Now, How Stupid Do You Feel Now?

"There is no chance (MLS) will survive. Absolutely no chance whatsoever."- Nye Lavalle, Sports Marketing Group, in The Sporting News, 6/27/94

"There's a better chance of a national health plan being passed by Congress than of a major pro (soccer) league in America."- Art Spander, San Francisco Examiner, 6/5/94.

"The World Cup, should no one get killed, is a fabulous event. Enjoy it. And enjoy the next one. And if, in between, you patronize any and all pro soccer leagues that begin here, enjoy them too. They'll be gone faster than the girl over there with the hula hoop."- Sportswriter Phil Mushnick, New York Post, 6/15/94.

My annual MLS Season Preview is noted for two things. How few people read it, and how big of a crapshoot it is, making me look like a total dumbass by the end of the season. So I figure if I'm going to look like a dumbass, I might as well drag three other dumbasses down with me; three of the many who anticipated 15 years ago that MLS wouldn't last three seasons, let alone seek to kick off its 14th campaign on Thursday.

That night, MLS debutant Seattle Sounders FC hosts its inaugural game as the league's 15th club against MLS Cup Finalist Red Bull New York at Qwest Field in front of 32,000 people and a league-record 22,000 season ticket-holders (outselling the Mariners). The only thing bad about this game is the fact that it is probably the worst-scheduled season opener in the history of MLS.


Playoff spots are increasingly hard to come by. As recently as 2004, all but two teams in MLS made the postseason tournament. This year, 8 of 15 teams will make the tournament, a ratio more in line with the NBA and NHL. This year, the top two teams in each conference and the next four teams regardless of record qualify for the playoffs.

In addition, qualification for continental competition is at stake over the course of the 30-game campaign and playoffs leading up to MLS Cup 2009 in Seattle. The Regular Season Champion, MLS Cup Finalists, and US Open Cup winner qualify for the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League.

The top four teams in the regular season who have not already qualified for the Champions League qualify for SuperLiga. With that, it's time for the preview.


EASTERN CONFERENCE
2008 Finish: Columbus, Chicago, New England, Kansas City, New York, DC United, Toronto FC
2009 Predicted Finish: Chicago, Columbus, Toronto FC, New England, DC United, New York, Kansas City


Sure, it may be the homer in me, and yes, they have some trouble with age (Brian McBride, Cuauhtemoc Blanco are both deep in their 30s) but I am going to go out on a limb this year and say that Chicago Fire will win the Supporters' Shield as regular season champions and qualify for the Champions League for the first time. No team is as complete back to front as the Fire. The Fire's backline was one of the league-leaders last year, the midfield is solidly staffed by stars Chris Rolfe and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and filled in with great role players like John Thorrington and Logan Pause. Brian McBride up top should be able to consistently deliver, especially if paired alongside another forward (either moving Rolfe up top from the midfield or with speedy striker Patrick Nyarko, who showed great promise last season before going down with an injury. Chicago also has 2008 Goalkeeper of the Year Jon Busch, and some solid young talent in Baggio Husidic from UIC, and Marco Pappa from Guatemala. If one of them can come on for Blanco at about the 70-minute mark, the Fire should be clicking on all cylinders.

Columbus is the defending League and Cup champs, so I have to put them in a close second. They haven't lost too much, but I am slotting Columbus here based on the sheer fact that only one team has managed to repeat as Supporters Shield winners (DC United 2006 & 2007). Columbus loses Head Coach Sigi Schmid to Seattle, but has otherwise kept most of the team in tact. Columbus proved last year (and Houston and New England before them) that one of the keys to beating MLS's system of parity is to play together as a core for many many years. This is why I have Columbus and Chicago at the top.

Toronto similarly should benefit from a core that has been through the fires of the past two disappointing seasons, and the addition of Dwayne DeRosario gives them a powerful force in the midfield. I'm unsure about their back line, but if the Reds can make a signing or a summer transfer to shore it up, TFC could be looking at its first playoff challenge.

