If the team ever had to leave D.C., it would be a monumental blow for this league. The flagship franchise cannot leave the nation’s capital. Word could not aptly describe how detrimental it would be to the league. More words from Kevin Payne, Will Chang, and more fans after the jump.

• Real Salt Lake 4-1 Columbus
• Toronto 0-2 Seattle
• D.C. 1-0 Houston
• New England 2-1 Dallas
• Los Angeles 2-3 Colorado
• Kansas City 2-0 San Jose
• Chicago 1-0 New York
• Chivas 2-1 Columbus

If you haven’t seen this already, it’s a behind the scenes look at the rookies around MLS. It’s pretty decent, worth a viewing. Enjoy — the second will be up tomorrow morning before the week three preview.

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Kansas City blogger needed! Our Kansas City blog is currently unmanned and looking for love. This is an unpaid position, but a lot of fun and a way to share the love of your team. If you worship Kansas City and like to write about soccer, please email Daryl, daryl[at]theoffside[dot]com.

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There’s a lot to be excited about in KC heading into 2009. Even off the pitch, as the work begins on the Wizards on SSS should start soon. But along with that, they’ve brought back the majority of a playoff team, adding one or two very exciting players along the way. I think there should be a set of raised expectations for the Wizards, and provided that they stay healthy, an even deeper playoff run in 2009 should be on the cards.

2008: 11-10-9, 42 pts, fourth in the Eastern Conference. Lost to Columbus Crew in first round.

Services acquired: Santiago Hirsig, Adam Cristman, Matt Besler

Left the building: Tyson Wahl, Carlos Marinelli, Kerry Zavagnin

Coach: Did you know that Curt Onalfo was born in Brazil? Me neither. He’s entering his third season in charge of the Wizards.

All Eyes on Me: I can’t help but put anyone here aside but Jimmy Conrad. Aside from being one of the most entertaining players off the pitch, with hilarious interviews, blog posts, or whatever, he’s a key to the Wizards defense, even more so this season. With a number of younger players in support, Conrad will need to continue to provide steady leadership of the backline in front of solid keeper Kevin Hartman. The defense isn’t really

Player(s) to Watch: Up front, goals have always been a premium for KC, and in order to progress far this year, they’ll need forwards Herculez Gomez, Abe Thompson, and Adam Cristman to find the net early and often. Without a consistent threat up front this team will definitely struggle to do anything but draw or lose games. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of creative, playmaking spark Santiago Hirsig brings to MLS. It’s exciting to me that a player like Hirsig would join up after getting what must have been a resounding endorsement of the league from compatriot Claudio Lopez. I wonder if the two can play together well on the field — it’ll certainly be a huge boost to the Wizards.

Young Guns: The team has two young and exciting defenders in Michael Harrington and Jonathan Leathers. Look for those two in the starting lineup early and often. Aaron Hohlbein will benefit from the departure of Tyson Wahl via the expansion draft. He competed with Wahl for a starting position last season, and one of the reasons they probably let Wahl go is they felt good having Hohlbein transition into a starting role. Not sure what kind of a role rookie Matt Besler will play — I would expect that he’s there to learn and to be nothing more than a backup. Second year player Roger Espinoza saw some time with the Honduran national team over the offseason, competing in the UNCAF Nations Cup.

Bottom Line: The Wizards are an interesting team. They’ve got a lot of the right players on paper, but questions remain. Can Onalfo find the right combination to secure the shutouts but also get a goal or two on the offensive end? Look out for a solid season from (hopefully) former USMNTer Josh Wolff who returned to KC last season after a European stint. They’ll be optimistic that Hartman hasn’t gotten any slower or older between the posts, as he’s been one of the best keepers in MLS history. I think between Gomez, Wolff, Davy Arnaud, and Cristman, they’ll find the back of the net to at least make their third consecutive trip to the playoffs. Whether they can make it any further than that and put up a legitimate title challenge remains to be seen.

On the heels of a disappointing 2008, D.C. United rang fewer changes during this past offseason. They took advantage of two first round draft picks and brought in a number of rookies to bring some youth into the squad. Marcelo Gallardo returned to Argentina and the two Gonzalos left as well. United brought back Christian Gomez, the 2007 league MVP in a trade with Colorado in a move that will hopefully recapture one of United’s most successful runs. Let’s have a look at what’s in store in D.C.

2008: 11-15-4, 37 pts, sixth in the East.

Services acquired: Christian Gomez, Chris Pontius, Rodney Wallace

Left the building: Joe Vide, Marcelo Gallardo, Gonzalo Martinez, Gonzalo Peralta, Ivan Guerrero, Zach Wells

Coach: Tom Soehn is entering his third season at the helm.

