After an off-season full of exciting acquisitions and intriguing rumors, the MLS regular season has finally arrived. Now it’s time for extreme overreaction and wild hot takes. Here are my standings predictions for the regular season, and a reason for why each club ranks where they do.
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto FC- The defending somehow seemingly got even better over the off-season, and should be the favorites again. Additions like Gregory Van der Wiel and Ager Aketxe make an already stacked Toronto team even better. Expect NYCFC to give chase, but eventually come up short
2. NYCFC- After a disappointing loss to the Columbus Crew in last season’s Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, NYCFC added an impressive amount of depth over the off-season, as well as an exciting young DP in Jesus Medina. With impressive additions like Jo Inge Berget, Ebenezer Ofori, and others, NYCFC looks like the only club with a realistic chance of challenging Toronto during the regular season.
3. Atlanta United- With Ezequiel Barco, Josef Martinez, Miguel Almiron, and Hector Vilallba, Atlanta can make a strong case for having the best attack in MLS. Their Midfield and Defense, however, while not bad, is what separates them from Toronto and NYCFC. Atlanta could certainly surprise one of the top 2 in the playoffs, though.
4. Orlando City SC- Without much doubt, the most improved team in MLS heading into the season is Orlando City. They added Sacha Kljestan, Josue Colman, Justin Meram, Lamine Sane, and depth, what was a very busy off-season. Barring injuries, Orlando should make their first-ever playoff appearance this season.\
5. New York Red Bulls- Always one of the most consistent clubs in MLS, the Red Bulls look to be a solid playoff team again. Having made exciting additions like “Kaku” Gamarra and Mark Rzatkowski, the Red Bulls will also count on young Tyler Adams to step up and show the talent he is clearly capable of.
6. Chicago Fire- The lack of a true #10 is a bit concerning, but the Fire should still be solid this season. They lost David Accam but replaced him with Serbian International Aleksander Katai, who should be a more than adequate replacement.
7. DC United- They begin the season on a brutal road trip as their new stadium is completed, but DC have the talent to challenge for that final playoff spot. Their midfield may be the deepest in the league, and they brought in David Ousted to soften the blow of Bill Hamid leaving for Europe. Striker and fullback are positions of concern for DC, but the talent is there for them to be a fringe playoff team.
8. Montreal Impact- The Impact lost two of their top three players from last season in Laurent Ciman and Blerim Dzemaili, but new manager Remi Garde is hoping that replacements Saphir Taider and Zakaria Diallo can step up. Montreal doesn’t appear to be a playoff team, but anything can happen with Ignacio Piatti on your team.
9. Columbus Crew- The Crew traded Justin Meram and Ola Kamara away, but have picked up players like Gyasi Zardes, Eduardo Sosa, and Milton Valenzuela as well. Overall, the Crew may be a bit too inexperienced to be a playoff team this year in a highly competitive East. However, veterans like Federico Higuan and Pedro Santos could change that.
10. New England Revolution- The Revs did improve in a couple areas over the off-season, adding Syrian International Left-back Gabriel Somi and Valencia product Wilfried Zahibo to strengthen the XI, as well as Ecuadorian Cristian Penilla to add depth to the attack, but still look to be a bottom feeder in a tough Eastern Conference.
11. Philadelphia Union- Though the Union finally got their #10 in Borek Dockal, and a wide playmaker in David Accam, their defense looks questionable at best, and their lack of depth probably means that they’re fighting New England to stay off the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Western Conference
1. Seattle Sounders- The Western Conference champions the last two years certainly seem to be the favorites again. Going from Joevin Jones to Waylon Francis is a downgrade, but the rest of their team from last year is intact, and they’ve even bolstered the roster with the additions of Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Kim Kee-Hee. However, with Jordan Morris out for the year with a torn ACL, Will Bruin will need to step up if the Sounders want to win the West again.
2. Portland Timbers- The Timbers, like most clubs in MLS, improved their depth over the off-season. The additions of Andy Polo, Julio Cascante, Christhian Paredes, and Samuel Armenteros have bolstered an already strong team. And of course, Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco give you a chance in any match.
3. Sporting KC had the best defense in MLS last season, and they kept it intact, which is huge. They’ve also added Felipe Gutierrez and Yohan Croizet to help out what was a weak attack last season. Barring injuries, SKC should be right in the mix at the top of the West this season.
4. Vancouver Whitecaps- The Whitecaps strengthened their defensive depth with the pickups of Jose Aja and Doneil Henry, and signed Mexican international Efrain Juarez to play alongside Aly Ghazal in what should be a very defensively strong midfield. Venezuelan striker Anthony Blondell looks promising as well, but Kei Kamara is there if he isn’t ready.
5. Real Salt Lake- RSL made several strong additions in the off-season, including Demir Kreilach, Adam Henley, and Alfredo Ortuno. with no significant departures, expect RSL to sneak into the playoffs after missing out last season.
6. Houston Dynamo- The Dynamo’s only additions were Chris Seitz and young Venezuelan defender Alejandro Fuenmayor, and that’s OK. And electrifying young attack was the main reason for the Dynamo’s success last season, and they were able to keep that intact. I expect them to grab the final spot in the West.
7. LA Galaxy- After a disastrous 2017 campaign, expect the Galaxy to be better in 2018, but still a fringe playoff team. The attacking firepower is there, but the defense is still a question mark. One small victory for Galaxy fans would be finished ahead of cross-town rivals LAFC.
8. San Jose Earthquakes- Jesse Fiornaroli and the Earthquakes got to work this off-season, adding Allsvenskan Golden Boot winner Magnus Ericksson, Swedish Left back Joel Qwiberg, and young Uruguayan Center back Yeferson Quintero. However, depth may be an issue for the Quakes down the stretch.
9. LAFC- Speaking of the Galaxy’s cross-town rivals, no MLS club had more hype around them this winter than LAFC. While star players like Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi will always give them a chance, LAFC just doesn’t seem to have the depth to do much in the West in year one.
10. FC Dallas- After being bounced from the CONCACAF Champions League by Panamanian side Tauro FC, Dallas must turn around and put together a respectable MLS campaign after the club has been in a tailspin for the better part of a year. The individual talent is there, but the club is just in complete disarray.
11. Colorado Rapids- The Rapids added to their defense and midfield with the additions of Tommy Smith, Danny Wilson, Edgar Castillo, Jack Price and Johan Blomberg in the off-season, and look like they’ll be much improved this season. The attack will still be dreadful, but they’ll grind out a good number of 0-0 draws.
12. Minnesota United- After a poor inaugural season last year, it was clear that the Loons needed a lot of help. So they added…Tyrone Mears, Matt Lampson, and some unproven depth. Minnesota’s FO really doesn’t seem all that serious about winning until the new stadium is complete, and they’re the Wooden Spoon frontrunners as a result.
