2010 was in many ways, the annus mirabilis of American soccer. This year saw MLS alumni demonstrate that America can export top-level soccer talent. This year saw Landon Donovan’s heroic, world-class goals against Slovenia and Algeria, the latter being quite possibly the greatest moment in USMNT history. But it was not the kingmaking exploits of America’s greatest-ever player that will have the most lasting reverberations across the American soccer landscape.

So that's it then - the 2011 MLS regular season has come to a close.  It's been quite a ride, starting way back in the frosty days of March, included a first-ever break for a World Cup, an infusion of high-dollar talent in the summer, the initially dominant Galaxy come back to the pack before hanging on for a point title, and a shock Golden Boot winner in Chris Wondolowski. Other things happened, too, but they're too numerous to name. 2010 was a whirlwind year.

In an effort to cover the week of play in Major League Soccer, I'm introducing new feature called "The One Thing". These won't be match reports or recaps but will instead grab the most glaring (to me at least) story or element from the game. Keep in mind that each match's "The One Thing" is dependent on how much of it I'm able to see, and in those cases where I wasn't able to catch any of the action, I'll be focusing on the one moment, player, or decision that influenced the match the most (read: highlights).

If you're looking for a more comprehensive match report, I'll link to one in each capsule.


Here we go with the abbreviated Easter schedule, covering the full spectrum of defensive performances, the revival of striker on the West Coast, a surprising upset, and the usual from Omar Cummings.


Houston Dynamo 2, Real Salt Lake 1
Recap - Zach Woosley for Goal.com

The One Thing: Jamison Olave Happened

Things were looking pretty good for Real Salt Lake, and it appeared that they were going to start the season with two road wins; then Jamison Olave single-handedly gifted the Dynamo two penalties and a full three points. Olave is talented, and is still one of the best defenders in the league when he's not ill-advisedly leaving his feet in the penalty box, and whether you believe both calls were clear or not, he unfortunately put himself in a position to be called when he went to ground. Dive or no dive, Olave's mental mistakes were considerable. Lucky, lucky, Dynamo.


LA Galaxy 2, Chivas USA 0
Recap - LA Times

The One Thing: Maicon Santos' Miss

Sure, Edson Buddle scored a brace, and sure, LA probably deserved to win the game; but Maicon Santos' missed sitter, with the ball literally five yards from the goal line and begging to be slammed home, is the resonating image from the first Los Angeles derby of the year. If Santos scores, the game is tied and Chivas has a chance to salvage a point; as it was, they gave up a late goal to the Donovan-Buddle combo, killing any chance they had of coming back. Chivas didn't play well, but it's games like these, lost on chances like Santos', that will come back to haunt them down the stretch of the season when they're fighting for a playoff position.


Colorado Rapids 2, Chicago Fire 2
Recap - Our Sports Central

The One Thing: Was That a Penalty?

First, a note about Omar Cummings: He's good. But the crucial moment for the home team was Marvell Wynne's maybe-a-foul-maybe-not on Patrick Nyarko in the box, which was judged to be a penalty referee Terry Vaughan. Wynne was playing centerback again for Gary Smith, and having already been muscled aside by Collins John for the first Fire goal, now found himself the reason the Rapids earned one point instead of three. Harsh for the Rapids, and particularly harsh for Wynne. A Jamison Olave situation, this was not. Fair result? Probably. Fair on that particular penalty? Don't think so.


DC United 0, New England Revolution 2
Recap - CSN Washington

The One Thing: United Impotence

A good team wins this game going away at home, which can only lead me to believe that United is not a good team at the moment. They controlled possession through the bulk of the game, found themselves in the box with the ball on multiple occasions, but could never put it in the net. One too many passes, a hesitancy to pull the trigger, and a lack of forward strength did them in. DC might have a new coach, but nothing appears to have changed. Thanks to United's inability to turn possession into goals, New England jumped up for a nice road win thanks to a brace from Kenny Mansally, after the home team had run themselves ragged and gotten lazy.


Seattle Sounders 0, New York Red Bulls 1
Recap - Associated Press

The One Thing: New York's Defense

Who knew? The Red Bulls draft a surprisingly mature rookie, Tim Ream, pair him with an MLS veteran in Mike Petke, bring in Bouna Condul to play in goal, and suddenly they have a solid defensive core. Holding the Sounders down at home is no mean feat, and credit should be given where it's due. That doesn't mean that the Red Bulls will keep it up all season, but there's no reason to believe that their defense will be a liability, barring a major injury. That in itself is a big victory for New York, and it's clear Hans Backe has made a difference. Winning in Seattle, and breaking the terrible road losing streak they had, should be throw immediately into the "bonus points" pile, a collection they'll hope to add to and will certainly be happy they have when we get to playoff time. Seattle, for their part, will be fine.

