Alert: Your 2020 MLS Prediction Thread

Okay hotshots. We’re 2 weeks from live action in the CCL and a couple more to Nashville. I have some MLS questions for you, the reader, to comment on. Feel free to do a little thinking and provide us your thoughts on:



Who will win the supporters shield with the most points in the league?



Who takes the wooden spoon for the least?



Does an MLS team make the final of the CCL? If so, who? And further if so, do you think they win?



If not included in the previous, how far does Atlanta United go? A reminder on their path

Rd1: Motagua
Rd2: Club America or Comunicaciones
Semis: Cruz Azul or Portmore Utd or LAFC or Club Leon
Final: Tigres / Alianza / NYCFC / San Carlos / Sounders / Olimpia / Impact / Saprissa





Who represents the eastern conference in the MLS Cup Finals?



The west?





And when the play in the final, the eventual champion will be?





What follows are AUFC’s first 10 matches. Where, if at all, will they drop their first points? And who will be responsible for their first loss (if different)?



Nashville (A)

Cincinnati (H)

Sporting KC (H)

Chicago (A)

Cincinnati (A)

Portland (H)

Orlando (A)

Real Salt Lake (H)

Philadelphia (A)

El Toros Rojo (A)





Please predict the finishers in the eastern conference by table position. Comments to support are always welcome:



1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

_______________________________________________________ (playoff line)

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.







Extra Credit:



Who will take MVP?



Golden Boot winner?



Golden Gloves winner?

 

supporters shield: DC United



wooden spoon: Nashville SC





CCL:



No MLS in finals. Calling Club America vs Tigres. LAFC and Seattle make the semis



Atlanta falls in the second round to America







MLS Cup:



New England Revolution vs LAFC



Revs get their first







First 10 matches



Nashville (A) - W

Cincinnati (H) - W

Sporting KC (H) - D

Chicago (A) - W

Cincinnati (A) - W

Portland (H) - W

Orlando (A) - D

Real Salt Lake (H) - W

Philadelphia (A) - L

El Toro Rojo (A) - W







East Table



1. DC United. Best defense in the east last year (38 GA) and return core. Replaced LucaRoo very effectively with Flores, Kamara and Gressel



2. Atlanta United. Adjusts well to DeBoer and reloaded. Martinez x2 + Barco remains lethal. Back to Back US Open Cup champs



3. Toronto FC. Expect them to start slowly with Bradley out but will be a terror by year end



4. Revolution. A full year of Bruce Arena. Actually spent some money. Will be a big hurdle in 2020



5. Philly Union. Made the playoffs for the first-time last season. Should be solid again



6. NYCFC. Returns nearly everyone except for the head coach. Adding CCL to their fixture list and adjustment to the new gaffer hurts but not enough to drop them below the line



7. Columbus Crew. Loved their off season. Adding Zelarayan, Nagbe, and Adi (the latter 2 paired again with Porter) will rocket these cats up the table. If I had any balls I’d pick them to finish higher



_______________________________________________________ (playoff line)





8. Montreal Impact. Henry failed miserably managing Monaco. Can he find his depth and take a team that just missed the playoffs last year over the hump? I say no but will be a fun watch.



9. Orlando City. Some nice upgrades this off season including the manager. Unfortunately for the Loins I think there are too many others in the east that are better



10. Red Bull New York. Team Moneyball. Calling them out as the side to disappoint in 2020



11. Inter Miami. A work in progress, signings may still come, but not deep enough to threaten this year



12. FC Cincinnati. They won’t finish last. They feel like a Minnesota reboot. Shipped a ton of goals in year 1. See improvement in year 2. Compete for post season in year 3?



13. Chicago Fire. Put them here for their badge and their badge alone. Hideous.











Awards



MVP: Pity Martinez (AUFC)



Golden Boot: Chicharito (LA Gals)



Golden Glove: Hamid (DC Utd)