With just a handful of matches left for every MLS club, several members of the VAVEL MLS office sat down to discuss the Supporters' Shield race, the favorites for the MVP award, the recent fan protests in Chicago, Philadelphia and Colorado, and much more.
Who will win the Supporters' Shield? Why?
Eevry Goren: With the momentum and depth Los Angeles have, I can't see anyone but them storming to the title. They went on a similar run last season, losing just four games from June till the end of this season, just falling short of the Supporters' Shield but winning MLS Cup and this time around I think they're an even more talented team than they were before.
Chris Blakely: In the end, it’s going to come down to one or two teams like it normally does. The Eastern Conference is so easy, so it’s easy to say it will be DC United. However, it will be a team in the Western Conference. It will come down to the LA Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Galaxy essentially has an all-star team on the field. The one weakness that they have is in goal with Donovan Ricketts. He is bound to give up a bad goal almost every game. The Whitecaps still have three CONCACAF Champions League games to play, two on the road. They have to travel to Honduras to play Olimpia as well as Seattle. Carl Robinson will have to manage his team well if he really wants to get the Supporters’ Shield. So, I’m going to say it will be the Galaxy.
Huzaifa Bhombal: LA Galaxy will win the Supporters' Shield. I'd say this because they are such a strong team at every position and they are destroying every opponent they face. I don't think it'll even be close.
Tyler Fisher: The Supporters’ Shield race will come down between Los Angeles Galaxy, and Vancouver Whitecaps. Looking at the remaining schedule for both teams, Vancouver seems to have the easier end of the season. Los Angeles has an easy schedule as well, but the Supporters' Shield talk will rise more, if they can get past the Portland Timbers. If they can defeat them, it will come down to the last few games. With how tight both teams are within each other in points, it’s unpredictable on the winner of the 2015 MLS Supporters' Shield.
Liam McMahon: Who else can it be but the LA Galaxy? Coming into the year, the big question was how they would deal with the loss of Baggio Husidic. They have answered that question emphatically, and the additions of Giovani Dos Santos, Steven Gerrard and Sebastian Lletget. While the two big name DP signings would seem the most important, Lletget has been the best signing of the season. Since joining the Galaxy on a free transfer from West Ham United, he has scored seven goals and had two assists in just 14 appearances. With their stunning attacking line-up and strong defensive line, it seems unthinkable that any other team could win the trophy.
Who is more important to their team at the moment: Sebastian Giovinco or Robbie Keane?
EG: Sebastian Giovinco by far, while the chemistry Robbie Keane and his teammates have developed is impressive and he makes them better players, they can function well without him as proven earlier in the season. But without Giovinco, Toronto seems to struggle. The service he provides for a player like Jozy Altidore whose confidence goes in and out and the pure magic he creates is absolutely MVP quality.
CB: Without Sebastian Giovinco in Toronto they would be nowhere near a playoff spot. He may not be the captain, but he is the leader of that team. He is dangerous on set pieces and can run defenses ragged. Robbie Keane has other superstars on his team that can pick up the slack when he is having an off day.
HB: Giovinco. Even if Keane is injured for the LA Galaxy, they still would be a really good team. How about TFC without Giovinco. They would be right there with Philly and Chicago. Seba has single handedly won many games for Toronto this season.
TF: Sebastian Giovinco is more important to his club (Toronto FC) because Toronto has been on the downfall in every season. Although bringing in Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore helped, they managed to still slip out of the playoff picture, and not make the postseason. Bringing in the young Italian in Giovinco, Sebastian has picked the team up and are taking them to new heights. He currently leads the team in goals, and is just second behind Crew SC’s Kei Kamara for league leader in goals. So it’s safe to say, Sebastian Giovinco is more important than Robbie Keane.
LM: Keane is the finest striker that MLS has ever seen. Giovinco is having the greatest season MLS has ever seen. He is second in the league in goals scored with 17 (one behind current Golden Boot leader Kei Kamara) and is tied for second in assists, with 13 (also one behind league leader Christian Maidana). If there was an award for the league's top striker, it would go to Keane. However, there is no player more important to their team than Giovinco. MVP is the award for Most Valuable Player. Giovinco is the MVP.
