When Francisco Palencia left Chivas USA in the offseason, new coach Preki scoured the land for a replacement.
He looked to the United Soccer Leagues and found Maykel Galindo with the Seattle Sounders, and turned to his own club and found Matt Taylor. Also, he peered over to the Galaxy and found former trialist Laurent Merlin.
Yet another player in the mix is his first selection in this year's SuperDraft. Former Division II star John Cunliffe is also battling for playing time with Chivas USA. Preki nabbed Cunliffe with the sixth overall choice in this year's draft.
Preki said his requirements for a starting forward were simple.
"We're looking for somebody that can stretch the defense and give us a little bit of speed up top," Preki said. "That's something I felt we were lacking last year."
For his part, Cunliffe said all he needed to do to distinguish himself from the rest was to be himself and "play the way I pay. Hopefully it's a little bit different than other players, so hopefully if I'm playing well that will be enough to get myself on the team," Cunliffe said.
A native of Edgeworth, England, a part of the northwestern city of Bolton, Cunliffe made his mark at Fort Lewis College. In his senior season, Cunliffe tore apart the competition as he scored 29 goals and had 16 assists.
Statistics aside, Cunliffe made an impression during the MLS Player Combine. Now, he's looking to carry his skills over into Chivas USA. For his part, Cunliffe said he has been happy with training camp.
"The standard of play here is good. The football they play is exactly what I wanted to be a part of," Cunliffe said. "Training camp is good. We are just starting to push now for these last few weeks and get a little extra bit of fitness. It's going pretty well so far."
Cunliffe has had success in preseason friendlies. He scored a goal against Houston in a 1-1 draw with defending champions Dynamo on March 10. He also had a pair of goals and added an assist in Chivas USA's 5-0 rout of Premier Development League side Fresno Fuego on Feb. 25.
Success in those games coupled with the atmosphere he's encountered at Chivas USA has made his brief professional career enjoyable, and that ultimately is what he's most concerned with.
"Trying to enjoy my football is the main thing because that's when I play my best," Cunliffe said. "Trying to break into the team and be a part of the first 18 and see how things go after that."
Chivas USA's Ante Razov led the team in goals with 14 last year but struggled to find space to maneuver without Palencia in the lineup. Razov said he's liked what he's seen from the Englishman.
"Cunliffe is a different kind of player," Razov said. "He's crafty. He can get those scrappy types of goals. He's a good little player."
Whether or not his skills carry him to a starting spot or leave him as a valuable piece of Chivas USA's bench remains to be seen. Preki said that he has not made a final decision regarding that spot.
No matter who lines up next to Razov against Toronto FC on April 7, Cunliffe said he was not too worried about that.
"It's kind of whoever's fit but there is definitely going to be good competition so whoever plays it's going to be a good player so it doesn't really matter," he said.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
