And so Major League Soccer 3.0 is upon us. If the arrival of David Beckham marked the second phase of soccer’s development in the United States, then the new season of North America’s top-flight signals the third.
Orlando City and New York City FC will play their inaugural seasons in 2015, with both sides bringing their own brand of star-power to the league. Landon Donovan might have hung up his boots at the end of last season, but the defending champions LA Galaxy have the arrival of Steven Gerrard to look forward to in the summer.
MLS’s 20 teams have been busy in the off-season strengthening their rosters with trades, draft picks and Designated Player signings. So here are six new new arrivals set to light up the 2015 MLS season.
Jozy Altidore
The United States international became something of a figure of fun in his time in the Premier League with Sunderland, scoring just once in 31 appearances for the Black Cats - enduring an injury-hit World Cup as well. But Altidore remains one of the most potent strikers American soccer has.
It’s worth noting that Altidore netted 39 times in just 67 games for AZ Alkmaar before his £6 million move to England. However, Altidore is a striker that needs service to thrive, and under Gus Poyet - and before that Paulo Di Canio - he just didn’t have that at Sunderland.
Things should be very different for the former New York Red Bulls forward at Toronto FC, with midfield creators Michael Bradley and new signing Sebastian Giovinco providing the firepower around the edge of the box
At Sunderland Altidore averaged just 0.6 shots on goal per game this season, and 0.9 last season. The 25-year-old will need to be much more productive in front of goal if he is to prove he is still the best number nine the USA has to offer.
Sebastian Giovinco
While the arrival of Altidore at BMO Field stirred more attention and hype in the off-season, it is the signing of the Italian international that could prove the most significant move made by Toronto FC ahead of the 2015 season.
Since breaking through as a youngster at Parma, Giovinco’s creative statistics have taken a dip. For instance, the playmaker contributed a remarkable 11 assists in 36 appearances during the 2011/12 season, but only managed one assist in 17 games for Juventus last term.
Giovinco played just 186 minutes over seven games for Juventus this season, as Max Allegri decided to go for other options in attack, but at just 28 this is a player coming into his peak years in the sport. And he’ll do so in MLS.
Kaka
In terms of pure reputation, Orlando City might have made the best signing in MLS history. Kaka is the first Ballon d’Or winner to make the move Stateside and indeed, if the Brazilian can find anything close to his best form he will surely be a player of the season candidate.
The 32-year-old has spent the last few months on loan at Sao Paulo ahead of his first MLS season. But in Brazil Kaka failed to play to the best of his ability, only managing 1.3 key passes per game and averaging 1.4 shots on goal per game as he scored just twice and made one assist from 19 appearances.
However, if Kaka can rediscover the form that saw him record an average of 2.3 shots on goal and 2.2 key passes per game at AC Milan last season, then he could be the spark from which Orlando City’s frontline catches light.
David Villa
The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid forward, along with Kaka, is the league’s marquee signing ahead of the 2015 season, and the undoubted poster boy of the New York City FC project. Much is expected of Villa in MLS.
Indeed, the former Spanish international has hit the ground running with his new team, scoring in NYC FC’s first ever regulation game last month - a friendly win over St Mirren, played at Manchester City’s state-of-the-art training complex.
Having helped Atletico to a historic La Liga title last season with 13 goals in 32 starts, Villa is clearly still a striker capable of making a significant contribution. It’s only last season that the 33-year-old was playing in the Champions League, but he could find himself on the left side rather than up front for NYC FC.
Nevertheless, Villa certainly isn’t one to cross the ball from wide, instead preferring to drive inside and link up with teammates, making an average of just 0.1 crosses per game in last season’s Champions League. In fact, the striker averaged just 13.1 total passes per game for Atletico Madrid last season. One suspects he will be more involved in NYC FC’s overall play under Jason Kreis.
Shaun Maloney
The Chicago Fire might have missed out on the signing of Jermaine Jones last season - with a blind draw sending him to the New England Revolution - but they might now have found a midfielder who suits them even better.
Maloney looked set for a move to Leicester City in the January transfer window, but opted for a switch Stateside when the transfer broke down. In much the same way that Giovinco will supply Altidore at TFC, Maloney will be the pipeline through which Mike Magee, David Accam, Guly do Prado and co.’s chances in front of goal will likely flow this season.
As a pure playmaker Maloney’s statistical currency is key passes and assists, with his most productive campaign for Wigan coming in the 2012/13 season - when he put on eight assists, scoring six times and making an average of 1.8 key passes per game. His figures have eased somewhat since then, but a new challenge could energise the Scot.
Juan Agudelo
Under Jay Heaps the USA international played some of his best football, making the move from the New England Revolution to Stoke City - via FC Utrecht in Netherlands - at the end of the 2013 season. Agudelo’s career has stalled since then.
But now he is back at the Revolution, filling what was something of a problem position up front for New England last term. Agudelo scored seven goals in 16 games over the course of his last season with Heaps, and something about the Revs’ style suits the young striker.
What was most impressive about Agudelo’s last spell in MLS was his clinical cutting edge in front of goal. He averaged just 1.6 shots on goal per game over the course of the 2013 MLS season but finished with seven goals, netting three times from nine games - averaging 2.1 shots per game - at FC Utrecht the season after.
The Revs - who struggled for an effective number nine last season, despite making the MLS Cup final - could do with some of that attacking instinct from Agudelo this season.
Which new signings are you most looking forward to seeing ahead of the MLS' restart? Let us know in the comments below
