MLS preseason rankings below the jump:
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
No 1 - LA GALAXY (1st West – MLS Cup and Supporter’s Shield Champions)
IN
Andrew Boyens D/M (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - CHV)
Pat Noonan F (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - SSFC)
Marcelo Sarvas M (Free - LD Alajuelense)
Jose Villareal M (Homegrown)
Nick Noble GK (Free - Ljungskile SK)
Yuri Gorentzvaig F (Supplemental Draft - AA Flamengo)
Edson Buddle F (Free - Ingolstad)
Kyle Nakazawa M (Trade - PHI)
Bill Gaudette GK (Free - Montreal Impact D2)
OUT
Gregg Berhalter D (Retired)
Donovan Ricketts GK (Trade - IMFC)
Miguel Lopez M (Loan end - Quilmes)
Jovan Kirovski M/F (Retired)
Frankie Hedjuk D (Released)
Dasan Robinson D (Retired)
Yuri Gorentzvaig F (Released)
Chris Birchall M (Released)
Ryan Thomas D (Released)
Dustin McCarty M (Released)
Nick Noble GK (Waived)
Outlook: The Galaxy are clearly the class of the league still. The only question is whether a championship hangover will slow them down. It might, but there is more depth and more talent than any other team in MLS. They will win the Supporter’s Shield. The playoffs, as always, are a crapshoot but the experience is there. This club is now looking towards long-term legacy – is it the best MLS team of all-time.
No 2 - REAL SALT LAKE (2nd west)
IN
Eduardo Fernandez GK (Homegrown)
Enzo Martinez M (SuperDraft - UNC)
Diogo de Almeida D (SuperDraft - SMU)
Sebastian Velasquez M (Superdraft - Spartanburg Methodist)
Emiliano Bonfigli F (Supplemental Draft - Manta FC)
Jonny Steele M (Free - FC Tampa Bay)
Leone Cruz D (Free - SSFC)
Terukazu Tanaka D (Free - Yokohama)
OUT
Collen Warner M (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Tim Melia GK (Free - CHV)
Robby Russell D (Trade - DCU)
Jean Alexandre M (Trade - SJE)
Andy Williams M (Retired)
Nelson Gonzalez M/F (Loan end - Quilmes)
Blake Wanger D (Free Agent)
Rauwshan McKenzie D (Free - CHV)
Arturo Alvarez M (Free - Paços de Ferreira)
Chris Agorsor F (Released)
Donny Toia M (Released)
Outlook: If anyone can take down the Galaxy it’s like the classy and deep RSL. This is the final stand of the small market MLS success story. RSL has got to where it is through solid management and attention to all 24 roster spots. They won’t be distracted by the CCL this year either. If LA is the clear No 1 in the league, RSL remains behind but a clear No 2.
No 3 - SPORTING KC (1st east, MLS Cup finalist)
IN
Seth Sinovic D (Trade - IMFC)
Paulo Nagamura D (Trade - CHV)
Bobby Convey M (Trade - SJE)
Dom Dwyer F (SuperDraft - USF)
Cyprian Hedrik M (SuperDraft - Costal Carolina)
Michael Thomas M (Free - Ljungskile SK)
Jacob Peterson M (Free - SJE)
OUT
Ryan Smith F (Trade - CHV)
Seth Sinovic D (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Scott Lorenz D (Free - Ft Lauderdale Strikers)
Jefferson M (Free - Bahia)
Craig Rocastle M (Free - Thrasyvoulous Fylis)
Milos Stojcev M (Waived)
Davy Arnaud M (Trade - IMFC)
Shavar Thomas D (Free - IMFC)
Omar Bravo F (Transfer - Cruz Azul)
Daniel Cyrus D (Released)
Outlook:
Young and coming on. KC went from ugly stepsister to the sexy best friend to your out of town cousin seemingly overnight. They are the class of the East. The biggest question is the maturity of its start players. Still, in an otherwise terrible Eastern conference they are likely one good day away from winning the MLS Cup come next November.
