2011 MLS Preview: New Year, New Teams

Well here is my yearly push for more attention to be given to MLS.

The Season began yesterday with the LA Galaxy going into Seattle and beating the Sounders, 1-0. Vitor Junior or Juninho scored the only goal of the game in 57' which gave the Galaxy the win.

With the first game over, what does MLS have to offer us this year? A couple of new clubs now join the ranks of MLS. One is the Vancouver Whitecaps which are based off of teams previously called by the same name but in different leagues. They play their first game at home against Toronto FC on Saturday. The other is the Portland Timbers which is also replacing a team by the same name in the past. They will play their first game on the road against the defending MLS Champions, the Colorado Rapids, on Saturday as well.

As for who will win the MLS Cup, no idea. That's the fun thing about MLS, it seems very unpredictable because of it's format. If it was simply like the leagues in the Europe (no Playoff system for each league), I would say the Galaxy. The current format, though, makes it very hard to guess. 8 playoff teams still seems like too many percentage wise. I would actually be okay if they trimmed down the postseason to 6 or 4 teams.

Back to the MLS Cup prediction, I would have to pick Galaxy but that is just a wild guess. Be interesting to see how Beckham will do in his last contract year with the team. Could this be his last year playing proffesional football?