Major League Soccer had its best season in 2012, and there is no doubt 2013 will be even bigger and better! The talent continues to get better, and the attendance is improving as well. That being said, the league will be forced to move on without the presence of David Beckham for the first time since his debut in 2007. 

Becks wasn't always the best player on the pitch, and he had plenty of ups-and-downs during his MLS career. Nonetheless, he finished with two consecutive MLS Cup titles with the Los Angeles Galaxy. And more importantly, he was the face of Major League Soccer. Beckham's contributions to the league have been well-documented, and the league wouldn't be where it is today without his presence.

David Beckham has moved on to the next stage of his illustrious career, and it's time for someone else to step up and become the face of Major League Soccer. There are plenty of talented players, but who will be the face of the league moving forward? I've pondered this question for a while, and the answer isn't as clear as I thought it would be. 

As of right now, no single player is the face of MLS. Whether or not that will change in the near future remains to be seen, and it's quite possible that "David Beckham" type of impact player hasn't arrived yet. For now, I've put together a short list of players who currently have what it takes to be the face of Major League Soccer and help elevate it to the next level.

Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy

Landon Donovan has been one of the best in Major League Soccer since 2001, and it's quite possible he is the best player the league has ever seen. He has 124 goals and 108 assists, and he has been a part of five MLS Cup champion teams. In addition, he's one of the best players to ever suit up for the United States national team.

Donovan has been very loyal to MLS even though he has had plenty of offers to play in Europe over the years. His career accomplishments are incredible, and he would surely be the face of MLS if there wasn't so much uncertainty about his future. 

Landon Donovan has stated a number of times he is burned out and needs some time off. Bruce Arena, head coach of the Galaxy, said his star player will return to the team at some point in 2013. Nobody seems to know when that will be, and there is nothing set in stone.

Donovan will turn 31 next month, and it's realistic he could play at a high level for a few more years if he chooses. That's the big question though, and only he knows the answer. If he plays a significant amount in 2013, he will continue to be one of the largest draws for the league. Only time will tell what his future holds, and I'm hoping we see him sooner rather than later.

Thierry Henry- New York Red Bulls

Thierry Henry is a legend in the sport of soccer, and his career has been nothing short of outstanding. He was a great player for several years in the Premier League, scoring 174 goals in eight seasons for Arsenal. He has also spent time at Monaco, Juventus, and Barcelona. Henry made his MLS debut in the summer of 2010, and he has been one of the league's best players since his arrival. He scored 14 goals in 2011 and followed that with 15 more last season.

Now that David Beckham is gone, Thierry Henry is probably the most recognizable name in MLS on a worldwide level. It's pretty clear he can still be a dominant player in the United States, but how many more years will he play? Henry is definitely one of the major draws in the league and will be as long as he decides to suit up and play. He has been great the past two years, and he has a legitimate chance to challenge for the Golden Boot award in 2013.

Robbie Keane- Los Angeles Galaxy

Robbie Keane may not be as recognizable as David Beckham or Thierry Henry, but he has been a very good soccer player for a number of years. He is most well known for his time with Tottenham in the Premier League, and he is also a major contributor for the Repiblic of Ireland national team.

Keane arrived in Major League Soccer in 2011, and he has already been a part of two MLS Cup Champion teams. His first full season in the league was 2012, and he made a huge impact by scoring 16 goals in just 28 games.

Robbie Keane is 32 years old, and he still has several impact seasons left. Many fans wondered how long he would stay in MLS, and he put those questions to rest when he signed a multi-year contract extension last month to stay with the Galaxy.

That's great news for Los Angeles, and it's great news for Major League Soccer. Keane has a great chance to compete for the Golden Boot in 2013 and beyond, and he will definitely be one of the faces of the league moving forward.

Chris Wondolowski - San Jose Earthquakes

Chris Wondolowski has scored 61 goals the last three seasons for the San Jose Earthquakes, including two Golden Boot awards. His 27 goals in 2012 tied the all-time MLS record for most goals in a single season.

After accomplishing all that and being named the league's Most Valuable Player last year, he still doesn't seem to get the recognition he deserves. Wondo's name isn't usually mentioned when talking about the league's most notable players, but it's time for that to change. 

