It's that time of year again my friends, the birds begin to sing, the weather begins to warm, and MLS makes its long awaited comeback. As MLS turns 17 and nears adulthood, we have seen massive strides the past few seasons and the hope is that it is all just beginning.
For those not familiar with my MLS previews, I break down the biggest additions and subtractions to all the MLS clubs and predict where they will finish in their divisions. This season will see 10 teams make the playoffs, 5 in each conference, with the fourth and fifth seed facing a playoff to make the "real" playoffs. Looking back to last season (so you know how brilliant or idiotic my previews can be) I made some decent calls, but also some major blunders which I am more than willing to admit. I predicted Sporting Kansas City would be downright awful last season. I was half right. They started miserably with a glut of road games before turning it on at their new stadium and becoming one of the clubs to watch in MLS. I also said last season that New York Red Bulls were the best MLS team ever, on paper. Alas, the matches aren't played on paper, and New York was far from convincing, all the while LA Galaxy proved they were the best team ever in MLS, not on paper, but on the pitch. I predicted Philadelphia Union would be a laughing stock, and was proven horribly wrong, though I feel a one hit wonder in the making. I saw LA and Seattle as the best in the West, and Houston and New York as the best in the East. Three out of four isn't too bad.
Anyway, enough of the looking back, MLS has returned and it's time to look forward to another fantastic season. It's good to be back writing about the American league here at Off The Woodwork, and good to be back OTW at all. It's been far too long since I've written something for my own blog. Let's hope this is just a new beginning. And here we go...
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
LOS ANGELES GALAXY:
INS: David Beckham - M, Edson Buddle - F, Andrew Boyens - D, Juninho - M, Leanardo - D
OUTS: Gregg Berhalter - D, Donovan Ricketts - GK, Jovan Kirovski - M, Frankie "Hey Dude" Hejduk - D
I added Beckham, Juninho and Leanardo as additions because quite frankly, few expected any of them to return to LA this season. But the big news of the "ins" may be the return of Edson Buddle from his stint playing in the German second division for Audi's club. (Poor guy didn't even get to keep his free car) If Buddle can bring back even a portion of the form he had when he left LA, along with Robbie Keane for a full season, LA should have the most potent 1-2 scoring punch in MLS. Donovan, Beckham, Juninho, and McGee (when not played as a forward, or even a keeper) also seem to be one of the best mids in the league. The only question is the injury to Omar Gonzalez, last seasons MLS defender of the year. Can Boyens and Leonardo (himself recovering from injury) cover while Omar rehabilitates? LA has the toughest conference to battle through with the unbalanced schedule, but I think the greatest team in the history of MLS, on and off paper, has enough in the tank for one last go. CONCACAF Champions League may slow them down early, as would the departures of key veterans should the Olympics come calling, but with one season left with this group before Arena is forced to blow it up and rebuild due to cap restrictions, I think LA is still the class of the league. Finish: 1st in the West.
Seattle Sounders FC:
INS: Michael Gspurning - GK, Eddie Johnson - F
OUTS: Kasey Keller - GK, James Riley - D, Nate Jaqua - F, Erik Friberg - M, Mike Fucito - F, Lamar Neagle - M
The retirement of Kasey Keller alongside the trading of fan favorites Fucito and Neagle may be disruptive to Seattle early doors, but with a quality manager like Sigi Schmidt, Seattle still should be seen as a legitimate contender for the West and the MLS title. The move for Eddie Johnson to partner Colombian sensation Freddy Montero could be a stroke of genius that lifts them to the top, or an ill fated attempt to bring the magic back to a player whose own head took his career down the never ending spiral. I feel the deal could be a bit in the middle, leaving Seattle as a team nearly as great as their fans, but just shy. Finish: 2nd in the West.
FC Dallas:
INS: Blas Perez - F, Hernan Pertuz - D, Matt Hedges - D
OUTS: Maicon Santos - F, Jeremy Hall - D, Maykel Galindo - F, Marvin Chavez - M
Many in the US Soccer media have predicted the fall of FC Dallas this season. Wether they believe George John will depart and hurt the defense, or that Brek Shea will depart and harm the attack, I'm really not sure, but Dallas still has plenty of talent on the pitch, and with the addition of Perez, they may have the piece that allows them to rise above those around their level. Should their mid stay healthy, and the attack start from the fullbacks, (and should Shea learn to cross a ball) Dallas may prove their doubters wrong this season. Finish: Third in the West.
