David Beckham will try to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy back into the MLS playoffs in 2008. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Last year in Major League Soccer there was one story that dominated the headlines: the arrival of David Beckham.

This year will be different.

A series of captivating storylines make the 2008 MLS regular season, set to kick off on March 29, one of the most intriguing campaigns to watch in a long time.

This year, MLS expands to 14 clubs as San Jose is welcomed back into the fold. Following a two-year hiatus from MLS after the original San Jose franchise relocated to Houston, the Earthquakes return to the league in 2008 with Frank Yallop, the Canadian coach who guided them to league championships in 2001 and 2003.

Toronto FC, the league's lone Canadian club, will be looking to improve on its anemic first season in 2007, when it won just six of 30 games and sported the worst offence (25 goals scored) and worst defence (49 goals against) in MLS. Regardless of how Toronto does on the field, you can expect to see the club's passionate supporters pack the 21,000-seat BMO Field stadium each and every week, solidifying Toronto's reputation as the best-supported club in MLS.

Of course, everybody will be watching Beckham and whether or not the Englishman, who failed to make an impact on the field last season due to injury problems, can turn the Los Angeles Galaxy into title contenders and further raise the public profile of MLS.

A lot of attention will also be focused on the two-time defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo, led by Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, and whether it can become the first club in MLS history to win three consecutive league titles.

This will also be a critical year for the New England Revolution, the league's perennial bridesmaids. After finishing runner-up four times in five years (2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007), New England is anxious to finally deliver a championship to their long-suffering fans — and demanding owner Robert Kraft — and prove that they can win the big one.

Here's a breakdown of the league's seven Western Conference teams and the top players to watch on the road to the MLS Cup on Nov. 23 in Carson, Calif.

CHIVAS USA
2007 record: 15-7-8, 53 points (1st in Western Conference)
2007 result: lost in conference semifinals
Key additions: Forward Alecko Eskandarian, midfielder Raphael Wicky
Key losses: Defender Jason Hernandez
Outlook: Chivas was the revelation of the league last season, finishing first in the Western Conference, only to fizzle out in the first round of the playoffs. The L.A.-based team will prove in 2008 that its stellar form from a year ago was no fluke, thanks to a miserly defence (it only gave up 28 goals last season) and Brad Guzan, who beat out Houston's Pat Onstad to win the goalkeeper of the year award. A solid midfield, led by American Sacha Kljestan, has been strengthened by the addition of Swiss international Rafael Wicky, who will give Chivas more steel in the middle of the park. Chivas's attack will again be led by Cuban Maykel Galindo (he scored 12 goals last season, his first in MLS) and veteran Ante Razov. Yet, despite combining for 23 goals in 2007, Galindo and Razov didn't combine well on the field and need to work on their chemistry. Chivas is a bit thin up front when you get past Galindo and Razov - the club did add Alecko Eskandarian in the off-season, but the former Toronto FC player has been plagued by injuries the past few seasons and many believe his best soccer is behind him.
Difference maker: Maykel Galindo — The Cuban boasts explosive speed and is a dangerous goal scorer who strikes the fear of God in opposing defenders.

HOUSTON DYNAMO
2007 record: 15-8-7, 52 points (2nd in Western Conference)
2007 result: MLS Cup Champions
Key additions: Defender Bobby Boswell, forward Franco Caraccio
Key losses: Defender Ryan Cochrane, forwards Joseph Ngwenya and Nate Jaqua
Outlook: Houston has plenty of incentive this season. The Texans are trying to impress new owner Oscar De La Hoya and make history by becoming the first team to win three consecutive MLS championships - and they look a strong bet to do it. A defence that gave up a league-low 23 goals in 2007 has been bolstered by the addition of Bobby Boswell, defender of the year in 2006; this more than makes up for the loss of Ryan Cochrane (lost in the expansion draft). Dwayne De Rosario pulls the creative strings for the league's best midfield (which includes Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis, and Brian Mullan), while fellow Canadian Pat Onstad is coming off one of the best seasons ever by an MLS goalkeeper. There are, however, depth problems up front. Nate Jaqua, Joseph Ngwenya and Paul Dalglish all went to Europe, which means Brian Ching is the only true forward on the team. Newcomer Franco Caraccio, from Argentina, is only 21 and remains unproven, which means coach Dominic Kinnear may have to play De Rosario as a forward or make a big trade. If he can't find another forward, the midfielders are going to have to chip in with more goals.
Difference maker: Dwayne De Rosario — The attacking midfielder from Scarborough, Ont., is the linchpin of the Houston midfield and is one of the most entertaining players to watch in MLS.

