With First Kick just over a week away, the Guardian's coverage of the 2012 MLS season starts with our team-by-team preview of the Eastern Conference. Who were the winners and losers in the off-season trades? Who will finish where? Will Sporting Kansas City repeat their 2011 regular season triumph, or will Houston Dynamo triumph in their new stadium? All these questions and more will be answered (or at least neatly evaded) below.

Tomorrow we'll do the same for the Western Conference, and on Monday and Tuesday we'll have even more expert coverage when we bring you the views of the fan reps and bloggers who know their teams best.

The Eastern Conference

Overview

The 2011 Eastern Conference was played in an admirable spirit of fraternal cooperation: "After you...", "No, after you...", "Please, I insist...", "I would like to, in a way, but we just lost 3-0 at Rio Tinto so, perhaps better you..." etc. All season it was as if nobody wanted to finish first, as teams took it in turns to politely open the door for their rivals, who would in turn gratefully slam their own foot in it. In the end the beneficiaries of all this self-sabotage were not Sporting Kansas City (who secured home field advantage for the playoffs by winning the regular season), but Houston Dynamo - who tiptoed below the radar, through the wreckage, past Kansas City, and into the MLS Cup Final. Dominic Kinnear seemed to keep his players' minds on the truism "Get into the playoffs and anything can happen." Anything except beating the Western Conference winners, that is...

In 2012, once again, the East is harder to call than the West. Several teams who spent 2011 in flux should be better this year (Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, possibly Toronto FC); Kansas City remain strong and Houston will enjoy the boost of a new home; New York have mostly addressed last season's problems and should add "grass" to "paper" on the list of things they are good on; if Philadelphia can get over the loss of LeToux they'll be thereabouts too. Only New England and the MLS debutantes of Montréal Impact are likely to struggle, as things stand. I will say that Kansas City will finish first. Or fifth..

It's also hard to work out how the unbalanced schedule (added to allow for the addition of Montréal and in part to encourage local rivalries) will affect things. Looking through the schedule for the end of the season makes for dizzying permutations as conference rivals will face off repeatedly. At time of writing it's sad to see the Supporter's Shield lose some significance, with it no longer being based on results from an even playing field for all teams - but come the end of the season the many significant conference rival games and an exciting play-off race will be some consolation.

This is all to say, that if your favorite team is competing in the Eastern Conference this year, wherever they are predicted to finish below, take the verdict with a large pinch of salt and relax in the knowledge that your side will finish as runaway Conference winners - your side and everyone else's...

2011:

Regular Season Winners: Sporting Kansas City

Play off teams: Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia

Conference Champions: Houston Dynamo

2012 Team by Team Previews

(NB in trade summaries below, unless otherwise stated, players "In" came from Superdraft or Supplemental Draft; Players "Out" were waived or did not have their option picked up)

Chicago Fire

2011: 6th (missed playoffs)

In: G Jay Nolly (trade from Vancouver); F Kheli Dube (Re-Entry Stage 2/New England); M Rafael Robayo (free/Millonarios); F Federico Puppo (free/Danubio); D Austin Berry; F Lucky Mkosana; D Hunter Jumper; M Tony Walls

Out: F Christian Nazarit; F Gabriel Ferrari; G Alec Dufty; M Baggio Husidic (Re-Entry Stage 2/Colorado); G Jon Conway (Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy); F Diego Chaves, (free/Palestino); D Yamith Cuesta (loan expired); D Josip Mikulic

Opening Game:

(A) Montréal Impact, Saturday, March 17, 2pm ET, Olympic Stadium

Full Season Schedule

Another year of rebuilding beckoned for Chicago Fire last year, after they lost Designated Players Nery Castillo and Freddy Ljungberg, along with retiring local legend Brian McBride. After one win in ten Coach Carlos De Los Cobos swiftly followed them out the door and technical director Frank Klopas stepped up as interim coach to try to stabilize an under-performing Fire team. This he did, though for long stretches of the season that stability read as predictability - other than their Open Cup run the Fire's main competition seemed to be a contest with New York Red Bulls as to who could draw most. Unlike the Red Bulls, the Fire's problem wasn't conceding goals but scoring them. The Chicago side features a talented midfield and nobody in the league created more chances than them last year, but translating that into goals is what counts (over to you, Federico Puppo...).

