It’s 2021 and Major League Soccer is well and truly under way, with another intriguing season having kicked off in April. It’s been delivering excitement and a few surprises. This post looks at the season so far, some of the teams performing well, as well as key players on them, and whether the predictions around the league were right. The soccer odds have the Seattle Sounders as favorites for the 2021 MLS Cup, although there isn’t much splitting them and Orlando City SC.
Who were tipped to perform well in the league?
The Eastern Conference team looked just as strong as any other team going into MLS 2021. Attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan has proven what a force he can be and shown no signs of displaying mercy to other teams in the league. Team forward and US international Gyasi Zardes has also illustrated his worth. Hard-working and long striding, Zardes is athletic, skillful and a real handful for teams to deal with on his day.
Out in the Western Conference, Seattle Sounders were looking promising, thanks to their general consistency of having made it to four of the past five MLS Cup finals. There’s been an air of excitement about the team, as the Sounders have a host of young players who could really develop this season. Central midfielder Danny Leyva, who made his debut when he was just 16, is one person audiences will be watching closely.
How’s the season progressing?
The season has been a mixed bag of business as usual and surprises. So far, over in the Eastern Conference, Columbus Crew are looking a long way from being winners. They’re finding it tough towards the top, with a placing in the top five rather than in the top three.
Getting the better of the defending champions and all the other teams in the Eastern Conference at the moment is the New England Revolution. Some have attributed the team’s good form to goalkeeper Matt Turner, who is also the US men’s national squad keeper, and midfielder Carlos Gil, who is looking healthier. According to pundits, both are playing better than last season.
Orlando City
Also giving the Crew a run for their money in the conference are Orlando City, who signed the youngest player in the club’s history, Thomas Williams (16 years, 10 months) in June 2021. Starting from when he was 15, Williams had trained two preseasons with the first team.
The boys from Orlando have gotten the season off to a good start, partly because of stubborn defensive play making life difficult for strikers in the conference. This has been especially necessary as the team has been missing attacking players, but a three-week break has given players a chance to recuperate. The team were pleased to have Nani back, who contributed a goal to the City’s 3-2 win over Toronto FC.
Seattle Sounders
Whereas Columbus Crew have failed to meet expectations so far, the Seattle Sounders have been meeting them. It’s a real power struggle up at the top of the standings in the Western Conference, with Sporting KC and LA Galaxy snapping away at the Sounders’ heels.
The Sounders have made an unusual start, it has to be said. They’ve lost three of their major players — Jordan Morris, Nico Lodeiro and Stefan Frei — because of injuries. Normally, this would cause a team to wilt, but instead, the Sounders have come back stronger.
The injury situation has forced coach Brian Schmetzer into making a few changes to the formation, and it’s worked out. Behind the success of this has been the club’s ethos of placing players in the best positions for them to succeed. Schmetzer has moved Nouhou from a fullback position to part of a three centerback setup, played Brad Smith and Alex Roldan out wide, and partnered Will Bruin and Raúl Ruidíaz. He’s also seen Cristian Roldan reward his faith in him to step into the number 10 role of Lodeiro.
Sporting KC
As mentioned, the boys from Kansas are also putting in a tremendous performance. They started out as favorites to win the Western Conference, but if they’re to achieve this, they’re going to have to get past the Sounders, who have other ideas about who should win the top of the conference.
Of note amongst the Sporting players has been young Jaylin Lindsey. The twenty-one year-old right back put in his best performance of the season in Week 6 when he stood in for the injured Graham Zusi. In their 3-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes, he even got on the scoresheet, as well as completing 88% of his passes, winning the majority of his duels and making 17 defensive actions.
According to some journalists reporting on the league. Lindsey’s progression on the first team has been a slow burn. His skill set might not catch the eye as easily as that of his fellow academy import Gianluca Busio, but reporters believe he’s one to watch throughout the rest of the season and that he has everything it takes to become a successful modern fullback.
Major Soccer League has produced some surprises, but there’s still plenty of time to go before the league winners are decided. Teams in the Western Conference have performed more or less as expected, whereas in the Eastern Conference things haven’t gone as predicted. But there’s still time yet. Let’s see what happens.