In an effort to cover the week of play in Major League Soccer, I'm introducing new feature called "The One Thing". These won't be match reports or recaps but will instead grab the most glaring (to me at least) story or element from the game. Keep in mind that each match's "The One Thing" is dependent on how much of it I'm able to see, and in those cases where I wasn't able to catch any of the action, I'll be focusing on the one moment, player, or decision that influenced the match the most (read: highlights).

If you're looking for a more comprehensive match report, I'll link to one in each capsule.


Here we go with an eventful First Kick weekend, which brought quality goals, dominant teams, and a few surprises.


Seattle Sounders 2, Philadelphia Union 0
Recap - AP via Fox Soccer

The One Thing: Union rough play

It would be nearly impossible to make anything else the focus for this game. The Union came out, with all of their youth and inexperience on full display, and tried to bully Seattle. That's not to say that the Sounders weren't guilty of their own moments of roughness, but Nowak's side was beyond the pale. And then Nowak goes and complains, calling Freddie Ljungberg "dishonest"? I'm no fan of Freddie's penchant for simulation, but Nowak's off his rocker here. Seattle looks good, though it's tough to tell how good they actually are until their tested by a more cohesive team that isn't suffering from debut jitters.


Chivas USA 0, Colorado Rapids 1
Recap - Goal.com

The One Thing: Maybe Wynne's a centerback

Yes, Omar Cummings is good, and yes his goal should probably be the one thing; but Marvell Wynne's steadiness in central defense on Friday night was somewhat surprising, and has me wondering if we'll see the speedster there all year long. Wynne had just joined the Rapids after his trade from Toronto, played in the center due to injury, and looked like he belonged there. It's completely counter-intuitive to put such a speedy player anywhere but fullback, but perhaps Wynne's instincts and inability to cross actually make him more effective elsewhere. TFC tried him in other spots in 2009, and never found the right fit; with Preki dumping him and Smith stumbling into a good performance from Wynne in the center, maybe its finally time for Marvell to solidify himself.


FC Dallas 1, Houston Dynamo 1
Recap: Zach Woosley for Goal.com

The One Thing: Atiba Harris

Just a well taken goal. Harris had way too much space at the top of the box, but the finish was fantastic nonetheless. FC Dallas is an enigma, a team with speed and talent in many spots coming off one of the most uneven seasons in recent memory. If Houston is to be their usual selves despite the loss of Clark and Holden, they'll need to hold on to leads. Credit Harris for getting his shot and curling it nicely to the far post, and FC Dallas for stealing a point in front of a terrible home crowd.


Columbus Crew 2, Toronto FC 0
Recap: AP via Google News

The One Thing: Schelotto's Crew

If GBS goes down with injury for any meaningful length of time this season, the Crew's chances for a top seed in the East might be done. But for now, Schelotto is what makes Columbus go, and Saturday against Toronto was no different. My ability to see this match was hampered by struggles with a certain online streaming service (ahem), but I saw enough to glean that as good as Columbus is, they'd be much different without their Argentine star. Columbus wasn't great, and Toronto is obviously still unsettled (not even having a full compliment of players at the moment) but the better team carried the day.


New York Red Bulls 1, Chicago Fire 0
Recap: ESPN Soccernet

The One Thing: Joel Lindpere

New York's Estonian signing alone makes the Red Bulls a much better team than they were in 2009. With Juan Pablo Angel struggling to impact the game, Lindpere took it upon himself to provide the offense in the regular season debut of Red Bull Arena. It's too early to label Lindpere an impact newcomer, but I'm going to do it anyway; I'm also going to do as far as to say he could be a surprise MVP candidate by the end of the season. His influence is notable both on offense and defense, and combined with a great home environment, should help New York turn around their fortunes.


Kansas City Wizards 4, DC United 0
Recap: Steve Goff at the Washington Post

The One Thing: Wizards In-sync

What was that? United made Kansas City look like an All-Star team, and suddenly I'm worried I've massively underrated the Wizards. Ryan Smith (injury report pending) appears to be a great pick up, Kei Kamara looked dangerous all night, and the Wizards defense shut down DC. It's impossible to know how much of that was United being poorly prepared and how much was Kansas City's talent, but for one night the Wizards looked like East contenders. Their passing was crisp and on target all over the field, they created chances, and finished three. The Jewsbury penalty was simply the icing on the cake for KC and the salt in the wound for DC.


