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SBI’s MLS 2012 predictions

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Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

The 2012 MLS season likely holds a number of twists, turns and surprises, but as we try and project what will happen about nine months from now, we've come to a consensus on one thing: The MLS Cup winner will be emerging from the Western Conference again.

Out of eight SBI writers, five have picked the Los Angeles Galaxy to repeat as champions, while others have pegged Real Salt Lake, the Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas as the eventual cup holders, which would keep the Anschutz Trophy in the West for the fourth straight year. All but one have the Galaxy maintaining the Supporters' Shield for the third straight season.

As for other preseason prognostications, opinions are a bit more divided. The races for league MVP and Golden Boot yield a number of viable candidates on the eve of the season opener, while the influx of international talent should make for a heated competition for Newcomer of the Year.

Let us know your picks for the upcoming season in the comments section below, but here are SBI's staff predictions for the 2012 MLS season:

SBI'S 2012 MLS SEASON PREDICTIONS

MLS CUP

Ives Galarcep – Los Angeles Galaxy

Avi Creditor – Galaxy

Adam Serrano – Galaxy

Franco Panizo – FC Dallas

Thomas Floyd – Galaxy

Joey Samuel – Seattle Sounders

Caleb Sonneland – Real Salt Lake

David Gubala – Galaxy

SUPPORTER'S SHIELD

Galarcep – Galaxy

Creditor – Galaxy

Serrano – Galaxy

Panizo – Galaxy

Floyd – RSL

Samuel – Galaxy

Sonneland – Galaxy

Gubala – Galaxy

LEAGUE MVP

Galarcep – Fredy Montero, Seattle Sounders

Creditor – Mauro Rosales, Seattle Sounders

Serrano – Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy

Panizo – Brek Shea, FC Dallas

Floyd – Donovan

Samuel – Montero

Sonneland – Graham Zusi, Sporting Kansas City

Gubala – Shea

GOLDEN BOOT

Galarcep – Montero

Creditor – Danny Koevermans, Toronto FC

Serrano – Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes

Panizo – Edson Buddle, Los Angeles Galaxy

Floyd – Buddle

Samuel – Koevermans

Sonneland – Montero

Gubala – Dominic Oduro, Chicago Fire

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Galarcep – Luis Silva, Toronto FC

Creditor – Silva

Serrano – Silva

Panizo – Silva

Floyd – Andrew Wenger, Montreal Impact

Samuel – Kelyn Rowe, New England Revolution

Sonneland – Rowe

Gubala – Rowe

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

Galarcep – Geoff Cameron, Houston Dynamo

Creditor – Cameron

Serrano – Cameron

Panizo – Cameron

Floyd – Cameron

Samuel – Carlos Valdes, Philadelphia Union

Sonneland – Cameron

Gubala – Cameron

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Galarcep – Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake

Creditor – Rimando

Serrano – Rimando

Panizo – Rimando

Floyd – Rimando

Samuel – Rimando

Sonneland – Sean Johnson, Chicago Fire

Gubala – Josh Saunders, Los Angeles Galaxy

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Galarcep – Hamdi Salihi, D.C. United

Creditor – Kris Boyd, Portland Timbers 

Serrano – Blas Perez, FC Dallas

Panizo – Boyd

Floyd – Salihi

Samuel – Boyd

Sonneland – Boyd

Gubala – Boyd

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Galarcep – Kofi Sarkodie, Houston Dynamo

Creditor – Dilly Duka, Columbus Crew

Serrano – Michael Lahoud, Chivas USA

Panizo – Duka

Floyd – Ike Opara, San Jose Earthquakes

Samuel – Danny Mwanga, Philadelphia Union

Sonneland – Will Bruin, Houston Dynamo

Gubala – Luis Gil, Real Salt Lake

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Galarcep – Opara

Creditor – David Ferreira, FC Dallas

Serrano – Steve Zakuani, Seattle Sounders

Panizo – Opara

Floyd – Zakuani

Samuel – Ferreira

Sonneland – Ferreira

Gubala – Zakuani

Comments

  1. More like the Sounders win it in LA on the final game of the season. Gals fans burn Beckman in effigy .. Mayan 2012 curse unfolds

    Reply
  2. Sometimes it goes to someone who sucks for a year or two after being really good, and then returns to greatness, but would not go to someone returning from abroad.

    Reply
  3. Comeback Polayer of the Year votes do not go to players coming back to MLS after a stint in Europe. The award is meant for someone “coming back” from something dramatic — injury or life crisis.

    Reply

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