Yet the most eye-catching off-season addition has been another midfielder, Rafael Robayo, who looks like the kind of all-action, all-tackling, all-badge kissing live wire who other teams' fans will hate (and wish played for them). Klopas will be hoping he animates Chicago's compact counter-attacking game which is based on the team driving forward as a single, well-drilled, 40-yard deep unit (which Klopas shouts at tenderly from the sidelines). There were definitely signs at the end of last season that the team were coming together after nearly two years of transitioning - the Fire finished very strongly (just ask shell-shocked DC United fans...) and were just a win shy of a play-off place. Carry that form forward and they'll do well this year.

Guardian prediction: 4th

Columbus Crew

2011: 4th (lost in Wild Card play off to Colorado Rapids)

In: D Carlos Mendes (Re-Entry Stage 1/New York); G Matt Lampson (Home Grown); M Milovan Mirosevic (free/Universidad Católica); F Olman Vargas (free/Club Herediano); F Ben Speas (Home Grown); F Ethan Finlay; D Aubrey Perry; M Kevan George; M Kirk Urso; D Jamie Finch; F Darren Amoo; F Andrew Bulls

Out:D Josh Gardner (expansion draft); M Santiago Prim; D Dejan Rusmir; F Andrés Mendoza; M Kevin Burns; F Jeff Cunningham; M Robbie Rogers (free/Leeds United)

Opening Game:

(A) Colorado Rapids, Saturday, March 10, 6pm, Dick's Sporting Goods Park

Full Season Schedule

The Crew generally find a way to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season, but like Chicago have been a team in transition for a little too long for comfort at this point - and were bundled out of the play offs by an injury ravaged Colorado Rapids side last year. Basically, the Crew were too crude a force going forward.

That said, their strike team was poised to make history when they played Real Salt Lake in June: veteran forward Jeff Cunningham only needed a goal to draw level with Jaime Moreno on the MLS all-time goal scorers list, and when the Crew won a 75th minute penalty, Cunningham dutifully stepped up ...only to find fellow striker, and one man charm offensive, Andrés Mendoza, standing over the ball. Attempts by his own team mates to point out that Cunningham was the designated penalty taker were ignored - Mendoza took, and scored, the penalty and Columbus went on to win. But the incident typified his contribution to the Crew's stuttering season - Mendoza was their leading scorer, but his presence was ultimately more corrosive than constructive. He left the club in the off season - as did Cunningham (who eventually got the go-ahead goal for the scoring record...with a penalty).

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This year, new signing Olman Vargas will carry the frontline hopes for the team (it may be a season early for homegrown prodigy Ben Speas...). Of the new faces beside him, veteran defender Carlos Mendes might be what Ron Atkinson would call "lightning slow", but is strong and reads the game well and was a good value squad pick-up to add to the defensive rotation. Really though, the Crew need a spark - a lot of eyes are on Milovan Mirosevic as a playmaker who might provide it. It may take a season to work.

Guardian Prediction: 6th

DC United

2011: Finished 7th (missed playoffs)

In: D Robbie Russell (trade from RSL); M Nick DeLeon; M Lance Rozeboom; D Charles Rodriguez; M Matt Kuhn; F Maicon Santos (free); M Danny Cruz (trade from Houston); D Emiliano Dudar (free/BSC Young Boys); F Hamdi Salihi (Rapid Vienna); M Marcelo Saragosa (Ravan Baku); GK Andrew Dykstra (free)

Out: M Santino Quaranta (retired); D Marc Burch (Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); M Clyde Simms (Re-Entry Stage 2/New England); M Brandon Barklage; G Steve Cronin; F Joseph Ngwenya; D Jed Zayner; D Devon McTavish (retired); F Blake Brettschneider

Opening Game:

(H) Sporting Kansas City, Saturday, March 10, 7.30pm, RFK Stadium

Full Season Schedule

DC presumably couldn't believe their luck last year when Dwayne De Rosario fell through New York's fingers and landed at RFK Stadium with a point to prove - halfway through a season that was threatening to run away from Ben Olsen's young team. The Canadian promptly turned round and scored the winner against his former employers, before setting off on a scoring run that almost singlehandedly carried DC to the playoffs. The key word is 'almost' - ultimately DC fell short of the postseason and even the heroic efforts of their new talisman and league MVP could not change that. An infamous stoppage time choke against Chicago, and a sound-and-fury, clown car, second half of mutually assured destruction against Portland (think 22 David Beckhams against Greece, without the cathartic goal), did for DC's season.