Chris Wondolowski just turned 30 last month, and he is definitely in the prime of his career right now. He has been on an absolute tear the past three seasons, and that probably won't end anytime soon. He may not ever duplicate his amazing 27-goal season, but he will probably be a major contender to win another Golden Boot Award in 2013 and beyond.

Wondo is currently in the process of signing a new contract which will make him a Designated Player, and it's absolutely the right decision for the San Jose Earthquakes to make. It's well deserved, and it's nice to see one of the league's great players locked up for years to come. He is definitely one of the faces of MLS, and I hope more people realize that sooner rather than later.

Graham Zusi- Sporting Kansas City

Graham Zusi may not be a household name to some casual MLS fans, but loyal fans of the league know he's one of the best right now. His Major League Soccer career began in 2009, but he started making an impact during the 2011 season.

Zusi is one of the flashiest players in the league, and he has become one of the best passers as well. He led the league with 15 assists in 2012, and he has started to get some attention on the worldwide level as well. He trained with West Ham United last month, and he has started to get some attention at the national team level as well.

Graham Zusi may end up leaving Major League Soccer for the brighter lights in Europe, but for now, he is one of the best players in the United States. At 26 years old, he has a very bright future ahead of him at the club and national levels.

If he stays in MLS, Zusi is going to be one of the faces of the league for years to come. I'm not saying he is the next Landon Donovan, but he has the talent to be a dominant player. He will be a household name very soon.

Final Thoughts

Major League Soccer still isn't even close to being on the same level as some of the European leagues, but the state of the league continues to improve every season.  There are some very passionate and knowledgeable fan bases, and that's part of what makes the league special.

I've come to accept the fact that some of the best players will leave every transfer window, and that's why it's difficult to pinpoint one specific face of the league. The overall talent level in MLS continues to improve, however, and it's not necessarily a problem to have more than one face of the league. The list of players above is definitely a great core to start with.

I'm interested in your opinion as well. Do you see one player as the current face of MLS, and if so, who is that player? If not, which players would you list as faces of the league? Would you list anyone else that I left off? Feel free to comment below with your opinion, and thanks for reading!

Follow Me on Twitter: @CThrash13

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MLS First Kick 2013 is less than three weeks away, and teams are training hard to get ready for the new season.  The offseason has been very busy for a number of teams with the coaching changes, SuperDraft, free agent signings, trades, etc.  

FC Dallas was pretty quiet until a couple weeks ago when Brek Shea was transferred to Stoke City.  The team didn't waste any time using the allocation money, signing forwards Eric Hassli and long time fan favorite Kenny Cooper last week.  The two will pair with Blas Perez up top, and both will surely help the Hoops this season.  The signings got me thinking about the best forward groups in the MLS heading into the new season, and here is my list of the top five.

Just Missed the Cut: New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo.

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Even when you're the reigning Major League Soccer MVP, you never forget the bad calls—no matter how long ago they happened.

San Jose Earthquakes and United States national team striker Chris Wondolowski, who was named MLS MVP after a stellar 2012 season, spoke with B/R world football lead writer Michael Cummings by phone on Monday.

As he continued preparations ahead of the 2013 regular season, which begins March 3 for San Jose, Wondolowski spoke about personal accolades (and there were many in 2012), the playoffs, his chances with the national team, turning 30 and one very bad call he remembers from his high school days.

So what happened to make Wondo remember the incident more than a decade later? Read on to find out.

Bleacher Report: 2012 was such a successful year for you. What, if anything, disappointed you about the season?

Chris Wondolowski: How we ended the year. You always want to raise the MLS Cup championship and you play to win championships. All the personal accolades are very special and I take great honor in them, but to be honest I’d trade them all in for a championship. So that’s the big goal for this year.

BR: I thought you might say something about that. Of course, you have experience on championship teams (Wondolowski was a member of the Houston Dynamo's championship teams in 2006 and 2007). Do you think the ingredients are there with this San Jose team to win a championship?

CW: Absolutely, I definitely think that it has the ingredients to win a championship. One of the most important things that we bring as a club is that we work together and everyone does their jobs to the fullest. If we have everyone buying in 100 percent and doing their job to the fullest and just trying to get better, we also have enough talent I believe that we can break teams down as well. So I think it’s a great recipe for a championship and for a solid year in general.