New England, Kansas City, and New York should finish middle of the pack in interchangeable order. New England has kept their core together, but they are getting old, and I'm not sure how many years the Revs have left in them to win an MLS Cup. Kansas City suffers from a genuine lack of starpower. A team of role players may win some games, make for a nice story, and maybe even get to the playoffs (like KC did last year) but once you get there, it's one and done as KC was completely outclassed by Columbus last fall. New York's cup final run appeared to have a bit of luck to it. After all, this is the team that got thrashed 5-2 in their final game, and needed DC United to hit the post 3 times to get in. New York re-signed Juan Pablo Angel, but there's too many question marks on this team for me to justify placing them any higher. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but if it's anything like last year, I really don't know which RBNY team will show up week-to-week. I mean, New York lost all three games to Chicago, by 5-1, 1-0, and 5-2 scorelines, but New York went to the Final while the Fire watched on TV. Go figure.

DC will benefit greatly from the return of Christian Gomez, as they sorely missed his playmaking creativity last season. DC also cast off it's cast of South American washouts who were highly touted and woefully disappointing last year. The big question mark is how will DC perform in the Champions League, having qualified via the US Open Cup, but last year finished last in their group, and 9th in the league.

MLS Anthem Dance Remix Video For 2009 First Kick from MLS Rumors on Vimeo.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

2008 Finish: Houston, Chivas USA, RSL, Colorado, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, San Jose

2009 Finish: Chivas USA, RSL, Houston, San Jose, Seattle, FC Dallas, Colorado, LA Galaxy

Out West, I like Chivas USA to win the West, and maybe even represent the West at MLS Cup. Their core of Bornstein, Kleistjan, and Razov have been together for several years now. If Dan Kennedy can step up and fill the shoes of current Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan, Chivas could become a trophy contender. RSL has a similar record of relative stability. Houston has several good players, but in this season, unlike past, not only will the Dynamo miss the playmaking midfielder Dwayne DeRosario (to Toronto), but you get the sense that unlike past Dynamo teams, the whole team is nothing more than the sum of its parts. There are some solid parts, no doubt, but there's not the sense of anticipation this year.

San Jose came on strong at the end of last season, and with Joe Cannon manning the nets and Darren Huckerby (who is probably one of the 10 best players in the league) for a full season, San Jose looks like they could challenge for a playoff spot.

Dallas is in a total tailspin. Ticket sales are sluggish. The team is terrible, and looks to be more of the same this year with Kenny Cooper likely missing extensive stretches of time with National team duty. After that, the team's talent level drops off significantly. Colorado is in a similar situation, and LA Galaxy is a walking soap opera trying to squeeze every last drop out of David Beckham before he leaves for AC Milan at the end of the season.

Final Standings (if I had to guess)

1. Chicago
2. Columbus
3. Chivas USA
4. RSL
5. Toronto FC
6. Houston
7. New England
8. San Jose
9. DC United
10. Seattle
11. New York
12. Colorado
13. Dallas
14. Kansas City
15. LA Galaxy

Playoff teams
East #1 and #2: Chicago and Columbus
West #1 and #2: Chivas USA, RSL
Wild Cards: New England, Toronto, Houston, San Jose



Champions League Teams
Chicago, Toronto (via Canadian Championship), Houston (Open Cup), Columbus (via some method of qualification), Chivas USA (MLS Cup Finalist?)



SuperLiga Teams
RSL, New England, San Jose, DC United

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2008 YCS MLS Preview

It's time once again for my probably horribly inaccurate MLS Preview. In a league with as much parity as MLS, league previews are inherently inaccurate for all but a lucky few. Last year, I boldly predicted that David Beckham, Joe Cannon, and Nate Jaqua were the last pieces of the puzzle, and Los Angeles Galaxy would down DC United to win their third MLS Cup title in six seasons. DC crashed in the first round of the Playoffs. Los Angeles did not even make the playoffs, losing on the last day of the regular season.

As hard as it is to believe, it was only four months ago I was gleefully rejoicing over New England losing their fourth MLS Cup Final in 6 years; essentially making them MLS's version of the Buffalo Bills. But as Winter turns to Spring, so too does the offseason change into a new MLS campaign. The League's 13th season kicks off Saturday with 12 of the 14 clubs in action. The league makes its national TV premiere next Thursday with a doubleheader featuring two of the best rivalries in the league: Chicago vs. New England's unnamed, but ancient blood feud, followed by the return of the California Clasico, pitting San Jose against Los Angeles for the first time since '05.