All Eyes on Me: The return of Gomez, a proven commodity in this league, should be huge. He fell out of favor in Colorado last season due mostly to a clash of styles he had with coach Gary Smith. There’s a bit of a question over how old he is and if that will hold him back, but I think he’ll pick up where he left off at the end of 2007, directing a strong and efficient United attack.

Player(s) to Watch: Does Ben Olsen have a healthy set of ankles? His leadership and work ethic was sorely missed last season — he only played a grand total of 15 minutes last year and is in the process of a comeback attempt. Any positive contribution Olsen can make on the pitch this season would be a great boost to the Black-and-Red. Forward Luciano Emilio burst onto the scene in 2007 with a 20 goal season. Last year he played well but didn’t tally quite as many goals. His compatriot, Fred, brings a spark to the offense that needs to be on the field — which means he needs to be healthy. Bryan Namoff is the veteran head that will need to lead the defense, as aside from him, the backline consists of a number of younger players.

Young Guns: United has quietly started to stockpile a decent group of younger players. Their two first round draft picks, Rodney Wallace and Chris Pontius should give United a boost in depth — not sure how much playing time they’ll get, but as the season progresses look for Soehn to give them a shot. Santino Quaranta had his the best season of his career last year and will be looking to build on that. It’s strange that he can still be considered a young player despite already playing eight seasons in the league. That’s what happens when you debut at the age of sixteen. United’s 2008 draft pick Andrew Jacobson returns to D.C. after spending a year in France and will back up Clyde Simms in a defensive/holding midfield role. Simms was a real iron man for D.C. last year and will probably appreciate the rest every now and then.

Bottom Line: The pressure is on in the nation’s capital for this team to make a return to the playoffs. The defense is a big question, with a number of young central defenders competing for time. Last season the team conceded 51 goals — second highest in the league, beating out only L.A. If new acquisition Dejan Jakovic is the steadying presence they hope for than things could go well. This team just needs to stay healthy, and the fact that they won’t have SuperLiga or Champions’ Cup matches to worry about must be a huge relief. Depending on how well the defense comes together and how healthy this team stays (the preseason game against RSL was not a good omen) will dictate what happens in 2009 for one of MLS’ most successful franchise.

When you win a championship, changing things up is the last thing any organization wants to do. For the Columbus Crew, the only major difference they have — aside from a player here and there — was the departure of coach Sigi Schmid. Expect for that that, they were able to being in Guillermo Barros Schelotto (who I’ll refer to as GBS from here on out) and Chad Marshall back into the fold, re-signing him for 2009. Throw in the supporting cast of rising talent and seasoned veterans and there is little reason the Crew can’t be major title contenders this year.

2008: 17-7-6, 57 pts., 1st in East, MLS Cup Champions and Supporter’s Shield winners.

Services acquired: None of note

Left the building: Brad Evans, Ezra Hendrickson

Coach: Robert Warzycha is in his first year replacing Schmid.

All Eyes on Me: The young Robbie Rogers is one to keep an eye on. He showed flashes of brilliance in 2008, including a brilliant goal against the Red Bulls. His speed on the left side is hard to match but his inconsistency last season was frustrating at times. He’ll also be looking to make a name for himself with USMNT Bob Bradley as the National Team will need to dig deep because of their busy summer schedule.

Player(s) to Watch: The focal point of the offense is GBS — duh. If other sides haven’t learned how to shut him down after two seasons in the league he’ll continue to orchestrate the offense. Alejandro Moreno benefitted from Schelotto’s skill last season and is their most consistent forward option up front. The return of Marshall, who signed a new deal this past offseason, was another big move. The defender of the year would have been a huge loss if he had decided to make a move overseas. Keeping him around establishes a sense of continuity in defense in front of keeper Will Hesmer.

Young Guns: The Crew have a few other young players aside from Rogers looking to step it up in ‘09. Jason Garey, a first round pick three years ago out of Maryland. Now in his fourth season, Garey has had a chance to soak up experience the past two seasons, coming off the bench in 10 games last season to notch three goals. If he can become another goal scorer, the Crew should be able to find the net on a much more consistent basis. In the same vein, forward Steven Lenhart chipped in four goals last year. A strong 2009 from either Garey or Lenhart would be a huge boost to Moreno up front. I liked what I saw from the Nigerian Emmanuel Ekpo last season and envision how dangerous the Crew could be with Ekpo and Rogers manning both flanks. Ekpo made it into 17 games last season and expect more of the same from him this season.

