Cannon headlines list of MLS vagabonds

When you think of goalkeeper Joe Cannon, a former champion and one-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, you think about one of the best goalkeepers in Major League Soccer.

You don't think of him as an MLS vagabond, a nomad in goalie gloves, but that is what he has become as he enters his 11th season in MLS. When he started the season in net for the San Jose Earthquakes earlier this month, it marked the third team in three seasons for the former MVP candidate.

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Even Joe Cannon, arguably the best goalie in MLS, has bounced around the league lately.

That level of movement has long been reserved for the journeymen, the role players with good reputations, cheap salaries and useful skills. Not so in 2008, when several of the league's most skillful players join Cannon in the "rent, but don't buy" club.

A total of 10 players enter this season playing for at least their third team in as many (or fewer) years. And while some of the fringe players on the list don't surprise -- such as Kelly Gray, Santino Quaranta and Ryan Johnson -- all-star caliber players like Cannon, Amado Guevara and Ronnie O'Brien head into this season with new addresses (again), hoping to find some stability in their new places of employment.

Stability isn't something Guevara has had much of in recent years. After spending four seasons as the Red Bulls' playmaker and fan favorite, Guevara was dealt to Chivas USA in a move that seemed tailor-made for him -- at least before Bob Bradley, the coach who traded for him, left Chivas USA to coach the U.S. national team. After falling out with new coach Preki and rejecting a trade to Toronto FC, Guevara returned to Honduras to play for CD Motagua midway through the 2007 MLS season.

Guevara looked to be gone for good before Mo Johnston made another run at him. The former Red Bulls head coach and Toronto director of soccer convinced Guevara to give MLS another shot, and the early returns are good, considering that this is Guevara's fourth club in three years.

Much like Guevara, O'Brien became a fixture with his first MLS team, FC Dallas, before being dealt to Toronto FC prior to the 2007 season. He got off to a good start up north before a knee injury sidelined him midway through the year. After letting his unhappiness with living in Toronto be known, O'Brien was quickly dealt away by Toronto to San Jose, where he has settled in as the expansion team's unquestioned offensive leader.

Unlike Guevara and O'Brien, who wore out their welcomes at previous stops, Cannon's moves have been as much about cost-cutting measures as his ability, which cannot be questioned. He carried the Rapids to the playoffs from 2004-2006, but Colorado felt Bouna Coundoul was ready to start and saw a chance to unload a big salary. So off Cannon went to Los Angeles, where he was reunited with Frank Yallop. The 2007 season wound up being a nightmare, but a nightmare Cannon nearly salvaged by donning his Superman cape for a large part of the second half of the season. He almost willed the Galaxy into the playoffs before they fell short.

Yallop was sent packing, and as soon as he landed with San Jose, Cannon was heading there as well, dealt in a cost-cutting measure by the Galaxy, who needed money to help fit David Beckham, Landon Donovan and newly-acquired Carlos Ruiz on the salary cap. Cannon isn't complaining. He is back in San Jose, where he won an MLS Cup title, and back with Yallop.

Cannon, O'Brien and Guevara are hoping to buck the trend of past MLS vagabonds, most of whom didn't enjoy tremendous success after bouncing around. The easy explanation for that trend is that teams are more likely to let less-talented or declining players go.

This becomes clear when you look at the list of 69 players who have played for three or more MLS teams in a corresponding number of years or fewer. While some of the sport's most recognizable names bounced around late in their careers -- like Alexi Lalas (four teams in four seasons), Eric Wynalda (three teams in two years) and Clint Mathis (three in three) -- there are far more names that have long since been forgotten.

Remember Devin Barclay, who bounced around four teams in four seasons? Probably not. How about Lawrence Lozzano, who also did the four-in-four shuffle? Didn't think so. And Darren Sawatzky, who saw stints with New England, Dallas and Colorado? Probably only the most die-hard Revs fans recall him ever taking the field.

The point here is that vagabonds are usually bouncing around for a reason. The 2008 class will be hoping to become the exceptions to the rule. Not just Cannon, Guevara and O'Brien, who are all capable of delivering all-star seasons, but the other 2008 MLS vagabonds as well:

Ned Grabavoy, San Jose -- After starting 2006 with Los Angeles and 2007 with Columbus, the diminutive central midfielder is hoping to become a mainstay in the Earthquakes' starting lineup. He is off to a good start, showing the skill and vision that San Jose sorely needs.

Alecko Eskandarian, Chivas USA -- It must feel like so long ago since Eskandarian was sitting in a locker room, sipping champagne and holding the MLS Cup MVP trophy in his arms. That was four years ago. Today, Eskandarian is playing for his fourth team in three seasons and hoping to revive a career in jeopardy at the ripe old age of 25. He's off to a slow start with Chivas USA, but the Goats are paying him too much not to give him chances.