No 4 - SEATTLE SOUNDERS (3rd West, US Open Cup champion)
IN
Michael Gspurning GK (Free - Skoda Xanthi)
Marc Burch D (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - DCU)
Adam Johansson D (Free - IFK Goteborg)
Christian Sivebaek M (Transfer - Midtjylland)
Andrew Duran D (SuperDraft - Creighton)
Babayele Sodade F (SuperDraft - UAB)
Jason Banton M (Supplemental Draft - Leicester City)
Cordell Cato F (Free - Defence Force FC)
Eddie Johnson F (Trade - IMFC)
Andrew Weber GK (Free - SJE)
OUT
Kasey Keller GK (Retired)
James Riley D (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Tyson Wahl D (Trade - IMFC)
Terry Boss GK (Retired)
Taylor Graham D (Retired)
Nate Jaqua F (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - NER)
Pat Noonan F (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - LAG)
Miguel Montano F (Released)
Erik Friberg M (Transfer - Malmo FF)
Jason Banton M (Waived)
Michael Fucito F (Trade - IMFC)
Lamar Neagle M (Trade - IMFC)
Outlook: I think they’ll win the USOC again since they clearly care about it more than anyone else. And, they’ll be good. But, Seattle has always lacked…something when push came to shove. The talent is there, the intangibles not quite. The Sounders will need to prove that they belong on a short list of title contenders.
No 5 - FC DALLAS (4th West)
IN
Blaz Perez F (Free - Indios)
Hernan Pertuz D (Free - Independiente Medellin)
Matt Hedges D (SuperDraft - UNC)
Carlos Rodriguez D (Free - Tauro FC)
Alex Lee D - (Supplemental Draft - Maryland)
OUT
Edson Edward D (Waived)
Jeremy Hall D (Trade - TFC)
Maicon Santos F (Free - DCU)
Maykel Galindo F (Free Agent)
Marvin Chavez M/F (Trade to SJE)
Jackson D/M (Loan - Cruzeiro)
Josh Lambo GK (Released)
Daniel Cruz M (Free - Deportivo Cali)
Jack Stewart D (Loan end - MN Stars FC)
Outlook: If David Ferreira is back then so is Dallas. The club slumped down the stretch last year with too many games and too much pressure on the top players. Ferreira changes that. Dallas is a dark horse – if any team is to emerge from the second tier to win a championship it’s this club.
No 6 - DC UNITED (2nd east)
IN
Robbie Russell D (Trade - RSL)
Nick DeLeon M (SuperDraft - Louisville)
Maicon Santos F (Free - FC Dallas)
Danny Cruz M (Trade - HOU)
Emiliano Dudar D (Free - BSC Young Boys)
Hamdi Salihi F (Free - Rapid Vienna)
Marcelo Saragosa M (Free - Ravan Baku)
Andrew Dykstra GK (Free - Charleston Battery)
OUT
Charlie Davies F (Loan end - Sochaux)
Santino Quaranta M (Retired)
Marc Burch D (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - SSFC)
Clyde Simms M (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - NER)
Brandon Barklage M (Free Agent)
Steve Cronin GK (Free Agent)
Devon McTavish D/M (Retired)
Joseph Ngwenya F (Free Agent)
Jed Zayner D (Free Agent)
Blake Brettschneider F (Released)
Outlook: With a full year of a settled DeRo, DCU looks like the only side that could challenge KC in the east. There are holes – big holes – but the dynamic attack makes a run through the weak east seem possible.
No 7 - HOUSTON DYNAMO (3rd East)
IN
Nathan Sturgis M (Trade - TFC)
Colin Rolfe F (SuperDraft - Louisville)
Macoumba Kandji F (Trade - COL)
Brian Ching F (Trade - IMFC)
Erich Marscheider GK (Free - Colorado Rush)
OUT
Brian Ching F (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Francisco Navas M (Free - Deportivo Cali)
Evan Newton GK (Waived)
Carlos Costly F (Waived)
Hunter Freeman D (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - COL)
Jason Garey F (Free - Carolina RailHawks)
Eddie Robinson D (Retired)
Danny Cruz M (Trade - DCU)
Outlook: The Dynamo are good. They aren’t MLS finalist good and that they went that deep in 2011 blinds people to the true standing of the club. Solid throughout and with a star in Brad Davies a chance to replicate the late season charge. It’s hard to catch lightning in a bottle twice though.