Teams will once again play a 30-game League schedule; playing each team twice, and four league-office-designated "rivals" for a third extra game before the top eight teams make the playoffs, and the season ends in November at the Home Depot Center; the 27,000-capacity home of Los Angeles Galaxy and CD Chivas USA. Only one MLS team (1997 DC United) have won the title on their home field.

So now, onto the team previews

Eastern Conference 2007 Finish

DC United, New England, New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Columbus, Toronto

Mike's Certain-to-be-wrong Predicted 2008 Finish

DC United, New England, Chicago, Kansas City, New York, Toronto, Columbus

DC United undergoes a total overhaul from last season. Gone is 2006 league MVP Christian Gomez (to Colorado) and stalwart keeper Troy Perkins (to some Norwegian team). In are a slew of new faces (most from South America) most notably led by DC's "Beckham Rule" player Marcello Gallardo, an Argentinian World Cup veteran. Fred and 2007 leading scorer Luciano Emilio lead the way along with longtime veteran Jaime Moreno. While the turnover could prove instability, if DC's 5-0 dismantling of Caribbean Champions Harbour View this past week is any indication of their capabilities, I'd say DC is well on their way to being MLS Cup contenders again. My only concern with DC is their age. While a number of good players were brought in this offseason, many are definitely in the twilight of their careers, and if the injury bug strikes, United could be in deep trouble.

Note: No team has ever won the Supporter's Shield (best regular season record) three seasons in a row. DC won it in 2006 and 2007.

New England Revolution has to be wondering if there are any more ways they can lose an MLS Cup Final. They have lost on golden goal, in extra time, on penalty kicks, and in regulation. Welsh international Andy Dorman has pulled up his stakes and relocated to St. Mirren in the Scottish Premier League. However, Coach Steve Nicol has proven over the years that he can retain the core of his team, but New England doesn't seem to have a core of young players who can contribute aside from Michael Parkhurst. Matt Reis is still one of the best keepers in the league and is the keeper I'd want on my team in a penalty shootout. Taylor Twellman is always dangerous, but the Revs key pickup could be US World Cup veteran Chris Albright, who strengthens them in the back. Still, you gotta wonder how many more chances they're going to have to bring home a league title...

Note: New England has made it to the Conference Finals six straight seasons.

Chicago Fire have to find a way to not have their season end in Foxborough. Their loss to archnemesis New England last year in the playoffs marked the fourth year in a row where the Fire's last game saw them walking off the field in defeat at Foxborough. Team President John Guppy has brought on former Fire legend Frank Klopas as technical director (sort of like a GM, but with more development responsibility), and has stated that his goal is to win the Supporters' Shield this year. However, Guppy and Co. have given little evidence they are serious about it. For all the clearing of cap space the Fire did this offseason, they sure did a lot of standing pat. Three of their four highest players are no longer with the team. Captain Chris Armas retired, leaving CJ Brown and Diego Gutierrez as the only players left from the '98 Double-winning Fire team. Costa Rican waste of oxygen Paolo Wanchope has announced his retirement, and Honduran Ivan Guerrero was taken by San Jose in the expansion draft. New Coach Dennis Hamlett's Fire team will shift to a 3-5-2 formation this year from their more defensive minded 3-4-4. Chad Barrett and Polish international Tomas Frankowzski will be up top. Chris Rolfe will be moved back to the midfield with Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Questions remain on the backline as CJ Brown approaches the end of his career, and Wilman Conde is in a trade dispute. GK Matt Pickens has left the team for Queens' Park Rangers of the English Championship, leaving goalkeeping duties to Jon Busch. While Busch has been a capable backup, expect to see rookie draft pick Dominic Cervi by midseason.

Note: Chicago and New England have ended each other's seasons in 7 of the last 8 seasons.

