MLS Prediction Time

MLS is back for its 19th season starting March 8th and, outside of a potential ref lockout, excitement is through the roof. With the World Cup just under 100 days away, fans have soccer on the brain. Add to that the introduction of some very popular Americans (plus one Brit) and the league is looking to have a banner year in attendance, ratings, and popularity.


All 19 teams will be sporting at least one new jersey this year, many with two new kits. "MLS Jersey Week" was a huge hit and was a great way to build excitement and connect with fans. Almost every team held a launch party at a local bar/restaurant and allowed fans to meet the players, get autographs, and enjoy the atmosphere that makes soccer games such an amazing event to attend. You can see every team's jerseys here. For me, the big winners are (in no particular order); Sporting KC's secondary, DC United secondary, Toronto FC secondary, LA Galaxy primary, Seattle Sounders third, Colorado Rapids primary, and Houston Dynamo secondary.

Now onto the actual soccer. Here are my predictions for both conferences, supporters shield, MLS cup, golden boot winner, defender of the year, and MVP.

Western Conference
1) Portland Timbers
2) LA Galaxy
3) Seattle Sounders
4) Real Salt Lake
5) Vancouver
6) FC Dallas
7) San Jose
8) Colorado
9) Chivas USA

To me, the top four in the West is pretty close to set in stone. Portland, LA, Seattle, and RSL are all great teams that could finish in any order at the top. They all are filled with great players and depth, and all play in stadiums with great fan support.

I had to put Portland first for two reasons. The first is Caleb Porter. I love Caleb Porter. He is an absolutely fantastic coach who did incredible things in his first year at the helm by taking a bottom feeding Portland team to the top of the West. And with another season for the players to get comfortable with his system and another offseason to get the players that fit it means the only way I can see the team going is up. The second reason is their depth in the midfield and the spreading around of goals. They might not have an elite goalscorer, but they have so many guys who will be on the scoresheet. I wouldn't be surprised if Nagbe, Valeri, Fernandez, and Urutti all end up in double digits.

I think that LA is next up simply because of their star power. Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan are easily two of the ten best players in the league, and are possibly both top five. With the pieces they added to the midfield and at forward, they are a deadly team offensively. I also think that Gyasi Zardes is going to have a huge year on the wing. He impressed me in almost every game last year with his physical tools, ability to create and find goalscoring spaces, but his finishing just wasn't there. After an offseason in which he stressed finishing and a very very impressive preseason, he is poised to explode.

As for Seattle and RSL, I think they are both very good teams but just not quite at the level of Portland and LA. RSL returns much of the same lineup as last year which has incredible depth-but losing Jason Kreis will be a hit to the preparation and tactics of the team. My player to watch on the team is Luis Gil, who I think will take another big step in his development and become a top 15 midfielder in the league. In Seattle, I still have worries about the team chemistry, and Clint Dempsey's form is a HUGE question mark. They have the talent to win the West, but I just don't see them overtaking two teams with better coaching.

Teams 5-8, just like teams 1-4, could end up in any order and I wouldn't be surprised. The hardest team for me to place on that list was Vancouver. New coach, a bunch of new players, and without last season's star Camilo. I have them in 5th because I think the team will gel, but if they don't they very easily could end up 8th. My biggest concerns in Colorado are the uncertainty of the coaching, the questions at defensive midfield, and a potential sophomore slump for Deshorn Brown and Dillon Powers. San Jose had the leagues best record over the final 10 games last season, and had a great defense in the second half after the addition of Clarence Goodson, but nothing about that team excites me like FC Dallas does. Perez and Diaz could both have great years as the center of the attack in the 4-2-3-1, and I really like what their wingers bring to the table. I think they have the talent in the center with enough width to be a very balanced team this year. As for Chivas, they are hugely improved from last year, but still should be at the bottom of the table.

Eastern Conference
1) Sporting KC
2) New York Red Bulls
3) Toronto
4) Philadelphia
5) New England
6) DC United
7) Houston
8) Columbus
9) Montreal
10) Chicago

At the top, nothing changes much from last year. New York and Kansas City were the class of the East in 2013, so why change the formula? Both teams return almost the exactly same lineup. I give the slight edge to Sporting, however, because I'm not 100% sure that Henry and Olave can hold up for the full season and both will already miss all games that are played on turf.

In Toronto, I love their offseason. They had the two biggest moves of the offseason when they brought in Michael Bradley and Jermaine Dafoe, but also provided their two stars with a very strong supporting cast. Give the team a little time to get comfortable on the field together and under the new system and they will be a big time threat to the top two.

Philadelphia was close last year, and with the additions of two designated players in Maurice Edu--to anchor the midfield--and Cristian Maidana--to play creator from the wing-- they have all the pieces in place to take a step forward and fit perfectly into coach John Hackworth's system. They have two very exciting young Americans on either side of the lineup in central defender Amobi Okugo and forward Jack McInerney. Jack Mac started off on fire last year and earned himself a call up to the initial Gold Cup roster, but endured a very disappointing second half that even saw him relegated to the bench. However, he ended well and I see big things from him and this Philly attack this year. As for Okugo, he really impressed in his first full season at center back and although he lost his partner, I still see him becoming an elite defender in MLS this season.

I have New England pegged as the most exciting team to watch in all of MLS this year. The attacking talent in their midfield with wonderteen Diego Fagundez, Kellyn Rowe, and Lee Nguyen is awesome and while they did lose Juan Agudelo at forward, they traded for Teal Bunbury who is immensely talented and could have a big year if healthy.

In Houston, Will Bruin could be in for a big year if he can convert the chances that he missed on last year (his finishing was awful), and Houston really needs that to happen as they don't have much else in the scoring department. They have two fullbacks who like to get forward, and a very solid midfield, but not enough to match New England's offense in my opinion. DC had a huge offseason and is very probably the most improved team in MLS. I love what they did to their back four and bringing in Eddie Johnson and Fabian Espindola to play up top has vastly improved their offense, but they don't have enough in the midfield to keep opposing offenses at bay or dominate in attack. Columbus is another team that will make the East a lot more difficult than last year. They beefed up their back line and Frederic Higuain is a top five player in the league, but once again, I don't see enough in the midfield for them to make a playoff push.

Montreal started off 2013 on fire and lead the league into the summer, and then... well they didn't. Nothing about this team besides Marco Di Vaio excites me and they can't count on 21 goals from the 37 year old again. Chicago is another team who rode a striker to a playoff push in 2013, as Mike MaGee put forth a MVP winning season with 21 goals. Their most exciting offseason move was to bring in young US international Benji Joya, who I think will break into their starting midfield by midseason, but they didn't do enough to improve their team and it's tough to see MaGee carrying the team on his back for a second straight season.

Supporters shield: Portland
MLS Cup: Toronto
Golden Boot: Robbie Keane, Thierry Henry, Jack McInerney
Defender of the Year: Aurelien Collin, Amobi Okugo
MVP: Diego Valeri