Uncertain offseason looms for Major League Soccer

With MLS Cup now in the past, things should die down right? No games to follow, players can rest and recover from those nagging injuries they've played through. That would leave the media and scribes with little to chat about, and in a perfect world, March would come fast for those fans anxious to get behind their team and start another long season.

But there's plenty to talk about between now and then, and this is a pivotal year for U.S. Soccer. The newest club Seattle was a runaway success, and a 16th team is scheduled to join in Philadelphia. Not to mention the World Cup in 2010, and soccer has another chance to make its mark on the sporting landscape across the U.S.

That could all take a back seat if the Collective Bargaining Agreement can't be resolved, resulting in a players' strike. No one wants to see something like that, and for a sport with such a low profile, it's hard to see it being good for either the players or owners to suffer through any kind of work stoppage. To be fair to the players, they have much more to gain -- between low salaries, non-guaranteed contracts, and lack of free agency, there is plenty on the table to fight for. Keep in mind no one will make any money if the stands are empty and no one is playing.

Here's a look at a few other story lines that will permeate during the winter months:

*New coach carousel. Yesterday, Denis Hamlett became the latest coaching victim. With the announcement of Preki to Toronto FC taking place last week, this leaves D.C. United, Chivas USA, New York Red Bulls and now Chicago coach-less. Faith in the existing technical staffs of these clubs must be profound, entrusting the expansion draft in the hands of people who won't oversee some of the on-field actions next season. Regardless, it will be interesting to see the sort of coach hired by each organization -- how much MLS experience they bring, coaching pedigree, etc.

*Philadelphia Union. The newest team has a tough act to follow after a dynamic season for the Sounders. Peter Nowak's roster is going to get a start this afternoon with an announcement of the ten players selected in the expansion draft. There's a long way to go, however, and Nowak will be off to a good start if he has one or two starters after today.

*NASL-USL runaround. While it may be a bit of a stretch to imagine this having any major impact on MLS, there's a chance the league could align itself with either to create a "minor league" model, something much more likely than promotion-relegation that many clamor for. When an ownership group has to dole out $40 million just to join MLS, there's no way they'd ever approve something like prom-rel. But if this situation goes unresolved, and there are two second division leagues out there, will raise an eyebrow or two.

*SuperDraft 2010. The College Cup is in full swing at the moment and while there are a handful of MLS prospects on display, eyes are on significant youth prospects potentially joining MLS. Rumors are swirling around two U-17 players Luis Gil and Jack McInerney signing Generation adidas contracts, and U-20 veteran Dilly Duka and New York Academy prospect has already signed. Where those players go is important, but raising intrigue is watching how those players develop if they do sign in MLS. As the game's prominence grows, the league has to learn how to successfully develop soccer talent in order to translate it to international success.