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Will this season be better? Aside from DeRo, who has just signed a new and improved contract, Najar impressed in flashes last year; veteran RSL defender Robbie Russell will bring experience, if not pace; and a lot of eyes will be on new Designated Player signing Hamdi Salihi, to see if the former Rapid Vienna man can settle straight away and take on his share of the goalscoring burden. Overall though, for all the goodwill that exists for Ben Olsen in the city, the impression remains that his team don't yet have a clear personality and developing that kind of coherence and spirit may mean another year of consolidation. Speaking of consolidation, the team still remains in limbo regarding their long term home, despite being close to a short term extension at RFK stadium (or to give it its usual media designation, "the crumbling RFK stadium"...). DeRo's contract was partly covered by allocation money, suggesting DC's cash-strapped owners were reluctant to pay the additional $350K designated player fee to the league - building a new home may be a way off.

Guardian Prediction: 7th

Houston Dynamo

2011: 2nd (MLS Cup finalists, lost to LA Galaxy)

In: M Nathan Sturgis (trade from Toronto); F Colin Rolfe; M Warren Creavalle; F Brian Ownby; F Karo Okiomah; M Eder Arreola; F Phillip Aseweh; M Daniel Roberts; F/M Macoumba Kandji (trade from Colorado); F Brian Ching (trade from Montreal); GK Erich Marscheider (waiver wire)

Out: M Francisco Navas Cobo; G Evan Newton; F Carlo Costly; D Hunter Freeman (Re-Entry Stage 2/Colorado); F Jason Garey; D Eddie Robinson (retired); M Danny Cruz (trade to D.C.)

Opening Game:

(A) Chivas USA, Sunday, March 11, 7.00pm, Home Depot Center (Galavision)

Full Season Schedule

The last two Eastern Conference regular season standings have been topped by a team in a brand new stadium (2010 New York Red Bulls, 2011 Sporting Kansas City). So by that logic, should we pencil in Houston as conference winners for 2012? Dominic Kinnear's men will enter a new home at BBVA Stadium this season and if the traditional (if it's happened twice in a row in MLS, it's traditional...) bounce from that happens, we should expect a high finish, at the very least. Add to that the fact that Houston were MLS cup finalists in 2011 (and but for a Brad Davis injury in the Eastern Conference decider, who knows how their set pieces might have rained on the David Beckham parade in that final?) and 2012 should look bright.

But there are definite caveats to this. As with Sporting Kansas City last year, Houston's building schedule means they face a seven game road trip to start the season (though as SKC showed, that can turn into an advantage if you're not cut adrift by the time the compensatory runs of home games appear down the stretch) - but just as important has been the unnecessary distraction of the Brian Ching saga. Ching was left unprotected in the expansion draft and promptly snatched up by Montréal Impact. The player, understandably devastated at the prospect of missing a swan song in the new stadium, threatened to retire, before dragging his heels to Montréal. Some tedious brinksmanship later and he was back, welcomed like the prodigal son. (Get some idea of why Ching is fought over here.)

The sentimentality around Ching's return may have been understandable, but it masked the fact that Houston had essentially re-signed a striker they'd left exposed on the assumption another team wouldn't take him. Ching is a year older and amid the distraction of getting him back, Houston haven't really addressed his long term replacement. Yes, they signed Mac Kandji, who is an MLS Cup winner (having wandered into the 2010 Colorado Rapids side towards the end of that season), but he is not exactly someone to bet the brand new house on...

