The preseason has begun.
Here’s what each team has to look forward to as Matchday 1 in 2023 approaches.
Atlanta United FC
Atlanta United is gearing up for a major swing. They started the process of reverting back to maybe going forward last week by cancelling a couple of bad/underperforming contracts. The Five Stripes have positioned themselves up to add at least three starting-caliber players to a club that was only a couple of players away from contending again.
FC Austin
Although it is not the highest standard to meet, Gyasi Zardes should be the best striker Austin has ever had. They’ll put him on the same side that finished second in the West last year, missing centre back Ruben Gabrielsen. But Leo Väisänen has already taken his post. It’s not often that expansion teams take a stride ahead in their third year, but Los Verdes is poised to at least keep from falling too far behind.
FC Charlotte
Year. Two. Bump.
Year two appears to be a launching moment in MLS, whether for individuals or expansion teams. Charlotte supporters don’t have to look far for an example of an expansion team that demonstrated sound tactical concepts in year one before exploding the following season. Of course, asking them to be 2022 Austin feels a little lofty, but The Crown won’t need to improve much to make the playoffs.
Chicago Fire Football Club
Uhhhhh… I mean, they’re overdue, right?
For the last decade or so, the Fire have missed the playoffs considerably more often than they have made them. And, while they haven’t made many huge signings so far, they do have Colombian attacker Jhon Duran on their roster for the preseason. There’s a chance the 19-year-old builds on his eight-goal performance in 2022 and becomes an all-star this season. Is that enough to end a postseason drought?
Cincinnati FC
They still have a three-headed monster as of now. Brandon Vazquez, Brenner, and Lucho Acosta are all around the field, and there is still room to add behind them at positions such as centre back and wingback. It won’t take much to transform this team into an MLS Cup contender, and I’m writing this about FC Cincinnati.
The Colorado Rapids
Is Kevin Cabral the ideal Rapids acquisition? Cabral could be the largest test of Robin Fraser and Co.’s ability to get the most out of people who need a fresh start on a squad that has had excellent experience taking discounted players and sparking high-value performances. If Cabral can start completing the big opportunities he’s been missing, he’ll be one of the league’s most productive wingers.
The Columbus Crew
It’s simple to argue that Wilfried Nancy has been the league’s top manager during the last two seasons. He got a lot more out of his CF Montréal team than others would. Which is wonderful news for the Crew, who have gotten significantly less out of their roster over the last two seasons than they should have.
D.C. United
They’re not sitting still! Nobody can claim to have done nothing. Is any of the several things they’ve been doing genuinely beneficial? I’m not sure! And everything they’ve been doing is something you can do or has already been done. That is not the same as doing nothing.
Dallas FC
The club that finished third in the West last year hasn’t changed much. Matt Hedges’ absence is cause for concern, although Sebastien Ibeagha should be close to a competent replacement. This is a good team that has the potential to become more unified this year. The floor is quite high. Alan Velasco’s year-two raise could raise their ceiling as well.
Houston Dynamo Football Club
Well, if anyone knows how to take a mid-tier roster and get them to the playoffs, it’s… well, not necessarily Ben Olsen, but he has done it before. Houston is also making some moves!
CF Inter Miami
Inter Miami currently has zero, one, or two Designated Player positions available. The precise solution is unclear, and it appears to be reliant on what happens to Rodolfo Pizarro. When all is said and done, they’ll most likely have two new DPs. After last season’s playoff appearance and Inter Miami’s ability to lure big names, there should be plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Football Club of Los Angeles
The rest of MLS is outraged after acquiring Aaron Long in free agency. LAFC can and will continue to get away with it. Of course, the Long signing came just in time to distract everyone from the reality that they had recently sealed a reported $5 million deal for U22 winger Stipe Biuk. The possibility of being the second MLS team to win the Concacaf Champions League is quite real.
