The balance of power in MLS was in the Eastern Conference last season with five teams making it into the post-season.  But while they had the balance of power, none of those five teams were the ones lifting the MLS Cup (or ‘ball’ I should say – it isn’t even close to being any kind of Cup) at the end of it all.  As we head into the 13th season in the league history, it again looks like the balance of power is in the East – but whether one of these teams can lift the MLS Cup come November is once again anyone’s guess.  Here’s my take on the Eastern Conference in no particular order – with some bold/not-so-bold predictions to finish it off.

New England Revolution
Last Season:  14-8-8 – 50pts
MLS Cup Runners-up
Coach:  Steve Nicol (7th season)
Key Losses:  MF Andy Dorman, DF Avery John, FW Pat Noonan, DF James Riley
Additions:  DF/MF Chris Albright, MF Mauricio Castro, FW Kheli Dube, DF Rob Valentin, FW Spencer Wadsworth
My Take: 
Losing the likes of Dorman, Noonan, John & Riley would be enough to cripple most teams – but this is New England.  Coach Steve Nicol has some fantastic depth in his squad and one of the best midfields in the game.  The additions of Dube & Wadsworth give them some youth and added speed in attack alongside Taylor Twellman.  The biggest question is who does Nicol put alongside his 16-goal man?  The early returns say Kenny Mansally or Adam Cristman – either should be a nice complement to an extra-motivated Twellman,  who missed his European shot in the off-season thanks to a league veto of his transfer.  The only problem could be if Nicol’s team gets bitten by the injury bug – or struggles out of the gate.  That’s where the Revolution depth and team unity will be put to the test.

Columbus Crew
Last Season: 9-11-10 – 37pts
Missed MLS Playoffs
Coach:  Sigi Schmid (3rd season in Columbus)
Key Losses:  DF Marcos Gonzalez, MF Ned Grabavoy, FW Andy Herron, FW Kei Kamara, DF Tim Ward
Additions: FW Nico Hernandez, DF Andy Iro, FW George Josten, MF Brian Carroll
My Take:
Yes, I looked at the additions and also said ‘who are these guys?’ as I got set to write this up.  Head coach Sigi Schmid continues to put his own stamp on this Crew team and this will be the make or break season for him.  After a horrible finish last season that saw them out of the playoffs, Schmid needs his acquisitions to come through along with his existing corp.  A lot of other Crew previews I’ve looked at have them finishing not much better than Toronto – but I think the Crew are not going to be that bad.  The main question heading into the pre-season was their defence – but to date, it’s been rock solid and if that carries over into the regular season, this team should be on the winning end of a lot of one-goal games.  I say that because the jury is still out on whether the players around Guillermo Barros Schelotto will be able to get him the ball.  My guess is they will and the Crew will enjoy a resurgence in the East – especially if Eddie Gaven and Robbie Rogers perform to their potential.  This is my dark horse pick.

Toronto FC
Last Season:  6-17-7 – 25pts
Missed MLS Playoffs
Coach:  John Carver (1st season)
Key Losses: MF Ronnie O’Brien, GK Kenny Stamatopoulos, DF Chris Pozniak, DF Marco Reda, GK Srdjan Djekanovic
Additions:  MF Kevin Harmse, DF Julius James, DF Pat Phelan
My Take:
I’ll be honest – I like Mo Johnston.  Unfortunately, I don’t like what Mo Johnston has done with Toronto FC….So far.  By his account, there are numerous irons in various fires so any day now we could hear of a blockbuster signing by TFC – but I’m not betting on it.  It is worrying to many fans and MLS followers that Johnston has done so little with this team in the off-season with so much cap room available ($800,00!!!).  The biggest move he made in the off-season was moving himself upstairs!  Due to the lack of significant additions, Toronto fans are in for another tough season at BMO Field.  This is by far the weakest team in the East and could challenge San Jose for the basement tag over in the West.  Sure there will be bright spots (Julius James - Rookie of the Year) but losing to Charleston in the final game of the pre-season?  That speaks volumes about where this team is headed – ‘Mo’ where fast.