Guardian Prediction: 2nd

Sporting Kansas City

2011: 1st (Eastern conference finalists, lost to Houston Dynamo)

In: D Seth Sinovic (trade from Montreal); M Paulo Nagamura (trade from Chivas USA); M/D Bobby Convey (trade from San Jose); F Dom Dwyer; D Cyprian Hedrik; D Shawn Singh ; M Pablo Punyed; D Stefan Antonijevic; M Kyle Miller; M Michael Thomas; F Jacob Peterson (free/San Jose Earthquakes)

Out: M Davy Arnaud (trade to Montreal); M Jéferson; D Scott Lorenz; M Craig Rocastle; D Seth Sinovic (expansion draft) M Milos Stojcev; F Omar Bravo (Cruz Azul/Mexico); D Shavar Thomas

Opening Game:

(A) D.C. United, Saturday, March 10, 7.30pm, RFK Stadium

Full Season Schedule

A season of two halves for Sporting, who spent the first ten games on a wretched road trip waiting for the cement to dry on their new home at Livestrong Park. When it was finally finished though, the new stadium was a beautiful addition to the MLS landscape and quickly became a fortress for the resurgent SKC. It caught the imagination and fired the pride of the home town fans too. The sight of the Kansas City fans cheering their team on in the play offs was (along with the Portland fans bellowing out the national anthem on their home debut and Seattle's Tifo taunting of the same opponents during their derby) one of those sights that made you want to turn to Euro snob friends and point out that this was happening, with or without their permission or approval. Kansas City had fast forwards, generally played a quick-tempo game, were fun to watch in their attacking 4-3-3, and they were deserving leaders of the Eastern Conference by the end of the season. They fell just short in the conference final against a Houston Dynamo side who managed to limp past the early loss of Brad Davis - but with Bobby Convey traded in from San Jose and slotted in to a more familiar attack minded role, and as long as someone (Dom Dwyer?) steps up to replace Omar Bravo's goals, they'll again be one of the teams to beat in 2012.

Guardian Prediction: 1st

Montréal Impact

2011: N/A This is the club's first year in MLS

In: D Nelson Rivas (free/Inter Milan, Italy); G Evan Bush (NASL Impact); D Sinisa Ubiparipovic (NASL Impact); M Hassoun Camara (NASL Impact); D Jeb Brovsky (expansion draft); D Bobby Burling (expansion draft); D Josh Gardner (expansion draft); M Justin Mapp (expansion draft); M Sanna Nyassi (expansion draft); D James Riley (expansion draft); D Seth Sinovic (expansion draft); M Collen Warner (expansion draft); D Zarek Valentin (expansion draft); F Justin Braun (trade from Chivas USA); M Gerson Mayen (trade from Chivas USA); D Tyson Wahl (trade from Seattle Sounders); M Bryan Arguez (free/Ft. Lauderdale Strikers); M Davy Arnaud (trade from Sporting KC); G Donovan Ricketts (trade from LA); M Ian Westlake (NASL Impact); M Miguel Montaño (free/Seattle); G Greg Sutton (free/New York); M Patrice Bernier (free/Lyngby); M Felipe Martins (free/FC Lugano); D/F Andrew Wenger; M Calum Mallace ; M Evan James; F Aaron Schoenfeld; F Steven Miller; F Carl Haworth; D Geinier García (trade from Vancouver); D Shavar Thomas (free); F Eddie Johnson (allocation); F Mike Fucito (trade from Seattle); M Lamar Neagle (trade from Seattle); F Eduardo Sebrango (free); entire special teams unit of the 1985 Dallas Cowboys, a family pack of Kardashians and the Season Three cast of Survivor (unconfirmed)

Out: D James Riley (trade to Chivas USA); D Seth Sinovic (trade to Sporting KC); F Brian Ching (traded to Houston); F Eddie Johnson (traded to Seattle); M Ian Westlake

Opening Game:

(A) Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, March 10, 6.00pm, BC Place

Full Season Schedule

Montréal Impact certainly know how to make an entrance. At the expansion draft (where new MLS teams get the chance to pick from a list of 'unprotected' players from the other teams), Impact surprised everyone by taking Houston's Brian Ching and then apparently ignoring the Texans' attempts to bring him back. They also made a big deal of announcing Ching as their number one pick, which in a context where a list of players was all that was required, seemed like a dramatic, if not provocative, gesture. It was a risky move for a player on a big salary, who was reluctant to head up North, and ultimately it backfired - Houston should do well this season, so the conditional draft pick Montréal eventually negotiated for Ching may not be worth as much next year as just having selected a more realistic, but less noteworthy option to play right now.

