Ranking the 10 Most Important Players in the MLS 2015 Season

The 2015 MLS season kicks off on March 6 with plenty of new storylines after a plethora of offseason moves and signings and two expansion clubs looking to make a good first impression. The 10 players were ranked by what they will contribute to the club both on and off the field as well as the club's situation and any compelling storylines that will follow a player through the season. English forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (NYRB), Jozy Altidore (TOR) and Robbie Keane (LA) are all in the Top 3 but who ends up being the most important player heading into the 2015 season? Keep clicking to find out.Begin Slideshow

David Villa Scores the 1st Goal in New York City FC’s History

New York City FC played the first match in their history on Tuesday night, and one of their marquee signings scored their first-ever goal.  Spanish legend David Villa grabbed the opener in a 2-0 victory against Scottish side St Mirren at the new Manchester City Academy.  It was a typical striker's finish from the former Valencia, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid man, and fans of the new franchise will be hoping to see the same in more competitive matches when the MLS kicks off in March.  [Twitter, Vine]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Several 2015 MLS Jerseys Leaked Online

Footy Headlines leaked several MLS kits on Saturday as the 2015 season approaches. Sporting Kansas City's jersey has a new pattern, but overall, it's a nice design and probably one of the nicer shirts of the leaked items. Toronto FC's new jersey is also quite sleek, but it doesn't include a sponsor because BMO ended its deal with the club near the end of last season. The Portland Timbers' shirt looks all right, but the white and yellow across the sponsor is slightly distracting. However, the "Let it rain. Let it pour. Let the Portland Timbers score" slogan on the collar is a nice touch. The New England Revolution's 2015 away jersey looks a lot different than the 2014 shirt. The green trim is an interesting addition. Columbus' jersey is a lot plainer than the others, but that's not a bad thing. Sometimes, a simple design is the best. D.C. United will keep its 2014 home kit but will have a new away shirt for 2015, according to Footy Headlines. FC Dallas, the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake have not revealed any of their new designs but will keep some of their jerseys from last year. Both expansion teams have already unveiled their jerseys. New York City ...

5 MLS Offseason Signings Who Will Have the Highest Expectations

MLS received a big boost on Friday, as ex-Juventus attacker Sebastian Giovinco was finally introduced by Toronto FC. The 28-year-old will be earning an annual salary of $7 million, per Kurtis Larson of the Toronto Sun. However, those high wages come with lofty expectations. There are a few big names, like Giovinco, who have immense pressure on their shoulders. Those players will be highlighted in this slideshow. They will be graded based on their star-power, their role with their new team and if the individual is a designated player. Players who won't arrive until July, like Steven Gerrard, can also be considered since he signed a contract this winter. If a specific individual wasn't acquired between December and the present day, he doesn't qualify. Here are the five offseason signings who will have the loftiest expectations this season.Begin Slideshow

MLS: Is the East Really a ‘Weak’ Conference?

The 2015 MLS season will begin on March 6 barring a potential work stoppage, and it promises to be an exciting one, as the conferences will look a lot different this year. However, even though the East has two expansion teams, it will be extremely difficult to qualify for the playoffs this campaign compared to 2014. MLS announced changes to its playoff format in January. Twelve teams (six from each conference) will now be able to qualify for the postseason, as opposed to the usual 10.  If this system was used last year, teams like the Portland Timbers and the Philadelphia Union would have competed for the MLS Cup. However, the flurry of activity by almost every club is what makes this new format so intriguing. Western teams like the Timbers, LA Galaxy, Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo have bulked up their squads to prepare for what will be a hotly contested battle in the West. In addition, plenty of teams in the Eastern Conference made significant moves. Toronto FC spent big to acquire Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco and others as the Reds vie for their first postseason berth in franchise history. The Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact have had busy winters. Expansion sides Orlando City ...

Kaka Scores 1st Goal for Orlando City in the Most Low-Key Way Imaginable

Kaka scored his first goal for Orlando City, although we will be hoping that more exciting efforts are on the way. The Brazil legend converted a penalty (just after the one-minute mark above) for the expansion franchise in a low-key pre-season friendly, where there seemed to be more people on the pitch than watching.  Orlando won the clash against FC Dallas, 4-0.  [MLSsoccer.com]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Report Card for Every MLS Team’s Offseason as February Begins

MLS teams have begun their preseason regimens as the 2015 campaign draws closer. While the season might be delayed due to the ongoing CBA negotiations, every club is still preparing as if everything will go on as scheduled. Plenty of teams made some marquee signings this winter, such as Toronto FC and expansion side Orlando City SC. Meanwhile, the likes of New York City FC were in the news for all of the wrong reasons. Every MLS club will be graded based on their offseason moves between December and February. If a team addressed their biggest weaknesses or upgraded specific positions, that will result in a high grade. If a specific side didn't fill any voids or had any negative publicity, they will be ranked lower. Here are the complete report cards for every MLS team's offseason to this point.   All official transactions via MLSSoccer.com.Begin Slideshow

Tim Cahill, NY Red Bulls Mutually Part Ways: Latest Details and Reaction

Australia international Tim Cahill has left Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls by mutual consent, it's been revealed.    The club's official Twitter account announced on Monday that Cahill's contract has been terminated, allowing the veteran forward to sign for a new club before Europe's January transfer window closes: Per the official New York Red Bulls website, sporting director Ali Curtis was quoted as saying of the decision: This decision was not made lightly, and it is the result of many conversations between our staff, Tim, and his agent. After much deliberation, we have agreed that this decision is best for all involved. We thank Tim for his service to the organization. He positively impacted the growth of the beautiful game in the United States, MLS and for the Red Bulls. We are pleased that Tim will continue to be an ambassador for Red Bull moving forward. Sports journalist Pete O'Rourke confirms where Cahill will play next: Cahill signed for the Red Bulls in July 2012 after bringing an end to his eight-year tenure with Everton, the MLS outfit being just the third club of his professional career. Speaking on his time in New York, Cahill was quoted by the official Red Bulls account as speaking ...

Why Jozy Altidore Joining MLS Could Help His Career

Jozy Altidore made the best possible decision for his career when he exited English Premier League side Sunderland on January 16.  There is no doubt the United States international needed to leave Wearside in order to get playing time, but there were some questions about his landing spot.  By moving to Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, Altidore put a ton of pressure on himself to succeed, but that is exactly what the player needs to further his career.  At 25 years old, Altidore still has plenty of time to develop into one of the best forwards produced by the United States. But few are willing to put him in the discussion based on his time at Sunderland and his spotty form at the international level of late.  With the guarantee of first-team action in front of him in 2015, Altidore is expected to take the league he once played in by storm.  In three seasons with the New York Red Bulls, Altidore scored 15 goals in 37 appearances, which is a respectable number for a young player coming through the ranks at a club.  In his return to North America, Altidore is expected to score close to 15 goals to be considered a success with ...