Real Salt Lake:
INS: Enzo Martinez - M
OUTS: Robbie Russell - D, Arturo Alvarez - M, Andy Williams - M
With some veteran players out of the way, we will get a good idea of just how good the young guns who were on the fringes of the squad last season and the new draft choices really are. A solid well coached team with a decent mix of veterans and youth, RSL should again be a top club out West, but unlike so many of their competitors, they seemed to stand pat instead of taking steps to move forward. I may be a little generous in my prediction, but with a solid team, solid manager, solid ownership, and solid fan support, RSL is still a force to be reckoned with. Finish Fourth in the West.
San Jose Earthquakes:
INS: Shea Salinas -M, Marvin Chavez - M, Victor Berardez - D
OUTS: Bobby Burling - D, Bobby Convey - M, Chris Leitch - D
San Jose are one of those clubs I always struggle to figure out. I think they are going to be great, and they suck. I think they will suck, and Wondolowski lights up the league. This season I'm going for a middle of the road guess, figuring I won't be too far off in either direction. With some decent veterans brought in to replace the ones who left, it should be an interesting season for the Quakes. Can Wondo do it again? Time will tell. Finish: Fifth in the West.
Portland Timbers:
INS: Kris Boyd - F, Jose Adolfo Valencia - F
OUTS: Kenny Cooper - F
I considered not even mentioning Valencia due to his injury, but he really is a key addition. He may not be playing, but just the fact that Portland is ready to make the splash with their forwards gives you a signal of intent. Kris Boyd is a Kenny Cooper plus for me, and should improve the Timbers just enough to help them fight for the final playoff spot. The squad will have a full season under their belts together in MLS, and this could be a year to watch the Timbers for reasons other than the guy who cuts the wood after a goal. Finish: Sixth in the West.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC:
INS: Lee Young-Pyo - D, Darren Mattocks - F, Sebastian Le Toux - F, Barry Robson - M
OUTS: Shea Salinas - M, Peter Vegenas - M, Jay Nolly - GK
Vancouver has improved in their second season. Of that, there should be no doubt. But just how good can they be? Can they really be in a fight for the final playoff place in the West as the season nears its climax? I think they can. And with 500 forwards all fighting for playing time, who won't enjoy the final 10 minutes of matches when Vancouver goes to a 3-2-5 formation? Le Toux was a steal. Mattocks could be special, and with the depth they have up front, he should get time to bed in. Robson will not be arriving until the summer, so that may be the final piece of the puzzle between them and a playoff berth. For me his arrival will be just a little bit too late. Finish: Seventh in the West.
Colorado Rapids:
INS: Hunter Freeman - D, Martin Rivero - M
OUTS: Sanna Nyassi - M, Caleb Folan - F, Macoumba Kandji - F/M
I won't lie, I've never really cared for Colorado Rapids. They are the type of team that Big Sam would look at and turn the TV off in favor of a nap. Plodding and physical, I think time has passed some of their players by, and this could be a rough season for the Rapids in the toughest conference in MLS. If Portland and Vancouver can come to life this season, this could be a long year for Rapids fans. Finish: Eighth in the West.
Chivas USA:
INS: James Riley - D, Oswaldo Minda - M, Miller Bolanos - M, Casey Townsend - F, Peter Vegenas - M
OUTS: Justin Bruan - F, Zarek Valentin - D, Paulo Nagamura - M, Andrew Boyens - D, Zach Thornton - GK, Victor Estupinan - F
Lots of changes at Chivas again, but like their namesake from Mexico, they suck. Period. If you want to see the worst team in MLS history in the modern era, you may have found it. Finish: Ninth in the West.
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Houston Dynamo:
INS: Brian Ching - F, Macoumba Kandji - F, Nathan Sturgis - M
OUTS: Hunter Freeman - D, Eddie Robinson -D, Brian Ching -F
Yes, I listed Ching as an in and an out. If you don't know the drama that went on with Ching being drafted away and then traded back to Houston, you missed one heck of an MLS soap opera. Read up on it. Anyway, the attack for Houston will surely be better with the addition of Kandji and the return of Ching for a final hurrah. Sturgis is a serviceable midfielder, and for my money Dominic Kinnear is one of the best managers in the country. Their defense may be suspect, and they may stumble out of the blocks waiting for their new stadium to open it's doors, but over the long hard season, Houston should come out top of the East. With the unbalanced schedule, they will get to beat up on the bottom feeders out East while the Western teams do battle week in and week out. Finish: First in the East.