Chicago Fire
Last Season: 10-10-10 – 40pts
Eastern Conference Final
Coach:  Denis Hamlett
Key Losses: Coach Juan Carlos Osorio, GK Matt Pickens, DF Jim Curtin, MF Chris Armas
Additions: DF Brandon Prideaux, FW Thomasz Frankowski, FW Andy Herron
My Take:
I had the good fortune to travel to Chicago twice last season to do sidelines for ‘MLS Saturday’ on FSC and next to Toronto, Chicago has the best fans in MLS.  Too bad their team is not of the same calibre.  Notice how I listed Juan Carlos Osorio among the key losses?  The departure of Osorio to Red Bulls cannot be simply written off – especially since he turned the team around in the 2nd half last term and took them to the Eastern Conference Final where they almost upset New England.  I like Denis Hamlett and he deserves his shot but I don’t think he’s the guy to take them back to the top.  The team hasn’t really improved much over last season from what I can tell yet I see them predicted as 4th & even 3rd place finishers in the East.  I don’t see them even making the playoffs!  Their backline is still too thin and while I admire the skills of Cuauhtemoc Blanco, his legs are going and he may not find it as easy this season as he did last (not that being the most fouled player in MLS is easy!) – and I say that showing the utmost respect for his ability to change a game in an instant.  Chicago could be in the hunt if they stay healthy (and play Chris Rolfe as a striker) – otherwise, it could be another long season for the diehards in Section 8.

DC United
Last Season: 16-7-7 – 55pts
Eliminated in 1st round of MLS Playoffs
Coach: Tom Soehn (2nd season)
Key Losses: DF Bobby Boswell, DF Grege Vanney, MF Brian Carroll, MF Christian Gomez, MF Bryan Arguez
Additions: GK Zach wells, DF Gonzalo Martinez, DF Gonzalo Peralta, MF Marcelo Gallardo, MF Santino Qaranta, FW Franco Neill
My Take:
With all the changes DC United made in the off-season, you’d think they missed the playoffs and not won the Supporter’s Shield.  Then again, getting knocked out in the first round of the post-season kind of leaves a sour taste doesn’t it?  DC are back to do it all again this year – and they should succeed where they fell short in ’07.  This team is built to win titles and I see them as the class of the East.  Martinez and Peralta add some stability at the one weakness last term – defence – and Gallardo instantly improves one of the best attacking midfields this side of the Atlantic.  The team have the depth to be able to survive the league, Champions Cup & Superliga and they also have the mentality to change their playoff fortunes.  Luciano Emilio is not expected to hit 20-goals for a 2nd season running – but I wouldn’t be so sure about that – especially if he stays healthy.  It’s a good year to be a DC United fan with plenty of wins on the horizon.

Kansas City Wizards
Last Season: 11-12-7 – 40pts
Lost in Conference Championship
Coach: Curt Onalfo (2nd season)
Key Losses: FW Eddie Johnson, DF Jose Burciaga Jr, DF Nick Garcia
Additions: MF Chance Myers, FW Claudio Lopez, FW Ivan Trujillo
My Take:
The loss of Eddie Johnson had many wondering what Kansas City would do to score goals this season.  Enter Trujillo and Lopez – two players who combined should help better the 45-goals KC scored last season.  Johnson was great and all but he went missing after the all-star break.  If Lopez can stay healthy, he should be able to produce a little more consistently than Johnson.  Scott Sealy will also help with this off the bench.  The question mark for KC is their defence.  While the trading of Burciaga was largely seen as addition by subtraction, the club may miss Garcia – moreso if Myers struggles .  But Harrington and Conrad provide that stabilising presence and Tyson Wahl could be a nice addition in his 3rd year.  I don’t see many weaknesses on the Kansas City side and wholly expect them to challenge for a top three spot in the east.

New York Red Bulls
Last Season: 12-11-7 - 43pts
Lost in 1st round of playoffs
Coach: Juan Carlos Osorio
Key Losses: MF Dema Kovalenko, MF Santino Qaranta, FW Francis Doe
Additions: Coach Juan Carlos Osorio, GK Zach Thornton, FW Oscar Echeverry
My Take:
In the opening month of last season, New York was looking like a Championship calibre team.  Then it all came undone in spectacular fashion resulting in a splintered team easily dispatched in the 1st round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.  The always-surly Bruce Arena is gone (that’s Claudio Reyna you hear cheering) and new boss Juan Carlos Osorio is ready to take this team where it couldn’t go in ’07.  Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore are set to lead the way once again and could top 30-goals if Altidore stays healthy.  But it’s all downhill from there for New York.  The pre-season injuries to Dane Richards and Hunter Freeman hurt the team and it looks as if Osorio’s skills will be tested immediately.  The one area the Bulls needed to perhaps do something was in net (Thornton isn’t capable of starting on a regular basis) – but Osorio seems content to give Jon Conway the rope and see if he hangs himself with it.  Some are predicting a rebound for Kevin Goldthwaite at the back but I just don’t see it.  Osorio will still likely do some tinkering with this team as they head to mid-season – he’ll need to if they want to avoid another 1st round flame out.  That’s all I see from New York as it sits right now.

My Predicted Finish:
1st DC United
2nd Kansas City
3rd New England
4th New York
5th Columbus
6th Chicago 
7th Toronto FC

Thanks for reading – feel free to submit your comments below!  I’ll post a Western Conference Preview Thursday night.