In last year's column, only one man predicted the Los Angeles Galaxy would be able to do the double, so we felt it was only right to ask him to give his MLS predictions once again. Marc Connolly, serves as the chief researcher and editorial consultant for ESPN's MLS and U.S. National Team soccer broadcasts. Connolly spent nine years covering the U.S. National Team for ESPN.com, and has been a contributor to USA Today, ESPN The Magazine and Four Four Two. Connolly is also active in youth soccer, currently coaching on the boys side with FC Stars of Massachusetts. Follow Connolly on Twitter: @mconnolly10
Soccer Banter: Which team(s) will win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2012? How much more important will the Supporters Shield be with MLS Cup being played at the home venue of the participating team with a higher regular-season point total?
Marc Connolly: I'll make the same selections that I made last year: Los Angeles and Los Angeles. Adding Edson Buddle without losing any main offensive guns has every team in the league throwing their hands up in arms. How can one team have so many stars? Whatever the case, they also have the best coaching staff and a home stadium that suits them. And, yes, the dangling carrot of having a chance to host MLS Cup is a huge upgrade for the Supporters' Shield winner. Imagine an MLS Cup in Seattle? That would be an opponents' worst nightmare.
Soccer Banter: Which team(s) will win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2012? How much more important will the Supporters Shield be with MLS Cup being played at the home venue of the participating team with a higher regular-season point total?
Marc Connolly: I'll make the same selections that I made last year: Los Angeles and Los Angeles. Adding Edson Buddle without losing any main offensive guns has every team in the league throwing their hands up in arms. How can one team have so many stars? Whatever the case, they also have the best coaching staff and a home stadium that suits them. And, yes, the dangling carrot of having a chance to host MLS Cup is a huge upgrade for the Supporters' Shield winner. Imagine an MLS Cup in Seattle? That would be an opponents' worst nightmare.
SB: Which clubs were the winners/losers this offseason with their transactions?
MC: Philadelphia didn't really make up for the loss of Sebastien Le Toux. And they won't be as strong in the goal. So you'd have to put them in the loser category, even though I dislike that term.
The coaching staff in Portland likes Kris Boyd a lot up top. I'm not sure he's the answer - or worth Designated Player status - but if he gets off to a strong start, I can see him being a huge cult hero out there.
SB: On the topic of offseason transactions, who do you believe will win Rookie of the Year and Newcomer of the Year?
MC: I thought the best player in the SuperDraft was Kelyn Rowe, who ended up in New England. He'll get a chance right away, too, which not a lot of rookies will be able to say. So we'll go with him.
For Newcomer of the Year, let's go with Seattle GK Michael Gspurning. Kasey Keller is a huge loss, but I think that Sigi Schmid will continue to have one of the best goalkeepers in MLS on his side.
MC: Philadelphia didn't really make up for the loss of Sebastien Le Toux. And they won't be as strong in the goal. So you'd have to put them in the loser category, even though I dislike that term.
The coaching staff in Portland likes Kris Boyd a lot up top. I'm not sure he's the answer - or worth Designated Player status - but if he gets off to a strong start, I can see him being a huge cult hero out there.
SB: On the topic of offseason transactions, who do you believe will win Rookie of the Year and Newcomer of the Year?
MC: I thought the best player in the SuperDraft was Kelyn Rowe, who ended up in New England. He'll get a chance right away, too, which not a lot of rookies will be able to say. So we'll go with him.
For Newcomer of the Year, let's go with Seattle GK Michael Gspurning. Kasey Keller is a huge loss, but I think that Sigi Schmid will continue to have one of the best goalkeepers in MLS on his side.
SB: Which designated player will have the biggest impact on his team's success this season?
MC: David Beckham is the best player in the league. He just is. Last year, I even voted him as MVP. Now as a central midfielder, he does so much for them, including defending. From that deeper-lying position, he supplies balls to his strikers in stride like Andrea Pirlo used to do at AC Milan and now does at Juventus.
SB: If you could pick one MLS match this year to attend just as a fan, which would it be?
MC: Any of the Seattle-Portland matches. I got to cover both last year with ESPN and it was an incredible environment before, during and after the game.
SB: Bonus Question: Off-topic, but with the Olympics happening this summer, if the United States qualifies, who do you think will be selected as the three overage players?
MC: Jurgen Klinsmann seems to really want to develop Bill Hamid, so I don't think that Caleb Porter will take a goalkeeper as an overage player. For fun, let's say Jonathan Spector, for his versatility, Kyle Beckerman, for leadership, and Edson Buddle, for some extra seasoning. No one knows.
Other contributers to "Five Minutes with Five People That Know MLS"
Travis Clark - Staff Reporter and Editor at TopDrawerSoccer.com
MC: David Beckham is the best player in the league. He just is. Last year, I even voted him as MVP. Now as a central midfielder, he does so much for them, including defending. From that deeper-lying position, he supplies balls to his strikers in stride like Andrea Pirlo used to do at AC Milan and now does at Juventus.
SB: If you could pick one MLS match this year to attend just as a fan, which would it be?
MC: Any of the Seattle-Portland matches. I got to cover both last year with ESPN and it was an incredible environment before, during and after the game.
SB: Bonus Question: Off-topic, but with the Olympics happening this summer, if the United States qualifies, who do you think will be selected as the three overage players?
MC: Jurgen Klinsmann seems to really want to develop Bill Hamid, so I don't think that Caleb Porter will take a goalkeeper as an overage player. For fun, let's say Jonathan Spector, for his versatility, Kyle Beckerman, for leadership, and Edson Buddle, for some extra seasoning. No one knows.
Other contributers to "Five Minutes with Five People That Know MLS"
Travis Clark - Staff Reporter and Editor at TopDrawerSoccer.com
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