Kansas City Wizards have made a few key pickups, but have also lost a good deal. Nick Garcia was traded away to San Jose for the top pick in the draft. Garcia was a key member of the Wiz the past few seasons, so Chance Myers will be expected to contribute immediately. The Argentine connection begun last season with Carlos Marinelli's arrival in KC is continued with KC's "Beckham Rule" acquisition Claudio Lopez; an Argentine World Cup veteran. Kansas City lost a scoring touch with Eddie Johnson (transfer to England's Fulham FC) but should be able to answer with Lopez. One has to worry about Lopez's age, but if he can give KC 13-16 goals, it shouldn't matter. KC is my wild card team in the East this year. They really can go either way.

Note: While Arrowhead Stadium is under renovation, KC will be playing in temporary digs in Kansas City, KS. This officially makes them the first team from a top-flight major American sports league to be based in Kansas.


Red Bull New York is a team that could win it all, but their history tells me they won't. Injuries and departures have taken their toll on last year's third-place in the East team. However, if the right elements come together, New York can be a dangerous team. While some commentators say coach Juan Carlos Osorio's arrival in the Big Apple makes them instant MLS Cup contenders after the Rescue job he performed on Chicago last year, I have to disagree. Chicago's resurgence was equally due to Cuauhtemoc Blanco's arrival. New York does not really have that injection of star power this season. While Juan Pablo Angel remains one of the best players in the league, New York's other DP, Claudio Reyna has been a colossal waste of money. With his salary, not only is Reyna failing to provide for RBNY on the pitch, but is also prohibiting the cash-rich Red Bull owners from making a splash on the international transfer market with a big signing. If American teenage phenom Jozy Altidore leaves for Real Madrid after the Olympics this summer as has been rumored, New York could really struggle to score goals aside from Angel, since last year, Angel was responsible for 19 of RBNY's 47 goals.

Note: New York is the only team in the league to boast two Beckham Rule players. They traded former league MVP Amado Guevara to Chivas USA for their DP slot. Chicago and DC are rumored to be debating acquiring second-DP slots.


Toronto FC exploded on the scene in MLS last year. Season tickets sold out again this year, and talk has already begun about possibly expanding their home ground of BMO Field on the shores of Lake Ontario. Sadly, the play on the pitch as been nothing short of an abomination. TFC finished last season with the worst goal differential in the league (-24), and the Reds have done little in the offseason to change that team. While injuries certainly played a role in TFC's poor inaugural campaign, the simple fact is they were just plain outclassed on a number of occasions. Maurice Edu and Danny Dichio lead the way for the Canadian side, but outside of perhaps winning the Canada Cup of Soccer (detailed below), it appears to be a trophy-less summer up north.

Note: In addition to their league campaign, Toronto FC will play a four-game, round-robin series against A-League sides Vancouver Whitecaps and Impacte de Montreal to determine Canada's representative in the new CONCACAF Champions League, set to kick off this fall.

Columbus Crew brings up the tail end of the Eastern Conference. Frankie Hejduk is one year older, and their failure to land Celtic striker Maciej Zurawski during the offseason speaks volumes. Losing Andy Herron to Chicago for a song did not help matters. Goal production will be a challenge. Will Hesmer is a solid player in goal, but there will not be much offense at Hunt Park. A healthy Columbus could have a say in who goes to the playoffs, but they will not be there themselves barring a spending schmorgesborg in the summer transfer window.

Note: Columbus has not won a playoff series since 2002.


Western Conference 2007 Finish
CD Chivas USA, Houston, FC Dallas, Colorado, Los Angeles, Salt Lake

Mike's Certain-to-be-wrong predicted 2008 Finish
Houston, CD Chivas USA, Los Angeles, Colorado, FC Dallas, Salt Lake, San Jose


Houston Dynamo looked every bit the champion as they took apart Guatemalan powerhouse CSD Municipal in the Champions' Cup last week. The return of a core group of players including Alejandro Moreno, Pat Onstad, Dwayne DeRosario and Brian Ching has the Dynamo primed for another MLS Cup title run. Bobby Boswell joins the back line from DC United. Defense is Houston's strength. Last year they surrendered a league-low 23 goals. Including the team's years as the San Jose Earthquakes before they were relocated Baltimore Ravens-style, these players have won four of the last seven MLS Cups. While Houston traditionally starts slow, they usually finish strong, and return most of their MLS Cup-winning team this season. My only concern with Houston is fixture congestion. Houston will be participating in four different competitions this season (MLS, CONCACAF Champions Cup, US Open Cup, and the new CONCACAF Champions League). MLS teams have shown that the talent from players 1-13 is good enough to compete with any team in the world. However, players 14-23 are a little shaky, and if fatigue or injuries pile up in the stretch run, it could derail Houston's chances.