BR: Last season San Jose won the Supporters’ Shield but went out of the playoffs early. What did you learn from that experience, and how do you take that and move onto this season?

CW: You have to continue to play your game but at the same time be smart. Throughout the whole season we did a great job, and that’s one of the goals we have to remember. It’s such a long season and there are so many ups and downs that you have to really make sure that your valleys aren’t too low and that you stay even keel.

But once you get into the playoffs, it’s a whole other atmosphere, and I think that we learned a lot from it. We learned our lesson and we’re a lot better for it, and hopefully we can improve it this playoffs.

We got out of our game a little bit for about 20 minutes (against the Los Angeles Galaxy), and we got punished and three goals were scored on us. And that’s a big hole to climb out of.

BR: You just had a big birthday (Wondolowski turned 30 on Jan. 28). Are you approaching anything differently now that you’re in your 30s?

CW: Yeah, I think to be honest it really is just a mindset, and I think I’m taking it more serious, especially off the field. I know, especially in younger years I could eat anything and do anything and felt like I’d be OK. But now I’m going to In and Out or Burger King and I feel it the next day.

I think now I’m just taking more responsibility both on and off the field, and I think that’s one of the things that’s going to help me.

BR: You were part of the U.S. camp in January and played against Canada in Houston. How would you rate the camp, and what did you get out of the experience?

CW: It was a good camp for all the guys. We had a very tough three-and-a-half weeks. There’s so much that goes into it.

For me personally, it was a great opportunity for 25-odd days to show what you have in front of one of the best coaching staffs in the world. So it’s a great learning tool, and I was also able to learn from some of the great strikers in there, Eddie Johnson and Will Bruin and Juan Agudelo.

They all bring a little something different to the table, and to have those guys day-in and day-out and to see what they can do, I think I was able to pick up some things and incorporate them into my game as well.

BR: Unfortunately, that first goal didn't come against Canada. Do you think it's just a case of scoring that first goal with the national team? And do you think you'll have another opportunity in World Cup qualifying for the Gold Cup?

CW: Being a striker is a funny thing because sometimes they come in clumps, and sometimes you can’t buy a bucket. I have a lot of confidence in my ability, but one is for sure, that I’ll have to do well this year if I want another chance.

I know that I need to continue to work hard and grow as a player. So if I do that, I feel that I can get another opportunity, and when I do, I do need to make the most of it, whether it is the Gold Cup or a World Cup qualifier or a friendly. I’m just looking for another opportunity and hoping to make the most of it.

BR: As far as I can tell, you've never received a red card in MLS. Is that true? Have you had a red card at any level?

CW: That is true. I have received a red card in a reserve game when I was at Houston, and then high school was the last one. So I’ve had two red cards in my playing career.

BR: What happened in the high school game?

CW: To be honest, it was a bit of a bad call. It was a ball in the air, and I went to go trap it, and the guy kinda put his head down and went for a diving header. And so I think the ref thought I kicked the guy in the face even though I really did just trap it. So I got a straight red for that.

BR: Back to MLS. In 2010 and 2011, you scored 18 and 16 goals. Then 2012 was another level entirely. What was the difference?

CW: Definitely just the team play. We had so many weapons, and having (Steven) Lenhart and (Alan) Gordon up top, who are just great targets and great forwards but take so much attention away from me that it allows me to be in the free role and pick and choose my spots where I can be dangerous.

Also having so many great guys wide on the wings, we were able to get service in the box—Marvin Chavez and Shea Salinas and Justin Morrow and Steven Beitashour had great years as well. That whole combination helped me as a player.

BR: You were marked by John Terry in the MLS All-Star game last year, and he said it was a nightmare marking you. How does playing against someone the stature of John Terry help you? And did it mean anything to you that he said what he did?

Absolutely, he’s one of the greatest to play that position and has a wonderful pedigree winning the Champions League and EPL titles and being capped numerous times by the England national team. So to have someone of his stature tell you that your movement is making a nightmare for him, it’s one of the best compliments you can receive. And just the way he went about it—it wasn’t forced. He kinda stopped me off to say it.

BR: You played in San Jose early in your career. Now you're back, having success and you just turned 30. Is this your last stop, or is there something else in store for you?

