It seems like those within the Union fan bubble are predicting good things. Everyone else... not so much.
Based upon last season's standings, missing the playoffs by 8 points would put the Union at 34 points, only 3 points above last place. That's a record of 8-16-10. That's pretty bad. https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings/mls/2016/
Jim has already given up and made excuses for losing to vancouver... Bedoya has pretty low expectations... We don't have a quality striker like many other eastern teams do. Why wouldn't we suck?
Bottom table. Not sure where or how far off the last playoff spot, but 8/9th place seems about right. Not sure we're complete wooden spoon material, although a couple injuries and we could be.
It's true. Outside of Union-focused pods and blogs people are predicting us to be a hot mess. I try to be optimistic at the start of the season (@Phillyspur is with me!), because otherwise it makes it a rather soul crushing exercise. Why are we Union fans again? Life is meaningless, eat Arby's.
I think we're just about the same type of team we were last year. I think we finish 6th in the East and go 3 for 3 in 1st round playoff exits.
What is easy to forget, in the bubble, is how much other teams can suck also. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the team, but the reality.
East: 1. TOR: It feels weird to say this: they're still good. Plus, Giovinco's out to get MVP from day one this year. 2. CLB: Columbus bounce back and score a lot of goals, and Higuain doesn't finish the year with this team. 3. NYRB: No one is as consistent as Dax in midfield, and Red Bulls will discover this midseason. Ideally this swoon will happen in the one game I'll be able to attend on the east coast - June Union/Red Bulls 4. NYC: Younger than before. McNamara with more goals than Moralez. 5. MTL: Older than before. Time catches Piatti. 6. ORL: Make the playoffs, but they'll miss Molino. 7. DCU: Injuries to derail the Benny train this year. 8. CHI: Pauno is building from the back. Bus: parked. 9. ATL: Growing pains, but fun to watch. 10. NER: Krafts could do more, but won't. 11. PHL: If Edu ever sees competitive action, Blake won't be here by then. But we'll wait around anyway. West: 1. DAL (Shield): Good, and then Diaz comes back. 2. SEA: No repeat, but an Open Cup. Dempsey doesn't play the whole season. 3. SKC: Zusi will continue to baffle at right back, then Gold Cup will drop them out of serious Shield contention 4. LAG: LA moves on, and does fine. 5. POR: Leaks and scores bunches of goals. Timber Joey goes a long time without a slice for the GK. 6. VAN: Montero does fine, but Manneh will score more goals against the Union. Williams to get sent off in game 1. 7. COL: Not a repeat of last year. 8. RSL: Beckerman no longer starting by the end of the year. 9. HOU: Will work hard to compete with Chicago for 0-0 games I probably won't watch. 10. SJ: Wondo starts to fade at some point in the middle of the year, and the team struggles. 11. MIN: Joy at having a team will warm the fans, but they'll be able to watch safely indoors by December. MLS Cup: TOR Shield: Dallas Open Cup: SEA Wooden Spoon: Minnesota Pretty sure we're a nexus household now as we've already established an in-house ranking of other MLS teams to watch once the Union go down several goals.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/mls/ FiveThirtyEight has the Union at 43 Points and carrying PA, MI, and FL