March 26, 2008 1:29 PM

2008 MLS predictions

Once again, FC Rocky has tapped into the greatest soccer minds on the planet to bring you predictions for the 2008 MLS season.

We’ve put together another great pool of predictors … predicters … predictionistas … um, people who make predictions. Some you'll remember from last year, and some are new.

My partner on this site, Angel Hernandez, had a family emergency and is in Florida. He's hoping to submit his predictions a little later, if events allow. So if he's able, we'll post his predictions separately.

My predictions are at the bottom.

I am honored that the following folks have agreed to take time from their busy schedules to join in. So let's delay no further and begin with one of our newest participants:

LIONEL BIENVENU
Denver’s 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Chivas USA — Healthy Razov and addition of Eskandarian and it’s a championship club.
2. Houston — Losses of Jaqua and Ngwenya will hurt. But still the best defense in the league. With best coach in the league.
3. Galaxy — Healthy Beckham, Carlos Ruiz, and Landon, and they’re in the playoffs.
4. FC Dallas — Captain Ruiz is out, but Juan Toja, Kenny Cooper and Arturo Alvarez make Dallas a contender.
5. COLORADO — Christian Gomez will help. But they still need a goal-scorer to bust out of middle of the pack.
6. Real Salt Lake — Beckerman’s a player, but Eskandarian and Pope are gone. Another dismal year.
7. San Jose — Yallop and Doyle have nothing to work with.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Red Bulls — Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidiore, combined with Reyna. This could be the one.
2. Chicago — I like Frankowski. And with Blanco for a whole year, Fire will challenge for the championship game.
3. NE Revolution — I love Albright and Twellman. They will contend.
4. KC Wizards — This club makes a move up with Claudio Lopez in the house
5. DC United — Gallardo in, Gomez out. Olsen healthy? Too many question marks.
6. Columbus — Loss of Marcus Gonzalez and the Crew is mediocre.
7. Toronto FC — Maurice Edu. And that’s it.

NICK THOMAS
WeWantRapidMan soccer blog
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Houston — De Rosario to anchor another MLS title campaign.
2. Chivas — Kljestan to shine this season.
3. Colorado — New signing Gomez to boost offense.
4. FC Dallas — Young forwards to show Dallas building for future.
5. Salt Lake — Borchers and Beckerman to show Rapids what they are missing.
6. LA Galaxy — Overreliance on Beckham to keep LA progress back.
7. San Jose — Yallop won't be able to overcome squad limitations.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. New York — Angel and Altidore to terrorize defenses.
2. Kansas City — New signing Lopez will more than offset Eddie Johnson trade.
3. DC United — Veterans to combine well with youngsters.
4. New England — Twellman to play key role as reacts to Preston disappointment.
5. Chicago — Chad Barrett to build on U-23 experience.
6. Columbus — Teamwork strengths won't be enough to offset weaker areas.
7. Toronto — Still struggling for goals despite fan enthusiasm.

BILFISH
Rapids Class VI member
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Houston — Dominating Dominic does it again.
2. FC Dallas — Reorganization last year pays off (as does dropping Denilson).
3. Chivas USA — Sueño '08 won't help repeat Swanky '07 performance.
4. Fake Salt Lake — Surprising late/off-season moves pushes Utah higher.2.
5. San Jose — Past performance is no predictor of future success.
6. Colorado Rapids — Wow. What a sexy defense!
7. LA Galaxy — Still a Tiger Woods Pro-Am feature...

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. New England — This perpetual bridesmaid just caught the bouquet.
2. DC United — Great new configuration, less filling (of the net).
3. Chicago — Firing on all cylinders, defense to play Achilles' heel.
4. Kansas City — Found bootstraps for climbing, but wall is high.
5. Red Bulls — Stealing Osorio shows "soccer" not just a hobby for Red Bull.
6. Toronto FC — Crowds still rocking, team still mediocre but fun to watch.
7. Columbus — They still bother to field a team?

BRUCE McGUIRE
du Nord soccer blog
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Houston — need strikers to support long season
2. Salt Lake — need attitude to go with young spirit
3. Los Angeles — need defenders that aren't ancient
4. Chivas USA — need strikers for backup
5. Dallas — need consistency to match talent
6. Colorado — need goals from anyone
7. San Jose — need help as dreadful expansion team

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. DC — need stamina for long season
2. New England — need strikers & attack in midfield for balance
3. New York — need team defense
4. Chicago — need goals from up top
5. Kansas City - need goals from all over
6. Toronto — need defenders
7. Columbus — need everything

Allen G
Black Panther soccer blog
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. FC Dallas — With Ruiz gone and the Denilson DP disaster behind them, Morrow finally gets FCD to shine as a team.
2. Colorado — The Gomez duo clicks to produce goals along with a decent midfield and tight defense.
3. Houston — Nothing in life is static and the Dynamo pay the price for not freshening their roster up more in the off-season.
4. Chivas USA — Razov shows his age; the thin back line springs a leak and really tanks after Guzan is sold before the all-star break.
5. Los Angeles — 3 players taking up half their salary cap handicaps the Galaxy; NYRB's trade deadline bid for Beckham is turned down.
6. Real Salt Lake — RSL often looks solid but never spectacular; problem is the offense and the fans pull out their brown bags from 2005.
7. San Jose — Yallop lays the groundwork building a solid backline but in the process set a league record for least goals scored.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. New York — Osorio gets the teams defense to tighten while the midfield
2. DC United — Fans of the Screaming Eagles have a nightmare season with NYRB beating them out for the Supporters Shield.
3. New England — The Revolution struggle at times with a squad thin on experienced offensive talent.
4. Columbus — Sigi's gone before the all-star break as the Crew yet again struggle to score goals.
5. Chicago — Hamlett's first season has more ups and downs as the defense and midfield struggle to produce.
6. Kansas City — KC's crash diet in the off-season rears it's ugly head; the team finally starts to come together as the season ends.
7. Toronto FC — TFC's done nothing in the off-season and it shows on the pitch while the fans get impatient.

GEORGE TANNER
FC Rocky
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Chivas USA — Gallindo, Eskandarian, Razov up front; Preki's aggressive coaching; Kljestan's growing talent; El Guzano at the back.
2. Houston — De Rosario is the gem of the league, and this team is deep; add in bobby boswell.
3. Rapids — Outstanding goalkeeping; depth and skill on defense; improved playmaking; consistency will be the question.
4. FC Dallas — Healthy Kenny Cooper and healthy Juan Toja are imposing.
5. Galaxy — Everybody brings their best against Beckham.
6. Salt Lake — Still having trouble scoring goals; Beckerman is true team leader; it kills me to see Borchers in this jersey.
7. San Jose — Expansion team will score less than RSL.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Red Bulls — I want to make a Jozy and the pussycats joke, but this team is no pussycat and no joke; offense plus Osorio's tactics.
2. D.C. United — Gallardo!
3. Chicago — Can Blanco maintain his interest for a full season? I'm betting he can; and Chad Barrett, who can strike the ball with authority, is the beneficiary.
4. New England — Following another year of frustration, this team is another year older; but the Revs are solid; it's the energy and motivation that worries me.
5. Kansas City — Who will create for Claudio Lopez?
6. Columbus — Eddie Gaven deserves better.
7. Toronto — Better? You bet. Good? Not yet.

Well, there you have it. Another year of predictions in the bank. Let's watch and see how our panel of experts fares. No matter who is on the money, it'll be fun to watch.

Let the games begin!

Posted by George Tanner at 1:29 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack