Page 62 - Soccer360 Issue 105

MLS 2024 SEASON PREVIEW
THE MORE
THINGS CHANGE,
THE MORE THEY
MESSI?
WORDS SEAN MASLIN
As an any Major League Soccer supporter will tell you: it is always best to expect the unexpected. At this point last season very few people had the Columbus Crew winning the MLS Cup, a Houston Dynamo US Open Cup victory, St. Louis City SC capturing the Western Conference or
FC Cincinnati claiming the Supporters Shield. There were even strong rumors
that seemed to point to Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami CF, but anyone really see Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez joining him? There is a certain element of the unknown that makes each MLS season exciting but also maddening to predict.
With the league’s single-entity structure and rosters being overhauled every year knowing who exactly will stand out and who will fall to the bottom can be a bit of a challenge. That the Colorado Rapids went from winning the Western Conference just two years ago to finishing at the bottom of the Conference last season is perhaps the biggest indication of how quickly the winds can change in
the league. There do seem to be some
steadying forces which should in turn lead
to enticing storylines. Of course at the top of all fans minds is Messi and Miami. Although Lionel’s Lethal Legion failed to make the playoffs, the summer of Messi certainly made major waves throughout the summer. That he was able to capture the Leagues Cup at a time when the league faced little competition on the airwaves certainly helped the league’s image and drive fans towards purchasing subscriptions to their AppleTV+ platform. But there was a bit of
a decline towards the end of the season. Messi mania did yield a US Open Cup final appearance, but they fell short in securing that trophy and did not make the playoffs. That he is already dealing with hamstring issues which forced him out of an exhibition in Hong Kong (which also earned him a red card from the government of China) should be a cause for alarm for not just Miami, but the league as a whole.
Miami is a major piece of the MLS puzzle
this season, but they are not the only piece. After rocketing past FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union in the MLS Cup Playoffs, Columbus Crew and their head coach Wilfried Nancy should feel that they are
the front-runners to once again claim top
TOP:
Lionel Messi for Inter Miami
honors. A highly experienced side that has a bonafide number nine in Cucho Hernandez (16 goals, MLS Best XI honors last season) up top.
But isn’t a surefire bet that we will see the Crew in the finals in December. Messi and Miami aside, the Eastern Conference features a bevy of young and exciting teams that
will be looking to upend the champions.
At the top of that list are Cincinnati and Philadelphia. Cincy will once again lean heavily on talisman midfielder Luciano Acosta, who put the attack on his back
and led the team to their first Supporters’ Shield. The reigning MLS MVP will be looking to cement his status as one of the best midfielders in league history and with a strong defensive line led by Best XI defender Matt Miazga, he will certainly have a chance to do it.
The Union will also have a major say in who wins top honors in the East. After falling just short in MLS Cup 2022, Philly had a
bit of a decline in 2023. But with one of
the top youth academies in the Americas replenishing their depth each season, Philadelphia looks stronger than ever especially with midfielders Quinn Sullivan (19) and JackMcGlynn (20) expected to take on heavier workloads .
Also keep an eye on Atlanta United FC,
who made a deep run late and very nearly pipped the Crew in the second round of the playoffs. The one-two combination of Thiago
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