San Jose Earthquakes 0, Real Salt Lake 3
Recap: Goal.com

The One Thing: Javier Morales

Wow. Two goal of the year candidates right off the bat for Morales, a player who can carry RSL all by himself when he wants to. The Quakes are poor, and there was no reason to believe they would give the champs a serious test in the opener; but the emphatic way the Utahans won the game, and the quality shown by Morales, bodes well for a good start in Sandy. The first goal was particularly jaw-dropping. I think I'll go watch it a few more times.


Los Angeles Galaxy 1, New England Revolution 0
Recap: AP via the Boston Globe

The One Thing: Donovan's Impact

Though he failed to dominate the game, its clear that Landon Donovan heads into the MLS campaign a very confident player. His class was on display at several points against New England, and thought he'll need to adjust back to to teammates who might not always be where they should, he alone can push LA's offense. The Galaxy methodically beat a Shalrie Joseph-less Revolution that they honestly should have thumped by three or more; but the defense was solid, Donovan provided the perfect service that led to Buddle's game-winner, and the Galaxy showed why they are one of the Western Conference favorites.

Finally, Major League Soccer returns tomorrow night in Seattle, with a full slate of matches to follow this weekend. I'm buzzing with excitement, and plan to take in every possible minute of action I can manage (provide MLS gets their act together on their Match Center streaming video service).


But outside of the actual play on the field, who's good, who's not, which new players make a difference for their clubs, and which head coaches seem to have a grasp on their teams early in the year, I'll be paying attention to something else: attendance.


Opening weekend should be an attendance winner. Clubs have had all off-season to pump awareness of their product into their communities, and though this year's CBA melodrama may have hampered some efforts, a properly marketed club should have no problem getting a sellout or close to it.


A big average number would be nice, but I'm much more interested in how the games do in terms of percent of capacity; with two tiny stadiums in the mix and Seattle on the other end, that's the truer indication of success.


We know Seattle will have in excess of 30k, selling out the seats they make available in the 60k+ capacity Qwest Field. New York will sellout for their opener in their brand new arena against Chicago. Kansas City should have no problem filling their tiny stadium, with just over 10k in attendance, and I would hope San Jose can do the same. If we're being optimistic, that's four clubs with one hundred percent capacity.


After that, there are some questions.


Columbus, despite the quality of their team, continues to come up short at the gate. Last year's opener drew just over 14k in a 20k capacity stadium (70%). That's not terrible, but keep in mind that none of the TFC supporters groups are organizing away support for the match. How will that affect things? I'm not sure, but I don't know that there's any indication that Crew fans will make up the difference. That's disheartening considering that Columbus will once again be contenders for the title this season.


Both LA and Chivas did better than the Crew in terms of raw numbers for their '09 openers, but each came up short of the percentage of seats Columbus filled. Will they do better this year? I'm not sure there's any way to tell, though Donovan's return as a conquering hero from England might help LA.


That brings us, unfortunately, to FC Dallas. Pizza Hut Park is a beautiful place to watch a soccer match that is simply too far removed from the population center of the area. Dallas drew 15k for their opener in 2008, their best crowd of the season (throwing out a Cotton Bowl crowd for a doubleheader that included Mexico); from the rumblings out of Texas (rumors, to be clear), it sounds like they'll be supremely lucky to get half of that on Saturday, despite a weather forecast of 76 degrees and partly sunny. If FCD does draw as poorly as some think they will, they'll have moved beyond a simple concern to a major problem; no club with a consistent history in a market and soccer-specific stadium should come up short of 10k in their first match of the season, when record has no bearing.


I'm sure you don't need me to point out the common element shared by Columbus and FC Dallas, two teams that struggle to draw consistent crowds despite built-in advantages. Pizza Hut Park's suburban location doesn't fully excuse FC Dallas' issues, while any club with the success of Columbus over the past few seasons should simply do better in the stands. After each of their openers I'll be particularly curious to see how many fans showed up.


Attendance on opening weekend is guaranteed to be better this season than last for the simple reason that there's one more match on the schedule. But the more interesting measure of how much MLS was affected by the CBA uncertainty will be seen in Columbus, LA, and Dallas, where there is no buzz over a new stadium (New York), track record of massive sellouts in an expansion market (Seattle), or tiny stadium that obscures the real level of attention on the local team (Kansas City and San Jose).


