2026 MLS Regular Season

[KevinJRogers]

If that was the plan, why were we thisclose to signing Sylla?

I didn't say the plan was to go with Seymour from the get-go. Plan A was (and is) to bring in a DP striker, which we thought we had done with Moussa Sylla. We're on Plan B now.

But my point was actually about Dunivant and the fact he won't hesitate if he finds the right guy. He's also not going to panic and burn a DP on a flyer just to bring someone in.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I didn't say the plan was to go with Seymour from the get-go. Plan A was (and is) to bring in a DP striker, which we thought we had done with Moussa Sylla. We're on Plan B now.

But my point was actually about Dunivant and the fact he won't hesitate if he finds the right guy. He's also not going to panic and burn a DP on a flyer just to bring someone in.

Agree with that -- And with Sporting KC having like 10 senior players on their roster as the season opens, I think it's fair to believe David Lee was the reason we worked so slowly in the past.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Agree with that -- And with Sporting KC having like 10 senior players on their roster as the season opens, I think it's fair to believe David Lee was the reason we worked so slowly in the past.

I'm really, really leaning hard that way now. I always suspected that was the case and he was locked into missing the forest by trying to analyze every tree. Not only did it take him forever to act, but he was perfectly capable of fooling himself that way.

Now I'm wondering if he took the SKC job because he knew he was on his way out at the end of last season anyway. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of tears shed in the building when he left. And the atmosphere just feels different now. It's ... snappier.

 

[gbservis]

I'm really, really leaning hard that way now. I always suspected that was the case and he was locked into missing the forest by trying to analyze every tree. Not only did it take him forever to act, but he was perfectly capable of fooling himself that way.

Now I'm wondering if he took the SKC job because he knew he was on his way out at the end of last season anyway. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of tears shed in the building when he left. And the atmosphere just feels different now. It's ... snappier.

I suspect Lee had some hand in the youngsters, maybe not the final say but a portion of it. He had an extra season after Nick for them to come good, if so the writing was on the wall around the time he jumped ship.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I'm really, really leaning hard that way now. I always suspected that was the case and he was locked into missing the forest by trying to analyze every tree. Not only did it take him forever to act, but he was perfectly capable of fooling himself that way.

Now I'm wondering if he took the SKC job because he knew he was on his way out at the end of last season anyway. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of tears shed in the building when he left. And the atmosphere just feels different now. It's ... snappier.

I think he was on thin ice, but his work in the summer window and our trip to the conference finals would have bought him more time. But at the time, yes I absolutely think he would have believed he was in trouble.

 

[mgarbowski]

Don't know if this is paywalled.

2026 MLS Points Over/Unders

I joined Tom & Gass for in-depth 2026 prediction show on Soccerwise

tacticsfreezone.ghost.io

Gass, Bogert and Doyle do over/under predictions for every team. Doyle set the lines. Highest line is 67.5 for Miami, lowest is 28.5 for DC. NYCFC line is 52.5. Doyle picks under. Bogert and Gass both pick over and each of those 2 uses one of their 5 "Locks" on NYCFC so they're pretty confident.

At 52.5, the NYCFC line is tied for 11th highest in the league, and is 7th in the East. Doyle seems inconsistent/uncertain WRT NYCFC. His final preseason power rankings had NYC 8th in the league and 4th in the East, yet here he picks under the 11th highest line.

I can't find the podcast on Youtube. I don't do Spotify. Apple link is

Over/Under 2026 MLS Lines w/Matt Doyle

Podcast Episode · Soccerwise · 02/02/2026 · 2h 13m

podcasts.apple.com

The NYCFC discussion starts around 1:26:45.

 

[mgarbowski]

Expert predictions: 2026 MLS Eastern Conference & Western Conference standings | MLSSoccer.com

The offseason wait is over. MLS is Back.

www.mlssoccer.com

Aggregated Table prediction of votes of MLS/Apple talent with zero notes on individual votes or quotes about any teams except the top 2-3 in each conference. I miss when MLS paid interesting people to write and make fun videos. I'd even take Bobby Warshaw back.

FWIW NYCFC is voted to finish 8th in the East.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Expert predictions: 2026 MLS Eastern Conference & Western Conference standings | MLSSoccer.com

The offseason wait is over. MLS is Back.

www.mlssoccer.com

Aggregated Table prediction of votes of MLS/Apple talent with zero notes on individual votes or quotes about any teams except the top 2-3 in each conference. I miss when MLS paid interesting people to write and make fun videos. I'd even take Bobby Warshaw back.

FWIW NYCFC is voted to finish 8th in the East.

That is a disgraceful piece. What a joke. MLS's website used to be the preeminent place to find coverage of the league. Now you're only going there for the schedule and standings.

And picking us to finish 8th is crazy.

 

[Gene]

At 52.5, the NYCFC line is tied for 11th highest in the league, and is 7th in the East.

It's a tough call to make, because of the incomplete roster. They way things stand today I'd say Under. Bring in an established #9 who is going to bang home 18-20 goals and I'd say definitely Over.

