We are a week out from the proposed start of the 2015 MLS season. This is MLS's 20th year in operation and it is shaping up to be a good one. The soccer writers at Vavel were given ten questions to start the season and none is more pressing than the first.
Included in this roundtable are Adam Stefanik, Joe Wielgus, Eevry Goren, Jasmine Stefanik, Liam McMahon, Matthew Evans, Steve Graff, Chris Blakely, and Blayne Riffle
1. Will the MLS season start on time or will we have a strike?
Adam: I think a short strike is inevitable
Chris: No, season will be delayed by two weeks unfortunately.
Eevry: I suspect we'll have a strike, but I don't expect it to last more than a few weeks. The players' union doesn't have the funding to go long term, and MLS executives will bow to some of their demands if they know what's good for them.
Jasmine: I think we will have a strike but it won't last longer than a week or two.
Joe: I am skeptical of the season starting on time. However, with two expansion teams as big as NYCFC and OCSC, I don't think there's any way Don Garber and MLS can afford to not play this season. Any delay to the season will set "MLS 3.0" way far back.
Liam: We will have a strike. Given that MLS emailed media affiliates saying that they are putting credential requests on hold tells me that they are expecting a strike as well. I don't think it will be long, mainly because neither the owners nor the players are willing to really hurt the league. However, both want to show how serious they are. I think we'll see a player strike which will last for a week, maybe two.
Matthew: Sadly, we will have a strike. There has not been as much change in the stances of the Player’s Union or the Owners when it comes to the subject of Free Agency. I am skeptical about how they will make an open free agency market work within the single-entity structure. Hopefully we will not lose too much of the season.
Steve: From what I've seen, we're absolutely going to see a lockout/strike and we'll probably be discussing NASL in these roundtables this season. MLS Players Union is rightfully going at the jugular of the single-entity concoction that is how MLS is fundamentally set up, and there hasn't been any sign of owners backing down from "no free agency" or players backing down from their demands. From the purpose of what a union is supposed to do, this is the best the MLS Players Union has looked in terms of being able to organize its members to get what it wants.
Blayne: I'm still very hopeful that an agreement will be reached. It's very clear the fans want the season to start on time and the players, the league, and the owners have too much to lose with a strike. Free-agency may not come at the end of the 2015 season, but some agreement lightening the hold MLS has on player movements will be negotiated. Maybe it's a buyout clause for player rights after a contract is up or maybe it's a change to what constitutes a legitimate offer from a team that retains the rights of an out of contract player. However they work it, I expect players to be able to move around more freely when out of contract in the near future. If MLS gives the players that, and not full free agency, there won't be a strike.
2. Who will be the best MLS newcomer in 2015?
Adam: Kaka or Fernando Aristeguieta - Kaka is showing he still has it and the Union newcomer is already showing he can score in MLS.
Chris: This is a hard one as so many have come in. Either Kaka or Diskerud
Eevry: I'm inclined to be bias as a Union fan given the recent performances of Fernando Aristeguieta in preseason but knowing just how good Kaka is I think I'm going to have to give it to him.
Jasmine: Fernando Aristeguieta
Joe: David Villa. I'm not a Villa fan, but he has to be the best player in MLS. I think Sebastian Giovinco will be a close second, but there are a lot of high quality players around him which may shadow what he can do.
Liam: Sebastian Giovinco. We tend to see European stalwarts late in their career come over to MLS and have success immediately. Therefore, given that Giovinco is still in the prime of his career, we can likely expect him to have a huge season. I think Giovinco will not only be the newcomer of the year but will be a contender for Most Valuable Player.
Matthew: The popular answers for this questions will likely be David Villa of New York City FC or Kaka of Orlando City SC. While those players will have big impacts for their club, my pick for the best MLS newcomer in 2015 is Steven Vitoria of the Philadelphia Union. The 28-year-old on loan from Benfica in Portugal brings something that the Union have been lacking for a while now; size. He stands 6-foot-5 and will be a threat on set pieces offensively as well as giving the team someone to match up with bigger players on defensive set pieces. If he can adjust to the style of play quickly, he could be a big reason that the Union make the playoffs in 2015.
Steve: Both teams have good parts--with Diskerud, David Villa, and Tony Taylor on NYCFC (now) and Orlando City with Kaka, Tommy Redding and others. I'd like to say Orlando City will do better because they're giving much more of an impression that they know what they're doing.
