MLS PREVIEW Soccer league braces for World Cup's effect Tournament to siphon off several standout players; MLS PREVIEW EASTERN CONFERENCE Columbus Crew 1997 record: 15-17 (39 points), third place. Coach: Tom Fitzgerald (third season). Key departures: GK Brad Friedel, MF Doctor Khumalo, MF Jason Farrell. Key acquisitions: GK Juergen Sommer, GK Mark Dougherty, F Stern John, F Andrew Williams. Outlook: What looked like a major loss, Friedel, has turned into a plus with the acquisition of a likely World Cup backup (Sommer, if he goes to France) and a proven veteran in Dougherty. A healthy Brian McBride should have more than adequate help from the Caribbean Connection of John and Williams. Miami Fusion 1997 record: Expansion club. Coach: Carlos "Cacho" Cordoba. Key departures: None. Key acquisitions: MF Carlos Valderrama, MF Marcelo "Popeye" Herrera, MF John Maessner. Outlook: Goalkeepers Scott Budnik and Jeff Cassar have potential but have never been tested. Defensive midfield seems to be the weak spot, playing behind what is obviously the strength: offensive midfield. Valderrama easily has the best final pass in the league. New England Revolution 1997 record: 15-17 (37 points), fourth place. Coach: Thomas Rongen (second year). Key departures: D Alexi Lalas, GK Walter Zenga, F Giuseppe Galderisi. Key acquisitions: F Raul Diaz Arce, MF Edwin Gorter. Outlook: The Revolution is probably the most changed team in the league. New England was 0-10 without Zenga in goal, and the goalkeeping situation has not improved. Diaz Arce gives New England a true center-forward for the first time. New York-New Jersey MetroStars 1997 record: 13-19 (35 points), last place. Coach: Alfonso Mondelo (first year). Key departures: F Antony de Avila; MF Roberto Donadoni; D Brian Bliss; F Shaun Bartlett. Key acquisitions: MF Wellington Sanchez; D Alexi Lalas; F Paul Dougherty; D MF Diego Sonora. Outlook: Revamped team will be coached by the very intense, but not as well-known, Mondelo. Sanchez is expected to fill Donadoni's role and will have to meld with Tab Ramos when he recovers from knee surgery. Tampa Bay Mutiny 1997 record: 17-15 (45 points), second place. Coach: John Kowalski (second year). Key departures: MF Carlos Valderrama, GK Mark Dougherty, D Cle Kooiman. Key acquisitions: GK Thomas Ravelli, D Jan Eriksson, MF Dominic Kinnear. Outlook: The Mutiny will look much different without Valderrama, a loss which Tampa Bay sees as a positive considering the amount of time the Colombian is expected to miss for the World Cup. The defense is improved despite the loss of Kooiman. Washington D.C. United 1997 record: 21-11 (55 points), first place. Defending champions. Coach: Bruce Arena (third year). Key departures: F Raul Diaz Arce, MF John Maessner, D David Vaudreuil. Key acquisitions: D Geoff Aunger, F A.J. Wood. Outlook: Lost three players to expansion draft, Maessner, Vaudreuil, Kris Kelderman, and one to the salary cap, Diaz Arce. The loss of Diaz Arce comes as Roy Wegerle is surging. D.C. is still the deepest team in the league but will be tested when the World Cup takes Jeff Agoos, John Harkes, Eddie Pope and Wegerle. WESTERN CONFERENCE Chicago Fire 1997 record: Expansion club. Coach: Bob Bradley (first year). Key departures: None. Key acquisitions: GK Jorge Campos, MF Peter Nowak, M F Frank Klopas. Outlook: The defense could be good if given time, and the midfield combo of Chris Armas, Jorge Salcedo and Nowak worked well in preseason. Klopas and Roman Kosecki also should be a good pair up front, but like the Fusion, there is little, if any, depth. Colorado Rapids 1997 record: 14-18 (38 points), fourth place. Coach: Glenn Myernick (second year). Key departures: MF David Patino, D Matt Kmosko. Key acquisitions: MF Marquinho, F Waldir Saenz. Outlook: Marquinho should fill the playmaker role Colorado has never really had in two seasons. Marcelo Balboa and possibly Chris Henderson will be lost during the World Cup but the team has good depth and should be able to cover its losses. Dallas Burn 1997 record: 16-16 (42 points), third place. Coach: Dave Dir (third year). Key departures: MF Daniel Peinado, D Diego Sonora, D Wade Webber. Key acquisitions: MF Leonel Alvarez. Outlook: Possibly the best team, on paper. Except for Alvarez, team won't lose anybody during the World Cup. Alvarez returns after a year in Mexico. Keep watch of the meshing of Alvarez's patient style from the back with Alain Sutter's quick-tempo game. Kansas City Wizards 1997 record: 21-11 (49 points), first place. Coach: Ron Newman (third year). Key departures: M F Frank Klopas, D Richard Gough, D Steve Pittman. Key acquisitions: D Brian Bliss, F Pete Marino, F Paul Rideout. Outlook: Newman again has one of the top sides in the league; he just needs to keep it from self-destructing. The Wizards have pretty much remained intact throughout their existence, bringing a good familiarity into a third season. Los Angeles Galaxy 1997 record: 16-16 (44 points), second place. Coach: Octavio Zambrano (second year). Key departures: GK Jorge Campos, M Chris Armas. Key acquisitions: None. Outlook: Los Angeles is still awaiting a name replacement for trading Campos to Chicago. The trade was made possible because of the development of Kevin Hartman, whom the Galaxy regard as ready to step in on a full-time basis. The back line is solid with Danny Pena, possibly the most physical defensive midfielder in the league. Welton has developed into a dangerous scorer. San Jose Clash 1997 record: 12-20 (30 points), last place. Coach: Brian Quinn (second year). Key departures: MF Dominic Kinnear, D Michael Emenalo. Key acquisitions: D Richard Gough. Outlook: Addition of Gough to cover back allows John Doyle to use his aggressiveness on defense. Gough will make entire back line more solid. Lawrence Lozzano has become more focused, which should help Eric Wynalda. The Clash is already better than last year, but is awaiting the addition of two more internationals, which could make it a playoff team.