Before the 2012 season began, I counted down the Top 10 keys to a successful season. Obviously, the season was anything but successful, so looking back at them is probably not going to be that much fun. Here's No. 9, effective depth on the team.
Oscar Pareja didn't do a whole lot right in his first season, but I was pleasantly surprised by a lot of the depth that he was able to pick up throughout the season. Except for the defensive corps, new names were flooded onto the team in large numbers all year long. Just take a look at who was being used as top substitute at times between 2011 and this year.
2011:
2012:
There's still plenty of work to do yet for Oscar if he wants to get the team into shape to be a year-in and year-out contender for Supporters' Shields and MLS Cups, but 2012 was certainly a start.
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Matt Pollard 