Season Outlook

As evidenced by their list of player additions and subtractions this season, change is the only constant for Chivas USA.

Jose Luis Sanchez Sola has replaced Robin Fraser and brings a new hope to L.A.'s other MLS franchise.

With a new man at the helm, last year's last place Western Conference team is starting over and this time without Juan Pablo Angel and Alejandro Moreno to provide offence.

Striker Juan Agudelo will have to fill the void and by extension the net if Chivas USA is going to make any noise this season.

Lofty expectations will also be placed on the shoulders of Carlos Alvarez, who was selected second in the SuperDraft, they are hoping he is the foundation of a long term build and can finally bring some stability to the squad.

Chivas USA has finished bottom or second-last in the table in each of the last three seasons, they will have to play above their skills to avoid that fate again in 2013.

Season Outlook

Year two of the Oscar Pareja era will see the manager once again trying to get his team back to the form they had in 2010 when they captured the MLS Cup.

Edson Buddle is going to be counted on as the key man in attack for the Rapids after having his role significantly reduced before being traded by the Los Angeles Galaxy, he could have just the right amount of motivation to push this team back into the playoff picture.

 

The Rapids conceded the third-most goals in the Conference last season and their struggles can be traced right to the failings of the backline, if they can adjust to Pareja's formation changes and protect the net better they should have enough youth and skill going forward to test last season's playoff teams.

Look for new man Nick LaBrocca to also provide some goal scoring from the attacking midfield position.

Season Outlook

If you like explosive offensive firepower, this just might be the team for you.

The additions of both Kenny Cooper from New York Red Bulls and Eric Hassli from Toronto FC should be enough to allow FC Dallas to light up the scoreboard all season.

However their biggest gain might be the health of David Ferreira, who played in 17 games last season but will be looking for a full season of action in 2013.

The squad was solid if not spectacular in defence last season so if they can replicate that performance and get the offence they expect out of the new men in the starting XI, this could see them right into the title picture in the conference.

Schellas Hyndman is in his sixth season on the touchline for Dallas and that kind of stability should allow this roster to gel quickly.

Season Outlook

David Beckham arrived in the MLS and to the Los Angeles Galaxy with much fanfare and lofty expectations. After five-and-a-half seasons he left as a two-time MLS Cup champion.

Moving on without him the Galaxy will not lack for veteran leadership as Robbie Keane will still be in the lineup and long-time captain Landon Donovan has also announced that he will return after much speculation that he was also ready to put an end to his days in the league.

Big names or not, the question is can this team make history and become the first to win three straight championships?

They showed last season that even a slow start and a mid-table finish would not be enough to keep them from lifting the big trophy and in the absence of the former England captain they are now fielding an experienced side that will feel they once again have something to prove.

Look for them to once again be playing late into the playoffs.

Season Outlook

Portland Timbers scored the second least amount of goals in 2012 so it's not hard to see where they have to start making improvements if they hope to climb the Western Conference standings. New head coach Caleb Porter makes the jump from coaching a very successful Akron Zips program in the NCAA and he has already made his mark on the squad by bolstering it with a lot of young talent.

Ryan Johnson, who came over from Toronto FC, should help in the offensive regard but they will be leaning on Danny Mwanga, Darlington Nagbe and Jose Valencia, three young men with all the talent to be explosive but none of the experience.

Tough to see Portland making the move up the standings when they are going to spend a lot of the season just trying to figure out how the pieces fit together.

Instead this could be the transition season that allows them to build to something bigger in the future.

Season Outlook

 

Robbie Findley is back for his second stint with Real Salt Lake and will hope to recapture the chemistry he had with forward Alvaro Saborio as they will be counted on to power the attack.

The story in Utah this season will be if the team can produce after unloading a few long term members of the roster.

They traded both Fabian Espindola and Jamison Olave for allocation money opening up a few holes in the lineup.

They were very solid last season finishing second in the conference but could not replicate that in the playoffs as they were eliminated at the first hurdle by Seattle Sounders.

Lots will be expected by the fans of Real Salt Lake this season but this team might need some time before it can recapture the form of 2012.

Expect a playoff-level performance from Real Salt Lake this season even if it does come with another early exit from the second season.

Season Outlook

2012 was a season of overachieving that held so much promise for San Jose Earthquakes.

They finished the regular season with the best record in the MLS earning the Supporters Shield only to get bounced in their first playoff game by eventual-champions Los Angeles Galaxy.

They are heading into 2013 with basically the same roster and they will hope to provide a similar brand of exciting and attacking football.

The additions they have made this season are basically all on defence as their backline was the reason they were forced into the many comeback victories they eventually became known for as the season progressed.

The experience gained last season will serve this team well and in a Conference where many teams will be trying to gel early, the stability they will enjoy from last season could earn them a strong early start to the season.

Season Outlook

After earning the franchise's first playoff victory, the Sounders were defeated in the Western Conference Final by the champion Galaxy.

Since entering the league they have been one of the MLS' model franchises and this could be the year that they put some hardware beside that title.

With Fredy Montero gone on loan they will count on their depth to provide goal scoring and Michael Gspurning one of the league's best keepers to provide them with leadership at the back.

The team will struggle on the backline without Jeff Parke who was traded in the offseason, the veteran wanted to be closer to home and the team needed to clear salary cap room.

However Parke is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and could prove very hard to replace.

The Sounders only gave up 33 goals last season, second-least in the league.