Bottom Line: With so many key pieces still in place, it’s hard to imagine the Crew not being able to repeat their 2008 accolades. The loss of Brad Evans to the Seattle Sounders is a blow to the depth of their midfield — and their lack of moves perhaps leave them a little susceptible to injury. The powers that be did them a favor by ruling teams can’t compete in the SuperLiga and the Champions League — but the added fixtures at the end of the season will stretch them nonetheless. If players like Rogers, Garey, and Ekpo step things up this season it should be a pleasant 2009 for the Crew. They are hardly a lock to repeat their 2008 success, but by staying healthy and matching their intensity from the past year, a deep playoff run could be on the cards for Columbus. The big overall question hounding the Crew all year will be how Warzycha fill’s Schmid’s shoes. I don’t see that happening, but you never know.

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Colorado blogger needed! Our Colorado blog is currently unmanned and looking for love. This is an unpaid position, but a lot of fun and a way to share the love of your team. If you worship Colorado and like to write about soccer, please email Daryl, daryl[at]theoffside[dot]com.

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Moving out into the mountain regions of Colorado, today’s team is one searching for a return to the playoffs. Last season was all about the coaching change and inconsistent play nagging at the Rocky Mountain club. Of note, Colorado seems headed towards a jersey sponsor, as the release of this year’s kit has revealed the removal of the logo and a big, blank spot where a corporate sponsor should go. There’s a strong veteran presence out in Colorado, and under Gary Smith they are aiming for a successful 2009 campaign.

2008: 11-14-5, 38 pts, finished fourth in the West.

Services acquired: Ivan Guerrero, Ty Harden, Matt Pickens

Left the building: Christian Gomez, Mike Petke, Bouna Coundoul, Jose Burciaga Jr, Facundo Erpen, Tom McManus

Coach: Gary Smith, former Arsenal man is starting his first full season as the coach of the Rapids.

All Eyes on Me: The Jamaican forward Omar Cummings will be called upon to lead the Rapids attack this season. With the Christian Gomez situation no more, Cummings will look to team up with Conor Casey up front and provide a majority of the goals.

Player(s) to Watch: The keeper battle between Matt Pickens and Preston Burpo will be a key point to the Rapids this season. Burpo saw a lot of time in net last year as Bouna Coundoul traveled to Africa for Senegal qualifiers. With Coundoul out of the picture, Pickens was brought in to challenge for the number one jersey. The ever-important Pablo Mastroeni looked like he was going to try his luck overseas, but instead is back for more, and his presence is vital in shutting down the opposing attack. Along with that, former USMNTer Cory Gibbs looks to stay healthy and key the back line. His return to MLS in August of last year went fairly well, with nine starts in nine games. Englishman Terry Cooke had 12 assists last season, and his service to Cummings and Casey will help spur on the Rapids attack.

Young Guns: Goalie Steward Ceus is an interesting prospect to look out for. With the goalie situation up in the air, Ceus could surprise some people by picking up a start or two as the season progresses. The 6-foot-6 striker from the University of Albany might even stake his claim on the starting jersey by the end of the year — although that is more of a long shot. The recent acquisition of former Joe Public striker Gregory Richardson raised a few eyebrows, as he has yet to sign a contract. Richardson is best known for scoring a hat trick against New England during their CONCACAF Champions League qualifier last summer. However, it isn’t certain whether or not he will stay. If he does, he could provide depth at the forward position and look to recapture last year’s hat trick magic.

Bottom Line: With Gary Smith at the helm from the start of 2009, the Rapids are starting off with an entire preseason under the coach who took over during 2008. This should help Colorado discover some much needed consistency, as they struggled last season trying to find an identity while switching into a new system midway through the season. There aren’t any acquisitions or changes that really stand out aside from sending Christian Gomez back to D.C. in exchange for Ivan Guerrero, so you’d have to hope from a Rapids perspective that continuity will lead to success. Looking at the Rapids on paper, they have a veteran-heavy roster in every position — it’s just a matter of these particular players staying healthy and consistent week-in and week-out. I can see this team making the playoffs with ease come the end of the year, although a lot will depend on the goalie situation.

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Chivas blogger needed! Our Chivas blog is currently unmanned and looking for love. This is an unpaid position, but a lot of fun and a way to share the love of your team. If you worship Chivas and like to write about soccer, please email Daryl, daryl[at]theoffside[dot]com.

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Today’s entry is a team that few people know about and few others seem to care about. Despite this, they’ve managed a couple of successful years — well, at least in the regular season. Here’s hoping that with the loss of Beckham the Goats can conjure up some of that fanbase out in LA and put together another respectable season. Let’s take a look.

2008: 12-11-7, 43 pts, second in the West, lost in conference semifinals.

Services acquired: Ante Jazic, Michael Lahoud

Left the building: Raphaël Wicky, Francisco Mendoza

Coach: Predrag Radosavljević, Предраг Радосављевић, or just Preki to us. Entering his third season with the club.

