5 Dark-Horse Contenders to Watch During the 2016 MLS Season

The 2016 MLS season begins on March 6, headlined by the MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers hosting the Columbus Crew in a rematch of December's final. Both sides will surely contend for the championship. However, MLS' parity usually produces a couple of surprise playoff teams. We will analyze five dark-horse contenders in this slideshow. It consists of teams that missed the 2015 playoffs and underwent significant change to the front office, coaching staff or squad during the offseason. Here are five clubs that can make a run in the postseason.Begin Slideshow

How Does the Chinese Super League’s Spending Spree Affect MLS?

The Chinese Super League's blockbuster transfer market has crept its way into Major League Soccer. Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins is closing in on a move to Shanghai Shenhua for around $3 million, per ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle.If the deal is confirmed, China's spending splurge will become a worry for MLS.Both MLS and the CSL are considered to be up-and-coming leagues. Yet it is the latter that is rapidly growing into a top competition, despite starting in 2004.Firstly, the CSL is snapping up players in their prime. Alex Teixeira was a Liverpool and Chelsea target, per Marcus Christenson and Thiago Rabelo of the Guardian. The Brazilian ended up signing with Jiangsu Suning and will earn around €10 million annually, per the Sport Bible.Meanwhile, the highest-paid MLS player is Kaka at about $7.1 million, per the MLS Players Union.The structures of both leagues are telling based on these figures alone. MLS' salary cap prevents the teams from signing more quality players. This is not the case in China.Designated players, general and targeted allocation money allow for some flexibility. This has allowed Toronto FC to spend more in annual wages than any other MLS club at $22.7 million, per ESPN FC.However, it's still an inadequate ...

Is Bruce Arena Loading Up for One Last MLS Cup Run with the LA Galaxy?

The Los Angeles Galaxy have undergone the most intriguing offseason in Major League Soccer. At first, the idea of the Galaxy signing experienced players like Ashley Cole indicated that the club was falling behind, per Sean Steffen of SB Nation. Now, it appears as if there's an actual plan. Head coach Bruce Arena is trying to win the MLS Cup and other trophies, in what could be his last season with the Galaxy. Arena signed a multi-year extension before the 2014 season. Due to MLS rules, the terms were not disclosed, but at 64 years old, the American tactician may be tempted by another challenge in the near future. Arena admitted to ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle that he'd like to stay in the game, but he didn't know whether it would be with LA or another team. Whatever he decides to do after the upcoming season, Arena's ambition for 2016 was made clear this winter. The Galaxy sold defender Omar Gonzalez and midfielder Juninho to Pachuca and Club Tijuana, respectively. LA then bolstered the roster by acquiring defenders Cole and Jelle Van Damme, along with midfielder Nigel De Jong for a combined $1.3 million in salary. To put that number into context, LA's three marquee signings ...

MLS: Top 10 Games to Watch During the 2016 Season

The 2016 MLS schedule has been revealed, and while most of the games are worth watching, the best 10 will be highlighted here.  These games will mainly be graded on the rivalry between the two teams. In addition, if previous matches were entertaining, or the two teams have a history like the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy, then that fixture will be bumped up higher. The defending champion Portland Timbers and Supporters' Shield-winning New York Red Bulls are featured prominently. However, 10 other teams are also included. Here are the 10 matches to watch during the 2016 MLS season.Begin Slideshow

MLS: How Can the League Improve Its TV Ratings?

The 2015 MLS Cup final drew poor television ratings in both the United States and Canada. It's not surprising given the size of the markets involved but it's still a major issue for the league. However, Major League Soccer can attract more viewers next season and beyond. It just has to go about it in a more creative and effective manner. When MLS first began in 1996, a few marquee players were signed, including Mexico international Jorge Campos and legendary Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama. The impact of Campos joining MLS was so massive that he asked for a Ferrari in order to return, per Sports Illustrated. MLS has tried to appeal to the Latino demographic recently. Giovani dos Santos was signed by the Galaxy, and his international teammate Carlos Vela is linked with a move to the USA, according to the official league website. It's no coincidence that MLS' best month ratings-wise coincided with Dos Santos' arrival in LA. Orlando City SC star Kaka is another player who has boosted TV viewership internationally. MLS announced a four-year deal with Brazilian broadcaster Globosat in March. Gary Stevenson, MLS Business Ventures president and managing director, said as much to the official league website: This new agreement with Globosat is further illustration of ...

2015 MLS End-of-Season Awards

As the 2015 MLS campaign comes to a close, it's time to hand out the end-of-season awards. There are 15 different categories from Best Player to Biggest Disappointment. Some awards had several candidates, so each one is accompanied by an honorable mention. Here are the MLS end-of-season awards for the 2015 campaign.Begin Slideshow

10 Players to Watch in the 2015 MLS Cup Final

The 2015 MLS Cup final between the Columbus Crew and Portland Timbers is a great matchup for neutral fans. Both teams have incredibly quick attackers which should lead to plenty of excitement. Both of these sides also have strong squads, and there are a few players that are worth the price of admission. Five players from each club will be highlighted in this slideshow. Whether it's someone who is dealing with an injury or a standout striker like Kei Kamara, several names will be recognized. Here are 10 players to watch in Sunday's MLS Cup final. Begin Slideshow

MLS: Why the Current Playoff System Has to Change

The MLS playoffs resumed last Sunday after a two-week break and, due to the international window, the postseason was lost in the shuffle. Abruptly pausing during the playoffs is probably why the buzz faded, and it's one of many reasons why the current MLS playoff system has to change. The conference finals were exciting, but both FC Dallas and the New York Red Bulls looked very rusty. They were the two best teams in the regular season, yet they both have to overcome two-goal deficits in the return legs. Dallas and New York each played 34 regular-season games to claim the top seeds in their conferences. Their rewards consist of starting a two-legged series on the road with an away-goals tiebreaker. Using this rule is absurd in a seeded tournament. The home team has to be more careful because goals are almost twice as valuable for the road side. Even some European clubs want to abolish this method in the UEFA Champions League, where there's no numerical seeding in the knockout stage. It was introduced to encourage the away teams to attack, but it's just made the matches more cautious and tedious. MLS began enforcing the rule in 2014. An average of 2.76 goals per game were scored ...

MLS Playoff Power Rankings: Columbus Crew and FC Dallas Surge into Top 3

And then there were four. The New York Red Bulls, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas and Portland Timbers advanced to the MLS Conference finals. The former two will square off in the East, with the latter two battling in the West. Columbus and Dallas overcame deficits from the first leg before progressing. As a result, both sides have catapulted into the top three of the power rankings this week. As always, the eight conference semifinalists will be graded based on the following criteria: Quality of opponent and performance. Recent form beyond the previous match.  Key absences. Here are the latest MLS playoff power rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS Power Rankings: Seattle Sounders and Montreal Impact Surge

The MLS playoffs are underway and there's already been some incredible matches. The Portland Timbers' win after an 11-round penalty shootout against Sporting Kansas City is the first moment that stands out. Juan Agudelo's bicycle kick will also live with MLS fans for many years. Now that the playoff field has been trimmed down, it's time to rank all 12 teams that made the postseason. Every side will be graded on the following criteria: Quality of opponent and performance. Recent form beyond the previous match.  Key absences. Here are the latest MLS power rankings.Begin Slideshow