One of the longtime explanations for the Seattle Sounders’ repeated inability to advance to the MLS Cup final has been the strength of the competition. The West has been the power conference in MLS over the past decade-plus, producing 9 of 11 champions.
But this year seems a bit different. Every team — even treble-contending FC Dallas — has some potentially fatal flaws. In other words, the field is ripe for an upstart team. Anyone know one?
A quick look at the West:
6. Real Salt Lake
After a blazing start, they cooled off and eventually fell apart.