CW: I’m very open to anything, and I absolutely love San Jose. It’s basically home for me, and so I get to see a lot of friends and family. But I am very open to anything that comes my way, especially if it happens to be in Europe or something of that nature.

I am always open ears and like to keep my options open. But at the same time I’m a pretty happy guy right now, and so it would have to be a pretty nice deal for anything to work out.

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Whether it’s a big-name like Kaka or an up-and-comer like Alexander Lopez, MLS has increasingly become the desired destination for soccer stars.

In the last five years, those stars have come in different shapes and sizes.

For MLS cynics, there is the aging star looking to spend the twilight of his career in the United States. Somehow a handful of these transfers—Thierry Henry and David Beckham, for example—have defined MLS as a “retirement home.”

For MLS purists, there is the hidden gem that develops in MLS and prospers in a top-tier league overseas. Just ask Sporting Kansas City/United States Men’s National Team fans the kind of player Wigan Athletic received in Roger Espinoza.

Then there are the modest stars that are unheralded by the media, overlooked by the casual fan and essential for a championship run. The Houston Dynamo can attest to that after signing Oscar Boniek Garcia last year.

All three construct the spectrum of MLS stars.

Rather than fill an entire article with outlandish scenarios based on no credible traction, all three categories will be covered.

There is no room for the “Cristiano Ronaldo to MLS in 2018” slide here.

So from the big-name to the up-and-comer—and everything in between—here are the five current stars bound to play in MLS and their potential destination.

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As we prepare for MLS to open its 18th season, it's always fun to guess who's going to do what in the new year.

Who's going to win the MLS Cup? The Supporter's Shield? MVP?

The reigning MVP, Chris Wondolowski, set a league record with 27 goals in 2012. Of San Jose's 72 tallies, Wondolowski accounted for 37.5 percent of them. If you include his seven assists, he was responsible for 47.2 percent of the Earthquakes' offense.

Will Wondolowski come back and break his own record in 2013? No, I don't think he will. Will he be atop the league's top scorer again? That depends.

Whether or not Wondolowski tops the scoring charts again will depend on how much time he misses for national team duty. As it currently stands, I have him missing three games. I can see him missing home matches against Seattle (Mar. 23) and Vancouver (Sept. 14) and a road match against Colorado (June 15).

This, obviously, assumes a couple things. One, that Wondolowski will get called in for all of the matches in the Hex. Two, that he won't get called in for the Gold Cup.

Why do I think Wondolowski won't get called in for the Gold Cup, you ask? Simply put, I think Jurgen Klinsmann will use the Gold Cup to get some younger players experience playing in a competitive environment. Could it backfire? Sure, but considering that this Gold Cup qualifies for absolutely nothing except for CONCACAF's wallet, there's no real point to it.

Now, back to why I think Wondolowski can, and will, top the scoring charts again in 2013. Another reason is the last time Wondolowski didn't finish at least tied for first in goals in MLS was 2009.

In 2010, Wondolowski topped the league with 18 goals. He tied with Dwayne DeRosario in 2011 with 16 strikes. We all know what he did last year.

San Jose will continue to rely on Wondolowski for the bulk of their offense. Most of their offseason transactions concerned the defense, with only forward Mike Fucito (via trade) and midfielder Dan Delgado (via SuperDraft) being added to the squad.

Until MLS defenses prove they can stop him, look for Wondolowski to top the scoring charts.

You think you have another candidate to lead the league in goals in 2013? Put your nominations in the comments.

Follow @FntnCitySoccer

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The MLS offseason encompassed a broad spectrum of transactions. Some masterful. Others perplexing—and that was just the New York Red Bulls.

The Desert Friendlies have already provided MLS fans with a much needed fix of MLS soccer. The 2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic and Desert Diamond Cup will make available the year’s first competitive environment. 

But not a single meaningful match has been played, and the MLS Cup may have already been decided.

A championship team may have already been built.

Front offices across the league have done their due diligence throughout the offseason to tweak—or in New York’s case, completely overhaul—its 2012 roster in hopes of capturing the MLS Cup. 

Unfortunately, some teams will find out that not all moves are created equal. 

Not every move pans out. Not every move is heralded by the media.

But every move conducted this offseason has either helped or thwarted teams from hoisting the 2013 MLS Cup.