Given the recent fan protests in Chicago, Colorado and Philadelphia, are we on the verge of seeing a massive shake-up in the make up of MLS's ownership groups? What will these protests lead to, if anything?
EG: Absolutely not. As much as I'd love to see owners willing to spend the big bucks I don't think it's likely. This is due in part to the single entity system which I believe makes it harder to force a sale due to the franchise fee paid by the team unless there is extenuating circumstances such as with Chivas USA or the various teams owned by the Hunt family, etc. What the protests are likely to force is minor team investment a la buying a big name player or the resignation of someone in management. These are short term solutions likely to quiet the fans and make people happy until the next wave of poor results or a missed opportunity on a big name. This sort of unrest from fans is common worldwide and generally concludes with the same result- no sale.
CB: Philadelphia, Chicago and Colorado need to make a change from top to bottom. Chicago used to be a proud franchise, but lately they have been an embarrassment in MLS play. Colorado hasn’t done anything since they won MLS Cup in 2010 and they had something good going until Oscar Pareja bolted for FC Dallas. Pablo Mastroeni hasn’t been given the tools to make the Rapids successful. In Philly it’s just a bad thing all around. They have a chance to clinch the club’s first ever trophy in September, but they need new management and owners. Sadly, none of this will probably happen.
HB: Hopefully, we are on the verge of seeing a massive shakeup in MLS ownership groups. The only way MLS can get to the next level is if they get rid of these three ownership groups that really don't do enough good things for their team. If these three markets get new ownership groups who are willing to spend big money on players, it would be very good for the league. These protests may lead to MLS noticing all the issues with these teams, and have discussions with these teams about selling the team.
TF: The recent protests in Chicago, Colorado, and Philadelphia won’t seek out a massive shake-up before the end of the season. Yes, anything can happen, but the moves in all three front offices will come once the season is over, and offseason has begun. Chicago won’t make any moves, if there is one club to point out in “changes being made.” The protests will lead to fans asking for possible movement, an “experienced coach to win titles,” and “owners who care.”
LM: Very little will change. All three of these teams remind me of Newcastle United, and all three supporters' groups are saying the same thing that the Newcastle supporters were saying last spring: "We don't demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries". We may see a bit more effort from club ownership, but there will be precious little difference.
Who will be the 12 teams to make the MLS Cup Playoffs and why?
EG: In no particular order: East: DC, New York Red Bulls, Columbus, Montreal Impact, Orlando, and Toronto. West: LA Galaxy, Vancouver Whitecaps, FC Dallas, Sporting Kansas City, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders. As stated below, I'm not convinced of the Revolution currently and the only other team in the East who I view as even capable both depth and form wise of making the playoffs is Orlando. NYCFC continue a peculiar season, the Philadelphia Union always tend to fall short and Chicago simply aren't good enough. In the West, San Jose and Houston could challenge for the 6th and final spot but I suspect they'll both fall short. Seattle were vulnerable but with their new signings and injured players returning I suspect they'll be picking up momentum soon. As for the others I just don't see them slipping up any time soon.
CB: In the West it will be the Galaxy, Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes and the Seattle Sounders. Seattle will just sneak in and have to play the dreaded mid-week match against the number three seed. The Earthquakes have been surging as of late and it doesn’t look like anyone will stop them. Even with less than ten games to go, it’s hard to pick which six will make it. The West is so hard as it has been for many years.
HB: EAST: DC United - There's literally no chance they don't make playoffs, they have been the best team in the East all season.
NY Red Bulls - They are 2nd in the east, have three games in hand on DC, and have bolstered their roster in many great ways in the transfer window. They could even possibly win the shield.
Toronto FC - TFC have tons of home games ahead of them, and the easiest schedule left so they'll make it comfortably
Columbus Crew - Their attack has been great all season, and have added Gaston Sauro to the defence. Yup, they'll make it for sure.
NE Revolution - They have struggled as of late, but with all that young talent, I don't see them not making it.
Chicago Fire - The top 5 spots in the east are basically sealed, but the last spot is a toss up. Now that Maloney has been sold, they can really put it together and make a run. They're only two points out of the last spot too.
WEST: LA Galaxy - the best team in the league right now, they are scary good.
Vancouver Whitecaps - This team has so much depth, and play like a team, no chance they won't make it.
FC Dallas - Currently fifth, but have a good number of games in hand, and players coming back from injury.