No 8 - RED BULL NEW YORK (4th east)
IN
Conor Lade D (Homegrown)
Jonathan Borrajo D (Free - HamKam)
Markus Holgersson D (Free - Helsingborg)
Kenny Copper F (Trade - PTFC)
Ryan Meara GK (SuperDraft - Fordham)
Jeremy Vuolo GK (Free - AC Oulu)
Wilman Conde D (Free - Atlas)
Victor Palsson M (Free - Hibernan)
OUT
Alex Horwath GK (Free - Wilmington Hammerheads)
Mychel Jones D (Waived)
Tyler Lassiter D (Free - Wilmington Hammerheads)
Marcos Paullo M (Waived)
John Rooney M (Free - Orlando City)
Teddy Schneider D (Waived)
Stephan Auvray M (Released)
Carlos Mendes D (Re-entry Draft Rd1 - CLB)
Greg Sutton GK (Free - IMFC)
Chris Albright D (Free - PHI)
Bouna Coundoul GK (Free Agent)
Frank Rost GK (Free Agent)
Carl Robinson M (Retired)
Tim Ream D (Transfer - Bolton)
Matt Kassel M (Released)
Sacir Hot D (Released)
Outlook: Who knows? The enigma of MLS, the Red Bulls could shut everyone up and charge to the front of the pack. That said, they are the Red Bulls – the only 1996 team without a trophy. Don’t bet on that drought ending soon.
No 9 - COLORADO RAPIDS (5th West)
IN
Hunter Freeman D (Re-Entry Draft - HOU)
Tony Cascio M (SuperDraft - UConn)
Jaime Castrillon M (Free - Independiente Medellín)
Kohei Yamada M (Supplemental Draft - Thespa Kusatsu)
Martin Rivero M (Loan - Rosario Central)
Luis Zapata D (Free - Deportivo Pasto)
OUT
Sanna Nyassi M/F (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Danny Earls D (Waived)
Miguel Comminges D (Waived)
Michael Holody D (Free Agent)
Caleb Folan F (Free - Birmingham City)
Macoumba Kandji F (Trade - HOU)
Outlook: The Rapids will have the same season they always have. They will take advantage of a remarkable home advantage to capture a low playoff seed and hope they can goon their way to the title game. It works about once every 15 years.
No 10 - PORTLAND TIMBERS FC (6th West)
IN
Jose Adolfo Valencia F (Transfer - Santa Fe)
Brent Richards F (Homegrown)
Andrew Jean-Baptiste D (SuperDraft - UConn)
Hayner Mosquera D (Transfer - La Equidad)
Kris Boyd F (Free - Eskişehirspor)
Franck Songo'o M (Free - Albacete)
Joe Bendik GK (Free -Sogndal)
Ryan Kawulok D (Supplemental Draft - Portland Univ)
OUT
Kevin Goldthwaite D (Retired)
Adin Brown GK (Released)
Rodrigo Lopez M (Released)
Peter Lowry M (Released)
Ryan Pore M (Released)
Spencer Thompson F (Released)
Brian Umony F (Free - Becamex Binh Duong)
Kenny Cooper F (Trade - RBNY)
Outlook: A lot depends on whether they were able to upgrade the back-end. Regardless, it seems that the second year Timbers will be similar to the first year version. Good at home, struggling on the road and not quite good enough to make the playoffs.