For reference, here's 2009's opening weekend attendance from MLS Daily.

What the hell are they wearing?

Predictions are generally useless. If we held all of the so-called "experts" in any sport to the predictions they make at the beginning of a season, they wouldn't have credibility at all. This is particularly true in Major League Soccer, where parity means you have just as much chance of getting your predictions right as Chad Barrett does of winning the Golden Boot. Essentially nil.


Now watch Barrett go and lead the league this year in goals, just to spite me.


But I digress. Right there on page one of the "Soccer Blogger's Rule Book" is the requirement that we make predictions in whichever league we make our focus. It's rule 1.3 actually, right after "Bloggers must create a list of no real consequence at least every fifth post or be subject to censure and/or fine" and "Any post on an individual player must include the words 'quality' and 'technical' at least once respectively."


So here we go, with 2010 predictions that will ultimately prove egregiously incorrect when the season ends at MLS Cup in November.


Eastern Conference


1. Columbus Crew

If I was to account for potential injury, I might not have Columbus at the top of the East. Guillermo Barros Schelotto is 37 years old, after all, and I wonder if he'll make it through the entire season. Columbus relies heavily on the Argentine, so if he's goes down for any length of time they'll be in big trouble. Still, there's no reason to doubt them after they won Supporters' Shield last year after an early rough patch.


2. Chicago Fire

The outlook that the Fire will contend is based purely on potential; Collins John is a nice addition, and maybe Marco Pappa is ready to step up, but without Blanco there's reason to believe they could fall short. Keep in mind that the club was maddeningly inconsistent in 2009, and though they missed out on MLS Cup only on penalties, there are no guarantees. Still, there's talent there and I just can't find another team in the East I believe in more.


3. DC United

It's a crap shoot from here on out. United should be better, and if Curt Onalfo can find a consistent first choice lineup, they'll already be better off than they were in 2009. Perkins in goal should help, new talent up top should help (but is it the right talent?) and maybe the old war horse Moreno has one more good year left in him. I'm not saying I'm confident United will be good, but I can't say I rate anyone of the remaining teams in the East above them. With a weak East, though, it still might not be enough to make the playoffs.


4. New York Red Bulls

I'm banking on a stadium bump here, because if any team should see a larger increase in their ability to win games because of atmosphere, it's New York. I've only seen them play once during the pre-season, their win over Santos, and a cursory look shows an improved team over 2009. And that was without Juan Pablo Angel. Again, the Eastern Conference after Columbus amounts to throwing darts, and the Red Bulls would seem to fit in the middle of the pack. Call it a hunch, but I'm guessing New York will be on the verge of the playoffs (but ultimately come up short).


5. Toronto FC

Will Toronto scores goals? Will Toronto keep other teams from scoring goals? Will Mo Johnston last the season if they don't? These are the questions that don't keep me up at night but nonetheless make it difficult to assess Toronto's chances. I will say that I feel much less confident about the club's playoffs hopes than I did in 2009, and we saw how that worked out. This year I'll pick them to finish out of the money, and they'll probably jump up and make the postseason. They have the crowd at BMO, and with a grass field, there shouldn't be excuses about the surface anymore.


6. New England Revolution

Steve Nichol is a damn good coach. The Revs have several very talented players. But over the long haul of a season, that only counts for so much, and I'm finding more reasons the Revolution won't make the playoffs than why they will. Shalrie Joseph and the ten dwarfs will need more than a little luck to be better than also-rans this year.


7. Philadelphia Union

Expansion years are tough, Seattle's ruining of the curve notwithstanding, and Piotr Nowak has a doubly tough task due to a brutal opening schedule. Eight of ten on the road with a young team equals struggles around, and though I'm sure the fans in Philly will stick with their new club no matter what, they might have to weather a rough season. Good thing they'll have the newness of it all (players, stadium, experience) to distract them. I am anxious to see some of the kids the Union have on their squads develop.


8. Kansas City Wizards

"Unsettled" doesn't begin to describe the situation in KC; new full time coach (although he's a holdover and the team's technical director), tons of squad turnover, and a decidedly international flavor to their off-season signings. Conrad and Arnaud are still there, but there's no Hartman or Lopez. What does that mean? Last in the East if you ask me.