Note: No team has ever won MLS Cup three years in a row. DC United came closest, winning titles in '96, '97, and '99, and losing the Final in '98 to Chicago Fire.


CD Chivas USA will once again be a major factor in the West, and if this were not an Olympic year, they might even be my pick to advance all the way to the MLS Cup Final. However, the Beijing Olympics and World Cup qualifiers may strip this team in August and September. Maykel Galindo (Cuba), Sacha Kliejstan (USA), Brad Guzan (USA), and Jonathan Bornstein (USA) will all be with their national teams for Olympic and WCQ duties. Guzan may not even be with the team come mid season as a $4 million transfer offer from the EPL's Aston Villa fell through on work permit grounds this past offseason. Villa have indicated they will try to buy the American keeper again in the summer. With El Guzano gone, Chivas looks shaky in the back. However, Swiss World Cup vet Rafael Wicky (VICK-ee) should provide some veteran leadership for this young team. Rumor also has it that a certain Mexican legend will be joining the team midseason, so Chivas should be in the hunt for MLS Cup once again. Chivas is the mainstream soccer media's trendy pick to win it all this year.

Note: Chivas USA is participating in this year's SuperLiga, and there is a pretty good possibility they could play their sister club, Chivas de Guadelajara.


Los Angeles Galaxy finally gets to play a normal schedule this year after last year's ill-fated David Beckham moneytrain. Becks returns, and from all appearances is healthy. After bending the MLS salary cap rules once again in order to land FC Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz, Beckham may finally have a strike partner who can finish those picture-perfect crosses he served up last year. I have a hunch Landon Donovan is just a couple good games away from going on a serious tear, possibly making a run at MVP. LA will miss Joe Cannon in net (gone to San Jose), as the keeper position falls to the capable but inexperienced Steve Cronin. LA returns most of a solid cast that went through the flames and the circus atmosphere of last season and is my dark horse pick for an MLS Cup finalist to emerge out of the West.

Note: David Beckham gave his name to the "Beckham Rule," but LA has three such players on their team. Landon Donovan and Carlos Ruiz were grandfathered in, and as such, do not count as designated players (DPs).


Colorado Rapids picked up Christian Gomez, finally landing the kind of dynamic player they haven't had since Marcello Balboa left the team years ago. Sadly for the Colorado faithful, it may not be enough. Coach Fernando Clavijo is on the hot seat, and reinforcements do not appear to be coming anytime soon. The cost for Gomez was the giving DC United the right to use Colorado's DP slot at any time in the next three years. Colorado should underwhelm again, and as usual, will be one of the most boring, vanilla teams in MLS.


Note: Colorado is one of two teams team in MLS from the 10 Survivors (The 9 remaining charter teams plus Chicago) that has NEVER won a trophy in any major domestic competition (New York is the other).



Real Salt Lake needs to turn it on this year. Dwindling attendance and even lower fan optimism had led to rumors of the club's relocation before funding for a new stadium was secured. That will come to fruition this fall when they open their new soccer-specific stadium. A playoff berth could lead to a successful renaissance on the Wasatch front. To get there, RSL will need to tighten up on defense and in the defensive midfield. No keeper in the league faced as many shots (183) as RSL keeper Nick Rimando did last season. If Kyle Beckerman (right) wants to work his way into Bob Bradley's camp when World Cup Qualifying begins this summer, he will need to put together a solid campaign.


Note: Salt Lake has never been to the Playoffs in their three year history. No MLS team has ever missed the playoffs four seasons in a row.




The San Jose Earthquakes team that takes the field this season is a far cry from the last incarnation of the team that won the Supporters' Shield in 2005. Returning Cleveland-Browns-style from a two-year hiatus, the Earthquakes will learn their expansion lessons the hard way, just as Toronto did last year and Chivas USA/RSL did before them. The last three expansion teams went a combined 15-59-18 in their first seasons. Joe Cannon provides a solid presence between the sticks, but he can only do so much as was proven last year in LA. Nick Garcia, Ronnie O'Brien and Ivan Guerrero will try to control things in the midfield, but it could be a long year for the Terremotos, due in part to their woeful lack of depth, and not too much strength in the attack.


