MLS Amerisoccer is back!
Well actually, it started up again on Thursday with Seattle playing LA and losing 1-0 in front 36,644. So with two expansion franchises, record crowds expected (and now rivalling Championship levels), who are you ROOTING for?
Runners and riders
Seattle Sounders - An astonishing 32,000 STHs more or less fill the lower half of the big stadium in Seattle, they have already won 2 pieces of silverware since joining MLS 2 years ago (both times, the US Open Cup, their FA Cup). Colombian Freddy Montero is their stand out player now that Freddie Lyungberg has moved to Chicago.
Colarado Rapids - surprise winners last year. They barely made the play offs, then came through like a train. Unlikely to win it again this season, but play offs are realistic.
NY RedBulls - MY team, and they have the BEST stadium in the league, holding 25,189 and now with 10,000 STHs. They also have Thierry Henry. And Rafa Marquez. NY have never won MLS Cup, but this season could well be different...
LA Galaxy - probably the most recognisable team in MLS with Beckham and Landon Donavan, in their usually full 27,000 all seater purpose built stadium. They now also have JP Angel on the ROSTER so they are ancient, but expect to feature at the business end of the season.
Vancouver Whitecaps - expansion franchise gets down to business with an opening day sold out Canada "derby" against TFC tomorrow. 16,500 STHs and a fervent support might make the temporary 23,000 all seater stadium look woefully inadequate, although they're moving into a new rebuild venue half way through the season.
Portland Timbers - the other expansion franchise. Coached by ex Chelsea John Spencer, have rebuilt their stadium and sold all 12,500 season tickets weeks ago. Arguably the most passionate fans in the league, but no decent players so expected to struggle.
Toronto FC - perrenial underachievers, which is wearing the patience of their 16,000 STHs very thin. Expect improvement this season though, under Dutchman, Aaron Winter. Playoffs (top 10) will be minimum expectation this time out after 3 shit seasons.
Philly Union - another team with a big supporter base (12,000 STH) now into their second MLS season. Didn't make the playoffs last season, but looked promising at times and have unearthed a diamond in French striker, Sebastian Le Toux.
DC United - the one time jewel in the MLS crown have fallen on hard times recently. Absolutely SUCKED last season, but glimmers of hope this time round with some good youngsters having come through.
Columbus Crew - another team in the doldrums. Site of the first soccer specific stadium in MLS, but now looks bare and tired, and on the pitch the team are in a rebuilding phase. Reaching the play-offs might be considered a major achievement.
Sporting Kansas City - rebranded this season (from KC Wizards), they move into their new stadium and have gone from a tiny fanbase of a few thousand to 10,000 STHs thanks to the stadium move (where else have we seen that?). Omar Bravo has just arrived there.
FC Dallas - a very handy team with woeful support in recent seasons. However becoming MLS Cup finalists last season has changed all that, so they cannot be ruled out as a contender. First game at Pizza Hut Park (lulz) this season is a 20,000 sell out, which is quite a turn around from last season.
Houston Dynamo - Two time winners don't look strong this year, but all the interest for them is about events off the field, where they look to break ground on a new covered 22,000 stadium for the next 18 months or so.
Chivas USA - shit team and LA Galaxy stadium squatters. Not much going for them really.
Chicago Fire - lovely stadium, a couple of decent players have arrived (and gone in the case of Guatemoc Blanco) and they are a team and club in optimistic mood - season tickets in 2011 number 5,000 which is highest in their history. A dark horse.
Real Salt Lake - winners in 2009, soccer recently became popular in Salt Lake and the team have taken off, with 8,000 STHs at last count. A real danger this season, although the loss of Robbie Findlay to Nottingham Forest will be a blow to their title hopes
NE Revolution - Steve Nicol still manages the team, but key players are getting old and it is a franchise in need of an injection of investment. People are tired of watching soccer at a 70,000 facility with 12,000 rattling around.
San Jose Earthquakes - play in the poorest facility in the league by a mile, seating 10,000. Their "star" player recently was Darren Huckerby, so a bit of a village outfit really. Not likely to challenge.