One move Montréal did do well out of was acquiring then immediately trading Eddie Johnson to Seattle, in exchange for Lamar Neagle and Mike Fucito - giving their probable starting line up a much healthier look. Looking at other notable signings, if veteran Davy Arnaud enjoys the kind of career season Jack Jewsbury managed for Portland last season, Montréal will be delighted. Of the younger players, Zarek Valentin will be looking to improve on his false start at Chivas USA and this year's number one SuperDraft pick Andrew Wenger should be ready for an early start. Montréal will do fine and will enjoy the conference and Canadian rivalries, but, look at that "In" list above and you get a sense of the task that faces Jesse Marsch to blend a competitive team.

Guardian Prediction: 9th

New England Revolution

2011: 9th (missed playoffs)

In: D Danleigh Borman (Re-Entry Stage 1/Toronto); F Nate Jaqua (Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); M Clyde Simms (Re-Entry Stage 2/D.C. United); D John Lozano (free/América de Cali); M/F Fernando Cárdenas (free/América de Cali); M Kelyn Rowe; D Tyler Polak; M Rick Smith; M Alec Purdie; D Kevin Garcia; F Mike Roach; F José Moreno (loan/Once Caldas); F Saer Sene (free: Bayern Munich)

Out: F Alan Koger; D Otto Loewy; M Andrew Sousa; F Milton Caraglio; F Monsef Zerka; D Ryan Cochrane; M Franco Coria; M Pat Phelan; F Kheli Dube (Re-Entry Stage 2/Chicago); F Rajko Lekic (free/Lyngby)

Opening Game:

(A) San Jose Earthquakes, Saturday, March 10, 10.30pm, Buck Shaw Stadium

Full Season Schedule

In the next few days we will be publishing our fan/blogger previews of the MLS season. Reading through their questionnaire answers generally raises a wry smile at the universal phenomenon of pre-season partisan optimism: everyone is "stronger this year", everyone is "going to the play-offs, at least" and a cautious prediction is "finishing 3rd"... Everyone except New England that is - their beleaguered fans watched last season through their fingers and their ambitions for this year tend to be on the pessimistic side of realistic. Five wins all season was a desperately sad way for Steve Nicol to take his leave from a side he had taken to four MLS Cup finals in ten years, and where he had also nurtured the careers of several MLS and international stalwarts such as Clint Dempsey, Shalrie Joseph and Taylor Twellman.

Nicol was replaced by Jay Heaps, who'd also flourished under the ex-Liverpool man as a player and New England fan favorite. But the feeling remains that it will take more than a bright and popular young coach to correct the malaise at the Revs. The hardcore fans have spent the last few seasons complaining about the drift and lack of accountability within the organization, and apparent disinterest in changing things from the owners, the Kraft family. Relationships reached a new low last year with arrests and protests in the home section, The Fort. Even supporters of nominal league rivals got in on the "Defend the Fort" campaign at one point, but that moment of solidarity was as good as it got for New England fans in 2011.

The off season signs have been intermittently encouraging: Heaps has brought energy and professionalism and made all the right noises about revitalizing the defense (John Lozano is a good start); captain and midfield general Shalrie Joseph flirted with leaving, but has re-signed on a designated player deal; midfielder Kelyn Rowe, a SuperDraft selection, has carried his eye-catching confidence from the Combine through to his pre-season displays - notably in a 3-2 win over the Galaxy. It doesn't necessarily add up to a big turnaround though - the team may get a lift from Heaps' presence and determination in the short term, but a longer term cultural change might be the real key to progress.

