Predictions for the 2016 MLS Season

(Jamie Valdez – Portland Tribune)

The 2016 MLS season is about to begin, and expectations vary for all the teams. Some, like the Red Bulls and the LA Galaxy, will always be considered perennial favourites due to the deep squad. Others, like Chicago and Colorado, do not have a lot of money, a good market, and do not look like they are improving any time soon.

That being said, the MLS Cup is so unpredictable due to the fact that more than half of the teams make the playoffs, and the single elimination bracket means that an off-game for any of the teams ends the season, so any team going into good form into the playoffs can take advantage of that and punch above their own weight, and make a good playoff run. But the Shield standings are better to predict, partly because it takes the majority of the season’s results into account.

Here’s the projections for the 2016 MLS season:

Eastern Conference:

1. New York Red Bulls – They always have the most complete teams in the MLS, so there’s no reason why they can’t repeat what they’ve done in 2016.
2. Columbus Crew – Much like the Red Bulls, much of the same team is there in 2016. Hopefully Kei Kamara doesn’t quit on Columbus.
3. D.C. United – If the team had a proper stadium the team would be in the Top 2 contention. A good atmosphere can go a surprisingly long way.
4. Toronto FC – In a weak Eastern Conference, one player can carry a team to the playoffs. Giovinco can do just that. The offseason additions also help as well.
5. Montreal Impact – The player that carries this team is Didier Drogba. Probably going to be his last season but he is looking to go out on a high note.
6. Orlando City SC – Kaka and company can make the playoffs this year. Last year was a bit of a transitional period and the team can really gel now having a season already under their belt.
7. New England Revolution – Whether they like it or not, losing Jermaine Jones was a big loss to the team. He was an icon on the team, and it’s hard to see anyone else taking up the reigns as much as he did.
8. New York City FC – They have a talented team, but with the way they are aging are they going to keep off the injury list? Furthermore, can Andrea Pirlo and David Villa remain in constant form?
9. Philadelphia Union – An unremarkable team with very little to go by in a competitive (but weak) Eastern Conference. I don’t forsee them going very far with the squad they have.
10. Chicago Fire – Can a team really have a worse offseason than Chicago? Losing most of their good players doesn’t help matters.

Western Conference

1. FC Dallas – The team may not be very flashy but they are just that – a very good team. They managed to top the Western Conference last year and they have the tools to do so again this year.
2. Portland Timbers – They have a very good team that is riding high from their MLS Cup win in 2015. They have every advantage that they can have going into this season and they should start out in good form.
3. Seattle Sounders – They lost Obafemi Martins, but their team is still very good. I see them carrying over their good form this year. They deserved to be in the Conference Finals last year.
4. Vancouver Whitecaps FC – They have a good team, but they don’t exactly have “it” – that is, what makes them a truly good team. I think they’ll win a lot of games but I don’t see them being among the elite.
5. LA Galaxy – Much like NYCFC, in the sense that they are overpaid and sensationalized in a big market. They do have a half decent squad, though, and their superstars should help them into the playoffs.
6. Sporting Kansas City – They don’t really have that elite of a team, but they know how a good playoff run starts. They’ll get in the playoffs this year, despite others saying otherwise.
7. San Jose Earthquakes – Is Wondo still playing?? He will definitely have a positive impact on the team this season. There really isn’t much else to talk about San Jose, however.
8. Houston Dynamo – Much like Philadelphia, Houston is unremarkable in every way. In a packed Western Conference, it’s hard seeing Houston going very far in the playoffs.
9. Real Salt Lake – Don’t let their CCL berth fool you – this is clearly a team in a middle of a rebuild. Getting Moysisyan, a player in their 2009 MLS Cup run, won’t help in the present day.
10. Colorado Rapids – Remember when I said “Can anyone have a worse offseason than Chicago?” Colorado makes a compelling case with an apathetic owner and a team that is willing to pay gobs of money for a 36 year old goalkeeper. Makes total sense to nobody.