Playoff teams: Columbus, Chicago


Western Conference


1. Seattle Sounders

The Sounders made the playoffs in their inaugural MLS season, gave Houston a run in their series (though they couldn't score), bring back all of their most important pieces and will get a summer bump with the acquisition of Blaise N'Kufo. Sigi Schmid clearly knows what he's doing, and as long as Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg don't fall off a cliff with their form, the Sounders should be contenders for the West and Supporters' Shield crown all season.


2. Real Salt Lake

Amazingly enough, I had Real Salt Lake as one of the favorites before the year in 2009, and though they ultimately disappointed during the regular season, my faith in them was rewarded when they made their MLS Cup run. Beckerman, Morales, Findley, and co., should be primed, buoyed by their title, and ready for an large improvement in record. RSL could easily win the West if a few things fall their way.


3. Los Angeles Galaxy

Okay, so they won't get David Beckham back until the end of the season at the very best, and Landon Donovan may be due for a post-World Cup lull at some point; but I don't put the Galaxy here because of their offensive process, but because of their defensive abilities. If Omar Gonzalez can avoid a sophomore slump and Donovan Ricketts is near his 2009 form, LA will again keep teams from scoring and give themselves the chance to win matches tight matches.


4. Chivas USA

No more Preki, but I don't expect anything different out of Chivas. They're a consistent playoff team these days, and 2010 shouldn't be any different. Sacha Kljestan faded in 2009 after his winter transfer fell through, and though I'm no real fan of the midfielder, I'm predicting a bounce-back performance from his this year; especially if he doesn't make the US World Cup roster and decides he has something to prove. Still, just like their stadium-mates the Galaxy, Chivas will rely on a stout defense and the goalkeeping talents of Zach Thornton.


5. Colorado Rapids

Colorado's failure in 2009 came down to road form; they'll have to do much better than two wins and five draws if they hope to get back to the playoffs. Colorado still has Omar Cummings and Conor Casey, one of the best forward tandems in the league, leadership in Pablo Mastroeni, and picked up Jeff Larentowicz in a trade with New England during the off-season. Colorado is a playoff team for me.


6. Houston Dynamo

I'm playing with fire here, I know. Best coach in the league, talented players like Brian Ching, Geoff Cameron, Brad Davis among others, and a passionate fan base that gives them a solid home advantage. But the losses of Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden would seem too much to overcome so quickly, and so I have Houston as a bottom-half team in the Western Conference. Still, they'll contend for the playoffs when it's all said and done thanks to the aforementioned Kinnear and the influence of their returning core of players.


7. FC Dallas

That was a nice run to end the season in '09, wasn't it? Jeff Cunningham was almost unstoppable in winning the Golden Boot, and FCD managed to lead the league in goals when it was all said and done. But they started slow, something which ultimately doomed them, and I see no reason to believe that this year will be any different. Hyndman is a college coach playing at the professional game, and my faith in his ability to push his team to the next level is supremely lacking.


8. San Jose Earthquakes

I like Frank Yallop. He just doesn't have a very good team out in San Jose, and I say this after picking them to make the playoffs in 2009. Ryan Johnson is just about the only player I can get excited about seeing, and that doesn't bode well for a team that finished bottom of the conference last year. Yallop seems to have the backing of Lew Wolff and the organization, but I wonder when patience will finally run out. Not only do I predict the Quakes will finish last again, I'm going to put it out there that Yallop might be the first firing of 2010.


Playoff teams: Seattle, RSL, LA, Chivas, Colorado, Houston


That's right, I've got six teams from the West in the playoffs while only the two automatic qualifiers make it out of the East. Again, call it a hunch.


Supporters' Shield: Seattle Sounders

Eastern Conference Champion: Columbus Crew
Western Conference Champion: Seattle Sounders


MLS Champion: Seattle Sounders


I have almost no faith in any of these picks. Damn parity. Still, what I do know is that the West appears to have a glut of good teams while the East looks extremely weak from after the top two spots.


Rather than tell me where I'm wrong (because trust me, I know there's a lot to argue with here), throw your picks out in the comments. The season starts in 2 (!) days.

While reviewing my posts leading up to the 2009 MLS season, I came across a series of posts I did in the week leading up to the First Kick where I ran down the top ten story lines of the year. I'd almost forgotten I had done those posts, and it struck me how abnormal the 2010 buildup has been.


The season kicks off on Thursday with the debut of the Philadelphia Union against the Sounders in Seattle. It didn't exactly sneak up on me, but because so much focus was on the collective bargaining process, the potential for a strike, and the back and forth between the players and owners, I haven't been able to give the proper attention to the typical previews, predictions, and discussion. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.


