Unlike past seasons where MLS clashed with the Final Four and the start of MLB, this year opening day for MLS actually falls on a weekend where soccer has most of the attention to itself. Rather fitting, since this season has the potential to be the most intriguing in MLS history.
As with all season-opening weekends, optimism is rife this time of year and usually a good excuse for writers everywhere to break out the predictions. With that in mind, I polled some of my writers to give me their picks for the year. Actually, I owe them an apology -- I'd promised to present the information in more glamorous fashion but given time constraints and a hectic week, they're going to have to settle for a blog format instead.
So without further ado (and paging Andrea Canales), here are our predictions, with mine first:
Eastern Conference champs: D.C. United -- Once they gell, the Latin attacking quartet of Jaime Moreno, Fred, Luciano Emilio and Christian Gomez will be too much for most teams to contain.
Western Conference champs: L.A. Galaxy -- The addition of Joe Cannon, who can carry a team when he's hot, a full season under Frank Yallop and the midseason addition of David Beckham makes the Galaxy the team to beat out West -- especially if Landon Donovan remains focused throughout the season. If a reliable forward emerges for the Galaxy (and there's some question in my mind as to whether or not Nate Jaqua can fill that role), they could win it all.
MLS Cup champion: D.C. -- It's tempting to pick L.A., but I suspect that as long as Facundo Erpen doesn't have one of his usual brain lapses in the final, D.C. will edge the Galaxy.
MLS MVP: Dwayne De Rosario, Houston -- De Rosario finally gets the award he was jobbed out of two years ago.
Scoring Leader: Brian Ching, Houston -- If the injury-prone Ching can stay healthy, he's a good bet to lead MLS in goals.
Rookie of the Year: Chris Seitz -- Along with Maurice Edu, Seitz was the best player available in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. Even though he'll miss time participating in the U-20 World Cup, he'll have plenty of work behind Real Salt Lake's porous defense.
Breakout player: Dax McCarty, FC Dallas -- Criminally underused by former Dallas coach Colin Clarke last year, McCarty will flourish under new coach Steve Morrow, who's willing to give youth a shot.
Worst Team: Real Salt Lake -- Even with Freddy Adu and Mehdi Ballouchy expected to improve, I can't see this team making much noise this season.
Ives Galarcep:
Eastern Conference: D.C. United
Western Conference: Houston
MLS Cup champs: D.C. United
MVP: Christian Gomez, D.C. United
Scoring leader: Jeff Cunningham, RSL
Rookie of the Year: Dane Richards, Red Bulls
Breakout player: Abbe Ibrahim
Worst Team: Columbus Crew
Jeff Carlisle:
Eastern Conference: D.C. United
Western Conference: Houston
MLS Cup champs: D.C. United
MVP: Christian Gomez
Scoring leader: Luciano Emilio, D.C. United
Rookie of the Year: John Cunliffe
Breakout player: Nathan Sturgis
Worst team: Real Salt Lake
Kristian Dyer:
Eastern Conference: D.C. United
Western Conference: Houston
MLS Cup champs: Houston
MVP: Luciano Emilio
Scoring leader: Kenny Cooper
Rookie of the Year: Dane Richards
Breakout player: Danny Szetela
Worst team: K.C. Wizards
Frank Dell'Apa:
Eastern Conference: D.C. United
Western Conference: Houston
MLS Cup champs: New England
MVP: De Rosario
Scoring leader: Taylor Twellman, New England
Rookie of the Year: Adam Cristman, New England
Breakout player: Andy Dorman, New England
Worst team: Real Salt Lake
Jen Chang
