The new MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement signed on Saturday helped avert disaster for Major League Soccer, and now it is time to start looking ahead to the 2010 MLS season rather than praying that a strike wouldn't ruin the season.
Instead of work stoppages, we can now look forward to goals and saves and on-field action in what should be a season to remember in Major League Soccer. Whether it's teams such as reigning champs Real Salt Lake and title favorite Columbus, stars such as Landon Donovan, Juan Pablo Angel and Freddie Ljungberg, and venues such as Red Bull Arena and soon-to-be completed PPL Park, there is plenty to be excited about as the season approaches on Thurday.
We normally start our Morning Kickoffs with news items, but this morning we're starting with a simple question: What are most looking forward to about the 2010 MLS season?
Share your answers below.
Except Freddy will be in Europe then.
Plus you’ll get to hear Eric Wynalda yell at callers “You don’t know what it’s like to play for the national team like I do.”
The Revs def need a SSS, for that matter… everyone does…. I would love for the Revs to move to downtown Providence
OH well, Seattle got beat by a d-2 team as well.
This weekend is a free preview. The season package is $79.
http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/schedule/2010/direct_kick/
Heck we don’t even have cable in our apartment; I end up just watching pirated feeds from the internet, but this year if they are doing all the improvements they say they are to the video I may jump for the online streaming package from MLS.
anyone seen info for DirectKick this year?
The poor guy has epilepsy and his medication causes him to gain weight.
Citation please?
I have a feeling Backe is right about Ream — we’ll be seeing him in the USMNT jersey a lot, along with Cameron, McInerney and Gil, and maybe Okugo (and, alas, Bornstein). Not too sure about the others you’ve listed.
new rivals with the city of brotherly love and more games at RBA
Without a doubt, the best moment of the year would be the announcement of a new stadium for DCU.
Looking forward to watching the Red Bulls improve and challenge for the top in the East or at least make the top three in the East.
Looking forward to first MLS game ever for me and my kids (DC vs. NE – 4/3)! I am driving up from NC and had bought tiks already so very happy about the CBA getting done.
I am looking forward to seeing young guys start to show USMNT potential ala Geoff Cameron, J Bornstein, Sacha, O Gonzalez! I saw something on Saturday from Tim Ream of NYRB that was very promising for a central defnder. He looked REALLY comfortable on the ball and had good positional sense versus Neymar and the other super quick Brazilians. Hopefully he keeps going and we see more of that from the young guys like Gil, McInnerney, Break Shea, Peri M, Sean Franklin, Okugo, Pontius, Anthony Wallace, Jorge Floresetc…
From your fingers to the Internet gods “eyes”…
With Piotr in Philly — and the great Perkins/McInerney Draft Pick robbery — I think DCU has a leg up on NYRB in having a new rivalry in the works. Count me as one who would be proved wrong if DCU makes the playoffs, but I’ll be throwing a lot of beers in the air @ RFK if that happens. A couple of big name foreign player signings in the next transfer window would be a big boost in that direction and really change my outlook. Either that, or some really surprisingly good play from Tino in the center of the field and from whomever wins the right wing job. I’m pretty excited about making pilgrimages — to the Linc for Philly’s opener and to Red Bull Arena for DCU’s trip there. I think I might have gone to Giants’ Stadium in the MetroStars’ first year — I was in NY then and started as a fan, but was laid up for much of the season recovering from my knee surgery in April but I definitely haven’t seen an MLS game outside of RFK since coming to DC in ’97.
Ditto on all of these… if you guys are Chicagoans all that nice weather last week HAD to have you dieing to get back in the lot on a saturday afternoon for friends, beverages, and Fire. Can’t wait to see the new squad.
Looking forward to Collins John and B McBride taking apart the Crew’s central defenders. The Fire are going to light up MLS this year.
If you do it, I promise to cheer.
Wow. Interesting perspective. Most of us in the rest of MLS have been pretty jealous of your team — from ownership down to the coaching staff, and down to the scouting. My sense always was that the Krafts were surprisingly proactive in trying to get the team its own stadium, considering the Krafts already control the stadium (not sure if they “own” it?). I thought they were pretty serious about the Somerville site, even though they were forced to wait on public officials to decide what would happen there.
On the other hand, I’ve always been perplexed by the pitiful crowds the Revs get for their playoff games, so maybe you’re on to something….
And two out of three MLS Cups!
1. The new rivalry with Philly.
2. DC proving everyone wrong and reaching the playoffs.
3. Going to the away game in NY to see what everyone keeps talking about : )
4. An increase in soccer attention for the league thanks to the league and WC.
5. DC announcing a new stadium…….
Be sure to catch Fox Football Fone In tonight on FSC. I’m sure there we’ll hear some more specifics on it too, along with some analysis (hopefully).
I think this was a terrific rookie class. I’ve got a feeling it will be better than last year’s class. When NYRB scores a player like Ream in the second round, it stands to reason it was a deep draft. As a DCU fan, I’m kinda hopeful about United’s 2 draft class rookies — Graye, who came in the 4th round, and Rice, who went undrafted. Not expecting them to make an impact this year, but to add quality depth as they develop in future years. I’m also jealous of all those other teams because they had higher draft picks…
Not as hopeful about next year’s class, but I think this group will go down as the deepest class yet.