FC DALLAS
2007 record: 13-12-5, 44 points (3rd in Western Conference)
2007 result: lost in conference semifinals
Key additions: Midfielder Andre Rocha, defender Duilio Davino
Key losses: Forward Carlos Ruiz, defenders Chris Gbandi and Clarence Goodson
Outlook: Things are back to normal in Dallas now that the Denilson circus has left town. But the under-performing Brazilian wasn't the only problem for the club last season: Dallas coughed up 44 goals in 2007. With Chris Gbandi and Clarence Goodson off to Norway, coach Steve Morrow was forced to retool the back line, and he's hoping that Mexican Duilio Davino, signed in the off-season, can anchor the defence alongside Canadian Adrian Serioux and Drew Moor. Forward Carlos Ruiz was traded to Los Angeles, which means local product Kenny Cooper will have to step up and lead the offensive charge. Attacking midfielders Juan Toja and Arturo Alvarez will also be expected to chip in with goals to take pressure off Cooper, who suffered a broken leg last season. The club also has big expectations of 23-year-old Andre Rocha, and will be looking to the Brazilian to add stability to the right side of midfield. Coach Morrow needs to gain the confidence of his players and unite them, but that's never been a strong point of his in the past. Settling on a firm starting lineup and a formation will go a long way to addressing that problem.
Difference maker: Arturo Alvarez — The 22-year-old native of Houston is a real live wire in midfield and has a knack for scoring big goals in crucial games.

COLORADO RAPIDS
2007 record: 9-13-8, 35 points (4th in Western Conference)
2007 result: didn't make playoffs
Key additions: Midfielder Christian Gomez, Defender Jose Burciaga Jr.
Key losses: Forward Nicolas Hernandez, goalkeeper Zach Thornton
Outlook: The Rapids made a big move in the off-season when they acquired Christian Gomez, the league MVP in 2006, in a trade with D.C. United. The addition of the Argentine gives the Rapids an established playmaker who can orchestrate the attack and link up with American striker Herculez Gomez. The problem is that Colorado failed to address their scoring issues by signing a proven goal-scorer — the Rapids managed just 29 goals in 30 games last season and were shut out in nine of their last 17 contests. Jovan Kirovski led the team in scoring in 2007 with six goals, but four of those were on penalty kicks. Gomez only scored four goals and Conor Casey (two goals) was a non-factor. This trio will have to do much better this season if the Rapids have any chance of making the playoffs. The league's fourth-best defence was bolstered in the off-season by the addition of Jose Burciaga Jr. The team would have been better off going after more forwards than signing two defenders, although Burciaga was a scoring threat from his left-back position with Kansas City last season.
Difference maker: Christian Gomez — The Argentine is a classy playmaker who creates scoring chances for teammates and is a goal-scoring threat himself.