But I do head into each MLS season and an eye towards the most intriguing potential story lines. Sometimes those relate to individual teams and their fortunes, others it's about off-field issues like attendance, stadiums, marketing, etc. 2010 is no different, with a mixture of items from the actual competition as well as the business of the league.


Instead of counting down a list of story lines over the course of days as I did last year, let's just get this out of the way in a quick and dirty fashion; it seems appropriate after all of the uncertainty.


10. Sounders sophomore year

Doesn't sound like there will be a slump in the Northwest, and the boys in Rave Green have to be considered real contenders in the West.

9. RSL's repeat campaign

RSL wasn't impressive during the 2009 regular season but turned in a wonderful playoff run; can they improve upon their record and give it another go?

8. Dynamo fortunes

Holden and Clark are gone, and Dom Kinnear may be in for his toughest coaching job yet.

7. The Wizard's international overhaul

Turnover in Kansas City was massive this off-season, and Peter Vermes has a team no one can really figure out. Either they'll be playoff contenders, or they'll crash and burn in a gigantic fireball that will be riveting to watch.

6. No Becks

I didn't really want to include this, I swear. But no Beckham until at least September, and possibly not at all, does change the league dynamic just a bit. More interesting than his absence post-World Cup might be the progress he makes towards returning to LA. Does he care enough?

5. Summer signings

There's already at least one player coming in after the World Cup, Blaise N'Kufo to Seattle, that could have an impact on the season. But will there be more, and if so, who will they be? Will New York finally get their marquee name?

4. World Cup impact

More American eyes will be on soccer than usual in a World Cup year, and with all that has changed with MLS since 2006, the league might be in a better position to capitalize. The break is a good move, but will the league see a bump in attendance and attention afterwards?

3. The Union

Finally, that word in day-to-day usage can mean just the Philadelphia expansion team. The fortunes of the Union, both on the field and in the stands are a major focus for me this season. A nice June PR bump with the opening of PPL Park should bring the club even more regional attention.

2. Attendance

2009 was a down year for MLS attendance, something that can be mostly attributed to the economy. Although the recession isn't exactly over, there's reason to believe numbers will go up in 2010.

1. Red Bull Arena

As the opening on Saturday night showed, Red Bull Arena is one of a kind in this part of the world. The $200 million soccer palace will be a star throughout the season, though it will help if the Red Bulls are good and the stands stay full.


Like I said, quick and dirty. I'm probably missing more than a few interesting things for the 2010 season, so step up and fill in the gaps.


First Kick is Thursday. How did that happen?

Photo Credit: Philadelphia Union on Facebook

Amidst much hubbub and giddiness (at least where I was standing), Major League Soccer released their 2010 Regular Season schedule today.


The schedule features (hold on, let me whip out my handy-dandy league-issued press release that followed the schedule release by about half an hour) one-third of the matches broadcast nationally, thirty-six HD games between ESPN2 and the new Fox Soccer Channel HD, eight-five percent of games taking place on a weekend, and a balanced home-and-away structure.


It's all very nice.


Beyond those interesting talking points are a few other things we now know:


The Philadelphia Union will open their new stadium on June 27th against Seattle

Hooray for the Union and their fans, who have certainly circled that magical date with four different colored highlighters and glittery stars by now. There's nothing that can dull their excitement, not even a brutal opening to the season for their club that sees the Union playing eight out of ten on the road. The price you pay for waiting for a new stadium to open is a steep one.


Toronto FC debuts their all-natural look on April 15th

Grass at BMO Field was almost as big of a story line over the off-season as the travails of Merritt Paulson in Portland, the loan deal of Donovan, and the CBA negotiations. Okay, not really, but it's going to be nice to see one less plastic surface in a league that needs all the footy credibility it can muster. Of course, the league will actually have one more fake field in 2011 than it did in 2009 thanks to both Portland and Vancouver going with the stuff, but let's not think about that now. Give it up for Canadian grass!


SuperLiga will happen, and people will still argue about it

Yes, everyone's favorite made up tournament (can anyone come up with a tournament that wasn't "made up" at some point by the way?) is back for another go 'round. We know the four MLS teams involved (New England, Chicago, Chivas USA, and Houston), and we know roughly when it will happen, but since the Mexican participants have yet to be identified (I think they draw straws; shortest has to play), all of the details have yet to be pinned down. Does it matter? Is it stupid? Will anyone watch or show up? Are the players going to get paid? Thankfully, we get to ask all of the same questions again in 2010!


