A year ago, Chris Pozniak suffered through the rigors of expansion with Toronto FC. Then, he was selected by San Jose in the expansion draft, and was all set for the growing pains again.
Luck smiled on him, however, as Pozniak instead finds himself on an MLS Cup contender.
Acquired by Chivas USA on the eve of the 2008 MLS season, Pozniak was thrust into the fire and filled the roles he was precisely brought in to play. Pozniak started at right back and played 77 minutes in Chivas USA's 3-1 win against Real Salt Lake on Saturday after regular Lawson Vaughn went down with a hamstring injury.
Having been with the team less than two weeks, Pozniak said his first action was under ideal conditions.
"It was a little bit surprising but I think that's the best way so you don't think about it too much and you just kind of go in and do what you can," he said.
Although Chivas USA picked up the victory and RSL's lone goal came off a set piece, Pozniak said his first start wasn't as smooth as it could have been.
"It's hard to say that I fit in well because I don't think we played so well together," he said. "That will take time and it will only get better."
That Pozniak has a chance to focus on fitting in is seemingly an improvement over his other option. Pozniak had fought all preseason for a spot in the San Jose Earthquakes' starting lineup. San Jose did well to stockpile talent but the previous three first-year clubs -- Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake in 2005 and Toronto FC in 2007 -- fared poorly in their first MLS campaigns.
San Jose, in fact, started its own reincarnation at Pozniak's new home as the Quakes fell 2-0 to the L.A. Galaxy. However, Pozniak initially felt down about the trade, feelings that quickly subsided.
"It's sort of a letdown at first but in the end you come to an already established team, a team that had a good season last season and a lot of the problems you face with an expansion team you don't face here because everything is already in place," he said.
Growing pains might or might not be a part of the Quakes' season but they certainly were part of Toronto FC's first MLS campaign. A year ago, Pozniak returned after stints with FK Haugesund of Norway and Örebro SK of Sweden. Born in Poland, Pozniak and his family relocated to Canada in 1990.
His first professional club was with the Toronto Lynx and life in Europe followed. Heading home to Toronto to play for Toronto FC was rewarding.
"That's the reason I wanted to come to MLS was to play in Toronto," Pozniak said. "My parents got to see me play and it was like 16 again. But in the end I think this (move) could be better for furthering my career."
Pozniak started 16 of the 22 games he played in a year ago. He recorded three assists in 1,498 minutes of play. With Chivas USA, Pozniak fills the role left vacant by Alex Zotinca, who is lost for most if not all of the campaign with a knee injury.
While Pozniak was thrust into the fray quickly, he said plenty of work remains before him.
"I've got to get fit pretty quickly," he said. "I had a bad preseason. I got injured and I wasn't able to play in many games. I've got to play catch-up here. There is a good training culture here at Chivas so all the players are well trained, fit and ready to play so I've got to catch up."
Fitting in might take time but Pozniak said he liked what he saw in his first few days with the Red-and-White.
"It's a good professional setup and everything is geared toward players succeeding on the field," Pozniak said. "It's a good group. You could tell right away. There are good personalities in the locker room and training runs smoothly. It's very easy to settle in here."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
