The Eastern Conference feels pretty wide open outside of the number one spot this season. Both New York teams have lost key pieces, and Montreal has lost quality players to Europe this offseason. One big story line we’ll all be following is can Toronto’s record signings Italian’s Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi reignite soccer in the North? There are still plenty of players yet to be signed but this is where I believe things stand as of now:
1. Philadelphia Union Jim Curtin and the Union have built a juggernaut through their academy system and signing the right veteran players. Paxten Aaronson is gone to Eintracht Frankfurt but returning are stalworth Jamacian National Team keeper Andre Blake, USMNT veteran Alejandro Bedoya, defender Kai Wagner, USYNT forward Quin Sullivan and all of the firing power from last year’s Eastern Conference Champs.
2. Toronto FC It’s my belief that all of Toronto’s signings are going to come together this season and bring playoff soccer back to Canada’s largest city. Mark Anthony-Key, Michael Bradley, and the forementioned Insigne and Bernardeschi are too much fire power not to make some noise in the MLS.
3. Orlando City Full disclosure I am an Orlando City fan. Losing Junior Urso, Ruan and Joao Mouthino is going to hurt. They’re quality players at important positions. I still think they have the best Center Back pairing in Major League soccer in Antonio Carlos and Robin Jannson. There’s still a lot of skill and depth returning for the 2022 US Open Cup Champions. My disclaimer to this pick is if they make it to the Semi-Finals or Finals of the Concacaf Champions League they will not finish this high. They have an incredibly tough road in the CCL facing Tigres out of Liga MX in the opening round and then they would likely face Pachuca also of Liga MX. That would really tax the Lions if they were to make a run.
4. Nashville SC The lads from Music City rely on a heavy dose of stellar defense starring USMNT Center Back Walker Zimmerman and USMNT Full Back Shaq Moore then getting it to Mukhtar and Sapong to score. I think Nashville continues to play impressive team soccer and will be in the top half of the Eastern Conference all season.
5. Inter Miami David Beckham’s club managed by former English teammate Phil Neville took off last season. They almost landed Mega Star Messi this offseason and all reports are they are still very much in the mix to add the Argentinian this summer. The squad they have is a playoff squad, especially after adding Josef Martinez without using the Designated Player tag. If this team adds Messi I can’t say whether it would help or hurt them for the second half of the season. I don’t think anyone can even imagine the insanity that every Inter game would be with the global super star on the squad.
6. FC Cincinnati Speaking of new franchises that found their footing last season, FC Cincinnati looks to build on last years growth. Young USMNT Striker Brandon Vasquez along with Brenner will lead the scoring for the boys from the Queen City. They added USMNT Center Back Matt Miazga from Chelsea’s loan army last season and I expect he’ll be in good form this season.
7. New York Red Bulls I’m not betting on the playoff streak to end. Gone are USMNT players Caden Clark to Red Bull Liepzig and Aaron Long to LAFC. One of the NYRB players I’ll be keeping an eye on is recently capped USMNT Left Back John Tolkin. He has a real chance to be part of the US squad heading in to the 2026 World Cup. You know the Red Bulls are going to high press and make their opponents uncomfortable. I’m betting you’ll see them in the playoffs.
8. CF Montreal Kai Komara anchors the returning CF Montreal squad who finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference last season. Gone are USMNT midfielder Djordje Mihailovic to AZ in Alkmaar in the Netherlands, Canadian Defender Alistair Johnson to Celtic in Scotland, and Canadian Ismael Kone to Watford in England. That is a lot of European level talent to lose in one offseason. I just don’t know how they can be as good as last year.
9. Columbus Crew Columbus barely missed the playoffs last season. They have the beautiful new stadium and a loyal fan base, but I don’t know if they are quite as good as the 8 teams above them.
10. New England Revolution I really wish the Revs would get a soccer specific stadium in Boston and not play in a NFL stadium in Foxboro. A soccer specific stadium in Boston would most definitely be a venue the USMNT would use and it would make the Revs game not have the feel of the late 90’s MLS. On the pitch Carlos Gil, DeJuan Jones, and newly acquired Latif Blessing will give the Revs a shot. This team broke the MLS regular season points record just two years ago, but they never looked the same last season without Buska and Matt Turner.
11. New York City FC No one needs a home like NYCFC. They play games at Yankees Stadium (just wrong all the way around), they also play at Red Bull Stadium in New Jersey, they also play in Hartford, CT. Don’t quote me on this but last year I believe they played on six different “home” fields. On the pitch they never looked the same after losing Tati Castellanos to La Liga last season. USMNT Keeper Sean Johnson is still unsigned, and I don’t know if the 2021 MLS Cup Champs can get their mojo back in time for the season.
12. Atlanta United The Josef Martinez thing ended kind of messy. Miles Robinson is back healthy and maybe the reclaim some of their previous magic after a disappointing 2022 season, but I’m not betting on it.
13. DC United DC United started to show some life last season under Wayne Rooney. They added a VERY talented Right Back in Ruan from Orlando City. I just don’t know if they have the pieces to go much higher than this after finishing last season with 27 points.
14. Chicago Fire Gaga Sloanina has completed his transfer to Chelsea. They made waves for selling Jhon Duran to Aston Villa for upwards of $20 million. They have Shaqiri and young US Goal Keeper Chris Brady. Another team I’m going to talk stadiums on. Leave Soldier Field immediately. Chicago has a soccer specific stadium in the suburbs and that’s where they should be.
15. Charlotte Charlotte’s first season in MLS wasn’t an utter failure on the field. They finished in 9th place, only 6 points out of playoffs. They fired their coach less than three months in to their inaugural campaign. I’m predicting a Sophomore slump for the Carolina boys.
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