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Predicting the rest of the 2021 MLS season

By Kristian Dyer

Philadelphia Union fans celebrate a goal in MLS action. Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Union fans celebrate a goal in MLS action. Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports /
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The MLS season isn’t at the halfway point but given the international window and that the break puts the league’s campaign at the quarter pole, it is as good a time as any to make some bold predictions.

Clickbait? Nah. OK, maybe a little.

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But this MLS season has certainly borne out some unpredictability. And that is the beauty of this league that the parity makes anything possible. And makes predictions impossible.

So here are some (kinda, sorta) bold predictions for the remainder of the MLS season:

Playoff bound

Bob Bradley remains one of the best (if not the best) coaches in MLS and that simple fact should help Los Angeles Football Club get back to their winning ways. Issues with injuries (Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi) haven’t helped matters as LA FC has struggled but this team is too balanced and deep not to battle their way into the playoffs.

Will it be a top seed in a stacked Western Conference? Likely not. But this could be a dangerous playoff side if they are able to get in to the postseason and start things with a home game.

Simply, LA FC is too big too fail and Bradley is simply too good a coach to not get his team into the postseason.

Supporters Shield

While all the talk around MLS is about the hot start to the season for the Seattle Sounders, it might well be the New England Revolution who are best positioned to make a run at the Supporters Shield this year. This is one of the best constructed teams in MLS, something that technical director Curt Onalfo doesn’t get enough credit for.

Let’s not get it twisted, the Eastern Conference is a bit weak this year, meaning that the Sounders have a harder path to capturing the regular season title. The Revolution are a perfectly balanced team and with Bruce Arena being the godfather of American soccer coaches, his project in Foxboro is in a good place to capture some hardware this year.

Carles Gil is one of the best playmakers in MLS. Adam Buska is the most underrated scorer in the league and Matt Turner is a tremendous shot stopper. If the defense can come together a bit more and some of the young Homegrowns on the rosters take a step forward, this team has Shield written all over it.

Clark and Klimala

One of the more interesting dynamics to watch for is how the integration of Patryk Klimala into the New York Red Bulls Starting XI. The Polish U21 forward, bought recently from Scottish Premier League giants Celtic, is a nice fit for this counter-pressing team with his high work rate and desire to play quick one touches in the final third.

And with the emergence of Caden Clark over the last 10 months as a legitimate attacker in MLS, this duo could be scary good. This season, he has four goals and an assist in seven games.

Clark thrives in havoc situation in and around the box. Klimala makes runs and positions himself well. This is tailor-made for head coach Gerhard Struber’s style. While the Red Bulls have a glaring need at centerback due to the loss of Aaron Long, if they can get a bit more creativity and fluidity out of the midfield, this could be a very strong playoff team.

But Clark and Klimala might be more dangerous when they don’t have the ball given their movement and pressing. Just given the team’s style, their ability to pounce will be big for the club.

The return to health of Frankie Amaya after a mild knock two weeks ago will be a boost to the midfield and should help Klimala to begin banging in some goals sooner rather than later.

The LA Galaxy will make the playoffs – OK, this isn’t bold at all. Sorry.

Busio making moves 

Two weeks ago, Giunluca Busio scored a beautiful free kick that caused buzz that extended beyond MLS. The midfielder has taken a nice step forward this season, proving a bit more daring on the ball and sound positionally off of it.

Busio is getting some strong connections for a move to Europe and one is forthcoming. The level of interest from teams in top leagues is certainly the type that signals a looming move.

A move will be made this season to one of the top five teams in Europe, putting the recently turned 19-year old in a prime spot to crack the United States national team roster for the 2022 World Cup.

Magno won’t be an instant hit

Talles Magno is as exciting of a product signed by an MLS team since, well, Landon Donovan joined the league in 2001. The Brazilian U17 international has a strong record of scoring for Vasco da Gama in Brazil’s top flite and at the youth international level.

But MLS is a different league, more physical as well as athletic and a bit more East-to-West than Magno is used to. He has the pedigree to be a top scorer in MLS but to expect him to step in immediately and make a huge impact for New York City FC is not in the offing.

His signing is big for New York City FC and MLS. But it comes with some measured optimism sprinkled with caution.

There will be an adjustment period, likely a long one, that means the 18-year old Magno will have a more significant impact in 2022 for NYCFC than this year. Patience on this one. The learning curve will be steep.

Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex’ on Twitter @KristianRDyer

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