Roundtable: MLS Predictions and Preview

The MLS season is so close to happening, just like Real Salt Lake’s MLS Cup. (Too soon?) Although it doesn’t seem like it, the offseason is short: only three complete months separate the MLS Cup Final and Opening Weekend. The action starts this coming Saturday when fourteen teams will begin the campaign, including the champion Sporting Kansas City travels to Seattle in the weeks main event (NBCSN, 3:00PM Eastern).

Of course this preceding week is also the best time for blogs such as this to be filled with MLS predictions and previews. Our teams of writers has assembled to create our newest roundtable. Here’s a short overview of who contributed:

• Jo-Ryan Salazar, LA Galaxy Fan
• Cody Maggard, LA Galaxy Fan
• Me, Aaron Rench, Sporting Kansas City Fan

What’s the Biggest Story of the Offseason?

JS — Definitely Chivas USA being owned by MLS and going through a rebranding and new ownership in 2015. A close second was Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley heading to Toronto FC.

CM — It has to be the additions in Toronto. Michael Bradley coming home is going to be huge for MLS and the city of Toronto. Jermain Defoe should become a fan favorite quickly as well here in the states.

AR — I’m going to say two. The buyout of Chivas USA means that the MLS bigheads did not believe in the product that was being produced. It’s not often that a team will ever get bought out by a league. It only happens when something is going terribly wrong. I look forward to see how the franchise gets turned around in the next several years. The other issue was the Camilo fiasco. A star player begins unapproved talks with another team, and eventually gets away with it? That doesn’t sound like something the league should allow, and I’m sure it will be brought up after the current CBA expires at the end of 2014.

What Team (Other than Your Favorite) Are You Most Excited to Watch?

JS — Toronto FC. How will Defoe and Bradley do in MLS? Kansas City did well to win the MLS Cup, but can they defend. Also, can the Red Bulls take it one step further and win an MLS Cup themselves.

CM — Besides Toronto of course, it has to be Kansas City. It should be interesting to see how they come out of the gate being defending champions.

AR — Portland was fun to watch last year, D.C. is all revamped in 2014, but the team I’m looking forward to watching is Philadelphia. They’ve really added a lot in the offseason with trades for defenders Ethan White (formerly D.C.) and 2012 Rookie of the Year Austin Berry (formerly Chicago), and a underrated DP signing of midfielder Maurice Edu. Can it all add up to give players like Sebastian Le Toux and Jack McInerney more chances to score? Their lack of defense and attacking finishes were their downfall in 2013, hopefully all the new additions fix those problems.

Give Us a Quick Overview of the Eastern Conference

JS — I’m taking New York to win the East, since they are very strong during the 2013 regular season. I think the playoff teams will be the exact same as last year: New York, Sporting KC, Montreal, New England, and Houston. Toronto FC will definitely improve this year, with the new signings they have. They’ll be the most improved team in the East.

CM — It’s hard to go against KC to win the East. Kansas City, Toronto, Philly, Houston, and New York get in the playoffs with D.C. finishing just outside. And obviously Toronto are the most improved team in more ways than one.

AR — There are multiple Eastern teams that improved in the offseason, but of course only five make it into the playoffs. Honestly, I think New England is about to explode with all it’s awesome talent. If I’m making one bold prediction in this entire roundtable, I’m saying the Revs are winning the East (just remember that’s a bold pick though). Sporting KC have to play more games than any other MLS team as they have CCL games; there’s a cost to winning the MLS Cup. Although they won’t drop from the playoffs, they won’t win the Supporter’s Shield like I think they normally would. The Eastern postseason will look something like this: New England, Kansas City, New York, Toronto, and Philadelphia. Yes, Houston’s out of the playoffs for the second time in their eight-year history. Most improved team will most likely be Toronto, but I want everyone to notice the redemption coming from Columbus. They’re in serious rebuild mode. Not this year, but next.

Give Us a Quick Overview of the Western Conference

JS — I’m taking Real Salt Lake to win the West, since they have the most balance and they are consistent offensively and defensively. The playoffs will look similar to last year with RSL, Portland, LA, and Seattle making return trips, but Vancouver will also make a jump into the postseason. Obviously, I say that it will be Vancouver as the most improved in the West, because they had a bit of a lull last year. Chivas USA should also make some massive inroads.

CM — The West is a totally different story than the East. I think LA wins the West with Portland, RSL, Seattle, and Dallas. This is a much more tougher conference to predict, and the race will be close all the way until the end. Chivas will make the most improvement simply because of the fact they can move forward from the controversy that’s been surrounding them the past couple of seasons.

AR — There are two teams at the top of the West and then there’s everyone else. Portland and LA are going to float through the regular season on (mostly) consistent greatness, and I firmly believe the Timbers have the best chance of capturing the Supporter’s Shield. Real Salt Lake lost the most of any team in this offseason when coach Jason Kreis left for fortune and glory, and I think it hurts them enough that they will be fighting to remain in the playoffs. After that it gets pretty hard to predict, like what happens in Star Wars VII hard to predict, but for the sake of this roundtable, I’ll say Colorado and Dallas slip into the playoffs. I’m really confused what to think of those two though. Colorado has young talent overflowing into the stands, and Dallas brings in their new coach Oscar Pareja (formerly with Colorado) who can work with what they’ve got. It won’t surprise me when one of them begins to dominate.

What Young Player Should We Be Keeping Our Eyes On?

JS — I think Schillo Tshuma is one of the SuperDraft picks that will have a solid year for Portland. Jonathan Osorio of Toronto and Carlos Alvarez of Chivas USA will also have solid breakout years. On the team I primarily follow, LA, the major question that has to be asked is this: can Gyasi Zardes finish? If he can shoot smartly and accurately, this will be a big year for Zardes.

CM — The young player I’m keeping an eye is Diego Fagundez. Since Juan Agudelo is gone it’s his time to step into the spotlight and make the Revs even better. If he steps up he could be one of the top forwards in MLS soon.

AR — I’m going to go with the super obvious pick: Darlington Nagbe. A former 1st overall draft pick, Nagbe has the potential of high school Clark Kent. He’s a phenom that isn’t even close to his prime yet. He’s surrounded by one of the best systems in the league. Just promise me you won’t look away when he’s on TV.

Finally, What’s Your Prediction for the USMNT in the World Cup?

JS — I don’t expect them to make it to the knockout stages this time around, so a third-place finish in their Group is fine. But if they lose to Ghana again, Klinsmann OUT.

CM — The USMNT in the World Cup is tricky. If we can have everybody in top form, including Jozy, we have a chance to get through to the round of 16. We have a master manager in Klinsmann who can motivate our guys, so if we get out of the group the sky is the limit (with Geoff Cameron at RB).

AR — If you’ve been closely following the USMNT since the Hex began last year, you’ll know this isn’t your average U.S. team. They’ve fought through challenges and created a story that is nearly movie quality. Those types of situations create bonds between the players, which is a vital, yet overlooked, quality of the greatest teams. If there are soccer gods, one of them comes from Germany. Cristiano Ronaldo was created to exploit U.S.’s biggest weakness (Right back). Ghana is the unnatural rival that cannot be underestimated. The entire tale of the USMNT, from qualifying loss in Honduras to Brazil, will end in the most dramatic climax our country has seen told on the soccer pitch. (USA v. Algeria is the most dramatic single game climax ever). But through all the commotion, I see the U.S. rising to the call, beating Ghana and Portugal, and reaching the Knockout Stages.

Thanks for reading everybody! Enjoy the new MLS season!!