MLS is in fact breaking for the group stages of the World Cup

This isn't really news, since they said they would a few months back; but sometimes you need to see it black and white to really believe it. Yes, MLS will break from June 11th to June 24th while some big tournament takes place in South Africa. DC United visiting the Sounders at Qwest Field has the honor of being the last game played before the start of the World Cup, and it appears that the league may have even managed to avoid scheduling games directly in conflict with knockout round matches when the schedule resumes (I say "appears" because I'm not totally sure about this yet; my eyes crossed before I could verify the accuracy of the statement).

***

So there you have it. There's much to look forward to in MLS in 2010, and I'm really starting to think this will be a banner year for the league. It's somewhat of a landmark season as well, with it being the fifteenth, so perhaps that nice number will throw MLS some good fortune-inducing cosmic vibes.


I would be remiss, however, after spending so much time talking about what we do know now that the schedule is out, if I didn't mention what we don't know:


If the season will start on time

Yeah, that collective bargaining agreement thing. Get it done, please.

As fans, particularly the type that actively hope for soccer to take the next step (even if we're not sure what that next step might be) in the United States, it's easy to get overexcited about "moments", put too much into them, and believe them more influential than they actually are.


2009 is a perfect example of this phenomenon; between exciting success in Seattle (which was a series of moments rather than any singular event, but is still pertinent), the US Confederations Cup run, and various other "smaller" moments sprinkled throughout the calendar, the year past could be viewed as fairly important to the popularity growth of professional soccer in the America.


But doing the prudent thing and pulling back our excitement just a bit is necessary for proper perspective. Soccer isn't going to "blow up" overnight as a nationwide obsession, and shouldn't be dismissed (as the old guard media so consistently do) simply because it hasn't. The fan base of the game in a country of 310 million, which is not insignificant, will always support it on some level, and it would take mistakes on an epic scale to ruin the pro game as well as success on an equally epic scale to bump it into the mainstream (and even that would likely be fleeting, even if the number of committed fans grew significantly).


Unfortunately, "epic mistakes" are not out of the realm of possibility with the MLS CBA negotiations casting a pall over things. For observers of the American game in its totality, even the excitement of a World Cup year is muted by labor uncertainty in America's top flight.


Add the second division drama to the list of concerns, as well as more mundane on-field issues for the USMNT (injuries for example), and it would be very easy to be slightly downtrodden for 2010.


Fortunately, I'm almost (somewhat) possibly (provisionally) certain that the labor nonsense will get fixed, that USSF will make a decision that gives us second division soccer for 2010, and that soccer will make strides with the general public if for no other reason than the ESPN hype machine will be in overdrive. Fairly soon, the relative whispers about the England match to open the World Cup will mutate into outright shouts emanating from the sports TV behemoth. Think of it as a cattle call; not all of the cows will heed it, but more than a few will come along for a look.


As for those more "mundane" issues, the ones involving the United States and their World Cup fortunes, my belief in a positive outcome is less strong (if that's possible). As hopeful as I am (and I am, believe me), I also recognize that it will take the team's and Bob Bradley's very best to make the tournament a success. I won't even bother myself with expectations, which will surely be raised thanks to the fortunate draw; the public will be the public, and if the US fails to meet some kind of unrealistic standard placed on them by a few under-informed mainstream voices, the disappointment will do little to affect soccer's actual standing here. We could all try to face down the tidal wave with reason if we choose, but I'm positive we would all be swept away. Best to just ride it out.


The 2010 World Cup will ultimately be a disappointment for the United States. That's because no matter how or when they go out (and they will), fans of the team will be heartbroken; that's the nature of passion, and why I'm slightly more tolerant of blind-homerism and "rah-rah" type opinion than some. Soccer needs deluded fans just as much as it needs rational analysts; this isn't an academic exercise to be broken down to its essence and examined like some wispy 19th century novel. It's a game, meant to arouse irrational hope and unrealistic belief.


All that being said, and confirming again that the World Cup will ultimately be a disappointment for the US (because they won't, and can't, win it), there could be some joy to be had. I expect them to progress to the second round, even with the issues currently facing Bob Bradley; it won't be easy, and there will be more than a few dodgy moments, but with England clear favorite and capable of getting nine points, the Americans can get through on four, or even three, points.


