MLS Preseason Power Rankings

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4. Portland Timbers

Last Season: 15-10-9 — 54 points — 5th Western Conference

Incoming: M – Marvin Loria, M – Renzo Zambrano, GK – Aljaz Ivacic, D – Claude Dielna

Departing: F – Victor Arboleda, D – Lawrence Olum, GK – Jake Gleeson, D – Roy Miller, M – Jack Barmby, D – Alvas Powell, D – Liam Ridgewell

Liam Ridgewell leaving marks the end of an era. Now Gio Savarese has lost the most dominant voice in the room. Ridgewell embodied the Timbers ethos and was the fans’ conscience on the field while playing. Not many MLS players have a truly devoted following. Ridgewell was one.

Savarese came into MLS by adopting a team needing a direction after years of Caleb Porter-ball. Even after Darlington Nagbe left, the Timbers had the talent to compete. Savarese gave them a plan and, if not for one last trip to Atlanta, the Portland faithful would have had the last celebration of the MLS year.

Portland has another early test this season due to stadium construction at Providence Park. The core of Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco, Diego Chara and Lucas Melano will keep the Timbers in contention for a playoff spot. But Savarese and the front office have to plan for a better contingency if injuries start to take their toll, as the record without Chara is horrendous.

Portland brought in international keeper Aljaz Ivacic to compete with Jeff Attinella (22 starts in 2018). However, only Claude Dielna was brought in as a defensive reinforcement. Roy Miller and Alvas Powell, along with Ridgewell, are also gone from the backline.

The midfield remains the same, but reddit fans are starting to wonder if Lodeiro is a real answer for the money. Perhaps, if he really wants to go back to Argentina, Portland should sell him on.

Season Expectations: So far this preseason, Portland has beaten two of Costa Rica’s best teams. Herediano was downed 3-1 by Portland, days after a 4-0 win versus Saprissa. Early road points are worth the same as late-season home points. Portland can expect an MLS Cup playoff berth, but nothing more. Post MLS Cup loss, Portland does not have the depth to contend on multiple fronts. A summer signing and hopes for a hot streak is the best bet for a successful season.

3. New York Red Bulls

Last Season: Supporters’ Shield Winners

Incoming: M – Jean-Christophe Koffi, M – Amro Tarek, M – Marcus Epps, M -Omir Fernandez, F – Mathias Jorgensen

Departing: M – Tyler Adams, D – Aurelien Collin, D – Ethan Kutler, D – Kevin Politz, F – Carlos Rivas, D – Fidel Escobar, D – Tommy Redding, D – Hassan Ndam

The New York Red Bulls came on strong to win the Supporters’ Shield last season, but fans ended the season sour. Chris Armas took over mid-season and acquitted himself very well, until he abandoned the team’s season-long pressing style in the playoffs. There is the usual preseason but Armas lost the benefit of the doubt in some respects. The Red Bulls have won trophies recently, but not the one fans crave. The fans also will not accept punting on some competitions. It is on Armas to challenge on all fronts.

Tim Parker is back but Tyler Adams has moved on to bigger Red Bull pastures. Luis Robles is a top-notch MLS keeper that gives New York a sure base to build a team. Aaron Long and Kemar Lawrence have MLS All-Star potential and provide possession and threats from the backline.
Replacing Adams, however, will be difficult.

A like-for-like replacement signing was always unlikely. New York will give some other young players, like Cristian Casseres Jr., a chance before splurging money. Casseres Jr. has seen time with Venezuelan youth national teams and could be the next young gem to run Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls also promoted a couple of Homegrown products to the senior team. If either Omir Fernandez or Jean-Christophe Koffi can provide midfield depth minutes adequately, the Red Bulls will have a luxury of buying big reinforcements in the summer, rather than being frugal trying to find necessary replacements.

With a new group, Armas is trying some new ideas and tactics. Being more flexible as a team will help. Armas is likely not to get married to a rigid system this season. With the reliance on pressing, and abandoning the tactics, Armas showed he doubted the personnel. The Red Bulls have spent years trying to keep Kaku. This could be the last season for him at Red Bull Arena, so the front office needs to have several options available, tactically and otherwise.

The Red Bulls staff did bring in young Danish striker Mathias Jorgensen. While not prolific in first-team minutes so far, there is a belief that Jorgenson has Bundesliga potential. Jorgensen has two goals in 13 appearances with Odense’s first team, but he was exceptional in the U-19 league, scoring seven goals in only four appearances.

Goals are not the usual worry for any team with Bradley Wright-Phillips in the fold, but BWP is no longer the most feared striker on the eastern seaboard. With the Eastern Conference being as competitive as ever, New York is hoping for a full-strength Florian Valot in 2019. Injuries disrupted his 2018 campaign.

