Overall, Mutiny too close to 'C' level

Tampa Bay gets grades on its 8-8 first half. Possible problems lurk on defense and the bench.

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 1, 2000

The best indicator of how the Mutiny played in the first half of the season was its record: 8-8.

For every up, there was a down. There was a 5-1 win over Columbus on opening night, but there was a five-game road losing streak. There was the acquisition of forward Mamadou Diallo of Senegal, but there was the trade of forward Raul Diaz Arce. Twice the Mutiny had a two-game winning streak followed by a two-game losing streak.

The Mutiny is off to a good start in the second half of the season, winning at Miami and Columbus to improve to 10-8. But if the first-half pattern continues, something bad is around the corner.

"This is better than a .500 team," general manager Bill Manning said. "Being average is not acceptable."

Here's a report card for the first 16 games:

FORWARDS: The Mutiny's biggest need at the start of the season turned into its biggest asset because of the signing of Diallo as a foreign allocation. Since he arrived April 1, Diallo has 16 goals in as many games to lead Major League Soccer.

He has taken defenders' best shots, survived adversity when Diaz Arce was traded and seems to have no problem being the Mutiny's top offensive threat.

"We had hoped Mamadou would come in and do this, but you always hope a player exceeds expectations," coach Tim Hankinson said. "The fact that some of the hope has turned out to be reality is a tremendous thing."

Manny Lagos and Eric Quill also have spent time at forward. Amos Magee, who has played 39 minutes, and newly acquired Manuel "Tico Tico" Bucuane, a Mozambique national team player, provide backup.

Obtaining Miami's Roy Lassiter remains a possibility and would give Tampa Bay an embarrassment of riches at forward.

Grade: A-.

MIDFIELDERS: Carlos Valderrama, Steve Ralston and Josh Keller were constants at midfield. Valderrama, 38, is having his best MLS season. He has 18 assists in as many games, one shy of his team record set in 1997.

Ralston on Wednesday became the first MLS player to eclipse 12,000 minutes played, and he has 11 assists and two goals. Keller is the unsung hero as a defensive midfielder.

Apart from those three, play has been a little inconsistent. Dominic Kinnear has fought injuries. Ritchie Kotschau has been solid but unspectacular. Lagos is dangerous when healthy. Kevin Anderson, John Maessner and Kalin Bankov have been used at different times.

With Diallo a marked man, the midfield has to step up. Of the 37 goals scored, 15 have come from midfielders. A higher percentage is needed.

Grade: C+

DEFENDERS: They were the Mutiny's strength entering the season, but they have played erratically. They had strong efforts early, including shutouts of New England on March 25 and San Jose on April 26. But they had disappointments, such as a 5-1 loss to Chicago on April 28 and a 4-1 loss to Miami on June 21.

There also was a May 20 collapse at New York. The Mutiny squandered a 2-0 halftime lead and lost 3-2 in overtime.

"Most of the 18 games there has been a repeated theme," Hankinson said. "In the last 20 minutes, we need to be smarter with how we use the ball. There are times to counterattack and get the extra goal, and there are times to keep the ball and be patient. We have 14 games left to work on that and make it a strength instead of a weakness."

Grade: C.

GOALKEEPERS: Scott Garlick has been a rock. He has played every minute and has a 1.61 goals-against average. In the June 24 game at Miami, Garlick made a dramatic diving save of a Diego Serna header to prevent a goal that would have tied the score at 2. Tampa Bay went on to win 3-2.

If Garlick should go down, depth is a problem. Reserve Andy Kirk is out at least another two weeks with a torn ligament in his right thumb. Matt Nyman, with the team as part of the league's Project-40 development program for players age 18-22, has not played in an MLS game.

Grade: B.

COACHES: This has been Hankinson's most trying season. When he took over in the middle of 1998, the only expectation was to improve a 3-12 team. The 2000 team clearly has Hankinson's imprint.

He is 33-34 overall.

Hankinson had to deal with adversity when Manning traded Diaz Arce, and he briefly contemplated resigning. He and Manning seem to have patched things up.

If the Mutiny continues to win, Hankinson is secure. But Manning has let it be known that if the team continues to hover at .500, he will make a change.

"It's something we'll have to evaluate," Manning said earlier in the season.

Grade: C.

Tonight: Mutiny vs. New York/New Jersey

• WHEN/WHERE: 7; Raymond James Stadium, Tampa.

• RADIO: WWBA-AM 1040, WAMA-AM 1550 (Spanish).

• RECORDS: MetroStars 8-7-2; Mutiny 10-8.

• COACHES: MetroStars -- Octavio Zambrano. Mutiny -- Tim Hankinson.

• PLAYERS TO WATCH: MetroStars -- M Tab Ramos, M Mark Chung, F Adolfo Valencia, M/F Clint Mathis, D Mike Petke. Mutiny -- M Carlos Valderrama, F Mamadou Diallo, M Steve Ralston, M Eric Quill, G Scott Garlick.

• NOTES: MetroStars defender Lothar Matthaus is questionable with a strained lower back and hamstring. Mutiny M Dominic Kinnear (stomach muscle strain) and M Manny Lagos (right rib strain) are questionable. Diallo (left calf bruise) likely will play despite being injured Wednesday at Columbus. Diallo has 20 yellow-card points, one shy of an automatic one-game suspension. D Chad McCarty returns after serving a red-card suspension. He has 19 yellow-card points. Valderrama leads MLS players in All-Star Game voting with 25,620 votes. Diallo, who leads the league with 16 goals, is sixth among forwards. Mutiny D Caleb Porter announced his retirement Thursday. Porter, who had surgery on both knees and was on injured reserve, will be an assistant coach at Indiana University. New York/New Jersey is 6-3-1 in its past 10 games, the best mark in MLS. Country music singer Trace Adkins will perform after the game.

Compiled by Rodney Page.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

Headlines

Americans Lose in 1st Round of Davis Cup

---