It’s far from an extensive list, but here are a few issues that will be solved in the next 12 months in North America’s top flight.
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1) Can and will Wondo continue on his blazing trail?
San Jose’s striker Chris Wondolowski tied the league’s record with 27 goals last season, but let’s not forget he also piled up 62 goals in the last three seasons. So unless he’s injured or he’s the victim of circumstances he can’t control, we’ll see him pick up another 20-odd goals again in 2012.
2) Galaxy’s Dynasty?
If Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane plays the way he did in the second half of last season, every bets are off in 2013 for LA to capture a third straight MLS Cup. This club is still ran by one of the best coaches in the history of MLS and the arrival of Italian keeper Carlo Cudicini from Tottenham improves this team in one of its weaker areas.
3) SKC and the next Champions League
Sporting Kansas City is one of the four U.S. sides entering the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League tournament after winning the 2012 U.S. Open Cup, the Eastern Conference title and placing second in the Supporters’ Shield race. The club has set things in motion for a big and ambitious future, let’s see if they can translate that into success with our Latin and Caribbean neighbours.
4) Who’s the next Beckham?
Probably no one, but let’s not forget LA’s on sale and the club brass said their market needs star power to succeed on and off the field. Lampard looks like a fleeing candidate, but what about Kaka or Drogba or another big name to sell tickets and jerseys in Lalaland?
5) Can a MLS side go through Mexican opposition in the elimination round of the current CCL?
For a second straight year, three MLS clubs (Houston, Seattle and LA) made it to the quarter-final round of the CCL. All three have shown glimpses of success on the continental scene before, but it will be a tough sell for Houston against MLS-killers Santos Laguna. The best chance probably rests with LA, paired with Costa Rica’s Herediano while Seattle faces first-timer Mexicans Tigres UANL.
6) Can TFC do worse?
This will be a tough act to follow after the catastrophic 2012 campaign, but with Paul Mariner’s job insecurity following Kevin Payne’s arrival and the fact this will be (once more) a brand new starting XI, who knows? Let’s be positive and say things can only go up from here for the Reds.
7) Consecutive playoff appearances for the Caps?
If the Scots fire up and Martin Rennie’s system kicks in gear, Whitecaps fans will rejoice in 2013 and return among the Western Conference Top 5, especially if RSL is timid on the market and focusses on rebuilding for the future.
8) Will the French Connection do the trick in New York?
As it will be the case in Montreal, the choice of an European as head coach could either end the streak of unsuccessful foreign coaches in MLS or simply continue the under-par performance offered by the Red Bulls. Juninho’s hiring is somehow telling us the club is running after short-term solutions whereas this club is once again a few pieces away from putting some silver in their trophy case.
9) Who will own NY2?
Speaking of the Big Apple, the other soap opera of the year will probably be the hunt for the owner of the 20th MLS club that will set ground in Queens. Mayor Bloomberg recently promised to settle the stadium question in the coming months so it’s only a question of finding who will fit best the League’s interest as owner of New York’s second club.
10) Tagging along USL or NASL?
American colleagues reports of advanced talks between MLS and USL for a farm-club type of association between D1 and D3 sides for the use of reserve league players that could lead to MLS clubs integrating their reserve league sides within the American third flight. However, one must not underestimate that the new NASL commissioner and Don Garber did work for the same NFL World in the past. Also, both Vancouver, Portland and Montreal did slam USL’s door a few years back to create the NASL (D2) and they will probably be more in favour with an association with the latter.
11) Will Julian DeGuzman & Andre Hainault return and at what price?
Still no news on the future of the two Canadians as we enter the New Year. Rumours did mention Bordeaux’ interest for Hainault last year and Houston still haven’t confirmed he’s returning. De Guzman still hasn’t closed the door to a European return while Schellas Hyndman declared he was ready to stick to JDG with a slimmer paycheck.
12) Will Caleb Porter open the door to other NCAA coaches in MLS?
Young promising coach in the NCAA with Akron, Porter walks in the steps of Sigi Schmidt (UCLA), Bob Bradley (Princeton), Schellas Hyndman (Southern Methodist) and Bruce Arena (Virginie), but will that set a new precedent as more and more clubs seem to look abroad for their new man in charge (think Chivas, Montreal and New York).
13) Will the hiring of homegrown players be a growing new trend?
The development of players within a club is an important step in the evolution of MLS and should also contribute to the improvement of US and Canadian national teams. The quality of that development is critical to the success of this trend since clubs will not continue to hire their young homegrown talents if this does not lead to better records at the end of the year.