Guardian Prediction: 10th

New York Red Bulls

2011: 5th (lost Western Conference semi-final to LA Galaxy)

In: D Connor Lade (Home Grown); D Jonathan Borrajo (free/Hamarkameratene); D Markus Holgersson (free/Helsingborg); F Kenny Cooper (trade from Portland); G Ryan Meara (SuperDraft); D Mike Volk; M Christian Barreiro; M Nate Polak; G Jeremy Vuolo (free/AC Oulu); D Wilman Conde (rights from Chicago); M Victor Pálsson (free)

Out: G Alex Horwath; D Mychal Jones; D Tyler Lassiter; M Marcos Paullo; M John Rooney; D Teddy Schneider; G Frank Rost (contract expired); D Carlos Mendes (Re-Entry Stage 1/Columbus); D Chris Albright; G Bouna Coundoul; D Tim Ream (transfer/Bolton Wanderers); D Sacir Hot; M Matt Kassel

Opening Game:

(A) FC Dallas, Sunday, March 11, 3.00pm, FC Dallas Stadium (NBC Sports)

Full Season Schedule

2011 began promisingly for the Red Bulls. After a stuttering personal start for Henry, he caught fire and he and surprise cult success Luke Rodgers were scoring goals for fun, aided by the teenage prodigy Juan Agudelo. When they destroyed a demoralized DC United 4-0 at RFK, with the evening capped by a wonderful Agudelo goal straight from an Henry highlight reel, the Red Bulls looked good value for their pre-season favorite's tag:

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But the signs of trouble were already there. Continually swapping between starting goalkeepers Coundoul and Sutton just served to undermine both their confidence, and in front of them the center back combination of Marquez and Ream never quite clicked. The Red Bulls began to leak goals and drop points. Dwayne de Rosario, who had been imported from Toronto in a move consistent with the Red Bulls' current "Win NOW" policy, had barely unpacked when he was moved on again to free up cap space for a replacement goalkeeper. Frank Rost steadied the ship slightly, and by the end of the season the Red Bulls were beginning to win more than they drew, but they never looked quite convincing and were picked off by LA in the play-offs.

As for Agudelo, he peaked with that DC goal, then spent the majority of the season on the bench - where he joined the ranks of underused reserves who spent the season jogging disconsolately between the bench and the home goal (Wayne Rooney's brother, John, may not have played much, but he was definitely the most warmed up man in America by the time the Red Bulls released him). In a Gold Cup season where the squad was stretched, Hans Backe's reluctance to use subs seemed inexplicable, but there were signs in the off-season that some lessons had been learned, as the squad was re-jigged with an eye on serviceable depth. Ream has departed of course, but the new center back combination of Markus Holgersson and Wilman Conde, along with veteran forward Kenny Cooper, should address some of the Red Bulls lack of height at set pieces, and Joel Lindpere's contract extension was treated with the significance of a new signing by the locals.

But with Rost, Coundoul and Sutton all gone, a lot depends on the young goalkeepers Vuolo and Meara. And even more depends on an unnamed American embassy worker in London - Luke Rodgers is stranded there till the start of March, trying to resolve his visa issues. If he's back though, then with the other changes New York should improve - and the run of home games at the end of the season could tilt things their way in the run-in.

Guardian Prediction: 3rd

Philadelphia Union

2011: 3rd (Lost to Houston Dynamo in Eastern Conference semi-finals)

In: F Josué Martínez (transfer, Deportivo Saprissa); M Jimmy McLaughlin (Home Grown); M Gabriel Gómez (Indios/Mexico); D Porfirio López (Dalian Haichang/China); F Chandler Hoffman; M Greg Jordan; D Raymon Gaddis; D Tom Brandt; F Krystian Witkowski; F Antoine Hoppenot; M Brandon Zimmerman; F Lionard Pajoy (Itagüí Ditaires); D Chris Albright (free); GK Chase Harrison (free)

Out: D Juan Diego González; G Thorne Holder; M Justin Mapp (expansion draft); G Chase Harrison; M Stefani Miglioranzi; F Levi Houapeu; M Morgan Langley; M/D Ryan Richter; D Joe Tait; F Veljko Paunovic (etired); G Faryd Mondragón (released); F Sébastien Le Toux (trade to Vancouver); M Kyle Nakazawa (trade to LA); M Nizar Khalfan

Opening Game:

(A) Portland Timbers, Monday, March 12, 9.30pm, JELD-WEN Field (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

Full Season Schedule

There's been plenty of upheaval for Philadelphia in the off-season, prompting General Manager Nick Sakiewicz to write an unprecedented open letter to the supporters to ask them to keep faith with the management moves. The loss of goalkeeping stalwart Faryd Mondragón was expected, but when Sébastien LeToux returned from an unsuccessful trial at Bolton, the Union fans' sighs of relief turned into gasps of disbelief as the crowd favorite was immediately traded to Vancouver (who the Philly fans, by way of consolation, have since nicknamed "Philadelphia West"). LeToux figured prominently in a strong second MLS season for the Union, though the team's early promise settled into what was probably a more realistic final outcome, with a creditable play-off exit.