LOS ANGELES GALAXY
2007 record: 9-14-7, 34 points (5th in Western Conference)
2007 result: didn't make playoffs
Key additions: Coach Ruud Gullit, forward Carlos Ruiz, defender Greg Vanney
Key losses: Midfielder Cobi Jones, goalkeeper Joe Cannon
Outlook: David Beckham made little impact on the field last season due to injury problems, but the former England captain is fit and ready to turn the Galaxy into playoff contenders. Former AC Milan legend Ruud Gullit has arrived as the team's new coach, and the Dutchman has a reputation of preaching attacking, "sexy" soccer. Problem is, Los Angeles needs to concentrate on defence — the Galaxy conceded 48 goals in 2007 (only Toronto FC had a worse defensive record). Greg Vanney was brought in from D.C. United to help Portuguese veteran Abel Xavier and Canadian Ante Jazic to shore up the back line. The team also traded goalkeeper Joe Cannon to San Jose in the expansion draft, leaving the inexperienced Steve Cronin as the team's No. 1 shot stopper. There's also a lot of instability at the club. Nigerian defender Celestine Babayaro was signed by L.A. in the off-season, and then waived after playing in one pre-season game. L.A. also traded for veteran forward Clint Mathis, only to turn around and sell him to Greek club Ergotelis FC. Guatemalan forward Carlos Ruiz was acquired in a trade with Dallas and gives the Galaxy a legitimate scoring threat up front.
Difference maker: David Beckham — The Englishman's best days are behind, but he can still deliver the goods from set pieces.

REAL SALT LAKE
2007 record: 6-15-9, 27 points (6th in Western Conference)
2007 result: didn't make playoffs
Key additions: Midfielders Matias Cordoba and Dema Kovalenko, defender Jamison Olave
Key losses: Defender Eddie Pope, forwards Alecko Eskandarian and Atiba Harris
Outlook: If not for Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake would have been the worst team in MLS in 2007. It's lucky for Salt Lake that Toronto is still around, because it's going to be another long season for the boys from Utah. Jason Kreis, in his first full season as coach, has been charged with the task of turning around a club that finished with a lowly 6-15-9 record a season ago and were the doormats of the Western Conference. Serious questions will be asked of a defence that has been completely retooled — veteran Eddie Pope retired, while a pair of rookies (Tony Beltran and David Horst) and a slew of journeymen defenders have been brought in. Salt Lake has added some depth in midfield with battler Dema Kovalenko and creator Matias Cordoba. They will complement the talents of the tough-tackling Kyle Beckerman and playmaking Argentine Javier Morales. But the club will again struggle to score (Salt Lake only found the net 27 times in 2007, just two more goals than Toronto). Forwards Alecko Eskandarian and Atiba Harris left town, which means the team will rely heavily on youngster Robbie Findley.
Difference maker: Javier Morales — The Argentine showed flashes of brilliance last season, even though he only played seven games. He's due to breakout in 2008.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Outlook: The Earthquakes are not your typical expansion franchise, having won two MLS titles before relocating to Houston prior to the 2006 season. The Earthquakes are back in the league in 2008, but don't expect them to be pushovers. Canadian coach Frank Yallop has made several shrewd off-season moves and trades, including landing two-time goalkeeper of the year Joe Cannon plus defenders Nick Garcia, Ryan Cochran and Jason Hernandez. Cannon, Garcia and Cochran give San Jose solidity at the back, and opposing teams will find the Earthquakes tough to break down because of the hard work of this trio. Irish playmaker Ronnie O'Brien is the star of a solid (but unspectacular) midfield that includes Ramiro Corrales and Ned Grabavoy. San Jose also picked up the versatile Chris Pozniak in the expansion draft (from Toronto) — another nice move, as the Canadian can play either in defence or in midfield. If there is an area of concern for San Jose, it's up front. The club lacks depth at the forward position, with Kei Kamara (acquired in a trade with Columbus) and Gavin Glinton (claimed from L.A. in the expansion draft) leading the line up front.
Difference maker: Ronnie O'Brien — The Irishman and former Toronto FC standout is a quick, intelligent player who can dominate the game with his possession and playmaking skills.

PREDICTED FINISH:
1) Houston Dynamo *
2) Chivas USA *
3) FC Dallas *
4) Los Angeles Galaxy *
5) Colorado Rapids
6) San Jose Earthquakes
7) Real Salt Lake
* will make playoffs