St. Louis, Missouri is well-known as a baseball town. Despite the popularity of the NFL in the United States and the growing appeal of live hockey, neither the NFL’s Rams nor the NHL’s Blues have been able to match the overwhelming popularity of MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals. With the Cardinals 11 World Series championships, 19 National League Pennants, and a history dating back to 1882, the baseball town reputation is well-deserved. However, there is another sport with rich ties to the city known as the “Gateway to the West.”

Starting with the formation of the Saint Louis Soccer League in 1907 to the dominance of Saint Louis University’s 10 NCAA championships from 1959-1974 to the fact that no US World Cup team has been without a player born in St. Louis, including five players from the miraculous win over England in 1950, it is easy to see why St. Louis has long been considered the epicenter of American soccer.

With the rise of other soccer hotbeds across the country and the lack of a professional club in St. Louis, that reputation was beginning to fade. Simply being the city that produced Brian McBride, Taylor Twellman, Tim Ream and numerous other stars for MLS and the US Men’s National Team was not enough to bring the attention back from the likes of Seattle, Portland, or Kansas City. St. Louis needed something to re-assert the city’s place on the soccer map. A deep pocket investment to relocate or build an expansion MLS club in the city was never going to work. That isn’t what this city wants because that isn’t what this city respects.

From the college level programs to the Developmental League club St Louis Lions (supported by Scottish football giants Celtic FC no less) to longstanding youth leagues, the history of St. Louis soccer is one steeped in the tradition of grass roots growth. For St. Louis, building something is better than buying something.

On May 1st 2014 the biggest step in the rebirth of this great soccer city took place with the announced expansion of the USL Pro to St. Louis in the form of Saint Louis FC.

Set to take the pitch in spring of 2015, Saint Louis will play their home games at the historic St. Louis Soccer Park in nearby Fenton Missouri. Building up from the USL Pro, Saint Louis FC embodies the history and tradition of the city as well as embraces the bright future of beautiful game in the USA.

Billboards have already been erected reminding the city that 2015 is almost here and buzz for the team has already started to spread. A large part of that buzz being generated is the local supports group, St. Louligans. The St Louligans have been supporting all forms of soccer in St Louis since 2010 and have been instrumental in reminding fans how much fun soccer is and can be.

Reaching out to and forming a partnership with the local supporters group was a wise move by Saint Louis FC and really goes a long way in building the foundation necessary for long term success. Another sign that Saint Louis FC understands what it takes to succeed in the city can be found in the teams crest itself which was voted on by the fans.

The crest which features a fleur-de-lis in front of green and blue stripes surrounded by the team name and the date 1764, includes several nods to the city’s history. The fleur-de-lis and the year 1764 denote the year the city was founded and the city’s French heritage. The alternating blue and green stripes are meant to represent the clubs values, Unity-Humility-Passion-Respect-Tradition.

Saint Louis FC has done everything right so far. They have formed a club connected to the city, founded on tradition, and one that will grow with the city and fans. St. Louis has a history of developing top level American soccer talent, now they have a club that can develop, grass roots style, into a top club for the future.

The schedule has not been released yet for the 2015 USL Pro season but when it is, circle the date of Saint Louis FC’s home debut because it marks the return of an American classic, St. Louis soccer.

Perhaps the biggest break out star for the USA coming out of the 2014 World Cup was Jermaine Jones. The German-American midfielder played exceptionally well in Brazil and overnight became one of the more popular soccer stars in America. Jones capitalized on his World Cup performance and new found popularity by signing a multi-million dollar contract with the New England Revolution of MLS. Now a bonafide star in MLS and a highly recognized face of the US Men’s National team, is Jermaine Jones on the verge of being phased out of the US squad before the 2018 World Cup? I think after October’s friendly with Honduras in Baca Raton Florida, the answer might very well be “yes”.

Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann started Jones, normally a midfielder, at right center back for the contest and Jones handled the transition remarkably well. The intended hope of making the switch is to open up more opportunities for the younger midfielders, such as Mix Diskerud, while also shoring up the somewhat unstable backline with a veteran presence. By all accounts the move was a success. Diskerud was more assertive on the ball in the offensive third while also being more engaged through the midfield and Jones displayed an excellent awareness for the position.

The problem that I see with the move is that Jones will be 36 by the time the World Cup comes to Russia in 2018 and may already be a long shot to make the squad. The New England Revolution depend on Jones in the midfield, making a switch to the backline at the club level incredibly unlikely. Klinsmann has shown a pattern of selecting players whose role on at their clubs support his plans for them on the international level.

From calling out Clint Dempsey’s lack of appearances in Champions League play to his encouraging club transfers for Brek Shea to England or Maurice Edu back to MLS, Klinsmann is notoriously pushing players to use their club experience to prepare for US call-ups. So where will that leave Jones if over the next couple of years Klinsmann wants him on the backline but New England needs him in midfield?

By giving up his spot in the US midfield now, Jones allows Klinsmann ample opportunity to find a replacement for him. Mix Diskerud is emerging for the US squad and a position switch for DeAndre Yedlin from right back to the midfield is all but guaranteed to happen in the next year. Plus, there is still Michael Bradley to consider.

