Sure, it's cold outside here in the Northeast. Sure, it's a while before MLS camps open and preseason gets under way in earnest. But, we've got some soccer involving a lot of MLS players on TV this weekend, and First XI is fired up for the 2009 season.
11. Seattle Sounders FC. Expansion teams always excite me, even though the "modern era" expansion teams in MLS have taken their lumps. There's a lot to like about a team in Seattle, including the cool, often-damp weather, which should make games in the Pacific Northwest up-tempo affairs. I am excited to see Kasey Keller in MLS, and I'm fired up that so many tickets have been sold. Not crazy about that Tampa Bay Mutiny '96 green, but I'll get past it.
10. Tinkering in LA. When a team that considers itself one of the league's flagship clubs misses the playoffs for three straight seasons, it creates the kind of tension that has to get you excited. Already we see Bruce Arena moving some pieces around. And while additions like Dema Kovalenko and Mike Magee may not make headlines, sometimes it's the under-the-radar moves that can get MLS teams turned around. Kovalenko will certainly get under some people's skin and Magee, still only 24, is fighting for his MLS life. I still believe Magee can be a 10-goal scorer in MLS if he stays healthy and earns his minutes.
9. Red Bull Fever. Ninety minutes can change everything. The 90 minutes that the Red Bulls played on the road in the playoffs, defeating Houston 3-0, has changed everything in New York. Even more than the Western Conference final at Real Salt Lake, where you figured the Red Bulls had a 50-50 shot to get a result, it was the big win against the defending champions that should have Red Bulls fans expecting the best when the 2009 season opens up. In their final season at Giants Stadium, the Red Bulls have a chance, with a great season, to set a nice table for the opening of Red Bull Arena in 2010.
8. The Polish Rifle. From start to finish, the Columbus Crew were the best team in MLS a year ago. And then, as soon as they'd finished taking their victory lap with the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, Sigi Schmid was on his way to Seattle and the Crew were dealing with change. I believe Crew fans have nothing to fear with long-time assistant, and former Crew star, Robert Warzycha ready to take the helm. Part of me thinks the players who form the 2008 championship club will also want to prove they can repeat, no matter who's coaching.
7. Shaking up Dallas. When the Red Bulls (MetroStars) made it to a Cup final, it left FC Dallas (Burn) as the lone remaining team from the inaugural MLS season who has not made it to an MLS Cup Final. And while it's a longshot that FCD can make it this year -- as they're rebuilding -- that stigma is enough to get me excited for what's going on in Dallas. Picking up Dave van den Bergh is a good move, but the Hoops need to hope VDB is not past his sell-by date, and can still be a contributor when they're ready to seriously contend.
6. Yura. I've been wrong many times before, but when I watched Yura Movsisyan terrorizing MLS defenses at the end of last season, I felt like I was watching the league's next impact striker. Yura is, quite simply, too much for one defender to contain. That is, too much for one contender to contain, when it comes to getting chances. Yura's ability to put those chances away is what needs to improve. If he improves his finishing, watch out MLS.
5. D.C. redemption. Quite simply, too good a team to have not been in the playoffs last year. What does the future hold for D.C. United? They captured the U.S. Open Cup last year, but do United have a good enough roster to challenge for an MLS Cup this year? Does Jaime Moreno have anything left in the tank? His career looked to be over once, already. Does he have another comeback story to write? And what about Emilio? Lots of questions, and you know coach Tom Soehn is going to be desperate to get off to a good start in 2009.
4. New England. Transition? The team that has stood for stability for so long, looks like they're finally in a transitional period. Or are they? The Revolution still made the playoffs a year ago, but did not seem to walk with the same swagger as in years past. Can they regain their confidence? A lot depends on the health and form of Taylor Twellman, who only started 12 games a year ago. I'll be watching the Revs closely at the start.
3. Quake II. A year ago, I said the San Jose Earthquakes would be the best MLS expansion team since the '98 Fire, and I think I was right. Still, I also thought Frank Yallop would get the Quakes to the playoffs, so I was wrong there. I think there's a lot to like about San Jose, from the home-field advantage their fans provide, to the demands Yallop places on the team to play exciting, high-pressure soccer. A full season from Darren Huckerby and continued improvement from the likes of Jason Hernandez and Ryan Johnson and the Earthquakes will work their way up the Western ladder quickly.
2. Angry Dynamo. After a 1-1 draw with the Red Bulls at Giants Stadium, who thought the Dynamo would bow out so quickly? Not me. Even though Houston did not dominate the regular season, when they closed things down by going without a defeat in their final nine league games, I figured they'd cruise past New York. Wrong. Now, I wonder how the Orange will resp ond, especially with one of their all-time legends (see No. 1) moving on.
1. DeRo goes home. Yes, of all the stories that have me antsy to get camps open and the '09 season under way, none get the juices flowing quite as much as the story of Dwayne DeRosario heading home to Toronto to try and lead the best-supported team in MLS to the playoffs.
Defender of the Year Marshall to return to Crew
Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup
Rijkaard Congratulates Barcelona