Note: San Jose will play most of their games at Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara University, but will play a handful of games at McAfee Coliseum against bigger draws (LA, Chicago, etc.)



AWARDS AND HONORS
League MVP: Juan Pablo Angel (RBNY)
Leading scorer: Juan Pablo Angel (RBNY)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Brad Guzan (CDC) if he stays the whole season, Pat Onstad (HOU) if Guzan leaves midsummer
Newcomer of the Year: Marcello Gallardo (DCU)
Rookie of the Year: Julius James (TFC)
Supporters Shield Winners: Houston Dynamo
US Open Cup Winners: Chicago Fire
SuperLiga Winners: Houston Dynamo
2009 CONCACAF Champions League Qualifiers: DC, Houston, New England, Chivas USA


MLS Cup Playoff Teams
East: DC, New England, Chicago, Kansas City, New York
West: Houston, Chivas USA, Los Angeles


DC over Kansas City
Chicago over New England
Houston over New York
Los Angeles over Chivas USA


Conference Finals
Houston over Los Angeles
DC over Chicago


MLS Cup Final
DC United over Houston

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That Makes a Baker's Dozen

The finish line is November 18th at RFK Memorial Stadium.

As Major League Soccer begins its 12th league campaign, there are many stories that could be focused on, but most of the mainstream US soccer media understandably won't. They'll be too distracted by David Beckham's hair. Now while Beckham's transfer is a big story, it's hardly the only one, or even the biggest. The addition of expansion side Toronto FC puts the MLS brand north of the border for the first time. New owners in Toronto, DC, and Kansas City bring a new outlook and diversification to the league as their teams move forward. New coaches are taking control at Toronto, DC, and Chivas USA. Sponsorship deals including Herbalife’s multimillion dollar shirt sponsorship deal with Los Angeles Galaxy and BMO Financial Group’s deal with Toronto FC are bringing fresh cash into the league, and new stadiums in Toronto and Colorado are enabling teams to keep it. And of course there's the most publicized story of the most eventful MLS offseason; the Los Angeles Galaxy’s acquisition of David Beckham, which this MLS writer thinks is a drop in the bucket in the larger scheme of things.

But after all the off-the-field stories this past winter are concluded, there’s still a 30 game league schedule to play, and trophies to be won. The MLS Cup playoffs have been tweaked slightly this year, with teams playing unbalanced schedules, and a new rule that gives automatic playoff berths to the top 2 teams in each conference, then the next four best teams regardless of conference, perhaps allowing one conference to send 6 teams to the playoffs. So to start of the preview, let’s take a look at the Eastern Conference, which could conceivably do that.

In the East
Eastern Conference 2006 Finish: DC United, New England, Chicago, New York, Kansas City, Columbus
2007 Predicted Finish: DC United New England, Toronto FC, Chicago, New York, Kansas City, Columbus

In the East, DC United looked awfully good in their dismantling of Central American power CD Olimpia in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in February, and turned me into a believer with a solid fight against CD Guadalajara before falling 3-2 on aggregate. United have lost goalkeeper Nick Rimando to Salt Lake (although his understudy Troy Perkins is a more than apt replacement). Former wunderkind Freddy Adu was also lost to RSL and perhaps most importantly striker Alecko Eskandarian was lost to Toronto FC. To rebuild, United have signed Brazlian Luciano Emilio from CD Olimpia, and his performance in the Champions Cup (4 goals in 3 games) indicates that he may be a more than viable successor to Eskandarian. The key for DC is how well new coach Tommy Soehn will be able to command this group with the same authority that Peter Nowak did in leading them to an MLS Cup in 2004 without the personality conflicts that created locker room distractions for United in 2005, and the burnout of 2006.