Most heartening perhaps, was the Fall recovery just as the season was threatening to unravel. An emphatic 3-0 defeat of New England on July 17th was their last win for exactly two months - a period that included the loss of leading goalscorer Carlos Ruiz after just 5 months in Union colors. Ruiz left under a cloud (possibly a dust one caused by repeated diving - if his reputation with his own team's fans was to be believed) and for a while Philadelphia could not buy a win. Yet headline writers itching for a "Curse of the Bimbo" story were thwarted by the return visit of New England. The Revs led 4-1 at half time at PPL Park, before the Union managed to spark a fightback that tied the game and brought the belief back.

There were two goals for LeToux in that game and his predatory hussle will be missed in the Union's counter-attacking game this season. And with Danny Mwanga now off the Generation Adidas list and onto the payroll proper, there's a lot of pressure on the young striker to produce.

Guardian Prediction: 5th

Toronto FC

2011: 8th (missed playoffs)

In: D Jeremy Hall (trade from Dallas); M Reggie Lambe (free/Ipswich Town); M Luis Silva; D Aaron Maund; M Michael Green; D Nick Blake; D Mykel Bates; M Arthur Ivo; M Michael Mazzullo; D Geovanny Caicedo (LDU Quito); D Miguel Aceval (Universidad de Concepción)

Out: D Kyle Davies; M Matt Gold; M Leandre Griffit; F Javier Martina; D Demitrius Omphroy; D Eddy Viator; M Gianluca Zavarise; D Danleigh Borman (Re-Entry Stage 1/New England); M Nathan Sturgis (Trade to Houston) F Mikael Yourassowsky; D Andy Iro (declined extension); F Peri Marosevic (declined extension); M Elbekay Bouchiba

Opening Game:

(A) Seattle Sounders, Saturday, March 17, 10.00pm, CenturyLink Field

Full Season Schedule

Not much to cheer about last year for Toronto - a franchise that has begun to look a little shop-worn after five seasons in the league (during which time the team has never made the play-offs). The mid-season arrival of designated players Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans took a while to make an impact - largely because of new coach Aron Winter's insistence on a fluid 4-3-3 formation that Toronto's players had some trouble mastering. To compensate for this and to provide stability, Frings routinely found himself playing so deep that his impact was negated and the attacking intent of the formation compromised. Toronto struggled to the end of the season.

Winter's insistence on Total Football for Toronto, somewhat recalled his former international team mate Ruud Gullit promising "sexy football" to sceptical Geordies - given the reality of the resources and setting, it suggested denial rather than idealism. 4-3-3 can work in MLS - Kansas City topped the East, often playing a version of this formation (though they had a faster, younger core than Toronto and the calculated risk was generally worth it), but most MLS sides play 4-4-2 because, really, there's not much to choose between most of them and it's the formation that makes the most sense, most of the time.

Winter has the long view in mind though. He caused some controversy when what were really very anodyne remarks, made during the off-season, were seized on as evidence that he wasn't targeting the play-offs in 2012 (MLS sacrilege...) - but in fact he was insisting that he's building a team that can genuinely challenge in 2013 and he's determined to do it methodically, in a three year arc. And there have been successes along the way: a 4-2 victory over their rivals Columbus Crew; a gutsy progression to the quarter finals of the Champions League (their way is now barred by LA Galaxy).

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Most importantly perhaps, the off-season additions of Geovanny Caicedo and Miguel Aceval may shore up the defense enough to let Frings push forward more in Winter's intended style. So hopefully Toronto will give him the full three years to make the team competitive - after all, they indulged Mo Johnston and his infamous and mysterious "5 year plan" for roughly four years longer than most teams would have. This is year 2 for Winter though, so a higher finish might have to wait.

Guardian Prediction: 8th

Western Conference preview

Next week: Supporter group previews