Well actually, it started up again on Thursday with Seattle playing LA and losing 1-0 in front 36,644. So with two expansion franchises, record crowds expected (and now rivalling Championship levels), who are you ROOTING for?
Runners and riders
Seattle Sounders - An astonishing 32,000 STHs more or less fill the lower half of the big stadium in Seattle, they have already won 2 pieces of silverware since joining MLS 2 years ago (both times, the US Open Cup, their FA Cup). Colombian Freddy Montero is their stand out player now that Freddie Lyungberg has moved to Chicago.
Colarado Rapids - surprise winners last year. They barely made the play offs, then came through like a train. Unlikely to win it again this season, but play offs are realistic.
NY RedBulls - MY team, and they have the BEST stadium in the league, holding 25,189 and now with 10,000 STHs. They also have Thierry Henry. And Rafa Marquez. NY have never won MLS Cup, but this season could well be different...
LA Galaxy - probably the most recognisable team in MLS with Beckham and Landon Donavan, in their usually full 27,000 all seater purpose built stadium. They now also have JP Angel on the ROSTER so they are ancient, but expect to feature at the business end of the season.
Vancouver Whitecaps - expansion franchise gets down to business with an opening day sold out Canada "derby" against TFC tomorrow. 16,500 STHs and a fervent support might make the temporary 23,000 all seater stadium look woefully inadequate, although they're moving into a new rebuild venue half way through the season.
Portland Timbers - the other expansion franchise. Coached by ex Chelsea John Spencer, have rebuilt their stadium and sold all 12,500 season tickets weeks ago. Arguably the most passionate fans in the league, but no decent players so expected to struggle.
Toronto FC - perrenial underachievers, which is wearing the patience of their 16,000 STHs very thin. Expect improvement this season though, under Dutchman, Aaron Winter. Playoffs (top 10) will be minimum expectation this time out after 3 shit seasons.
Philly Union - another team with a big supporter base (12,000 STH) now into their second MLS season. Didn't make the playoffs last season, but looked promising at times and have unearthed a diamond in French striker, Sebastian Le Toux.
DC United - the one time jewel in the MLS crown have fallen on hard times recently. Absolutely SUCKED last season, but glimmers of hope this time round with some good youngsters having come through.
Columbus Crew - another team in the doldrums. Site of the first soccer specific stadium in MLS, but now looks bare and tired, and on the pitch the team are in a rebuilding phase. Reaching the play-offs might be considered a major achievement.
Sporting Kansas City - rebranded this season (from KC Wizards), they move into their new stadium and have gone from a tiny fanbase of a few thousand to 10,000 STHs thanks to the stadium move (where else have we seen that?). Omar Bravo has just arrived there.
FC Dallas - a very handy team with woeful support in recent seasons. However becoming MLS Cup finalists last season has changed all that, so they cannot be ruled out as a contender. First game at Pizza Hut Park (lulz) this season is a 20,000 sell out, which is quite a turn around from last season.
Houston Dynamo - Two time winners don't look strong this year, but all the interest for them is about events off the field, where they look to break ground on a new covered 22,000 stadium for the next 18 months or so.
Chivas USA - shit team and LA Galaxy stadium squatters. Not much going for them really.
Chicago Fire - lovely stadium, a couple of decent players have arrived (and gone in the case of Guatemoc Blanco) and they are a team and club in optimistic mood - season tickets in 2011 number 5,000 which is highest in their history. A dark horse.
Real Salt Lake - winners in 2009, soccer recently became popular in Salt Lake and the team have taken off, with 8,000 STHs at last count. A real danger this season, although the loss of Robbie Findlay to Nottingham Forest will be a blow to their title hopes
NE Revolution - Steve Nicol still manages the team, but key players are getting old and it is a franchise in need of an injection of investment. People are tired of watching soccer at a 70,000 facility with 12,000 rattling around.
San Jose Earthquakes - play in the poorest facility in the league by a mile, seating 10,000. Their "star" player recently was Darren Huckerby, so a bit of a village outfit really. Not likely to challenge.