There are other ways to see it, of course. Whatever is behind it, and I'm coming to grips with the notion that it really doesn't matter, there's nothing unfair about a disastrous prediction for the US at the World Cup. Injuries and form (which is probably best left to later judgement) make it easy to see the Americans falling flat. If we're all just "best-guessing", a conservative estimation, based on missing players, a sometimes tactically-naive coach, a poor record in the last World Cup, and other factors too numerous to name, is understandable. I may hate it, I may have a visceral response to it (working on that; might try the counting thing), but I become one of the deluded if I refuse to see the possibility, and although I recognize the need for unrepentant homers, I have a relatively strong desire not to become one.


And that's just it. Anything is possible, no matter how much we think we know. It's possible the US will beat England. It's possible the US could fail miserable and come home with no points and the worst World Cup showing since France '98.


Neither outcome, or anything else that happens at the World Cup for that matter, will have any explosive or implosive effect on the place of soccer in the sports hierarchy of the United States. It's just doesn't work that way. Even if it did, or if someone soccer entered "fad" or "new hotness" territory (like it seemed to briefly during the heady days of "Beckham-mania") would that we want that? Wouldn't the inevitable regression back to niche/fringe status just be depressing?


Not that everyone cares, or really wants to see soccer explode in the US. I know that there are plenty of you out there that are fine with the way things are. I envy your attitude.


2010, provided there will be an MLS season (compromise people, compromise) and a second division (Hello? USSF? Are you there?) to go with the World Cup will probably be the biggest year in the history of American soccer. That means more attention than ever before, more interest than ever before, and more growth than ever before. What it doesn't mean is soccer becoming a major sport in the United States of America. That is still a long way off, if it ever happens.


So get ready, and get excited, for the moments as they happen over the course of the next year. Just don't go reading too much into them. Slow growth is maddening to the impatient among us, but will ultimately serve American soccer better than any sudden explosion of popularity.

Back in August, I wrote a post on how big the end of 2009 could for American soccer. At the time, I focused on the MLS CBA negotiations, possible MLS expansion, and the World Cup draw; little did I know at the time that second division drama would trump all but one of those.


So here we are, with 2009 just about done and dusted, and a review seems to be in order. Of my three chosen happenings, only one actually came to pass, the one we knew for sure would; the World Cup draw. As it turned out, it was everything we could have hope for and more, thanks both to a group from which the US is capable of advancing, as well as the bonus of a high-profile opening match with world class England.


The buzz for the USA-England match has faded just a bit in recent days, and will probably chug along at a low hum for at least the first three months of 2009; but as the World Cup creeps closer, and the two nations media complexes (obviously that applies to England more than the US) get into full hype mode, you might need earplugs to block out the noise. Everything, and I mean everything from a USMNT standpoint, hinged on that draw. In more ways than one, it did not disappoint.


Unfortunately, the other two areas I pointed out as important for '09 won't be sorted until '10. The CBA negotiations, which are ongoing even as we get very little in terms of actual updates, don't appear to be close to a resolution. Both sides still have heels dug firmly into their respective grounds, and since both belief their ground is high, the stalemate show no signs of breaking. The current CBA expires on January 31st of next year, so the likelihood that the league will be operating without one for at least a short period of time is rising with each passing day. Remember too, that the league won't announce salary cap and roster guidelines until after the CBA has established the basic framework for player compensation.


Expansion, while not as imperative to the health of MLS as the new CBA will be, is nonetheless still a hot topic. Don Garber's recent visit to Montreal to speak with Joey Saputo and local officials makes it seem as though the Impacts "promotion" to MLS is imminent. There's no reason to believe that isn't true, but again, with only a few weeks left in 2009, Montreal's official announcement is likely to happen in 2010.


Meanwhile, the USL/NASL fight has risen to a place of prominence on the list of concerns heading into 2010. The USSF has yet to decide on the status of the newly formed NASL, and it will be that action which dictates the direction that battle will take. If the USSF sanctions NASL, then at least we'll know that those clubs signed up with the new league will definitely play in 2010; with the amount of time, effort, and money they've put into their new endeavor, it would be a pity to have it go any other way. The USL lawsuit, naming three NASL-committed teams (Rochester, Tampa Bay, and CP Baltimore) will linger no matter the USSF ruling, and will also need to be sorted out. A peek at the Hillsborough County court website indicates that a hearing has been scheduled for early March.


In retrospect, the expansion and CBA questions were long shots for answers in 2009. It's 2010, with both club and country being in the news, that will ultimately be when those answers will come.