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Major League Soccer Insight and Predictions

Tonight is the “First Kick” for Major League Soccer’s 14^th season, as the expansion Seattle Sounders battle MLS Cup runners-up, New York Red Bulls. The game is the first ever for the Emerald City’s futbolers. Former Columbus Crew head coach Sigi Schmid has built what is probably the greatest expansion team assembled since the 1998 Chicago Fire (they won the cup that year by the way). With former U.S. National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller manning the goal and an attack-oriented offense, the Sounders will play some lights out soccer during its initial campaign. A sold-out Qwest Field will most certainly be fired up for the inaugural match. The city is buzzing big time about this team. With the Supersonics moving, the Mariners being out of the hunt before the season even commences and the Seahawks earning a top 10 draft pick, Seattle is drooling for a winner. The Sounders may be just that already.

Many questions persist regarding tonight’s game. Can the Sounders capitalize on the crowd and pull one over on the revamped Red Bulls? The Red Bulls added a slew of pace, speed and athleticism to their squad this off-season. Will this all-star track team in shin guards be able to handle the raucous opener? I venture to say this match will be quite a memorable one. Not only because it is the first ever game for the MLS Sounders, but additionally these two teams have the skill and mindset to play some darn good entertaining soccer. I envision a slightly sloppy (first game rust), yet exciting back and forth game. When the clock strikes 90 minutes, my bet is a 3-2 score line in favor of the energy drinks. The Seattle faithful will go home saddened by the loss, but not at all disappointed by the product on the pitch.

Naturally with the season kicking off officially, I have peered into the crystal ball and made my 2009 predictions. Please let me know what you think. Am I nuts to have an expansion team finishing third in their conference? Is Chicago going to stay healthy enough to make a run and cash in on its slew of talent? Having essentially the same team back that dominated the league and won the cup last season, will the Crew repeat? Will Bruce Arena, Landon Donovan and a half-season of Beckham catapult the Galaxy into the playoffs for the first time in three seasons? Only time will tell.

The following insider information is from an elite MLS mastermind. Take these words of wisdom to the bank folks. Bet the farm, your car, your dog, your mom, everything. These guesses prophecies are a lock…….

Mike Crosky’s 2009 MLS Predictions

Eastern Conference
*Indicates Playoff Berth

*1.) Chicago Fire (Blanco and former Crew all-stars Brian McBride and Jon Busch will lead the Windy City to glory.)

*2.) Columbus Crew (Newly appointed coach, Robert Warzycha, won‘t try to fix what certainly isn‘t broken. The Crew are certain contenders to repeat.)

*3.) New York Red Bulls (This track team is built quite beautifully for the marathon MLS season. A possible rough start will lead to a team gelling just in time for another playoff run.)

*4.) Toronto FC (The most passionate fan base in the league finally has a team worth cheering about.)

5.) New England Revolution (The run is officially over for the Revs.)

6.) D.C. United (This isn’t your Father’s D.C. United.)

7.) Kansas City Wizards (More of the same from KC, though the new management group is building a solid foundation for the future. This is a team to be weary of going forward.)

Western Conference

*1.) Real Salt Lake (Head coach Jason Kreis has some experience under his belt and one hell of a team to boot. This team is for Real.)

*2.) San Jose Earthquakes (This team will surprise people this year. Mark my words.)

* 3.) Seattle Sounders FC (See comment above and add a “really“ before surprise.)

*4.) Houston Dynamo (This Dynamo club is one year behind the Revolution. The dynasty run of this decade isn’t completely over, but time is ticking.)

5.) Chivas USA (This team just doesn’t have it. Too old and quite frankly you have to wonder if this team will even be in the league much longer? Rumors have begun swirling of a possible franchise implosion.)

6.) Los Angeles Galaxy (With the roster improvements and Captain Bruce leading the way, I wanted to place them higher, but something about the G’s screams mediocrity.)

7.) Colorado Rapids (The Rapids intrigue me and are tough to pinpoint. It’s either feast or famine with the Mile High kickers. They will finish either second to last in the West, or possibly second period. It’s hard to tell.)

8.) FC Dallas (The ‘D’ in Dallas stands for “Disaster.“ This is a top heavy talented group, but with no depth and a tougher western conference than last year, Dallas is going nowhere fast.)
 

Playoffs

East:

First Round

Chicago defeats Toronto FC in a passionate and close series.
New York gets revenge on the Crew (sorry Crew Soccer Nation members).

Semifinals

Chicago takes the cake and beats New York for their first MLS Cup appearance since 2003.

West

First Round

RSL stakes its claim on the West by dethroning the once dominant Dynamo dynasty.
In a surprise playoff series, the Earthquakes will deafen the Sounders (get it????).

Semifinals

RSL puts a beating on the Earthquakes and advances to the team’s first MLS Cup appearance.

MLS Cup

Real Salt Lake vs. Chicago Fire
Blanco and Brian McBride lead Chicago to the title. McBride, the American soccer icon, retires a champion to the disgust of the Crew faithful.

Tags: chicago fire, columbus crew, mls, mls cup, new york red bulls, real salt lake, seattle sounders