No 11 - TORONTO FC (5th East)
IN
Jeremy Hall D (Trade - FCD)
Reggie Lambe M (Free - Ipswich Town)
Luis Silva M (SuperDraft - UC Santa Barbara)
Aaron Maund D (SuperDraft - Notre Dame)
Geovanny Caicedo D (Free - LDU Quito)
Miguel Aceval D (Free - Universidad de Concepción)
OUT
Matt Gold M (Free - San Antonio Scorpions)
Demitrius Omphroy D/M (Waived)
Kyle Davies D (Waived)
Leandre Griffit M (Waived)
Javier Martina F (Waived)
Eddy Viator D (Waived)
Gianluca Zavarise M (Waived)
Danleigh Borman D (Free - SuperSport United)
Mikael Yourassowsky D (Waived)
Andy Iro D (Released)
Peri Marosevic F (Released)
Elbekay Bouchiba M (Waived
Outlook: Mediocre, which in Toronto will be cause for celebration. If the back-line is even a little bit better than in 2011, the Reds should make the playoffs in the weak East. If the backline is much better they might push it a bit higher. At this point, we’ll err on the side of caution (we will have a more extensive preview of all three Canadian teams over the next week)
No 12 - CHICAGO FIRE (6th East)
IN
Jay Nolly GK (Trade - VWFC)
Kheli Dube F (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - NER)
Rafael Robayo M (Free - Millonarios)
Federico Puppo F (Free - Danubio)
Austin Berry D (SuperDraft - Louisville)
OUT
Gabriel Ferrari F (Released)
Cristian Nazarit F (Free - Deportivo Cali)
Baggio Husidic M (Free - Hammarby IF)
Jon Conway GK (Retired)
Alec Dufty GK (Free Agent)
Diego Chaves F (Free - Club Deportivo Palestino)
Mike Banner D (Free Agent)
Outlook: Chicago came on in the second half last year and likely represents the biggest challenge to TFC’s drive towards mediocrity. Ultimately, the club needs a breakout performance to make a true run.
No 13 - COLUMBUS CREW (7th East)
IN
Carlos Mendes D (Re-entry Draft Rd1 - RBNY)
Matt Lampson GK (Homegrown)
Milovan Mirosevic M (Free - Universidad Católica)
Olman Vargas F (Loan - CS Herediano)
Ben Speas M-F (Homegrown)
Ethan Finlay F (SuperDraft - Creighton)
Aubrey Perry D (SuperDraft - USF)
Kirk Urso M (Supplemental Draft - UNC)
OUT
Josh Gardner D/M (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Santiago Prim M (Free - Rampla Juniors)
Dejan Rusmir M (Waived)
Andres Mendoza F (Free - Atlante)
Kevin Burns M (Free Agent)
Jeff Cunningham F (Free - Comunicaciones)
Emanuel Ekpo M/F (Free - Molde FK)
Robbie Rogers M/F (Free - Leeds United)
Conor Shanosky D (Loan - Ft Lauderdale Strikers)
Outlook: The Crew have done things on the cheap for years. They make do with squeezing a lot out of players that few expect much from. There were signs last year that the bubble was bursting. MLS isn’t a league that you can get away with that philosophy anymore and the Crew look poised to crash down the standings in 2012. They might win the Trillium Cup.
No 14 - CHIVAS USA (7th West)
IN
Ryan Smith F (Trade - SKC)
James Riley D (Trade - IMFC)
Oslwaldo Minda M (Free - SD Quito)
Miler Bolanos M (Free - LDU Quito)
Casey Townsend F (SuperDraft - Maryland)
John Alexander Valencia D (Free - Atlético Junior)
Marvin Iraheta M (Free - Cosmos U23)
Peter Vagenas M (Free - VWFC)
Rauwshan McKenzie D (Free - RSL)
Cesar Romero F (Free - TSG Thannhausen)
Tim Melia GK (Free - RSL)
OUT
Zarek Valentin D (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Gerson Mayen M (Trade - IMFC)
Justin Braun F (Trade - IMFC)
Paulo Nagamura D (Trade - SKC)
Andrew Boyens D/M (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - LAG)
Simon Elliott M (Free Agent)
Chukwudi Chijindu F (Free Agent)
Zach Thornton GK (Free Agent)
Mariano Trujillo D/M (Free Agent)
Marcos Mondaini F (Free - Emelec)
Sergio Arias GK (Free - Irapuato)
Michael Umana D (Free - Communicaciones)
Victor Estupinan F (Free - Universidad Catolica)
Bryan de la Fuenta D (Free - Club Tijuana)
Chris Cortez F (Waived)
Outlook: An invisible team, playing in front of invisible fans without a noticeable plan. Chivas were most successful when they played a garbage game under Preki. Since he left, they lost what identity that had and have floundered since. There is no indication that will change this year.