So from best to worst, here are the five moves that will help determine the 2013 season.

The New York Red Bulls Part Ways With Rafa Márquez

The Red Bulls were the “kings” of the offseason, so expect multiple appearances on this list.

New York dominated the headlines this offseason with a string of trades and signings that saw Jámison Olave, Fabián Espíndola and Juninho Pernambucano join the team.

In total, the Red Bulls conducted 11 moves since its heartbreaking playoff loss last November—none more important than the decision to jettison the toxic entity known as Rafa Márquez.

By now, Rafa’s failed tenure in New York is well documented. 

Nasty shots at teammates, post-game antics and a slew of puzzling injuries kept Márquez in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. 

Márquez displayed some flashes of brilliance in his three-year tenure with the Red Bulls, but not nearly enough to warrant the $4.6 million salary he demanded.

The former Mexican captain left behind a repelling legacy highlighted by the two most scatterbrained implosions in MLS history. 

He is the first player in MLS history to end back-to-back playoffs with red cards. 

Márquez’s departure is addition by subtraction for New York. 

Not only will the Red Bulls no longer fear the possibility of staving off elimination from a man down, but a much coveted third designated player slot is at Gérard Houllier and Andy Roxburgh’s disposal.

Whether New York decides to utilize it in the upcoming transfer window remains to be seen.

Houston Dynamo Trade For Omar Cummings

Outside of consecutive losses in the MLS Cup, the Houston Dynamo have not gotten much wrong since 2006.

Houston does not boast the garishness of the Los Angeles Galaxy or New York Red Bulls and neither do its transactions. 

That sentiment held true this offseason with the acquisition of Omar Cummings from the Colorado Rapids for Nathan Sturgis and allocation money.

Calen Carr’s injury in the MLS Cup (torn ACL) left the Dynamo with a glaring need at the forward position, and that is exactly what it acquired in Cummings.

Cummings—a proven commodity in MLS—scored 39 goals with 27 assists in his career with the Rapids. His most successful season came in 2010 when he led Colorado with 14 goals and propelled the franchise to its only MLS Cup.

But Cummings has seen a dip in form since then. 

He only managed to score nine goals with eight assists in his last two seasons with the Rapids and has failed to show the consistent production that led to a start with the 2011 MLS All-Star team against Manchester United.

That said, a change of scenery may be enough to bring back that championship form.  

For Cummings, there can be no better place than Houston—a franchise that has played in four of the last seven MLS Cups.

The Mike Petke and Ryan Nelsen Hirings

It’s an old cliché in sports: Copy a successful blueprint. 

The New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC became the latest installment with the decisions to name Mike Petke and Ryan Nelsen the head coach of their respective teams.

After watching Ben Olsen’s success with DC United last season, New York and Toronto decided to hire two of his former teammates in hopes of capturing the same success.

Olsen, Petke and Nelsen won an MLS Cup as members of DC United in 2004. All three will now have the opportunity to capture another as head coach.

For the Red Bulls, Petke’s hire was one of necessity rather than innovation. 

After Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa was denied a work permit, New York was forced to turn to a man that had spent the previous two seasons with the Red Bulls as an assistant. 

New York now has a man that is not only familiar with MLS, but with the very team he is in charge of leading as well.

Toronto raised a lot of eyebrows when it decided to name Nelsen as its head coach. 

Not because he wasn’t qualified—though, Nelsen does not boast any experience or badges as a head coach—but because he was still under contract for Queens Park Rangers.

Fortunately for Toronto, Nelsen has since departed QPR and joined Toronto in time for the preseason.

Like New York, Toronto has a man that is familiar with the subtle intricacies that separate champions from failures in MLS.

It remains to be seen whether the hires mirror the success of Olsen in DC. But given MLS' history to crown head coaches familiar with the league, it’s a step in the right direction for two trophy-less franchises.

Chivas USA’s New—and Old—Identity

Chivas USA decided to double down on its “Hispanic heritage” model this past offseason. It’s a decision that has handicapped an already incompetent franchise.

Chivas filled its offseason with a fire sale of non-Hispanic talent.

After being drafted No. 5 overall in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Casey Townsend was traded from Chivas to DC United for a 2014 second-round pick—much to the surprise of DC United General Manager Dave Kasper:

“We were quite surprised that Casey was available for a trade and we pounced on it.”