Kelly Gray, Colorado -- Nobody has bounced around as much as Gray in recent years. When the Rapids picked him up off waivers, they became Gray's fourth team in four seasons (fifth if you count the change from San Jose to Houston). Once a top prospect with the Chicago Fire, Gray has struggled for playing time with the Rapids, managing just 10 minutes in one game so far this season.

Santino Quaranta, D.C. United -- Another reclamation project, Quaranta was dumped by Los Angeles and then the Red Bulls for being out of shape. He showed up in D.C. motivated and in his best shape since 2005. He has shown some flashes of the form that once made him one of the league's most exciting young prospects in his first stint with D.C., but his past transgressions will keep most people cautiously optimistic about what he can accomplish.

Greg Vanney, Los Angeles -- He has fallen a long way from being a 2002 U.S. World Cup roster pick (before injury ruled him out). A starter for FC Dallas in 2006, he was shipped to Colorado in 2007, then was dealt to D.C. United in midseason. He enjoyed a good showing for D.C., but not good enough to be considered in United's 2008 plans. When the Galaxy came looking for a defender, Vanney opted to return to his first professional team. The L.A. reunion has been shaky, with Vanney struggling badly as a starter.

Zach Thornton, Red Bulls -- The former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year (1998) looked like he might be done after being cut loose last year by the Colorado Rapids, the team he joined after leaving Chicago in 2005, but the Red Bulls came looking for a backup to Jon Conway. Thornton has settled into his reserve role.

Ryan Johnson, San Jose -- After stints in 2006 with Real Salt Lake and the Chicago Fire, Johnson spent parts of 2007 in Sweden and in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He's back in MLS, hoping his speed can make him a factor for the Earthquakes.

Game previews

So much for anybody finishing unbeaten.

Okay, so maybe we weren't really expecting FC Dallas to post the first unbeaten record in MLS history, but Thursday's loss to a severely shorthanded New England squad served to remind us just how tough it is to pick winners from week to week.

Parity will have that effect. Take this weekend's slate of games: There isn't an easy one in the bunch. You might argue that it's easy to pick Chicago at home against Colorado, but not when you consider how Chicago has played the past two weeks.

There are some juicy matchups to be sure. Can Houston score its first win of the year against the red-hot Crew? Can Kansas City win at BMO Field? Can D.C. exact revenge for its 4-0 loss to Real Salt Lake two weeks ago? It will be fun finding out.

Saturday

Kansas City Wizards at Toronto FC

Kansas City's defense is coming off a strong showing, but Toronto presents a whole different set of problems. With Laurent Robert and Rohan Ricketts working the wings and Amado Guevara in the middle, look for Toronto to make it three straight wins. Toronto FC 2, Kansas City 1.

Houston Dynamo at Columbus Crew

The Dynamo's quest for its first win of 2008 takes the champs to Columbus, where the Crew are riding a two-match winning streak. Even though Houston is missing Eddie Robinson, and even though Columbus is at home, look for the Dynamo to win the battle of the midfield to secure win No. 1. Dynamo 2, Crew 0.

Real Salt Lake at D.C. United

How will D.C. United stop the bleeding? Having lost two straight and now potentially missing defender Gonzalo Martinez, D.C. must find a way to beat the same RSL team that just handed United a 4-0 thrashing in Utah two weeks ago. Look for D.C. to make things ugly and grind out a victory. D.C. United 1, Real Salt Lake 0.

Colorado Rapids at Chicago Fire

The Rapids laid an egg with their loss to San Jose, and things won't get any easier at Toyota Park. Yes, the Fire's offense has been struggling, but chances have been coming and they should come here aw well. Tomas Frankowski finds the net as the Fire get back to their winning ways. Fire 2, Rapids 0.

Chivas USA at Los Angeles Galaxy

The "Super Clasico" is lacking a little buzz this time around, due in part to both teams' early struggles. Fans should be in for a treat as two stumbling defenses look to contain two pretty potent offenses. The Beckham and Donovan show plays for one more night. Galaxy 3, Chivas 2.

Sunday

San Jose Earthquakes at New York Red Bulls

With Juan Pablo Angel set to miss the match with a pinched nerve in his lower back, the Red Bulls will be leaning heavily on Jozy Altidore to score goals. Will that be enough against a San Jose defense that has allowed just one goal in two matches? It just might be, if the Red Bulls defense posts a shutout. Red Bulls 2, Earthquakes 0.

Last week: 3-1-2

Overall: 10-10-4

Ives Galarcep covers MLS for ESPNsoccernet. He also writes a blog, Soccer By Ives and can be reached at Ivespn79@aol.com.