New England Revolution is a question mark. Despite losing USA international Clint Dempsey to the English Premier League, they have retained most of the core team that has been to the MLS Cup Final the past two years. However, Joey Franchino is out for the foreseeable future to deal with his problems with alcohol, and Shalrie Joseph is demanding a trade. Taylor Twellman has been locked up with a new contract, and the Revs certainly have the talent to get back to the title game, backed by arguably the best goalkeeper in the league in Matt Reis. However, a summer filled with USA international matches may deplete their roster, as Reis, Twellman, Pat Noonan, and Steve Ralston all figure to get callups at some point for either the Gold Cup or Copa America or both.

Toronto FC certainly looks like a playoff team on paper. Skippered by coach Mo Johnston, who got a really raw deal in New York, and backed by 13,000 season ticket holders, Toronto could be poised to make a run like the 1998 Chicago Fire. Canadian international Jim Brennan has returned from England, and has been bolstered by some smart moves in the offseason, such as picking up DC United striker Alecko Eskandarian, Irish midfielder Ronnie O’Brien, and New England’s feisty Jose “Pepe” Cancela. Recent pickups like USA International Conor Casey from the German Bundesliga make this a team to be reckoned with. However, Toronto may too feel the bite of international callups, as their team is largely made of Canadian internationals. Toronto will likely lose 5 players in key positions (GK, back line, midfield) for a month for the Gold Cup. Canada being drawn into the Gold Cup’s weakest group will likely prolong their absence. It will be a very interesting summer on the shores of Lake Ontario.

Chicago Fire didn’t do much this past offseason until this week, and that may cost them come October. Salary dumps to free up room for a Beckham Rule player have left the Fire young, and ironically, without a Beckham Rule Player for the first two months of the season. After that time, Mexican icon Cuauhtémoc Blanco will join the Fire. Blanco is essentially regarded as the Dennis Rodman of Mexican soccer, and could be a blockbuster move or a huge blunder for the Harlem Avenue outfit. He has had some personality conflicts with players and coaches, a few knee problems in recent years, and is widely regarded as a cheap-shot artist. Blanco will be counted on to produce right away and earn his #10 jersey, reserved for the team’s playmaker. The Fire lost their two leading goalscorers in Nate Jaqua (L.A.) and Costa Rican international Andy Herron (Columbus), but the team returns a talented, young lineup that earned them their first trophy in 3 years last season. Chad Barrett will finally get to playserious minutes at forward in Jaqua and Herron’s absence. Sophomore Calen Carr also looks poised to pick up some solid minutes off the bench, and perhaps even start as an attacking midfielder alongside Blanco. The Fire are also starting anew between the sticks as 25-year old Matt Pickens takes over for aging veteran Zach Thornton (traded to Colorado), who didn’t play another minute after giving up a 50-yard strike from Dwayne DeRosario in a 2-2 tie last August. Youth is served in Chicago.The key to the Fire’s season will be if Barrett, The Brazilian attacking mid Thiago, and USA International Chris Rolfe can stay healthy for an entire year, something that has been hard to accomplish so far. With Jaqua and Herron’s departure, the Fire are not nearly as deep as they were last season.

RBNY frankly does not deserve to go to the playoffs. They lost Youri Djorkaeff and Amado Guevara. Their offseason pickups were lackluster at best (How long before Claudio Reyna’s knees are totally shot on the Giants Stadium artificial turf?). They also signed aging goalkeeper Ronald Waterus from Holland. Waterus will turn 37 in August, so I believe that they will be a bit slow on the line, which could lead to a lot of goals. But they still just might make the postseason, because frankly, there are not a lot of good teams this year. Colorado might pass them for the last playoff spot. So might RSL.

Kansas City and Columbus are shit this year. I will be very surprised if either of them make the Cup playoffs. Kansas City might make a charge and make the top 5 sweat a bit if they can get production out of an aging Jimmy Conrad and Kevin Hartman, or any production at all out of Eddie Johnson, but EJ seems to be more bust than boom at this time.

