but also reactions. I’m not expecting a smooth season for RBNY as he’ll require a lot of bubble wrap to smooth out his edges. This move is all the more interesting as Houston, a team not known for being very adventurous in the offseason, is now outspending the Red Bulls and being more bold with the position. Will Jensen have a terrible season? Probably not. But the “rising tide lifts all boats” doesn’t mean at the same time. Expect the Red Bulls to be lagging behind their peers in the goalkeeping department in 2020.
Orlando City SC
Starter: Pedro Gallese (29, Peru)
Backup: Brian Rowe (31)
In Reserve: Mason Stajduhar (22)
Coach: Cesar Baena
Prediction: Orlando sees no drop off from Gallese to Rowe. Take this as a positive or negative but Rowe had a decent 2019 and I don’t think he’s on the verge of collapsing any time soon. Gallese is going to miss a chunk of the season with traveling for World Cup qualifying (starts next month) and the 2020 edition of the Copa America (mid-June to mid-July). This leaves Orlando turning back to Rowe. As for the Gallese, his footwork can be a little busy at times, which works great if it’s in rhythm with the play but it can easily backfire on the Peruvian goalkeeper, becoming a distraction for the task at hand. He’s not a surefire slam dunk and Rowe will get ample time to show his caliber.
Philadelphia Union
Starter: Andre Blake (Jamaica, 29)
Backup: Joe Bendik (30)
In Reserve: Matt Freese (21)
Coach: Phil Wheddon
Prediction: Andre Blake’s time with Philadelphia winds down. At $550,000, Blake was the fourth highest-paid goalkeeper in the league last year, behind Howard, Guzan, and Mannone. Unfortunately for the Union, Blake finished second to last in GSAR last year, conceding -2.84 goals below an expected replacement. If Philadelphia is going to be shelling out half a million for their goalkeeper, he needs to be top of GSAR charts and in contention for GOTY awards, neither of which are likely to happen in 2020. The Union will struggle to offload a heavy contract so don’t be surprised if Blake just walks for free when his contract runs up.
Portland Timbers
Starter: Steve Clark (33)
Backup: Jeff Attinella (31)
In Reserve: Aljaz Ivacic (Slovenia, 26)
Coach: Guillermo "Memo" Valencia
Prediction: Steve Clark cools down but is still a positive force for Portland. Steve Clark was on fire last year, saving the Timbers around a third of a goal per game last year. It’s unlikely any goalkeeper matches that blistering pace but that’s not to say Steve Clark is washed. Clark is no stranger to fighting from the trenches, battling through multiple relegation battles as well as re-entering the league when many had counted him out. Age catches up with every player but the Oakland alum still has a couple good years left to offer the Timbers. He’s one of the older goalkeepers in the league, but don’t count him out just yet.
Real Salt Lake
Starter: David Ochoa (18)
Backup: Zac MacMath (28)
In Reserve: Andrew Putna (25)
Coach: Todd Hoffard
Prediction: David Ochoa isn’t ready… yet. There’s a reason why teenagers don’t peform well in MLS. Unless we’re talking about Tim Howard-level talent, there’s still a fairly significant learning curve for and youngster in the position. It’s why San Jose hasn’t given Marcinkowski (22) the keys to the car yet, why the Galaxy is being patient with Eric Lopez (20), and why Minnesota hasn’t named Dayne St. Clair (22) their number one. Ochoa looked noticeably green in his run with the U20s and USL play last year, often choosing to solve situations by winging it inside of a methodical approach, and it’s only going to become more apparent in MLS action. RSL would be wise to try to avoid throwing Ochoa into the deep end too fast, similar to MacMath’s time with Philadelphia.
San Jose Earthquakes
Starter: Daniel Vega (Argentina, 35)
Backup: Andrew Tarbell (26)
In Reserve: JT Marcinkowski (22)
Matt Bersano (27)
Coach: Carlos Roa
Prediction: Vega loses his starting spot by the end of the year. The Earthquakes’ goalkeeping depth chart is hard to spell out as all four goalkeepers seem somewhat on even grounds. At 35, Vega is one of the oldest goalkeepers in the league. He’s done well to keep his mobility in check but his passing is one of the worst in the league and he conceded the most errors to round himself out as an average backup. If the Earthquakes have any intention of moving past Vega at some point, they won’t give all 34 matches to the Argentine goalkeeper, like they did in 2019. It will just take one of the three backups to hit a smooth run of play to hold onto the starting spot, assuming they’re given a chance to showcase their talent.
Seattle Sounders
Starter: Stefan Frei (33)
Backup: Stefan Cleveland (25)
In Reserve: Trey Muse (20)
Coach: Tom Dutra
Prediction: Frei ends his career without ever winning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Perhaps not the most shocking pick but at this point there’s not much more Frei can do to win over the voters. Frei, who has only ever been a top three pick twice in his career, will finish in the top five appearances for goalkeepers by the end of the season, barring an injury. The most clutch goalkeeper in MLS postseason play from the past decade will, unfortunately, be missing an obvious and well-deserved trophy when he decides to hang ‘em up.
Sporting Kansas City
Starter: Tim Melia (33)
Backup: Richard Sanchez (25)
In Reserve: John Pulskamp (18)^
Coach: Alec Dufty
Prediction: SKC isn’t prepared to move on from Melia. Melia got off to a rough start in 2019 and while he turned it around, it should be a reminder to fans that Melia has 1-3 years left as a starter. Sanchez left Chicago with a polarizing status, albeit mostly negative. There are no indicators that Sporting is ready to pass the baton to the budding Mexican-American goalkeeper and while teenage goalkeepers John Pulskamp and Brooks Thompson have been involved in the preseason, they’re still a few years from being ready to go. Look for SKC to bring in a serious starting option in 2021 or 2022, depending on how long Melia stays afloat.
Toronto FC
Starter: Quentin Westberg (33)
Backup: Alex Bono (25)
In Reserve: Eric Klenofsky (25)^
Coach: Jon Conway
Prediction: Toronto trades Bono before the end of the season. There’s been enough buzz surrounding the former All-American in the offseason that we were close to seeing him depart last month. (See Waking the Red’s thorough rundown on Bono’s situation for more information.) Toronto doesn’t seem too keen on having Bono return as a starter but they’ve struggled to find another team to swipe right. There are a number of suitable teams that could utilize Bono (Atlanta, Chicago, Colorado, Montreal, Philadelphia, just to name a few) and we know there’s interest to varying degrees. Bono’s selling value diminishes the longer Toronto holds on to him so look for Toronto to try to pull in some allocation money sooner than later to find Westberg’s eventual replacement.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Starter: Maxime Crepeau (25)
Backup: Bryan Meredith (30)
In Reserve: Thomas Hasal (20)
Prediction: Vancouver gets a bonafide national team caliber goalkeeper with Maxime Crepeau. Crepeau finished third in Goals Saved Above Replacement in 2019 but perhaps the most notable point was how he held up to the onslaught of shots on target. Persistence and consistency are key for MLS goalkeepers, which the 25-year-old seems to have both in his toolkit. Canada has some big-time games as World Cup qualifying starts up this season, which there’s a decent chance Crepeau will be heavily involved in the country’s campaign. Soon, Vancouver will be able to boast they have Canada’s number one.