The Los Angeles Galaxy
Riqui Puig’s complete season in MLS could be one of the best we’ve ever seen from a playmaker. They also gained a DP place by moving Kevin Cabral to Colorado. Douglas Costa may also be going. And they can’t afford to make another mistake with a DP winger (or two). Ri…right?
Minnesota United Football Club
Isn’t it true that consistency is good? It’s at least acceptable. It can’t be that horrible. Probably. Maybe.
Montréal CF
Hernan Losada was not fired last year because of poor performance. Losada’s D.C. United squads had strong underlying metrics that went beyond the roster’s quality. If some personal and professional development has occurred since then, the Argentine coach may be able to get the post-Wilfried Nancy version of this roster up and running (and running) swiftly.
Nashville, Tennessee
Aké Loba has left, and a DP position is now available! Or… um… if his buy option is enabled, a DP seat may become available shortly! But there’s a chance they’ll have a DP position open shortly!
The Revolution in New England
The moves to sign Latif Blessing and Dave Romney appear to be quite solid. Furthermore, New England should be able to get a full season out of Dylan Borrero and Djordje Petrovic, who may be the best goalie… in league history? Anyway, they’ve addressed a few critical concerns and appear to be a safe chance to make the playoffs.
New York City Football Club
It’s been a strange one. Particularly by NYCFC standards. However, NYCFC’s scouting track record has been usually outstanding, and it wouldn’t be strange to see them replace what they’ve lost this summer pretty effortlessly. And they’ve suffered a great deal…
Red Bulls of New York
Cory Burke has replaced Elias Manoel. Maybe, just maybe, the Red Bulls’ forwards will deliver the results they’ve been looking for.
Anyway, I can’t wait to find this exact statement a year from now and copy and paste it with different names.
Orlando City Football Club
The Lions have made personnel moves this summer, and it all feels necessary. In 2022, they were just a little stale. Some new blood mixed in with some familiar names, such as Mauricio Pereyra and Pedro Gallese, who both return on new contracts, should benefit Orlando much. Especially since DP winger Martin Ojeda is among the newcomers.
The Union of Philadelphia
It seems that they would lose… someone. Anyone? And yet, here we are, with the league’s second-best squad, and by far the best team in the East, having lost zero starters and signing Daniel Gazdag to a new DP contract.
The Portland Timbers
Is there anything else I should say except “club-record signing”?
Evander is his name.
Salt Lake City
Is there anything else I should say except “club-record signing”?
…Oh, it appears that I will need to add something this time. I’ll just let Tom Bogert do it for me: “Real Salt Lake are purportedly completing a potential club-record deal to sign Millonarios FC winger Andrés Gómez, a source tells MLSsoccer.com. Gómez would most likely be signed as a U22 Initiative player.”
Earthquakes in San Jose
Perhaps a complete offseason is required to get all of Matias Almeyda out of a team’s system?
In any case, Luchi Gonzalez should get this Earthquakes club on the right track by the end of the year. Eventually.
Seattle Sounders Football Club
Ignoring any worries about his cap hit, Heber is an objectively excellent backup striker option. It must feel good to have a safety net behind Raul Ruidiaz on a team that has struggled to score at times without him.
Oh, and Joao Paulo and Obed Vargas appear to be in good health. It’s difficult to exaggerate how significant this is.
Kansas City Chiefs
Last season, just a few teams were better down the stretch than SKC. From July on, very few clubs had higher points or better underlying metrics. This is largely due to how good William Agada and Erik Thommy were after they were plugged in. If Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda can regain their form after season-ending knee injuries last year, SKC might make the playoffs. They should be able to clear it with ease if new No. 6 Nemanja Radoja makes an instant impact.
St. Louis City, Missouri
The very first Designated Team.
FC Toronto
The defence simply cannot be any worse. It simply cannot. Especially now that they’ve beaten out the competition for free-agent centre defender Matt Hedges.
Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club
This entire club screams “decent group that plays well enough during the year to earn an away playoff game.” That may not be enough to shift the needle in Vancouver, but it could be a lot worse.
