MLS Season In A Sentence - Western Conference
One week before we start the 2021 MLS season, we at MLSAces, or me, rather, decided to break out this two-part series, “A Season in a Sentence.” This series will give you my predictions for this MLS season in a quick, easy read.
Next week will be the Eastern Conference + MLS Awards + MLS Champion, but today, we start with the Wild Western Conference.
Riley James // @RileyJamesIAC on Twitter & Instagram
WEST:
13. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
I know that they have been terrible for years, but they will continue this trend after not improving on the third worst defensive unit in Major League Soccer.
12. Sporting Kansas City
2020’s magic is way behind SKC after losing Erik Hurtado and Gerso Fernandes as the lads from the Kansas side of KC will, unfortunately, return to 2019 form.
11. Real Salt Lake
22 points from 22 games is simply just not good enough and it’s a far cry from 2019’s third place finish, so it’ll be interesting to see what Albert Rusnak and RSL is this year.
10. San Jose Earthquakes
Chris Wondolowski will have a Derek Jeter/Kobe Bryant like farewell tour, but I don’t think the gold shorts are going to make up for the lack of defense and threat of attack.
9. Houston Dynamo FC
The additions of Tim Parker’s defense and Fafa Picault’s playmaking to Darwin Quintero’s goal tally will be a big boost to Tab Ramos’ system down in the lone star state, but it’s not hard to improve on crap soccer.
8. Austin FC
Verde, McConaughey, and new stadiums are dope, but it’s be an uphill battle for the new boys, but one that wouldn’t be shocking to end in the playoffs, although I don’t think so, with MLS vets like Nick Lima, Alex Ring, Diego Fagundez, and Ben Sweat.
7. FC Dallas
FC Dallas used to be really good… until weren’t, however, the bookmakers have them back in the conversations for MLS Cup winner being led by Matt Hedges and Jesus Ferreira, but if I know FC Dallas, I know they’ll choke it away.
6. Los Angeles Galaxy
Greg Vanney comes into a reeling LA Galaxy that is still reeling post-Zlatan, but are too good NOT to make the playoffs, but I’d be shocked if they went further than that.
5. Colorado Rapids
Last year wasn’t a COVID fluke: they won’t suck anymore because of Cole Bassett and Sam Vines, that’s it.
4. Minnesota United FC
Losing Molino will sting, but Emanuel Reynoso might shine in that role, as well as, recently loaned in Ramon Abila from Bocas Jr will be practicing his English by singing Wonderwall after a majority of MNUFC home matches.
3. Portland Timbers
Giovanni Savarese, Diego Valeri, the Chara Bros, and Sebastian Blanco are back again to wreck MLS with brand new motivation after last year’s disappointing first round loss to Dallas in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
2. Seattle Sounders FC
It is really hard to take Seattle out of the Top 2, the loss of Jordan Morris will be tough, but it won’t be felt too hard with Nico Loderio and Raul Ruidiaz leading that front line.
1. Los Angeles Football Club
Bob Bradley’s boys will be really hard to stop with Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela back up front, Mark-Anthony Kaye and Latif Blessing in the middle, and the addition to valuable MLS veteran, Raheem Edwards.
It still bothers me that there is an odd number of teams, but it’s not my league.
See you next for the Eastern Conference + MLS Awards + MLS Champion.