Midfielder Nick LaBrocca (traded to the Colorado Rapids) and Danny Califf (selected by Toronto in MLS Re-Entry Draft) were also let go in order to mirror the team’s new identity.

There were even rumors of the team actively shopping goalkeeper Dan Kennedy (per Ives Galarcep).

Chivas carried its poor decision making into the MLS SuperDraft. 

In the days leading up to the draft, Chivas tipped its hand, announcing it intended on selecting Carlos Alvarez with the No. 2 overall pick.

Drafting Alvarez was not a mistake for Chivas. But as Ives Galarcep points out, the manner in which it did typified an offseason of ineptitude: 

Might seem crazy for Goats to grab Alvarez instead of Lopez but there is actually a good argument for it. That said, Goats mishandling draft

There appeared to be other options on the table:

If Chivas USA were smart, they'd trade No 2 pick & move down, pocket some allocation. Don't see anybody else taking Alvarez in top 6-7 picks

Chivas USA was founded on the principle of proudly representing the Hispanic community while playing championship soccer.

It is yet to do either. And given its risible offseason, it will fail to do so again.

New York Red Bulls Trade Kenny Cooper

For Red Bulls fans, the trading of Kenny Cooper seemed inevitable. 

After being eliminated in last year’s playoffs, an inconsolable Cooper displayed his devotion for the Red Bulls. Apparently, the feeling was not mutual.

New York sent its leading goal scorer back to his former team FC Dallas for a reported $200,000 in allocation money. 

According to Andy Roxburgh, the trade was strictly for salary cap purposes:

“Due to salary cap restrictions and in order to balance our squad now and in the future, we have very reluctantly traded Kenny. The allocation money combined with the salary cap relief that we obtained will be vital for us to strengthen the squad in specific areas.” 

But Brian Lewis of the New York Post translates the end game for Cooper’s trade: A third designated player.

If the Red Bulls had kept Cooper, he would've hit them for $375k on the salary cap, and precluded any other moves, including a 3rd DP #RBNY

The two biggest criticisms of Cooper’s game were that he under utilized his size and was unable to create his own scoring opportunities (per Dave Martinez of empireofsoccer.com).

Creativity or not, Cooper was still able to lead the Red Bulls with 18 goals last season. Getting rid of that level of production is a mistake—no matter what the cost.

Trading away your leading goal-scorer is a mistake.

New York will now have to rely on the new pairing of Thierry Henry and Espíndola to be as productive as Henry and Cooper. 

The vitriol from the fanbase will be bountiful should they fail to do so.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

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Real Salt Lake, also known as RSL, has been one of the best teams in Major League Soccer over the past four years.  They've been one of the top teams in the Western Conference and have been one of the clubs that you can constantly count on seeing in the MLS playoffs. 

In an offseason full of monstrous roster moves, RSL is looking to regain the same spirit that they found in 2009; the year they won the MLS cup.

Which moves will pay off for RSL?  Let's see which transactions will have the biggest impact in the 2013 season. 

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Sporting Kansas City and forward Kei Kamara have agreed to a loan deal with Norwich City of the Barclays English Premier League through May 6.

The club's leading scorer for the last three seasons, Kamara put up 11 goals and added eight assists in the 2012 campaign.

Among his many honors, Kamara was named an All-Star last season. He was also an MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year finalist for both of the last two years for his community work in Kansas City, as well as in his native Sierra Leone.

In a statement released by the team, manager Peter Vermes said:

Our club continues to get a lot of attention throughout Europe. As we do with all of our decisions, we always think about the long-term impact on our organization, as well as the short-term. Ultimately, this opportunity allows us to re-invest back into the club and solidify our core group of players.

We understand that players are going to be sought after and that players aspire to fulfill personal and professional ambitions. We want to continue to help them achieve those goals and this helps us accomplish that objective, along with extending his contract. We have a very strong roster and this enables another player to step up.

At least one of the players Vermes is probably expecting to step up, at least during the loan period, will be 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year C.J. Sapong.

Sapong didn't suffer from a sophomore slump, scoring more goals in 2012 (nine) than he did in his rookie campaign in more minutes, though in fewer games.

