Here's how MLS Western Conference should shake out

Going back to see last year's MLS Western Conference preview brought an interesting discovery. A year ago we predicted Real Salt Lake to win the conference.

That prediction, of course, was wrong. The Galaxy won the West, with RSL earning the last playoff spot. RSL didn't seem to care about its regular-season finish after winning MLS Cup, though.

Here are the Western Conference teams in order of predicted finish:

1. Los Angeles GalaxyIt will be a good season if: Landon Donovan comes back from Everton happy and healthy. A similar return from South Africa also would be nice. The Galaxy needs America's best soccer player.It will be a bad season if: Young defenders Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza suffer a sophomore slump.Bottom line: Bruce Arena is still coaching the Galaxy, and in Bruce (and his defense) we trust.2. Seattle Sounders FCIt will be a good season if: At age 40 Kasey Keller remains a goalkeeper of the year candidate. The Sounders gave up only 29 goals in 30 games in 2009.It will be a bad season if: Freddie (Ljungberg) and Fredy (Montero) don't produce again.Bottom line: The way Seattle fans have taken to their second-year team, the Sounders can't possibly let down.3. Real Salt LakeIt will be a good season if: It can finish this season like it did last season. RSL showed a midseason drought is no big deal.It will be a bad season if: Speedster Robbie Findley can't match the 12 goals he scored last year.Bottom line: Coach Jason Kreis seemed to push all the right buttons last fall. Soccer fans want to see if he can do it again.4. Houston DynamoIt will be a good season if: Luis Angel Landin can live up to Designated Player expectations. He didn't last year after his midseason loan.It will be a bad season if: Geoff Cameron can't put together another MLS First XI season.Bottom line: This might be a team passing its prime.5. Chivas USAIt will be a good season if: Midfielder Sacha Kljestan can play well enough to spark transfer talk again.It will be a bad season if: Chivas scores a conference-worst 34 goals again like it did in 2009.Bottom line: It will be interesting to see how Chivas makes the transition from Preki to new coach Martin Vasquez.6. San Jose EarthquakesIt will be a good season if: The Earthquakes don't give up a league-high 50 goals like they did last year.It will be a bad season if: Nobody can make a name for himself out of an ordinary-looking roster.Bottom line: Frank Yallop is a championship coach, but he might be running out of time in California.7. FC DallasIt will be a good season if: Newly acquired goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, 35, can be a savior. It will be a bad season if: Jeff Cunningham, 33, can't repeat last year's 17-goal season.Bottom line: It should be a good season for the Fire to win the Brimstone Cup.8. Colorado RapidsIt will be a good season if: Forward Conor Casey plays up to his new contract.It will be a bad season if: The Rapids can't find a way to win on the road. They were 8-2-5 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park last year, 2-8-5 elsewhere.Bottom line: Some things never change, and the Rapids never seem to win.Next week: The Eastern Conference.oschwarz@dailyherald.com