No 15 - SJ EARTHQUAKES (8th West)
IN
Shea Salinas M (Trade - VWFC)
Jean Alexandre M (Trade - RSL)
Marvin Chavez M/F (Trade - FCD)
Victor Bernardez D (Free - Indios)
Sam Garza F (SuperDraft - UC Santa Barbara)
Sercan Guvenisik F (Free - SC Preußen Münster)
Tressor Moreno M (Free - Santiago Wanderers)
Cesar Diaz Pizzaro F (Supplemental Draft - UC Riverside)
OUT
Bobby Burling D (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Bobby Convey M (Trade - SKC)
Matt Luzunaris F (Free - OCSC)
Chris Leitch D (Retired)
Jacob Peterson M (Free - SKC)
Scott Sealy F (Free Agent)
Andrew Weber GK (Free Agent)
Outlook: Something has got to give in San Jose. They have a couple pieces, but they lack enough. Frank Yallop seems to be stuck in a management style that worked in the early 2000s (when he had Landon Donovan and DeRo on his side), but is unable to evolve.
No 16 - VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9th West, Voyageurs Cup champions)
IN
Bryce Alderson M (Homegrown)
Young Pyo Lee D (Free - Al-Hilal)
Lee Nguyen M (Free - Becamex Binh Duong FC)
Matt Watson M (Carolina RailHawks D2)
Martin Bonjour D (Free - Rampla Juniors FC)
Darren Mattocks F (SuperDraft - Akron)
Gienir García D (Supplemental Draft - Cruz Azul Hidalgo)
Brad Knighton GK (Carolina RailHawks D2)
Jun Marques Davidson M (Free - Tokushima Vortis)
Sebastien Le Toux F (Trade - PHI)
Barry Robson M (Free - Middlesbrough) [JULY]
Greg Klazura D (Supplemental Draft - Notre Dame)
Etienne Barbara F (Free - Carolina RailHawks)
OUT
Jeb Brovsky D/M (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Alex Morfaw M (Waived)
Nizar Khalfan M (Waived)
Bilal Duckett D (Waived)
Omar Elmasri D (Loan finished)
Shea Salinas M (Trade - SJE)
Jay Nolly GK (Trade - CHI)
Greg Janicki D (Free - San Antonio Scorpions)
Peter Vagenas M (Free - CHV)
Jonathan Leathers D (Free Agent)
Gienir García D (Trade - IMFC)
Mustapha Jarju F (Free - RAEC Mons)
Philippe Davies M (Released)
Lee Nguyen M (Waived)
Outlook: Yes, the preseason was strong, but that really doesn’t mean much. They have too far to overcome from the finish last year and have made too many changes to reasonable expect a contending season. The lack of depth at the back is the biggest issue. The Caps have two guys in key defensive positions on the wrong side of their careers and they play on fake grass. They are one injury away from another long year. The law of averages gives them the V-Cup.
No 17 - PHILADELPHIA UNION (8th East)
IN
Nizar Khalfan M (Waivers - VWFC)
Josue Martinez F (Transfer - Saprissa)
Jimmy McLaughlin M (Homegrown)
Gabriel Gomez M (Transfer - Indios)
Porfirio Lopez D (Transfer- Dalian Shide)
Chandler Hoffman F (SuperDraft - UCLA)
Greg Jordan M (SuperDraft - Creighton)
Raymon Gaddis D (SuperDraft - West Virginia)
Lionard Pajoy F (Free - Itagüí Ditaires)
Chris Albright D (Free - RBNY)
Krystian Witkowski M (Supplemental Draft - Marist)
Antoine Hoppenot M (Supplemental Draft - Princeton)
Chris Konopka GK (Free - MLS Pool)
Cristhian Hernandez F (HomeGrown)
OUT
Justin Mapp M (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
Juan Diego Gonzalez D (Waived)
Thorne Holder GK (Waived)
Stefani Miglioranzi M (Free Agent)
Levi Houapeu F (Released)
Ryan Richter M (Released)
Morgan Langley M (Free - Harrisburg City Islanders)
Joe Tait D (Released)
Veljko Paunović F (Retired)
Faryd Mondragon GK (Free - Deportivo Cali)
Sebastien Le Toux F (Trade - VWFC)
Kyle Nakazawa M (Trade - LAG)
Nizar Khalfan M (Released)
Outlook: The Union lost the plot. They went from a promising team to one that was completely overhauled in the off-season. In some ways they are an expansion team again. In fairness, they were terrible during the second half of the year in 2011. Something had to give. But, this was too much. No team with this much turnover can expect to compete right away.