All Eyes on Me: The big question that will follow around Chivas — at least for the first half of the season — is whether or not midfielder Sacha Kljestan will stay for the whole season, or leave in the summer during the European transfer window. He looked to be on his way out over the offseason but a move to Celtic stalled because of the transfer fee. Needless to say, with another successful year under his belt, it’ll be surprising if he’s here the whole season, but if he is, Goats fans will be very happy.

Player(s) to Watch: Can Maykel Galindo stay healthy? Is Ante Razov still reliable enough to start on a weekly basis? The players to watch will be those going forward — last year it was no secret that this team had trouble scoring goals. Their leading scoring was Kljestan, managing a modest five in 22 games. They don’t have to turn into a goal-scoring club overnight, and with the way Preki keeps the defense organized, Chivas tends to be stingy. However, Galindo needs to stay on the pitch and find the back of the net to help ease things on. The last position to keep an eye on is the starting goalie. After Brad Guzan took off to Villa last season, Dan Kennedy and Zach Thornton each got a long look with neither a standout. Kennedy has the gloves heading into the season but Thornton isn’t a bad choice coming off the bench.

Young Guns: The Sueno MLS winner, Jorge Flores, will look to play a bigger role this season. His latest achievement was a call up to the U20 national team — not a bad gig for someone discovered via a reality TV show. Justin Braun, in his second year in the league, will challenge for a starting role right from the get go — he started 12 games last year and chipped in four goals.

Bottom Line: They didn’t really do all that much aside from drafting Lahoud and bringing in Jazic from LA. Whose to say that acquiring a defender from the Galaxy is a good thing after the season they had. Depth could be a concern, as a series of injuries really hurt the Goats last season. They still managed to hold things together and finish with the second-best record out West. Preki continues to do magical things with limited resources, although you might wonder how things could go if they stayed healthy an entire season. If Kljestan stays for the entire year and the key cogs stay fit then you could be talking playoffs for these guys. Even if Kljestan leaves and injuries hit them once again I wouldn’t be surprised to see Preki hold everything together once again. We’ll see what unfolds.

If I’ve looked at my alphabet correctly, Chicago is first.

2008: 13-10-7, 46 pts, second in the East, lost in Eastern Conference finals.

Services acquired: Baggio Husidic

Left the building: Tomasz Frankowski, Diego Gutierrez, Andy Herron, Stephen King, Lider Marmol

Coach: Denis Hamlett, entering second full season with Chicago.

All Eyes on Me: Cuatemoc Blanco is the man in the middle for the Fire, and his play can at times make or break the Fire. If Blanco is in a grumpy mood and not playing well with teammates, the whole team could be unsettled. Combined that with the fact he signed a new deal prior to this season and there’s some pressure on him to perform. I expect another solid year from the Mexican, provided that he keeps that temper of his in check.

Player(s) to Watch: Apart from Blanco, you have former USMNT Brian McBride as the other focal point of the attack. Chris Rolfe and John Thorrington. What they do and how they supplement the two others will dictate the sort of attack that the Fire have this year.

Young Guns: The Fire haven’t acquired too many new faces during the offseason, with Baggio Husidic representing their first pick in the 2009 SuperDraft. Two of last season’s picks, Patrick Nyarko and Marco Pappa are on the cusp of playing — it’ll just depend if they can crack the first XI or not. Look for Pappa to give Justin Mapp a good run for a midfielder spot, while I still think Nyarko is a year or two away. Perhaps a contributor off the bench.

Bottom Line: From the back to the front, this is one of the league’s deepest and most dangerous teams — provided that all it’s moveable parts are in order. The Blanco and McBride duo should cause nightmares to opposing defenses in the same way that Bakary Soumare, Wilman Conde, and Jon Busch will stifle the opposite side’s attack. The big question that they’ll face is whether or not they can mesh and work well as a unit. If they can, expect another run at the Conference Final and perhaps an MLS Cup to boot.

• Word is the “other” Galaxy player abroad is going to be coming home. It’s a bummer to see him come back, but hold the phone. Landycakes may still bit adieu to L.A. come the summer transfer window. I found this article to do justice on the Beckham/Donovan difference.
• JPA is a Red Bull until 2011. A consummate professional, Angel is one of my favorite players.
• I know that this is kind of old news, but D.C. United will most likely be heading out into Maryland. Their press conference Monday had all the bells and whistles in place to try and make this thing finally happen.
• Preseason friendlies have started cropping up, although mostly in the Florida area where teams flock for the early preseason. Kenny Cooper scored in a Dallas win over the Rapids today, just in case you were wondering.
• The good people over at Real Salt Lake have ramped up their efforts with their charity arm, called Soccer Unites Utah, to help raise money for Andy Williams’ wife, Marcia, who is battling leukemia. Check the RSL blog for details, and your change to bid on an autographed Freddy Adu jersey.

I hope that’s enough to take your mind off of Becks. For now.