Season Expectations: Compete for the Supporters’ Shield, win the round-of-16 CCL Series against Atletico Pantoja of the Dominican Republic and show well against Marathon or Santos Laguna in Quarterfinals, U.S. Open Cup semis and a deep playoff run. Anything less is not good enough.

2. Sporting Kansas City

Last Season: 18-8-8 — 62 points — Western Conference Champions

Incoming: M – Tyler Freeman, D – Rodney Wallace, F – Erik Hurtado, M – Kelyn Rowe, D – Botond Barath, D – Abdul Rwatubyaye

Departing: F – Kharlton Belmar, F – Cristian Lobato, D – Amer Didic, M – Brad Evans, D – Colton Storm, F – Khiry Shelton, F – Diego Rubio, D – Ike Opara

Doubt Peter Vermes at your peril.

With a squad many considered to be only adequate, Sporting KC won the Western Conference last year. A consistent product that wins during the regular season is great for most MidWest professional teams. Sporting KC is the exception to that rule, and Vermes realized he needs a more ruthless team for the Cup run competitions. That tepid MLS Western Conference Finals showing gave Vermes fits. This offseason was spent finding a key to solving that Portland puzzle.

So out go Diego Rubio, Ike Opara, Khiry Shelton and Cristian Lobato. Vermes did some MLS scouting and decided to make moves for Rodney Wallace, Erik Hurtado and Kelyn Rowe. Some fringe trade assets and extra MLS financial mechanisms later (INT money, TAM, GAM), and Sporting KC look like a more lethal version of themselves going into 2019.

Even with a great track record of successful frugal spending, some question if Sporting KC are doing enough. Vermes has a response for those doubters. He also has young guns waiting for a chance to shine. Gianluca Busio is poised for a breakout season. Why spend money on past performances when better results are available using cheaper in-house talent? Why overspend for a name, when a talent is being under appreciated? Enter Kelyn Rowe, acquired from New England. Rowe seems rejuvenated at Sporting KC.

Matt Besler, Graham Zuzi and Tim Melia will again be the main voices in defense. Rodger Espinoza and Filipe Gutierrez are the Designated Players charged with running the midfield and linking to Yohan Croizet and the forward lines. Hurtado, Krisztian Nemeth, Johnny Russell, and Daniel Salloi will give Vermes plenty of options in attack. With Vermes flexible nature, all four should see plenty of playing time for rotation and rest.

Season Expectations: Sporting KC fans will not call for heads if Vermes and Co. are unable to win a trophy this season. Contending on all fronts is the expectation, but the limitations of being in Kansas apply. Sporting do not have the international cache or big metropolitan money to entice global stars. Sporting KC do have faith in the process and the scouting network. Even with some mid-market constraints, it is more likely Sporting KC are in a cup final than the team missing the final playoff cut.

1. Atlanta United

Last Season: 21-7-6 — 69 points — 2nd Eastern Conference; MLS Cup winners

Joining Atlanta United:  D – Brek Shea, GK – Brendan Moore, M – Dion Pereira, M – Pity Martinez, D – Florentin Pogba

Departing Atlanta United: GK – Mitch Hildebrandt, D – Sal Zizzo, M – Oliver Shannon, M – Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, D – Greg Garza, M – Miguel Almiron, D – Chris McCann

Frank de Boer is in for Tata Martino as manager.

Atlanta United opened their MLS trophy account by winning 2018 MLS Cup. Tata Martino and Miguel Almiron both departed, but the expectations of trophies remain for 2019. Pity Martinez is now in the Five Stripes, joined by a true defender in Florentin Pogba. Ezequiel Barco has had an offseason to get settled and add some muscle weight to his wise game. A full season of a healthy Josef Martinez would be dangerous to the global scoring records. The reigning MVP bagged 35 goals total in MLS last season, including the playoffs.

De Boer has little time for tinkering around if it means dropping points or a quick exit from the CONCACAF Champions League. Brek Shea has come in for depth along the wings, and Pogba’s signing frees Jeff Larenowitz to play more in the midfield than as a defensive stopgap. Atlanta United held tight to Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, meaning the defense should be on the same page from the start of the CCL.

A shielding midfield of Julian Gressel, Darlington Nagbe, and Eric Remedi returns from the 2018 MLS Cup-winning team as well. Even though de Boer is drilling defense into his team, Atlanta have a great foundational platform to spring the lethal attack. Brad Guzan should have a few more years of top-shelf keeping left before any precipitous decline.

Atlanta United will have a tougher road to winning a trophy, or a treble, but they have the talent and experience to pull off a two-trophy season. The Supporters’ Shield race got away from them last year at the very end. The CCL will make for a tougher start. MLS Cup will be in play come September. But Atlanta have the depth to flourish in all three.

Season Expectations: Win everything on offer, including the CONCACAF Champions League. Become the first MLS team to win the CCL. But don’t forget about the domestic trophies as well. The MLS Cup is not won just yet.