With the 2014 MLS Season getting underway this weekend we asked our staff of writers here at Total-MLS to predict who they thought would win the major trophies and awards this season. 17 of our writers weighed in. Below are the results. We will look back at these at the end of the season and see a lot that were wrong but the ones that get mocked the most will probably end up being right.
MLS Cup Champion
New York Red Bulls (7 votes)
Also receiving votes: Portland Timbers (3), LA Galaxy (2), Seattle Sounders (2), Sporting KC (1), Toronto FC (1), Columbus Crew (1)
Supporters’ Shield
Portland Timbers (6 votes)
Also receiving votes: Sporting KC (5), Seattle Sounders (3), New York Red Bulls (2), Real Salt Lake (1)
US Open Cup Champion
Portland Timbers (4 votes)
Also receiving votes: Sporting KC (3), New England Revolution (2), Real Salt Lake (2), FC Dallas (1), Houston Dynamo (1), Philadelphia Union (1), Chicago Fire (1), Chivas USA (1)
MLS MVP
Robbie Keane (4 votes)
Also receiving votes: Diego Valeri (3), Michael Bradley (2), Thierry Henry (1), Obafemi Martins (1), Darlington Nagbe (1), Graham Zusi (1), Tim Cahill (1), Omar Gonzalez (1), Federico Higuain (1)
Coach of the Year
Ryan Nelsen (7 votes)
Also receiving votes: Caleb Porter (5), Jay Heaps (2), Sigi Schmid (1), Mike Petke (1), Wilmer Cabrera (1)
Comeback Player of the Year
Steve Zakuani (5 votes)
Also receiving votes: Teal Bunbury (3), Clint Dempsey (2), Heath Pearce (1), Dwayne De Rosario (1), Robbie Rogers (1), Maurice Edu (1), Omar Salgado (1)
Defender of the Year
Omar Gonzalez (5 votes)
Also receiving votes: Matt Besler (4), Jose Goncalves (3), Amobi Okugo (1), Pa Madou Kah (1), Doneil Henry (1), DeAndre Yedlin (1), Jamison Olave (1)
Goalkeeper of the Year
Donovan Ricketts (4 votes)
Also receiving votes: Nick Rimando (3), Tally Hall (3), Jaime Penedo (2), Julio Cesar (2), Eric Kronberg (1), Clint Irwin (1), Dan Kennedy (1)
Golden Boot
Robbie Keane (6 votes)
Also receiving votes: Jermain Defoe (3), Mike Magee (1), Federico Higuain (1), Obafemi Martins (1), Diego Fagundez (1), Chris Wondolowski (1), Marco Di Vaio (1), Eddie Johnson (1), Thierry Henry (1)
Newcomer of the Year
Jermain Defoe (9 votes)
Also receiving votes: Michael Bradley (3), Benji Joya (1), Samuel (1), Gilberto (1), Armando (1), Andres Escobar (1)
Rookie of the Year
Carlos Alvarez, Andre Blake (5 votes)
Also receiving votes: Patrick Mullins (3), Steve Neumann (2), Harry Shipp (2), Steve Birnbaum (1), Eric Miller (1), Christian Dean (1), Thomas McNamara (1)
(image courtesy of newyorkredbulls.com)
