KANSAS CITY -- For the Kansas City Wizards, and surely all of the 15 MLS teams, preseason is a time for a team to confirm their identity and build a solid foundation. Individually, it's time to form a lasting impression on the coaching staff, and, during down time, bond with your teammates -- or continually rip them.
"We're finding something we can compete in at all hours of the day," said Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad of the team's time in Bradenton, Fla. "If something happens, you make fun of that person incessantly for the rest of the day."
The good-natured ribbing that comes out of an animated game of cards or an impromptu challenge of water-bottle ball serves to bring the team together to compete in all the competitions of the next nine months -- MLS league play, the U.S. Open Cup, SuperLiga, and the MLS Cup Playoffs. A 7-0 win against the U.S. under-17 national team last Saturday, though a good start, is just a small sign that Kansas City is making progress.
"We're hitting the ground running," said head coach Curt Onalfo. "We want to build on a strong finish to last year. We're playing similarly tactically; it's just a matter of fine-tuning all that stuff."
The five wins and a draw in their last seven games last season that propelled the Wizards into the playoffs and the accompanying discovery of a lineup that provided a stronger balance on both sides of the ball have the Wizards confident heading into the season. The focus, beyond fitness and tactical concepts, has been on offensive patterns of play in the early weeks of training.
"The concepts we're working on now will put us in a better position to find that consistency that every team looks for. It will put building blocks in place so that we're ready for any situation," Conrad said. "For Year 3 under coach Onalfo and [technical director] Peter Vermes it is very clear to them what we need to do to have success. That confidence is fun to be around."
Providing more fun, beyond the typical rookie razzing, are players like first-round SuperDraft choice Matt Besler. The 21-year-old is a strong candidate to become Conrad's new partner in central defense after the expansion draft departure of Tyson Wahl to Seattle. For the Kansas native, it's so far, so good.
"His decision-making or his on-the-ball presence and composure have never been an issue," Conrad said of Besler. "It's being tuned in the whole time. That happens to most guys."
"With each training session, he gets more and more confident, and he's improving," Onalfo added. "That's what we want to see with our young players."
And qualities that will make the team better is what one wants to see out of a trialist. Ferenc Beres of Tatabanya, a Hungarian second division side, is currently on trial. The 26-year-old, coached by former Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Octavio Zambrano, currently leads his team with five goals in 15 total matches.
"He's actually a midfielder who can play as a forward. He can play pretty much anywhere along our midfield for us. ... He's showed fairly well to start [two goals vs. the U.S. U-17s]. We'll see how he does against MLS competition," said Onalfo.
Conrad has been impressed by the athletic Beres. "You can tell that he's been a professional for a number of years in certain decisions he makes," he said.
Beres may be able to beef up what is a maturing Wizards midfield. Defensive midfielder Jack Jewsbury and left winger Roger Espinoza are currently on extended training camps with the U.S. and Honduran national teams respectively. Additionally, Chance Myers, last year's top pick overall in the SuperDraft, is training again as a wide midfielder after mostly playing as a right back last season.
But how much progress is being made will be clearer after Wednesday's match against the Chicago Fire and Saturday's encounter with the New York Red Bulls. Wins are not necessary, just more good signs.
"Can we create good habits regardless of the situation we're in? Whether it's [against] the U-17s or Chicago or New York or in the Superliga, can we still be effective in the style that we want to play?" are the questions Conrad hopes are answered.
One thing is for certain, Kansas City is more sure of itself than ever.
"Columbus last year and Houston and New England before them have done a good job of knowing what their strengths and weaknesses are. For our team, we have a good idea of what [those are] now," Conrad said.
The coming season could be a year of fulfillment for the Wizards. They know their CommunityAmerica Ballpark home now after a season of introduction, Argentinean star Claudio Lopez is fully integrated into the club, and young players like Espinoza, Myers, and Kevin Souter have grown.
"There are going to be some expectations. [Those factors] should put us in a position to have more success this year than we have had in the past," Conrad said. "However, it's one thing to talk about it and another thing to actually make it happen."
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