It’s almost impossible to predict the twists and turns that will come with an MLS season, but the SBI staff took their best crack to lay down some predictions ahead of the 2017 campaign.

Editor-in-Chief Ives Galarcep joined Managing Editor Ryan Tolmich, Assistant Managing Editor Joe Tansey and Assistant Editors Colton Coreschi and Peter Galindo to forecast the 2017 MLS season. It’s a season that should feature plenty of intriguing storylines and developments in a season that features new teams and a slew of new talented players.

As expected, opinions were divided as the SBI staff broke down their picks for a number of MLS topics, even if the voting panel proved pretty consistent in selecting their choice for Most Valuable Player. In addition to award picks, the SBI staff compiled a trio of MLS Best XIs, providing a look at players to watch as the 2017 kicks off.

Let us know your picks for the upcoming season in the comments section below, but here are SBI’s staff predictions for the 2017 MLS season:

LEAGUE MVP

IVES GALARCEP (Editor in Chief): Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC

RYAN TOLMICH (Managing Editor): Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC

COLTON CORESCHI (Assistant Editor): Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC

PETER GALINDO (Assistant Editor): Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC

JOE TANSEY (Assistant Managing Editor): Nicolas Lodeiro, Seattle Sounders

 

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

IVES GALARCEP: Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union

RYAN TOLMICH: Tim Howard, Colorado Rapids

COLTON CORESCHI: Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union

PETER GALINDO: Stefan Frei, Seattle Sounders

JOE TANSEY: Bill Hamid, D.C. United

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

IVES GALARCEP: Walker Zimmerman, FC Dallas

RYAN TOLMICH: Matt Hedges, FC Dallas

COLTON CORESCHI: Jelle van Damme, LA Galaxy

PETER GALINDO: Matt Hedges, FC Dallas

JOE TANSEY: Jelle van Damme, LA Galaxy

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

IVES GALARCEP: Abu Danladi, Minnesota United

RYAN TOLMICH: Ian Harkes, D.C. United

COLTON CORESCHI: Abu Danladi, Minnesota United

PETER GALINDO: Abu Danladi, Minnesota United

JOE TANSEY: Abu Danladi, Minnesota United

COACH OF THE YEAR:

IVES GALARCEP: Greg Vanney, Toronto FC

RYAN TOLMICH: Oscar Pareja, FC Dallas

COLTON CORESCHI: Jesse Marsch, New York Red Bulls

PETER GALINDO: Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, Atlanta United

JOE TANSEY: Jim Curtin, Philadelphia Union

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

IVES GALARCEP: Cristian Colman, FC Dallas

RYAN TOLMICH: Cristian Colman, FC Dallas

COLTON CORESCHI: Josef Martinez, Atlanta United

PETER GALINDO: Miguel Almiron, Atlanta United

JOE TANSEY: Nemanja Nikolic, Chicago Fire

GOLDEN BOOT

IVES GALARCEP: David Villa, NYCFC

RYAN TOLMICH: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC

COLTON CORESCHI: David Villa, NYCFC

PETER GALINDO: Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls

JOE TANSEY: Cyle Larin, Orlando City

MOST IMPROVED

IVES GALARCEP: Kellyn Acosta, FC Dallas

RYAN TOLMICH: Kellyn Acosta, FC Dallas

COLTON CORESCHI: Patrick Mullins, D.C. United

PETER GALINDO: Kei Kamara, New England Revolution

JOE TANSEY: Harry Shipp, Seattle Sounders

SBI CONSENSUS BEST XI

FIRST TEAM

———————–Blake————————–

Afful——–Hedges———van Damme——–Matarrita

———————-Bradley————————-

—-Lodeiro———Valeri———Piatti—-

—————Villa——-Giovinco—————

 

 

THIRD TEAM

———————–Robles———————-

Powell——-Sjoberg——–Collin——-Garza

————————McCarty————————-

—-Harrison——–Dos Santos——–Gashi—-

————–Altidore————Montero————-