While Bradley did not have a stellar season for Toronto FC, it is more likely than not that he will maintain the form needed to keep his spot on the US roster. Real Salt Lake’s Luis Gil is also an emerging star that will certainly garner attention in the lead up to Russia 2018. Suddenly the midfield is getting very crowded.

A move back to the middle may not be possible for Jones. If playing center back becomes his only real chance of making another world cup squad, what kind of chance is that really?

The backline is inexperienced but not without talent. Matt Besler, Timmy Chandler, Omar Gonzalez, Michael Orozco, Tim Ream, Greg Garza, AJ De La Garza, and Geoff Cameron are all younger than Jones and each of them will be competing for a place on the World Cup roster. There is also Fabian Johnson to consider. Johnson has already shown an ability to play both midfield and defensive back. At 26, Johnson is capable of blocking Jones’ roster spot at both positions.

If the purpose of having Jones on the backline is to raise the level of play, by implication it would mean an improvement in the play of others as well. Therefore, if he is successful and does improve the quality of play of the rest of the defenders, will he play himself out of roster spot for the World Cup?

Jones, of course, is not the only one facing the prospect of aging out of roster spot. Kyle Beckerman made his first World Cup roster this past year at the age of 32. Although Beckerman played well, it is unlikely that he fits into Klinsmann’s future plans. With Landon Donovan retiring and DeMarcus Beasley, Tim Howard, and Clint Dempsey also encroaching on retirement age, it is very likely that many of biggest names in USA soccer will be absent from the next World Cup. It would seem almost a shame the breakout star from the previous World Cup would be absent as well.

However counter-intuitive as it may seem, it is quite possible that Jones’ superb play will be his downfall. Obviously, when it comes to the national team, Jones would not want to be selfish and switching positions will certainly be a benefit to the squad but leaving his natural position open for the emerging stars of the midfield while improving the quality of play of the younger defenders may just result in Jones becoming replaceable at two positions.

As an American soccer fan, I admit that at times I can get too caught up in what MLS is doing to develop American soccer players for the U.S. Men’s National Team. I can get overly worked up when USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann takes a dig at MLS, wanting to quickly defend the league I find myself most passionate about. It is at these times I have to remind myself of two things.

First, the USMNT is not part of MLS and whatever digs or decisions Klinsmann chooses to make are independent of the enjoyment I get from watching MLS matches. MLS is not in the business of making the USMNT look good, but is in the business of building its own brand and securing its place in the hierarchy of professional soccer/football leagues.

Secondly, MLS is an international league. With teams in Canada, it would be foolish to focus solely on the development of soccer in the United States. Their vision has to be broader and more expansive. In order to remain viable across North America, the Canadian teams need to be able to thrive as well. As someone who is quite found of the “Neighbors to the North” and wants to see a growing and thriving MLS, success in Canada is something that I feel is very important.

Yet, it is on this second point that MLS faces maybe its biggest problem heading into the off season. Toronto FC has once again missed the playoffs. Nothing new by itself but remembering the big offseason payouts to bring in Gilberto Souza Junior, Michael Bradley, and Jermain Defoe, this most recent failure is certainly a big problem for MLS.

How long can MLS realistically expect fans in Toronto to show up and support a team that seems completely allergic to the post season? Seven years is a long time in sports and if the fans are asked to sit through another tumultuous season or watch as the team gets blown up and rebuilt again, well, they may just look to throw their support behind another team. Or perhaps even another sport.

After all, how likely is it that a potential fan of TFC would be drawn to the Impact of Montreal or the Vancouver Whitecaps? The Canadian markets in existence now are so boldly unique unto themselves that it makes any crossover support unlikely.

In the United States, there is very little crossover fans between Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York; the biggest markets. It’s the secondary markets that fill in the map that really allow a sport to take off across the country. Dallas and Kansas City allow fans in the Midwest alternatives to root for, apart from Chicago. Just like Washington DC, Philadelphia, San Jose and Salt Lake do for the East and West Coast fans respectfully.

Where are the secondary markets across Canada? FC Edmonton and the Ottawa Fury FC are members of the NASL and I’m sure that MLS would rather soccer fans attention not be directed there. But what is the likelihood of Canadian MLS expansion if Toronto FC continues to look like such an abject failure?

The decisions made this off-season by Toronto FC are tremendously important to the growth of the MLS in the Great White North. Personally, I believe it would be terribly detrimental to look to unload any of the three Designated Players, especially Bradley or Defoe. I would much rather see TFC reevaluate their managerial approach to the games and how they select players to fit in around their stars before blowing up the roster.

Whatever decisions are made and regardless of the direction ownership chooses to go, there is a great deal of weight on Toronto FC’s shoulders. MLS is really pushing the expansion agenda right now but they are not just lazily handing out franchises (just ask Las Vegas and Miami). If Canada wants any part of the MLS growth, Toronto FC’s success is a necessity.

Major markets must prove themselves to be viable before secondary markets can come into play. While I love the team in Vancouver and am really pulling for success in Montreal, the biggest market must find success. For Canada, growth starts with Toronto.