New York Red Bulls:
INS: Markus Holgersson - D, Wilman Conde - D, Victor Palsson - M, Kenny Cooper - F
OUTS: Tyler Lassiter - D, John Rooney - M, Frank Rost - GK, Chris Albright - D, Bouna Coundoul - GK, Tim Ream - D
One thing we know for certain is that NY's defense just got BIGGER. With the mountains joined in defense, a nightclub pisser in the mid, and the block head of Cooper up front, New York may finally be ready to take the step their talent suggests of them. Then again, they are NY Red Bull. Between hans Backe and Red Bull itself, MLS is still a mystery. Backe and Red Bull also don't seem to have much faith in anyone not closing in on their pension. Over the long road that is the MLS season, Red Bull should benefit from the weaker Eastern Conference. If not, Backe will need to go. Then again, I think I said this last season as well. Finish: Second in the East.
Sporting Kansas City:
INS: Paulo Nagamura - M, Bobby Convey - M, Dom Dwyer - F
OUTS: Davy Arnaud - M, Omar Bravo - F
This season I am not a KC doubter. I believe in the youth they possess, and the additions of solid veteran talent to their mid can only be a help over the course of an MLS season. If you are new to MLS and don't want to jump on a glory team like LA, NY, or the support bandwagon of Seattle or Portland, KC may be the club for you. With the talent to play just about any way they like, this could be the year KC puts together a run from start to finish. Teal Bunbury is ready to make his breakthrough, and the rest of their young talent are pushing him all along the way. Finish: Third in the East.
DC United:
INS: Robbie Russell - D, Maicon Santos - F, Emiliano Dudar - D, Hamid Salihi - F, Marcello Saragosa - M
OUTS: Santino Quaranta - M, Clyde Simms - M, Steve Cronin - GK, Charlie Davies - F
After the disaster that was the "bring back the glory days through management" fiasco, Ben Olsen has finally settled in with DC and has really improved his squad this off season. While he has gone for foreign experience, not always the best choice in MLS, he also went with proven veterans of the league. Look for the spine of the team to be more solid than it was last season, and with Perry Kitchen one season wiser, DC could be back in the playoffs again after what seems like an eternity without. Finish: Fourth in the East.
Toronto FC:
INS: Jeremy Hall - D, Reggie Lambe - M
OUTS: Nathan Sturgis -M, Andy Iro - D
For the past several seasons we have all been waiting for Toronto to make the playoffs. From the outside they seem like a well run club, but season after season they just don't have what it takes to take the next step in their development as an MLS franchise. With solid defensive addition this season in Hall, Caciedo, and Aceval, this could finally be the year they give the supporters what they deserve. Being in the East won't hurt their chances of finally breaking through. I thought long and hard about this before I made my prediction because you never know in MLS, especially the East, but here it is... Finish: Fifth in the East (And their first playoff appearance.)
Columbus Crew:
INS: Milovan Mirosevic - M, Olman Vargas - F
OUTS: Jeff Ciningham - F, Robbie Rogers - M, Emmanuel Ekpo - M
In the West, I would foresee a horrible year ahead of Crew fans, but being in the East, you can never count them out. While most of the remnants of their last MLS Cup win are now long gone, they still have a solid core and a decent manager in the "Polish Rifle". The subtraction of Rogers seems like a big one to me, but reality is that Columbus was trying to show him the door all of last season, which could have been a bit of a distraction for the team. A lot will ride on the new signings. In the end, they should have the fighting spirit to achieve, but perhaps not the talent. Finish: Sixth in the East.
Chicago Fire:
INS: Kheli Dube - F, Rafael Robayo - M, Frederico Puppo - F, Arne Friedrich - D
OUTS: Baggio Husidic - M, Jon Conway - GK, Diego Chavez - F
Down in the dumps for the past few seasons, this is the year Chicago finally shows signs of life. With quality additions to their attack, mid, and defense, things have to be looking up. The biggest addition may be the newest, that of Friedrich to the defense. Chicago has needed a strong steady hand in the back, and the big German may be it. While I can't say this will be the year they break back into the playoffs, I do believe they will be in the hunt until the bitter end. Finish: Seventh in the East.