Blayne: Ricardo Kaka is going to be the best newcomer, not only in MLS, but for MLS. The Brazilian superstar appears to be in the best form we've seen him in for several years and ready to go. He may not put up the best numbers when compared to a guy like Giovinco, but his name and flash will leave the fans wanting more.
3. Who will be the MLS comeback player of the year?
Adam: Mike Magee when finally healthy
Chris: This is hard because it's hard to keep track of everything. If he can make it back in enough time, I'm going to go with Will Johnson of the Portland Timbers
Eevry: I think it could be Mike Magee in all honesty. He didn't have the worst 2014 with 7 goals in MLS but it was far from the dizzy heights he reached in 2013. But he's got a lot of new quality around him and I think that could bode well for the former Galaxy striker.
Joe: Jozy Altidore (If he applies) or Diego Valeri
Liam: Mike Magee. The 2013 MLS MVP experienced a nightmare 2014 season, dealing with a number of difficult injuries. However, he has loads of quality on the ball and if he can stay healthy he should be helping to spearhead a Chicago charge at the playoffs.
Matthew: The 2015 MLS Comeback Player of the Year will be Darlington Nagbe of the Portland Timbers. Nagbe had a great season in 2013 tallying nine goals and adding four assists but his production fell off last season. It was a pretty sharp drop off but the slack in goal scoring from the midfield was picked up by Diego Valeri, Will Johnson, and Rodney Wallace. This season will be different though with Johnson still recovering from his broken leg. Nagbe will need to be an attacking threat to open up space for Valeri in 2015. I think he will be; my prediction is seven goals and thirteen assists from Darlington Nagbe.
Steve: It's probably a player who should've been playing in MLS all last season, if he plays on an MLS franchise. Benji Joya. Super-skilled and a player a manager can move around into holding midfield and attacking midfield positions, is tactically aware, and plays with his head up. He had an injury last year at Chicago, but even after the former USA U-20 international recovered, the Fire refused to play him. The former Santos Laguna player has offers in Switzerland and Colombia, so I'm not so sure this prediction will hold up.
Blayne: Donovan Ricketts will have a nice turnaround in 2015, at least on the stat sheets. Playing in the Eastern Conference with Orlando will do wonders for his stats. This may be his last season, but I expect him to show us he's still got what it takes to compete. With Tally Hall coming back part way through the season, Ricketts knows he has to show up or sit down and he is going to show up.
4. Which team is favored to win the East and West?
Adam: East: DC United. West: Seattle Sounders
Chris: The East will be New England or DC. The west will come down to Seattle and LA again.
Eevry: For the West I think it's a toss-up between LA and Seattle. LA have big shoes to fill with Donovan gone, but they've had a few young guys pop up in preseason that look like real quality that could fill that spot at left midfield, not to mention the eventual arrival of the mercurial Steven Gerrard. As for Seattle, they've strengthened in defense with the addition of Andres Correa as well as adding midfield depth with Christian Roldan to add to an already stacked squad.
Jasmine: Philadelphia Union and LA Galaxy
Joe: East - Columbus - West - LA
Liam: I like Seattle to win the West and New England to win the East. At the moment, top to bottom, they are the two strongest teams in the league.
Matthew: I think that there are three teams who could win the East and three who could win the West. The East teams are the New England Revolution, DC United, and Orlando City SC. The West teams are the LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, and Sporting Kansas City.
Steve: East: New England Revolution for the fact they have so many technically gifted American players at so many positions, which is not only hard to do in MLS because of salary caps and the other "lotteries" which artificially force parity on everyone, but because so many teams don't identify and mold good players and often rely heavily on "jungle ball" and physical play.
Blayne: Seattle will take the Western Conference this season. The skill and depth is just too much for the others to overcome during the regular season and they should be favorites to hold on to the Supporter's Shield. The Eastern Conference is going to be a dog fight this year, but I believe Columbus will come out on top. They've made some key moves and built what is likely the best defense in the East now the Sporting KC has left. This young members of the squad gained valuable experience in 2014 as well as showing they can compete.
5. Which team will win MLS Cup?
Adam: Los Angeles Galaxy - still the MLS standard-bearer and will have Steven Gerrard for the usual playoff run.
Chris: For the first time ever, the Sounders will lift the cup.
Eevry: Call me crazy but, Orlando City. They've got a great group with a mix of MLS experience and exciting young players (as well as one Brazilian superstar) and I think if they gel quickly enough they can be one of the best teams in the league.
