US national team star and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard weighed in on his former league in a Bleacher Report article Friday, saying he thinks whoever comes out of the Western Conference Championship of the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T, will win the title.
Howard picked the New England Revolution to maintain their goal advantage against the New York Red Bulls and win the Eastern Conference Championship (3 pm ET; NBCSN, get tickets here). And while Howard didn’t offer up his pick in the West, he feels that either the Seattle Sounders or LA Galaxy, who hold a one-goal advantage heading into the second leg Sunday (6 pm ET; ESPN, get tickets here), will beat the Revs in the MLS Cup title game.
“Seattle at home are rock solid, and the Galaxy are going to have it all to do to get through,” Howard said. “Time will tell if that one goal means anything, but if I was Seattle, I'd think the ball is in their court.”
Howard, who played for the MetroStars, now the Red Bulls, from 1998 to 2003 to start his career, said his old team is going to have to take the game to the red-hot Revolution.
“With two away goals against them, New York will have to open up, which could leave them open at the back,” Howard said. “We see that in the Champions League all the time because the away team has to go for it because the away goals are weighted.
“I'd go for New England [to beat New York], but the Western team will win the trophy.”
Howard also offered his thoughts on the growth of MLS, saying he believes the league should increase the number of Designated Players allowed on a team from three to five, using the example of Manchester City investing in big-name talent in their Premier League revival.
“Manchester City brought in quality players to win the Premier League title," Howard said. "Manchester City bought 15 of those players [DP-quality players] for their squad, while MLS clubs are only allowed three. From an influential standpoint on the game, you need more quality players. It sounds simplistic, but the number of Designated Player positions needs to rise."