Teal Bunbury will also hope to be part of the mix, once he returns from the season-ending ACL tear he suffered on August 26 against New York.

Despite the injury, Bunbury was included on MLS's list of the top 24 players under age 24, appearing at number 20. He's scored 19 goals for Sporting KC in his career, including five before the injury last season.

Other options include 2012 first-round pick Dom Dwyer and Soony Saad, former Michigan Wolverine. Designated player Claudio Bieler will also see significant first-team minutes.

Fan Favorite

Kamara was, and still is, the textbook definition of a "fan favorite." As an example, a couple of offseasons ago, after a large snowstorm, a snowball fight was organized via Twitter and Kamara was one of the players involved.

Afterward, he took everybody out to lunch. There were about 20 people involved.

In an open "note" to fans on the team website, club CEO Robb Heineman (worth a follow on Twitter, by the way) showed that he gets how hard this will be on fans. He wrote:

I’m not going to say to you that “this is a business,” and you have to get used to it. I know it’s not a business to you, it’s very personal. It is to us as well. We get to know these young men very well, and do what we can to create a partnership that encourages them to connect with the community and hopefully stick around for the long-term. We don’t like it when they go. I understand the impact this has on your kids as well—to the nth degree. My seven- and six-year-olds, Katherine and Charlie, don’t ask me, “Why did they let him go?” They ask me, “Why did YOU let him go?” so I get it…..

As part of the loan agreement, Kamara signed a contract extension. If he returns, he will no longer be a free agent at the end of the 2013 season.

Heineman also said in his note about the move:

If Kei returns in May, his contract is extended and we will work in earnest to sign him to a deal that keeps him with the club through the end of his career. If we hadn’t have done this, Kei would have left at the end of the year as a “free” player, similar to Roger Espinoza this past year.  So the risk we take is allowing him to go for 10 games this year, in hopes of getting him for years to come.

The loan fee and, if it happens, the transfer fee will be used to reinvest in the team as allocation money, per MLS rules.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I hope Kamara plays well, but still returns in May. Here's to hoping Kamara's love of the life he built here—after not wanting to be traded here initially—will be the deciding factor.

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Few MLS rookies are able to make an immediate impact. That won’t be the case for No. 1 overall pick Andrew Farrell and a few others taken in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.

History has shown that the draft is not an exact science. Not in MLS—or in any other sport for that matter. 

For every Austin Berry, there is an Ike Opara. 

Teams cannot be sure whether they are drafting a potential Rookie of the Year or future trade bait for a low-end draft pick.

But lackluster careers cannot only be attributed to a player’s inability to live up to potential.

It takes the perfect combination of skill and opportunity for a successful rookie campaign—something not every home-grown signing or player taken in this year’s SuperDraft will be presented with this season.

That lack of opportunity and playing time has led to an agreement between MLS and USL Pro to integrate the MLS Reserve League teams into the USL Pro Schedule. 

As MLS executive vice president of player relations and competition Todd Durbin points out, it presents MLS teams with another opportunity properly develop its talent. 

“This partnership represents the first step in a long-term alliance between MLS and USL Pro to connect domestic professional soccer through a system that benefits player development, competition and the overall business of our sport.”

MLS has taken the proper steps to limit the number of “Ike Opara’s” in the future. But a loan spell to USL Pro is not in the cards for all rookies this season.

Here are three MLS rookies with the perfect combination of skill and opportunity that will make an impact in 2013.

Andrew Farrell

The New England Revolution believes it has their man in Andrew Farrell—so much so that a trade with Toronto FC was completed to ensure he was the first No. 1 overall pick in franchise history.

Farrell—the consensus No. 1 pick ahead of this year’s draft—is ready to demonstrate that he is worthy of such hype.

When you’re labeled as the “best talent” in the MLS combine in years, that’s a myriad of hype to live up to. 

Andrew Farrell goes 1 to New England. One top MLS coach told me "He's the best talent in the MLS Combine in years." He's legit.

Farrell had a stellar three-year career at Louisville. 

The 2012 Big East Defensive Player of the Year started all 44 games his previous two seasons. 

His versatility allowed him to seamlessly transition from the midfield to defense as a junior. 

Farrell finished his collegiate career with six goals and six assists, while anchoring a Louisville defense that only allowed 1.04 goals per game in 2012.