Sporting KC - The past few games they've been dropping points, I see them falling to 4th.
Portland Timbers - Lucas Melano will help keep this team on track to make the playoffs.
San Jose Earthquakes - Dom Kinnear is going to take this team to playoffs. book it. Didn't play well to start the season, but have been getting win after win lately.
TF: Anything can happen with just a little over two months left in the regular season. Predicting the 12 teams to make the postseason is really hard to do at the moment, as most teams can make a quick turnaround, and shake things up. But, if the playoffs were to start right now, these are the twelve teams that will make the playoffs.
East: DC United, New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, Columbus Crew SC, New England Revolution, Orlando City SC
West: Los Angeles Galaxy, Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, Sporting Kansas City, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo
LM: DC United, Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, New England Revolution and Orlando City will represent the East while LA, Vancouver Whitecaps, FC Dallas, Sporting KC, Portland and San Jose will represent the West. The top five teams in the East are pretty settled, but teams 6-10 are all within two points of each other. It's just a crap shoot to try and determine which of them will make the postseason. However, Orlando are the most complete team. In the other conference, teams are bunched closer together, but there's too much quality at the top of the table for any of them to come close to missing out. Right on the red line, the battle is between San Jose and Seattle for the last playoff spot. Seattle have been in such a dreadful run of form for so long, I just don't see them getting in.
Which team currently in a playoff position will see themselves unexpectedly drop out of the picture?
EG: Frankly the only team I can see falling out of the playoff spots from who's currently there is New England. They recently ended a five game losing streak but I'm not totally convinced that the rot has stopped. Of course Montreal are further down but I think overall they're picking up steam even with Didier Drogba picking up that injury so soon.
CB: In the West, Dallas will just miss out on the playoffs as they are due for their yearly slide. They haven’t really shown they belong and they just barely made the playoffs last year. Montreal will just miss out because of all the games they have played this year and in the end, fatigue will do them in.
HB: Seattle will drop out of the playoff picture. A lot of their key players are injured and have brought in too many new faces that will take time to gel together.
TF: There are two teams that will see themselves slip out of the playoff picture. One from each conference. In the East it will be the Montreal Impact. Yes, they’re good, but not good enough to hold onto a top six spot. And from the West, the Seattle Sounders. Seattle, who has the capability of making MLS Cup Finals, are having a decent season, sitting tied with San Jose Earthquakes for the sixth spot. Seattle will lose, at most two of their remaining games this season, and will fall out of the playoff race.
LM: Given the parity in MLS, it's hard to say that any team missing out on the playoffs is unexpected. Yet, if there is a team who "unexpectedly" misses out, it'll be either Orlando City or NYCFC. Given the amount of money these teams have poured in, especially NYCFC, it'll be surprising if either team misses out.
What is the top storyline for the rest of the season?
EG: It's got to be the performance of midseason DP acquisitions; some have hit the ground running while others continue to struggle and the fact of the matter is often times these guys put butts in seats. This aside NYCFC's continued unspectacular performance may fall under the microscope further or perhaps the Rookie of the Year race will heat up.
CB: Honestly, it’s will the Sounders make the playoffs for the seventh straight year? Will Sigi Schmid be back next year regardless of how they finish? Also, will Jurgen Klinsmann let teams keep their U.S. International players for the MLS playoff push? If he does, it’s anybody’s game. If he doesn’t, it gets a lot easier to see who makes the playoffs and who doesn’t.
HB: Can all the new big signings lead their teams to success? (Dos Santos, Drogba, Martinez, Valdez)
TF: The top storyline for the rest of the season is “Who will win the Golden Boot? Kei Kamara? Sebastian Giovinco?” Yes, both players are practically neck-and-neck for the title of league leader in goals. Or, Golden Boot. Keep an eye on these two specific players, and see how they perform in their upcoming games.
LM: Can NYCFC sort themselves out? Fans of every other club in the league have taken unhealthy amounts of pleasure in their misery throughout the season, especially because the City Football Group have put so much pressure on the coaching staff to produce results. Will they be able to make the playoffs? Will Jason Kreis lose his job if they don't? Will Andrea Pirlo ever look like a competent footballer with any desire to track back and defend? Those questions and more will be answered as the NYCFC soap opera rolls on.