Article by Matt Lichtenstsdter
Better late than never, the 2020 MLS season is about to begin. The league has expanded again, now to 27 teams with the addition of Austin FC. MLS teams are deeper than ever with the addition of a new player acquisition mechanism to sign young players. With only 14 out of 27 teams making the playoffs, seven in each conference, the margins are tighter than ever. Here are some stories to follow heading into the new campaign:
Will former Serie A Stars live up to the billing?
Both Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain joined a flailing Inter Miami team after the pandemic pause last summer and failed to live up to their lofty billing. Inter Miami has a new coach in Phil Neville, a more streamlined front office structure and a tighter squad. Both players also have a full preseason under their belts as well. Matuidi and Higuain are both outliers in a league that is spending more on young players than established stars, and for a team with such lofty ambition, they have to do better than their abbreviated 2020. It will not be easy in a difficult Eastern Conference.
Who is next on a road to Europe?
MLS clubs did more selling to Europe this winter than ever before. Bryan Reynolds made a big money move to Roma from FC Dallas and he has worked his way into Paulo Fonseca’s favor. Brenden Aaronson moved to RB Salzburg, and Mark McKenzie moved to Belgium. More than ever, MLS is a league where young talent can be found and can be found at affordable prices. FC Dallas has produced both Reynolds and Weston McKennie, so naturally there’s talk of who may be next. If Paxton Pomykal stays healthy, he has a chance to live up to his potential as a dynamic midfielder. Tanner Tessman, another midfielder for FC Dallas (and the godson of Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney) is starting to muscle his way into more minutes too.
The real name to watch in 2021 will be the New York Red Bulls Caden Clark. He’s already been rumored to make a move to RB Leipzig when this season ends, and he too is a midfielder with plenty of promise. A dark horse name to move would be Cole Bassett from the Colorado Rapids. He’s another midfielder who will be a lynchpin in a young team and could well be their starting 10. Smart clubs will certainly be paying attention to these names and more.
As a neutral, what teams should you set aside time to watch?
Depending on what you’re looking for, MLS has plenty of fun teams to suit whatever you’re looking for. If you want teams that develop young players, you have the Philadelphia Union, FC Dallas, the Colorado Rapids among others who will prominently play young players in key roles. If you want stars, Inter Miami obviously has a few, so do the LA Galaxy, LAFC and Atlanta United. If you want stylish and beautiful soccer, watch the defending champion Columbus Crew and LAFC.
And if you’re interested in total chaos, watch the San Jose Earthquakes. Matias Almeyda’s team man marks everywhere on the field, which can lead to 5-0 results either way. They have a little Atalanta in them, which means goals are almost always a given when they play.
How will Austin FC do in their first season?
MLS expansion teams can be varying shades of good or bad in their first campaign. Atlanta and LAFC rewrote the rulebook on what was possible for MLS teams, whereas Minnesota and FC Cincinnati became history makers for the wrong reasons. Austin FC feels like a team in the middle. They won’t be historically bad, but they’re probably not good enough to be a playoff team either. Matthew McConaughey will always be around to spice things up off the pitch, but on it, the team does have the potential to be a fun watch.
Who are favorites for MLS Cup 2021?
It’s hard to ignore the defending champs from Columbus who are even deeper than they were last year. With injuries and COVID problems, LAFC were a shell of themselves in the regular season but showed in a late CCL run what they’re capable of. You can never count out Seattle and Portland, who are always a threat to make a run in the postseason. Teams like Atlanta and Toronto FC have the star power to muscle their way into contention though they are both still flawed and entering a new season with a new manager. One team that doesn’t make headlines but will be there until the end: the New England Revolution. Bruce Arena has a track record of success, and took a team with injury issues to the Conference Final last year. If they’re healthy, the Revs have a great shot to lift the trophy.
MLS 2021 will be unpredictable as all MLS seasons are, but with the quality improving all the time, this could be the most entertaining season yet.
