2025 awards predictions, tiers & more

You’ve probably already seen it, but just in case, here is the annual Tiers of MLS piece that remains maybe my favorite thing to write for the website. It really does force me to conceive of these teams – upside, downside, likely outcome, probably shopping habits, player development facility – in a holistic way, which gets me ready for the season itself.

Honestly I write it as much for me as I do for you all.

Earlier this week the official season preview came out, and I thought this was an interesting way of parsing it from Tutul:

1. I will say that Sporting’s performance last night in CCL play against Inter – they lost 1-0 – made me wonder if I had them too low (I picked them to finish dead last in the West) given their overall solidity and the little bit of midfield depth they showed. But man, third? I can’t get that high on them, and wouldn’t even if they’d won 4-1.
2. I am shocked that 13th was three spots lower than anyone else had the Quakes, as I feel like I’m being an optimist with that pick! I expect them to nearly double last year’s points total – massive year-over-year improvement. I guess other folks really, truly believe in Bruce’s ability to do magic.

Anyway, here’s my full slate of predictions1 in one handy spot:

A few notes I’ve mentioned elsewhere:

• I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that we’re all underrating Philly. Heart ruled my head in picking Montreal to finish over them – I think I just loved the way George Campbell played in the USMNT’s January Camp so much that I’m trying to wishcast another playoff appearance into being.

• The Lodeiro pick-up by Houston is smart but doesn’t do a ton for me in terms of thinking about this team’s upside. The more I look at them, the more convinced I am this is a “one step back to take two steps forward” season (though they have to hit on a CB signing to make that real).

• Kévin Denkey looked awesome. I remain mildly concerned that Luca Orellano still mostly isn’t with the team, but even if it takes him a month to get up to speed, Cincy should be real good. I still need them to go out and get a U22 striker and a U22 central midfielder, though, and I need to see Pat Noonan be more aggressive in developing them this year.

• Steve Cherundolo read all my snark about their 5-2-3 this offseason and naturally started the year in a 4-3-3 Tuesday night on the frozen tundra in Commerce City. I love Marky Delgado, like Timmy Tillman a lot and the new d-mid, Igor Jesus, looked ok. But man do they miss an Atuesta/Cifuentes-type of passer in that central midfield. And it made me think of my buddy John’s absolutely nuclear take to start the year:

  Happy First Kick, kids. 2025’s ready to roll.