The Union joining the league. Finally – 15 years is a long time to wait.
Sounders-Union match. I’m Philly born and raised but now living in California and am making to trip up to Seattle on Thursday.
The thing I’m most looking forward to…
MLS not spending the next decade making
up for not getting the CBA completed
before the start of the season.
The problem is even if last year was balanced, which it wasn’t, Seattle would have had best regular season if it was….
….Columbus still lost to Salt Lake 3 out of the 4 times they played them.
Sure declare them “Champions”, but it is tainted to say the least.
Not exactly 100% right. NASL was formed as an attempt to overthrow and/or escape USL Div. 1. The peace treaty brought the NASL teams back into the fold, as a separate conference. The league is now known as USSF Div. 2. I do agree about the probable name change.
Columbus bringing home some more trophies.
This.
Looking forward to seeing Dom Kinnear prove how great of a coach he really is. I see the Dynamo surprising some people, even after losing Holden and Clark.
Brad Davis will prove how important he really has been all these years. Geoff Cameron will grow into his midfield role. And, Luis Angel Landin will be the perfect compliment to Brian Ching at forward. No more making fun of his weight problem too! The poor guy has epilepsy and his medication causes him to gain weight.
I’m looking forward to: seeing how PU does, watching the Houston-Seattle rivalry unfold, seeing Seattle, RSL, LA, and Columbus in the CCL, renewed energy after the WC break as the US gets further than expected.
Also, a Seattle prediction: win the first few, start drawing and losing until WC, everybody talks smack, come back to take 2nd in West with Blaise NKufo and more motivation.
Seattle v DC/PU for MLS Cup
Yeah, we all know it is true too.
That is what I am looking forward to the least.
But I am looking forward to the Houston-Seattle games the most.
Also–the most important Supporter’s Shield EVER. Now we can debate playoffs, etc. (I like the playoffs)–but this will be the first, and in the viewable future, ONLY season where the Regular Season will feature a balanced home and away schedule…the Supporter’s Shield this year–will be the true …fine indulge yourself my non-playoff lovin’ brethern—Champion. I wonder if support’s/players will grasp on to that at all?
Great to hear all the banter hear peeps…
Red Bull Arena, Red Bull Arena, Red Bull Arena.
Seeing a game at PPL Park.
Visiting Toyota Park for the first time.
Philly joining the league and the development of Jack Mc and Luis Gil with the home league are my two things to watch.
I’m most looking forward to seeing packed stadiums…Seattle, Toronto, New York, Philly…I’d love nothing more than to see sell-outs all across the country.
I’m looking forward to Dom retooling, yet again, a team that has lost top players, into a team that is fighting for the cup.
Vamos Naranga!
Cool – thanks for the info.
MLS is putting such a great product out on the field it is tough to pick one. I love statements like that, the soccer geniuses take it as sarcasm and the MLS lovers take it as true.
In all seriousness, how can you not be excited about the season starting, 10 teams finished the regular season within 9 points of each other. Very exciting.
I am looking forward to all the things associated with the Sounder’s first MLS Cup win.
Tailgate parties
Great soccer and
Seeing Landon play ( had to throw that in there )
getting to the OCP before games will be a good felling for us out in LA
I am looking forward to:
1. Montreal getting the go ahead for expansion so the league can start to get some quality bilingual trash talk going in Canada.
2. Toronto making the playoffs for the first time playing on grass or Mo getting fired if they don’t.
3. Beckham not being discussed all year, so the leagues success can be talked about instead of one player
4. A team coming out of nowhere and having a great season
5. MLS Direct Kick working for me and not having to call Comcast 4 times to get it working right.
6. The Pacific Northwest hype building even louder this season with 2 more teams coming in next year
7. An MLS team winning a Champions League match in Mexico
8. Ives enjoying his pimped out press box at Red Bull Arena all year further motivating him to be a leader in the delivery of MLS premium internet content
No idea. I emailed the site. Anyone know where else (besides mfls.com) to play? Will there be an SBI league?
I dont see Fantasy MLS on MLSNET. Are they not doing it this season?
I am looking forward to my three hour drive(one way) to kansas city to watch the wizards!!! Can’t wait until their stadium is done too!!
The last CBA was released in its entirety by the union. If they don’t want you to know much about this one they might not release it in its entirety. The union also released all of the players salaries in the past.
As far as roster modifications in the new CBA you will find out about that fairly soon.
i’m looking forward to seeing who proves they deserve one of the last spots left on the nat’l team roster
Also looking forward to seeing how DC will look this year as well. So many changes. I really want to see them back in the race again.
Yeah, I watched him and Twente play PSV this week and the commentator kept referring to him as “the legend.” He scored a goal and looked good. It should be a big addition for them.
Looking forward to seeing whether any American Rooks look good enough to help US in the Next WC Cycle–especially strikers like Mwanga (who says he wants to play for US) and defenders like Ream.
Oh, and Blaise Nkufo next to Freddy Montero after the WC
Looking forward to full venues at the new stadiums ahead of my (posible) new team… Portland next year….oh, and lots of goals and new stars (Henry?)
Not a Fire fan per se but looking very forward to seeing these two together.