Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. UNION MAKE A BIG HIRE
The Philadelphia Union made a major announcement on Monday, as the club unveiled Earnie Stewart as the club's first sporting director. Stewart, currently director of football for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, will take on the role as of January 1.
2. OLD-SCHOOL PLAYOFF RIVALRY
The New England Revolution and D.C. United have been meeting in the playoffs since 1997, and they will do so again Wednesday night in the Knockout Round (7:30 pm ET, UniMás in US and in English via SAP; TSN, RDS in Canada). As the Revolution seek a second straight Eastern Conference championship, their MVP might not be who you expect.
3. AS IF DROGBA WASN'T ENOUGH
Having beaten Toronto FC in the final game of the regular season, will the Montreal Impact carry a psychological advantage when the two teams meet again this Thursday in the Knockout Round of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs (7 pm ET, UniMás in the US and in English via SAP; TSN, RDS in Canada)?
4. DON’T JUDGE TFC JUST YET
For Toronto FC, this next step of the season marks uncharted waters for the original Canadian MLS side, but while that in itself may qualify as a successful season, is it right to reserve judgement until their playoff journey reaches a conclusion?
5. HOW DO THE TIMBERS COMPARE?
The Portland Timbers ended up finishing third in the Western Conference, which earned them a home Knockout Round game against Sporting Kansas City this Thursday (10 pm ET, UniMás in the US and in English via SAP; TSN in Canada). But how do the teams from the Pacific Northwest measure up against their opponents?
6. FEILHABER READY FOR MORE
Benny Feilhaber was quick to show the influence he can have on a game following his second-half introduction against the LA Galaxy on Sunday and, having delivered the game-winning assist in that game, the midfielder is now turning his attention to doing the same in the playoffs.
7. REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
Despite their season ending on a low note, New York City FC see plenty of reason for optimism looking ahead to the future. Whether or not that future involves Jason Kreis is still the subject of much speculation, but the NYCFC head coach has dismissed the talk as just part of the job.
8. RED BULLS READY TO GO
The New York Red Bulls, on the other hand, are preparing for the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs as Supporters’ Shield winners, with head coach Jesse Marsch delivering this powerful speech to his players after the game. The players certainly seem ready, with captain Dax McCarty discussing what he feels it takes to be successful in the postseason.
9. THE FUTURE OF THE FIRE
What does the future hold for the Chicago Fire? Well, the best person to ask might be the club's new general manager, Nelson Rodriguez, who lays out his vision for how he plans to put the club, which he refers to as “one of the three great clubs in MLS history,” back on track. Will Mike Magee be part of those plans? The former MVP certainly hopes so.
10. WHITECAPS MAY HAVE TO IMPROVISE
The Vancouver Whitecaps signed off from the regular season with a morale-boosting win, but with injuries still leaving the team a bit light, will they be forced to improvise when it comes time for their first playoff encounter next weekend?
11. ORLANDO LANDS ANOTHER SUPERSTAR
The Orlando Pride have unveiled their first players for their inaugural 2016 NWSL season, with superstar Alex Morgan among the first three players revealed, joining up with former USWNT coach Tom Sermanni.
12. VELA FOR THE RAPIDS?
While Carlos Vela was busy helping Real Sociedad out of trouble over the weekend, the Mexican international was recently linked to an MLS move, with a report from ESPN suggesting that the Colorado Rapids could be first in line for a chance to sign the forward.
13. BRADLEY DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM VILLA
It seems there’s barely a managerial vacancy that Bob Bradley isn’t being linked with these days, but with the Aston Villa job once again up for grabs, the former US national team head coach has moved to dismiss those particular rumors.
14. THE LEGO GALAXY
The LA Galaxy may have a few things to sort out before their midweek playoff game against the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field (Wednesday, 10 pm ET, UniMás in the US and in English via SAP; TSN, RDS in Canada), but as the club starts the ‘race to seis,’ they’ve recreated their previous MLS Cup victories in Lego form.
15. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A REF
What’s it like to be a referee in MLS? This behind-the-scenes video tells the story, featuring some exclusive access to the men in the middle.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
Armchair Analyst: Lot’s wife, #DecisionDay and more from Week 34
Instant Replay: The costliest red card of #DecisionDay
What MLS fans are really thinking ahead of the playoffs: A Rachel Bonnetta Special Report