Philadelphia Union:
INS: Jose Martinez - F, Chandler Hoffman - F, Chris Albright - D, Gabriel Gomez - M, Porfirio Lopez - D
OUTS: Justin Mapp - M, Faryd Mondragon - GK, Sebastian Le Toux - F
While the new additions to the squad look good on paper, we know the game isn't played there. Losing 3 high quality players is never a good sign, and yet again it looks like Philly is building toward the future and not this season. 3 years from now they could be a contender for the title, but for now, I think they will fight long and hard in a weak conference, but won't have enough to build upon what the did last season. Finish: Eighth in the East.
New England Revolution:
INS: Nate Jaqua - F, Clyde Simms - D, John Lazano - D, Fernando Cardenas - M/F
OUTS: Pat Phelan - M, Kheli Dube - F
The biggest "out" for the Revs is not a player, but their manager, with the departure of Steve Nicol. Jay Heaps has stepped in unproven and untested, but his early moves show some promise. While any team with Shalrie Joseph should be a scrappy and tough team, I see New England as a project like DC was last season. Still a year away from truly making waves, the Revs will be dwelling near the basement most of the season. Finish: Ninth in the East.
Montreal Impact:
INS: Nelson Rivas - D, Justin Mapp - M, Sanna Nyassi - M, Zarek Valentin - D, Justin Braun - F, Tyson Wall - D, Davy Arnuad - M, Donovan Ricketts - GK, Greg Sutton - GK, Andrew Wenger - F, Callum Mallace - M, Mike Frucito - F, Lamar Neagle - M
OUTS: Brian Ching - F, Eddie Johnson - F
The debut squad for the Impact seems to be a good one on paper, but the players need to adjust to each other, as well as a new environment like French Canada. Most new franchises struggle to get their feet under them, losing on the road and battling hard for points at home. Montreal should be no different. Mapp, Arnuad, Nyassi, Mallace, and Neagle make mid combinations that any MLS team should be happy with, but the unproven talent that is Wenger as well as the potential star that is Braun still looking to break out, the forward line is still a question for me. While Mapp and Arnuad have the experience, Nyassi the pace, and Mallace and Neagle the youth, if the goals aren't getting scored and they are being let in in the back, it could make for a difficult debut season. Ricketts is a quality veteran keeper, but the defense may be past their best or unproven. Look for Montreal to be in games, just not winning many. Finish: Tenth in the East.
So there you have it, the major "ins" and "outs" as well as my predicted finishes, but football is about more than just the match or two that come each week. This season should have many interesting subplots I hope you keep an eye on, as well as a few surprises that always spring up along the way.
Will Brian Ching go out with a bang as Houston finally open their new and improved stadium? Will the usual suspects of top managers like Bruce Arena (LA), Sigi Schmidt (Seattle) and Dominic Kinnear (Houston) raise the trophy this season? Or will a new breed start to take over for the legends? Will 3 at the back take hold in MLS, or will 4-4-2 still control the day? Can LA dominate the league while also trying to fight hard on the CCL front while also losing players to injury or the Olympics? Will the young stars continue to grow, like Brek Shea (Dallas), a trio of young talent with KC, Perry Kitchen (DC), Juan Agudelo (NY), etc. Will Steve Zakuani (Seattle) come back as amazing as he was before his horrific leg break? Will this be the year of the Colombian in MLS? Will the Portland/Vancouver/Seattle rivalry still be the best in the league from a fervent fan perspective, or will Toronto/Vancouver/Montreal kick it up a notch? Who will be the first manager out the door? What "name" signings will arrive in the summer transfer window the way Robbie Keane (LA) arrived last season?
As the style of play improves, the fans become more and more involved, and the league looks to become the best in North America, will the seventeenth season be the most memorable yet in MLS?
I hope you watch. I hope you get involved in the passion. I hope you help this league continue to make strides in the right direction. Yes, there is still plenty wrong with MLS, but would it be as much fun if it was perfect?
I'm sure most of my predictions will seem laughable within a month, genius within three, and laughable again in five, but that's why we love it right? She's a fickle old game. But boy is she beautiful.
Until next time, I will see you Off The Woodwork.
