re: New to MLS, who should I root for?

Chicago Fire has been pretty decent since their inception in 96. They've had a TON of notable players like Bocanegra, Beasley, Brian McBride. IMO, they waited too long to make moves and they are now behind a lot of teams in terms of talent. They will get back to the top and should be a mid table team most years.

Philadelphia Union is a new expansion team as well. Not a lot of MLS history to say the least. However, they have been making good moves and have a good front office. They have a lot of players from different countries on their roster and they seem to be a constant top of the mid table team. They weren't very good last year in their first year but they were very young. Hard to get a feel of the team. They just signed Freddy Adu to a contract, hve a great French player in Le Toux, a great Congo/American player in Danny Mwanga (A Board favorite) and they have a good player in Justin Mapp.

Sporting Kansas City is a young team. They have arguably one of the best striker tandems in the MLS.Including young American Teal Bunbury. However, they don't have much depth anywhere else. Kansas City has won one championship in 16 years of being in the league. They've generated a lot of new fans by building a brand new state of the art Livestrong Park. Which is the NICEST Soccer-only stadium in the MLS. They've also changed their name from the Kansas City Wizards to Sporting KC.

Vancouver Whitecaps are a brand new team. They need some help with their roster but have USMNT D Jay Demerit, #1 Superdraft pick in Omar Salgado (who is also a great YOUNG USMNT prospect). Their best player of now is probably the French Striker Eric Hassli. There are big plans for this club including a soccer specific stadium in the works. Great rivalry with the Cascadia Cup members (Timbers/Sounders). Also rivalries with Toronto FC and the new Montreal Impact.

Toronto FC has produced some good talent but they have never won a championship or really came close. Their teams have been consisted of Canadians and they've been trying to help their national team with building a strong academy. However, of late they have made some GREAT signings for the league. Stefan Frei is their goalkeeper and one of the better ones in the league. They recently signed Torston Frings and Dutch player Danny Koevermans.

Montreal Impact will be a brand new team next year. Former USMNT Asst Coach. Jesse Marsch will be their first ever manager. They will provide a huge rival with Toronto FC and the other Canadian teams.

San Jose Earthquakes is kind of a funny team. They won 2 MLS cups. Were relocated and had their name changed and now they are back in San Jose for the 2nd time in this young MLS league. The original owners moved them to Houston because they couldn't get a soccer specific stadium in San Jose. They still don't have a soccer specific stadium. Currently play at a local university. Plans are in the works. They've always tapped into the So Cal soccer players so they have a good chance of continuously getting better and being a good mid table to top team.


Chivas USA . frick Chivas USA. Never be a fan. Period. Awful Mexican ownership.