Out West
2006 Finish: FC Dallas, Houston, Chivas USA, Colorado, Salt Lake, Los Angeles
2007 Predicted Finish: Los Angeles, Houston, FC Dallas, Salt Lake, Colorado, Chivas USA

The big news of the offseason was naturally David Beckham’s move to Los Angeles Galaxy, but what the mainstream media forgets is that ONE PLAYER CANNOT CHANGE A TEAM, especially in a sport with 11 players on the field. Fortunately for the Galaxy, they are in very good shape, even without Beckham. The Galaxy will suffer through the midsummer National Team absences for Landon Donovan just like last year, but this year, they have added some key acquisitions not named David Beckham to help fill the void. They acquired Chicago Fire’s second-leading scorer in striker Nate Jaqua, left unprotected by the Fire in the expansion draft thinking he was en route to Europe. With Beckham coming stateside, Jaqua seemed to think he could do just fine domestically, and had Toronto trade him to LA. Also suiting up for the Victoria Street outfit is Colroado Rapids goalkeeper Joe Cannon, who shut-out English powerhouse Chelsea FC in last season’s All-Star game. These two pick-ups I feel are a much more pivotal on-the-field move for Galaxy than Beckham, although Becks certainly opens new revenue doors and has already paid for himself through LA’s shirt sponsorship deal with Herbalife (rumored to be worth $25 million for 5 years). LA also has a storyline this season as Cobi Jones, who broke in with the US National team in 1992 has announced he will retire at the end of the season. While I personally hope that last game is at Toyota Park on the last day of the regular season, LA has the depth this year that they lacked in 2006, and a domestic double is not out of the question.

Defending MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo looks on track for a solid sophomore outing. They were able to re-sign US international Brian Ching, and keep hold on Canadian international Dwayne DeRosario, staving off interest from Europe and Toronto FC. The only real significant loss they have had is Adrian Serioux in the back line to Texas Derby rivals FC Dallas, and may suffer because of it, but they are largely the same team that lifted the Alan I Rothenberg Trophy in Dallas’s home ground last November.

FC Dallas won the west last season but their midfield has been gutted with the departure of Ronnie O’Brien in the expansion draft to Toronto FC. Dallas still has a fearsome attack that includes USA international Kenny Cooper and Guatemalan international and Goal of the Decade-winner Carlos Ruiz. Dallas is poised to be a strong team, but their reign atop the west looks finished.

If the playoff format was the same as last season, RSL would make the playoffs, and who knows? They might even this year. But with the shift in playoff berths, all the power in MLS appears to be in the East, making one of those last at-large playoff berths so hard to snap up. Real has reunited Freddy Adu with his U-21 coach and brought in Panamanian international Luis Tejada, as well as brought in the very capable, if injury-plagued Nick Rimando from DC United to man the nets. This season could go either way on the Wasatch Front, but I’m optimistic on RSL.

RSL’s Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids are still anchored by some solid players, and they should get an attendance boost from moving into a new stadium, but they are still one of the lesser franchises in MLS. USA international Pablo Mastroeni brings some spark and flair to the Rapids, but despite a new stadium, new colors, new badge, and new parternship with London’s Arsenal FC, they’re still the “Crapids” and will likely miss the playoffs. Picking up Zach Thornton from the Fire was a good move, but Thornton is old and is definitely way past his prime and very out of shape, but anything’s better than an untested rookie after losing Joe Cannon to the Galaxy.

Rounding out the bottom of the conference is Club Deportivo Chivas USA. While young stars Sacha Klijestan and Jonathan Bornstein are coming into their own, the Goats will lack the veteran presence and goalscoring that Paco Palencia and Juan Pablo Garcia brought to the club. The acquisition of Amado Guevara from RBNY should help allay this, but Guevara has a rocky relationship with coaches, and could be a locker room liability. Plus many of his goals are scored on set pieces. The departure of head coach Bob Bradley, largely credited with turning around Chivas into a playoff team last year leaves Chivas with even further question marks.

SuperLiga Qualification
In addition to qualification for the playoffs, the four teams with the best records (regardless of conference affiliation) will also qualify for the 2008 SuperLiga competition, the championship of club soccer in North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico). This season, I see SuperLiga spots being grabbed by Los Angeles, DC, Houston, and New England

MLS Cup Playoffs
Los Angeles over RSL (West #1 vs. West #4)
Houston over Dallas (West #2 vs. West #3)
DC United over Chicago (East #1 vs. East #4)
Toronto over New England (East #3 vs. East #2)

Conference Finals
Los Angeles over Houston
DC United over Toronto

MLS Cup Final
Los Angeles over DC United

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