Why Each Team Will/Will Not Win MLS Cup: Eastern Conference
Photo by Vincent Carchietta from USA Today Sports
The most bizarre time in soccer is among us, as the MLS Cup Playoffs kick off on Saturday.
While most American sports don’t necessarily crown the best overall team as their champion, MLS is the king of that.
Because of that, every single team that makes the playoffs has a shot.
It’s going to be stupid and wild, and I can not wait for it.
Here is why each team in the Eastern Conference will raise MLS Cup, or will fall short of the main goal.
(And yes, it is the main goal. Take that, Shield Truthers).
Philadelphia Union
Why They Will: The MLS Cup Playoffs are a 4 (in Philly’s case 3) game stretch where if you have one off day, it can completely end your season.
That’s why it’s important to get into the playoffs playing your best soccer.
And boy oh boy, is Philly playing their best soccer.
The Union not only won often during their late game stretch.
They demolished teams.
Throw in the fact that they haven’t lost a home game all year and will have homefield advantage throughout the Eastern Conference side of the bracket, they are in great shape to win it all.
Why They Won’t: The Union have won one trophy in their history, and it was the Supporter’s Shield in a shortened 2020 season.
Not to say that trophy doesn’t count!
Just that we’ve seen this story from the Union before.
There are some teams where I will only believe they’re champions when I see it, and the Union are one of those teams.
CF Montreal
Why They Will: There isn’t a team as hot as the Union, but if you had to pick a team who was on fire to bet on in case the Union once again fell short, it’d be Montreal.
Montreal didn’t lose in September and October and has a set style of play that suits the postseason perfectly to maximize their attack without sacrificing defense (due to a 3 centerback system).
They’ve been quiet all year, and I’m sure they’re fine that way.
A perfect way to sneak up on teams.
Why They Won’t: Let’s just go over their September and October schedule real fast.
Beats Toronto 4-3 (not a playoff team)
Draws Columbus 2-2 (not a playoff team)
Beat Chicago 3-2 (not a playoff team)
Beat New England 1-0 (not a playoff team)
Beat DC United 1-0 (not a playoff team)
Beat Inter Miami 3-1 (is a playoff team but clinched a spot 4 days prior and used a heavily rotated squad)
You can only beat who’s in front of you, but it wasn’t exactly a murderer’s row of opponents.
They may not be battle tested enough for a postseason run.
New York City FC
Why They Will: Well, they won it last year.
And to think about this season, 3rd in the East is a great finish considering that they made a run to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals which took up a lot of league time and energy, and lost their top striker Taty Castellanos as he made his move to Europe.
They even lost their MLS Cup winning coach Ronny Delia midseason out of the blue.
Despite all of that, NYCFC comfortably made the postseason to attempt to defend their title, and now that they have some stability amongst them it feels like they’re poised to make a deep run.
And hey, all they need to do is win 4 more games and they can take another break!
Why They Won’t: 4 more games might be 4 too many.
They have played a ton of soccer this year, and even now while they have some stability, they still have some injuries they are dealing with.
At some point, you simply run out of juice. NYCFC has done a good job avoiding that (something the Sounders weren’t able to do), but this would be the time it catches up to them in a noticeable way.
New York Red Bulls
Why They Will: Do you remember the run Real Salt Lake made to the Western Conference Final last year despite being the last ranked team in the playoffs?
That’s because they played boring, suck the life out of you soccer.
It’s not fun, and it isn’t enjoyable to watch, and the Red Bulls tried the exact same thing last year against Philly before a last second Jakub Glesnes goal ruined it, but it can work.
If you have a clear talent deficiency like the Red Bulls have (mostly due to how young they are), the best way to win is to ruin your opponents game plan.
Not to mention, it’d be peak Red Bulls to have their first championship be one of the most dull ones to watch.
Why They Won’t: Many have tried the technique above.
None have succeeded.
At a certain point, the talent deficiency is simply too much to overcome.
FC Cincinnati
Why They Will: This team joined MLS in 2019, was the worst team that year, 2020 and 2021, had one good offseason and suddenly turned it around to finish 5th in the East and make the playoffs.
There is no limit to their new potential.
The sky is the limit.
Three straight wooden spoons will naturally be followed by three straight championships.
Alright, maybe that’s a bit too much sarcasm.
This team is talented, and with one leg playoff matches, scoring goals is crucial. Especially on the road.
Cincy knows how to score.
Why They Won’t: Unfortunately, they don’t know how to stop the other team from also scoring.
Where the Red Bulls may be horribly boring to watch this postseason, Cincy is going to be a blast to watch.
Still won’t matter, though.
If you can’t defend in this league, you can’t win it all.
But after 3 years of being the literal worst team in MLS, I’m sure Cincy fans are just happy to be here.
Inter Miami
Why They Will: I didn’t think it’d take me to the 6th team to finally bring it up, but it’s time to talk about match winners!
When it’s a win or go home situation, it helps any team to have one or two guys who can simply take over the game and win it on his back alone.
Inter Miami have that in “I’m about to retire and want one last hurrah” Gonzalo Higuain, and former MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo.
If one or both of those guys get hot, they’ll make a run.
Why They Won’t: Remember above how I said Cincy can’t keep the ball out of the net?
Well Miami can’t either.
And unlike Cincy, who scores at will no matter what, Miami needs Higuain or Pozuelo to be the heroes to overcome that.
Orlando City SC
Why They Will: Oscar Pareja is a fantastic coach.
He was great in Dallas, he’s been great in Orlando and his ability to help teams win one standalone game led to Orlando getting their first trophy ever this year in the US Open Cup.
Why couldn’t he have Orlando make another Cup run?
Why They Won’t: Probably because they aren’t very good.
Which is a bummer, because there were a lot of high expectations for Orlando City this season.
But their designated players never fully hit their potential, the defense is dealing with injury issues and if they played any other team than a Columbus team who historically stunk in the final 15 minutes of the game, they wouldn’t be in the playoffs at all.
But hey. They won their first trophy this year. So no matter what happens this fall, it’s a victory.
Eastern Conference Champion Prediction
I don’t like that I’m about to do this.
I should know better.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me approximately 7 thousand times, shame on me.
But damn it. I just can’t quit you…
Philadelphia Union win the Eastern Conference.
