Sizing up the MLS Cup contenders heading into preseason
For Major League Soccer fans who watched Sunday’s Super Bowl, the New England Patriots lifting the Lombardi Trophy may have triggered some thoughts about the MLS Cup, and whether anybody will be able to dethrone the LA Galaxy as MLS champions in 2015.
With MLS preseason in full swing, and the upcoming season just a month away, it isn’t too early to start taking stock about which teams have come out of the offseason looking like legitimate title contenders. It should be noted that teams could still make major moves before the season starts — and in the summer — to shake up the list of top contenders.
The Galaxy may have lost Landon Donovan, but still carry the label of MLS Cup contenders, as do the New England Revolution. The Seattle Sounders won a pair of trophies in 2014, but are still searching for that elusive MLS Cup, which may finally come this year.
As stacked as the Western Conference will be in 2015, there are a handful of Eastern Conference teams capable of winning the title, including an improving Columbus Crew side that had one of the busier offseasons of any of the top contenders.
Here is a closer look at the teams shaping up to make serious bids for the MLS Cup title:
5-tie. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
The 2013 champions endured an injury-plagued season in 2014, but wasted no time revamping this offseason. The return of Roger Espinoza addresses a major need in midfield, while Chilean veteran Luis Marin should offer a significant upgrade in goal. Replacing Aurelien Collin in central defense won’t be easy, and moving over to the much tougher Western Conference will make things challenging, but don’t rule out Peter Vermes’ side for another title run.
5-tie. TORONTO FC
When Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe joined TFC last winter, the talk among Toronto fans was not just of making the playoffs, but challenging for a title. The 2014 season turned into another nightmare, which will temper enthusiasm after the team’s latest aggressive offseason, but there is reason to believe this year could be different.
The arrivals of Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco should propel TFC’s attack into one of the league’s best, while defender Damien Perquis and midfielder Benoit Cheyrou should make Toronto FC tougher to play against. If Bradley can play at the levels expected of him when he first arrived, TFC could absolutely be a surprise title contender.
4. COLUMBUS CREW
The Crew enjoyed one of the most dramatic transformations in the league in 2014, but the team’s inexperience showed in the playoffs. With a year of experience and an offseason to address some key needs, Gregg Berhalter’s team is looking like it should be taken seriously.
Re-signing Federico Higuain was key, and the arrivals of wingers Kei Kamara, Kristinn Steindorsson and Cedrick Mabwati should make the Crew more dynamic. There may still be a need for a true target forward, but beyond that Columbus should be New England’s toughest competition for the top spot in the East.
3. LA GALAXY
Replacing Landon Donovan won’t be easy, and the team’s decision to part ways with Marcelo Sarvas leaves a void, but the Galaxy will be counting on Steven Gerrard to make a major impact once he arrives this summer.
The Galaxy still have Robbie Keane leading the attack, and Gyasi Zardes should be even better after a breakout 2014, but missing out on signing Sacha Kljestan will force the Galaxy to try and find one more impact midfielder to add to the mix. That said, the Galaxy still have arguably the best defense in MLS, which will keep Bruce Arena’s team on the list of top title contenders.
2. SEATTLE SOUNDERS
It is easy to forget just how close the Sounders came to winning three major trophies in 2014, and with most of the team’s key figures back this year, Seattle should be a threat to win every trophy in its path again this year.
DeAndre Yedlin’s departure will hurt, but the arrival of English defender Tyrone Mears should help offset that. An infusion of young talent in the form of homegrown player Darwin Jones and some promising draft picks should help provide depth, but central defense is an area of need Seattle could still wind up addressing. If the Sounders acquire a quality partner for Chad Marshall in the middle of the defense, they could move up to the top of this list.
1. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The Revs were the hottest team in MLS at the end of the 2014 season, and could have very easily beaten the Galaxy in the MLS Cup final. With a full year of Jermaine Jones, and with Juan Agudelo making his return, the Revs will boast one of the toughest attacks in the league.
The lone question mark facing the team at this point is how to replace central defender A.J. Soares. Moving Andrew Farrell to central defense seems a simple solution, but if that doesn’t work out the Revs may still need to add a defender. Even with that issue still in question, the Revs have the elements of a championship team.
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