His final preseason power rankings had NYC 8th in the league and 4th in the East, yet here he picks under the 11th highest line.

But Seymour Reid!

 

[mgarbowski]

But Seymour Reid!

I don't understand his Reid comment so much that I assume there's a joke I'm just not getting.

By the way - Gass is a huge Talles Magno fan. He expects a breakout season and that's one reason why he was so confident about the over.

 

[gbservis]

It's a tough call to make, because of the incomplete roster. They way things stand today I'd say Under. Bring in an established #9 who is going to bang home 18-20 goals and I'd say definitely Over.

But Seymour Reid!

I think there are unknowns along the d line that are getting over looked as well.

Trewin looks promising on paper but MLS is a step up from the A-league so there may be an adjustment.

Raul looked inconsistent last season. Was that just him settlings in? It's hard to shake how bad he looked against Miami. His passing accuracy numbers are no where near what Haaks were.

Gray misses a solid chunk of time each season is Baiera ready for prime time?

There are no major red flags but there are certainly unknowns.

 

[mgarbowski]

I think there are unknowns along the d line that are getting over looked as well.

Trewin looks promising on paper but MLS is a step up from the A-league so there may be an adjustment.

Raul looked inconsistent last season. Was that just him settlings in? It's hard to shake how bad he looked against Miami. His passing accuracy numbers are no where near what Haaks were.

Gray misses a solid chunk of time each season is Baiera ready for prime time?

There are no major red flags but there are certainly unknowns.

In the Soccerwise podcast Doyle's litany of questions to explain his "Under" vote were:

1. when will they get a striker and who will that be
2. how much does Maxi have in the tank
3. can Pascal bench Maxi if necessary
4. how well does Nico function as a 10 (which he's barely played since coming here)
5. will Parks stay healthy
6. how good is Trewin (and he wasn't impressed with Gustavo)

Basically he went right down the spine and had concerns at every point. All of those can turn out great, but they're fair questions.

 

[Gene]

Also from MLS soccer.com:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023495095639830597

Predictions from whom we may find interesting:

Cangialosi: 3rd in the East
Kljestan: 5th
Dax: 7
BWP: 5

 

[BC19]

Sometimes I wonder if the Apple TV people that consistently pick us to finish 12th,11th etc actually watch the league. We’re not going to walk away with the shield but come on

 

[gbservis]

Also from MLS soccer.com:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023495095639830597

Predictions from whom we may find interesting:

Cangialosi: 3rd in the East
Kljestan: 5th
Dax: 7
BWP: 5

Pretty weird starting XI prediction without Wolf.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Sometimes I wonder if the Apple TV people that consistently pick us to finish 12th,11th etc actually watch the league. We’re not going to walk away with the shield but come on

My favorite was in the MLS awards preview article, they listed predictions for newcomer of the year. Most of the guys picked Berterame, the new Miami striker. BWP picked Ruvulcaba, the new Red Bulls signing.

If you're going to be a national media presence, you can't be that biased. You have to be able to call it straight, and BWP is basically nothing more than a fan with a microphone.

 

[gbservis]

Sometimes I wonder if the Apple TV people that consistently pick us to finish 12th,11th etc actually watch the league. We’re not going to walk away with the shield but come on

We hovered around 11th for bit last season. I don't think we will finish anywhere near that low but that is mostly because I think we will sign a striker. If an analyst is looking at just our roster and doing the prediction off that I don't think 11th is absurd. If Trewin ends up being a step down from Haak and they fail to replace the Martinez goals, either through in action or picking another Bakrar 11th isn't out of the realm of possibility.

 

[ZYanksRule]

We hovered around 11th for bit last season. I don't think we will finish anywhere near that low but that is mostly because I think we will sign a striker. If an analyst is looking at just our roster and doing the prediction off that I don't think 11th is absurd. If Trewin ends up being a step down from Haak and they fail to replace the Martinez goals, either through in action or picking another Bakrar 11th isn't out of the realm of possibility.

We were 3rd in the East last year after signing Fernandez-Mercau. Yes our striker got hurt but there's no way we're falling from 3rd to 11th because Alonso got hurt. At the very least someone is going to step up offensively, and I don't think Trewin for Haak is a change that will meaningfully impact our standing.

I think we have overvalued Haak this winter after he had one good season. It was a great season and we love him because he's a homegrown, but he was not irreplaceable.

 

[gbservis]

We were 3rd in the East last year after signing Fernandez-Mercau. Yes our striker got hurt but there's no way we're falling from 3rd to 11th because Alonso got hurt. At the very least someone is going to step up offensively, and I don't think Trewin for Haak is a change that will meaningfully impact our standing.

I think we have overvalued Haak this winter after he had one good season. It was a great season and we love him because he's a homegrown, but he was not irreplaceable.

Last time we lost the guy responsible for scoring most of our goals (Taty) we missed the playoffs the following year.