After finishing with 35 points and a goal differential of minus five, the Revolution can use that natural balance of attack and defense.

As Ives Galarcep of soccerbyives.net points out, Farrell fits an immediate need at right back. But his future with New England will be in the central defense. 

“He [Farrell] can step in and start at right back, which would allow Kevin Alston to stay at left back. Eventually though I see him settling in as a centerback down the road.”

His impact for the Revolution, however, will not be reflected in the standings. 

New England has not made the playoffs since 2009 and have finished ninth in the East the previous two seasons. 

A playoff berth in a loaded Eastern Conference is not likely in 2013, but Farrell’s promising play will allow Revolution supporters to look optimistically in the future.

For a once promising franchise, hope is the first step toward a return to greatness.

Mikey Lopez

Roger Espinoza’s transfer this offseason to Wigan Athletic left Sporting Kansas City with a glaring hole in the midfield. A trade with the Revolution to acquire creative midfielder Benny Feilhaber immediately plugged that hole.

But Feilhaber does not perfectly fill the void left by Espinoza’s departure.

The two were not cut from the same cloth. 

Espinoza exhibited a defensive, box-to-box dedication in his time with Sporting—something Feilhaber has not been praised for thus far in his career.

Enter North Carolina midfielder Mikey Lopez.

After slipping down the board on draft day, Lopez was available for Sporting with the 14th overall pick. 

Lopez spent two seasons at North Carolina. The 2011 ACC Freshman of the Year finished his collegiate career with five goals and five assists and has been a regular call-up for the US U-20 national team.

According to his scouting report on MLSsoccer.com, he fits the Espinoza mold:

“Has all the tools. He's very creative ... Extremely hard working, great lungs, can run all day. He's a pitbull ... Box-to-box guy and he's good at it ... Major quality is his ability to close down and he's very much a defensive-minded player ... Puts out fires.”

With ambitious expectations for an already established team, there will be ample opportunity for Lopez to make an impact for Sporting in 2013.

The MLS Cup is not the only trophy in the team’s sights. It will look to defend its second US Open Cup trophy and attempt to capture the first CONCACAF Champions League trophy in MLS history.

Slipping down a draft board on draft day isn’t the worst thing. Not if you fall to the perfect place (Just ask Aaron Rodgers).

Lopez has the skill that made him worthy of a first-round pick. But unlike other rookies taken in the SuperDraft, he is presented with the perfect opportunity to make a winning impact this season.

Ryan Finley

The Columbus Crew failed to clinch a playoff berth by one point in 2012. One draw and three losses against playoff teams the final two months of the season capped a disappointing year.

Finishing was a problem for Columbus in 2012 and that’s exactly what the Crew found in Ryan Finley:

A finisher.

Crew select Ryan Finley, quality forward, top finisher. Should help right away. Hopefully does better 4 Crew than their last ND 1st-rd pick

Finley’s laundry list of collegiate accolades include an ACC Offensive Player of the Year, a NSCAA All-America First Team and an All-Big East First Team.

He ranked third nationally in goals per game (0.95) in 2012 and his 21 goals were the fifth-most in Notre Dame history.

His scouting report on MLSSoccer.com reads like that of any other world-class striker: 

“Effective forward. He can score and showed it at Notre Dame ... Similar to LA's Robbie Keane with his runs ... Powerful, quick runner. Definitely an MLS player ... He's driven with his runs and gets himself in good spots ... On the field he can run hard at you with the ball, he's two-footed and scores with both feet ... A great finisher and has a nose for the goal.”

His acquisitions brings added depth to what is an already dangerous front line bolstered by Jairo Arrieta and Federico Higuain.

If there is one weakness scouts have attributed to Finley it’s that, “He needs players that can play him in behind.”

He had that at Notre Dame and with Higuain’s world-class creativity, he will have that in Columbus.

His contributions up top will be enough to see the Crew back in the playoffs this season.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

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It’s been a busy week for Major League Soccer with plenty of trades, transfers and rumors to spice up the offseason.

The players involved include some of MLS’ biggest names in Landon Donovan, Freddy Adu, Brek Shea and Juan Agudelo as well as one of world football's biggest names in Frank Lampard.

Here’s a breakdown of the all the latest news.

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