Jasmine: Any team except the Red Bulls
Joe: LA
Liam: The Seattle Sounders will finally win their first MLS Cup in 2015.They came desperately close to winning it last season, and won two of the three domestic trophies on offer. However, they missed out on the treble and will come back with renewed vigor to try and add that one trophy which they are still missing.
Matthew: This is a tough question. I do not have a specific club in mind, though I do see the winner coming from the West yet again.
Steve: Will there even be an MLS Cup? Why is a playoff tournament in a league which sends its regular season champion to the CONCACAF Champions League anyway important? If I had to have a guess--I liked how Montreal took the life out of a very good, young Mexican team in Pachuca, and frustrated them. Pachuca really didn't start to feel like they had their passing rhythm or confidence until the middle of the second half. It's gotten the Impact an away goals advantage that they could use to leave Mexico with only one team in the running for the CCL. In the MLS Cup playoffs, teams have succeeded against better ones by doing what Montreal did to the better, more skilled Tuzos--frustrate the hell out of them and hit them on the break when they get their chances. They also happen to have a proven enganche that can provide those final balls on the counter in Nacho Piatti, who's done so only as recently as the last Copa Libertadores (2014 edition).
Blayne: While Seattle may repeat for the Shield, Sporting Kansas City or LA Galaxy will knock them out of the playoffs. The winner from the West will win MLS Cup and my money is on Sporting KC. Luis Marin in goal, a healthy defense, and a fresh crew of forwards and wingers that have bought into the system make Vermes' side a formidable matchup for anyone. They may not have the depth to win the regular season, but they will thrive in the playoffs.
6. Which team will have the biggest turnaround from 2014?
Adam: Houston Dynamo-made some smart moves this offseason and will be much stronger when Erick “Cubo” Torres returns from Mexico.
Chris: San Jose will turn things around big time with Dominic as the coach.
Eevry: I really think it's going to be the Houston Dynamo. They've made some great additions in the offseason with guys like Raul Rodriguez and Cubo Torres and a manager who I rate very highly in Owen Coyle. Expect them to be much tighter at the back and possibly make a run in the playoffs in traditional Dynamo fashion.
Jasmine: Philadelphia Union
Joe: Montreal
Liam: Chicago Fire. The Fire finished second bottom in the East with 36 points, but have signed three new Designated Players in the offseason. They struggled for goals last season, and responded to that by signing strikers David Accam and Kennedy Igboananike in addition to signing attacking midfielder Shaun Maloney. The defense is still a concern, but I think that they will experience a huge turnaround which will culminate in a playoff berth.
Matthew: Toronto FC. I think this may be the year they finally take that big step forward into the playoffs.
Steve: Sporting Kansas City, especially if Amadou Dia and Erik Palmer-Brown become parts of the team's regular lineup.
Blayne: Honestly, I'm not seeing a team to really turn things around. Montreal might climb the table a few spots, but will still miss the playoffs. Portland may slip into the playoffs, but that's not a huge improvement over last season.
7. Which team will tumble farthest from 2014?
Adam: Sporting Kansas City-moving to the more competitive West will cause them to fall a bit but should still be a playoff team
Chris: Columbus Crew will miss the playoffs.
Eevry: New York Red Bulls. They've lost too many big players (Henry, Cahill, Olave) and haven't brought in replacements. I can't see BWP replicating last year's form without better service (no disrespect to Kljestan and Martins). In fact as I write this, the Red Bulls are down 3-0 in preseason against Philadelphia. That speaks volumes in my opinion.
Jasmine: Seattle Sounders
Joe: Chivas USA. RIP. If that isn't acceptable, I say Houston. Dom Kinnear was the only person who could make any semblance of that team. Without him they will be lost.
Liam: New York Red Bulls. Without Thierry Henry in the line-up, teams will be able to double and triple mark Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Englishman equaled the record for single season scoring last term, but that was due in large part to the brilliance of Henry. Without him, I see them dropping to eighth or ninth in the East.
Matthew: Portland Timbers. The loss of Ben Zemanski will likely force Caleb Porter to shift his tactical approach. Diego Chara is really the only solid defensive midfield option they have besides the injured Will Johnson and Zemanski. I think we may see a 4-1-3-2 with both Adi and Urruti on the field at the same time up front.
Steve: DC United, and it's all because of Ben Olsen. Although he will have a very talented team, it's a team that is struggling in big game situations. The match in the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica showed me that Ben Olsen hasn't mentally prepared the team for the season. Given the skill and ability in the side, there are some good players that could turn on him because of it. This inability to prep his team for the big games has not just hurt DC United in the CONCACAF Champions League knockout stage, but it's also knocked them out of MLS Cup playoffs. As much as I would like to discredit it, there's still a purpose of that tournament.