No 18 - NE REVOLUTION (9th East)
IN
Clyde Simms M (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - DCU)
Fernando Cardenas M (Free - America de Cali)
Jhon Lozano D (Free - America de Cali)
Kelyn Rowe M (SuperDraft - UCLA)
Tyler Polak D (SuperDraft - Creighton)
Jose Moreno F (Free - Once Caldas)
Saer Sene F (Free - Bayern Munich II)
Lee Ngyuen M (Free - VWFC)
OUT
Alan Koger F (Waived)
Otto Loewy D (Waived)
Andrew Sousa M (Waived)
Franco Coria D (Loan end)
Milton Caraglio F (Free - Rangers [CHI])
Monsef Zerka M (Waived)
Rajko Lekic F (Free - Lyngby)
Kheli Dube F (Re-Entry Draft Rd2 - CHI)
Ryan Cochrane D (Free - San Antonio Scorpions)
Pat Phelan M (Free Agent)
The Revs are the poster boy team for MLS 1.0 thinking. They rely on the draft to stock the team, only signed a DP this year when they would have lost their only worthwhile piece (that is fading) and there is little chance of an upgrade in the summer window. They will be near the bottom until new, committed ownership comes on board.
No 19 - MONTREAL IMPACT (10th East)
IN
Nelson Rivas D (Free - Internazionale)
Evan Bush GK (Montreal D2)
Hassoun Camara M (Montreal D2)
Sinisa Ubiparipovic M (Montreal D2)
Brian Ching F (Expansion Draft - HOU)
Zarek Valentin D (Expansion Draft - CHV)
Justin Mapp M (Expansion Draft - PHI)
Jeb Brovsky D/M (Expansion Draft - VWFC)
Collen Warner M (Expansion Draft - RSL)
Josh Gardner D/M (Expansion Draft - CLB)
Sanna Nyassi M/F (Expansion Draft - COL)
Seth Sinovic D (Expansion Draft - SKC)
James Riley D (Expansion Draft - SSFC)
Tyson Wahl D (Trade - SSFC)
Gerson Mayen M (Trade - CHV)
Justin Braun F (Trade - CHV)
Bryan Arguez M (Ft Lauderdale Strikers D2)
Davy Arnaud M (Trade - SKC)
Donovan Rickets GK (Trade - LAG)
Ian Westlake M (Montreal D2)
Miguel Montano M/F (Free - SSFC)
Greg Sutton GK (Free - RBNY)
Patrice Bernier M (Free - Lyngby BK)
Felipe Martins M (Free - FC Lugano)
Andrew Wenger D (SuperDraft - Duke)
Callum Mallace M (SuperDraft - Marquette)
Gienir García D (Trade - VWFC)
Shavar Thomas D (Free - SKC)
Eddie Johnson F (Free - Peubla)
Michael Fucito F (Trade - SSFC)
Lamar Neagle M (Trade - SSFC)
Eduardo Sebrango F (Montreal D2)
Matteo Ferrari D (Free - Besiktas)
Evan James M (Supplemental Draft - UNC-Charlotte)
OUT
James Riley D (Trade - CHV)
Seth Sinovic D (Trade - SKC)
Brian Ching F (Trade - HOU)
Eddie Johnson F (Trade - SSFC)
Ian Westlake M (Released)
Gerson Mayen M (Waived)
Outlook: They are an expansion team. And they look like it. Then you have the possibility of Joey losing his mind and doing something insane in mid-season. The Impact might end up with the worst expansion record since Chivas demonstrated that Mexican reserve players weren’t good enough for MLS.