Blayne: Real Salt Lake is priming for a tumble. With an aging team and a new formation for 2015, the season could go horribly wrong, but maybe it wasn't just Jason Kreis that kept this team on top. The New York Red Bulls on the other hand are set up for disaster. They lost three key players in Henry, Cahill, and Olave as well as their coach. Mike Petke's departure is not only a change in management, it's a crack in the foundation on NYRB. The fans revolted and the team doesn't appear to have wanted him out. Drama usually leads to poor results.
8. What is your most anticipated storyline for 2015?
Adam: League expansion - the race for the final two spots will heat up even more
Chris: To see how the new clubs will do as well as Gerrard, Lampard and Kaka.
Eevry: Call me predictable but it's 100% the arrival of Steven Gerrard. A personal hero of mine and one of the finest midfielders this world has ever seen, the guy has tons to contribute to LA both on and off the field.
Jasmine: The MLS Strike
Joe: Jozy Altidore. I am a huge Jozy fan and I really want him to do well. After the (unwarranted) criticism he received with his time at Sunderland, I hope he shuts everyone up.
Liam: The most anticipated storyline has to be whether or not the season will start on time. Neither the owners nor the players are willing to budge on the whole free agency/single entity debate, and it looks like a lockout is set to happen. That being said, should the owners budge and allow the single-entity structure to dissolve what could happen after that would undoubtedly be even more interesting than a potential lockout.
Matthew: The biggest storyline for me will be can the Sounders finally reach the top of the mountain? They have been making progress over the last few years but can this be the year that they finally bring home an MLS Cup Championship?
Steve: It's the storyline at the bargaining table and in the courts if the MLS CBA fight goes to court (and tries to challenge MLS's single entity structure).
Blayne: How the newcomers stack up against the MLS stars. With names like Kaka, Giovinco, Villa, Lampard, and Gerrard all joining MLS, it's going to be fun to see how they compare to seasoned veterans who are familiar with how MLS plays.
9. What will be the biggest surprise in MLS in 2015?
Adam: Orlando City finishing ahead of Toronto in the East-OCSC is a well-run organization and won’t be surprised if they finish top 3 in the East, but could just as easily miss the playoffs
Chris: How much better NYCFC will be than OCSC
Eevry: How few draws Chicago get this season. Just kidding. Probably how many goals NYRB concede.
Jasmine: The turnaround of the Union
Joe: I think most people will be surprised with how well NYCFC will do. They're the butt of a lot of jokes around MLS right now, but I think they'll compete for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Liam: At least one, if not two more big name players still in the prime of their careers will move to MLS. Giovinco will be just the tip of the iceberg, and while I will not pretend to know who will be coming over we will see someone else.
Matthew: The Montreal Impact will be the biggest surprise in 2015. Having watched their game on Tuesday night in the CONCACAF Champions League, I really like the changes made by Frank Klopas.
Steve: If there's a 2015 season that is to be played.
Blayne: From the way things look and all the predictions, the biggest surprise will be the season starting on time. On the field, I think someone is going to break the 27 goal mark this year.
As a Bonus Question, each writer was asked to make one prediction based on very little information.
10. Who will MLS host in Denver for the All Star Game?
Adam: Chelsea
Chris: MLS All-Stars will play a mid-table opponent from BPL
Eevry: I think Pep's coming back with Bayern to seek his revenge!
Joe: Liga MX All-Stars
Liam: Ahh, conjecture here... I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say Real Madrid. The Galacticos are trying to grow their brand in the United States, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see them come over here again. MLS seems to like to rotate opponents around the different European leagues, and they've yet to play a Spanish team yet. The last seven games have featured five games against English (West Ham United, Everton FC, Manchester United (twice) and Chelsea) teams followed by an Italian team (AS Roma) and a German club (Bayern Munich). It seems only logical that they would next bring in a Spanish team.
Matthew: It will be Arsenal. No doubt in my mind. Colorado Rapids owner Stan Kroenke is the largest shareholder of Arsenal FC. If it is not Arsenal, I will be shocked.
Steve: Nobody because there won't likely be a season.
Blayne: With the game in Denver and Kroenke being the majority owner of Arsenal, I can think of no better storyline than MLS All Stars - Arsenal Gunners. It's time for an English team to come over and play, Gideon Zlalem is there, and the owner has a vested interest in the game. It's a matchup with all the storylines and logistics needed for a great game.