Gerry Dobson

The MLS Cup final between the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake at a neutral site, Qwest Field in Seattle.

Some things to wrap up the MLS season, in no particular order.

This MLS Cup final, while certainly not the best match ever played (in fact, it was far from it) was the biggest MLS Cup spectacle I've ever witnessed. With more than 46,000 in the seats at Qwest Field, and a well-organized production, it had a much bigger feel about it than ever before. But there were some players injured on both sides and others who were sick, such as Real Salt Lake's Will Johnson who came down with food poisoning the night before. And, As LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena put it, the soggy Field Turf and windy conditions were not conducive to good football.

The underdog story of a little team beating the favourites is always fun, and yet I'm not sure I'm sold on the idea of a team with a losing record during the regular season becoming your league champion. While MLS commissioner Don Garber won't say it's a done deal, there is no question the league is considering holding future MLS Cup final games at the home stadium of one of the teams. And yes, that would include Toronto if the Reds happen to get there. Garber mentioned this as a possibility several times over the weekend, enough to make me believe it's a strong possibility.

Now to future teams.

When they enter the league in 2011, Vancouver will play at least some of their home games in a temporary stadium on the site of the now long-gone Empire Stadium. The reno job on B.C. Place Stadium simply won't be done in time. And while Teitur Thordarson will be the Whitecaps coach next year, watch for the team to go Toronto FC's route and bring in someone with MLS experience under his belt.

As far as Montreal is concerned, it's not official, but you can count on it: The Impact will be the league's 19th team to begin play in 2012, and David Beckham will definitely not be involved. His option to own a team will not kick in until the league announces a 20th team. Watch for that to be in New York with Beckham retiring by then and leading that city's second franchise.

Meantime both Montreal and Vancouver have gone beyond the point of no return in forming a new league for next year. They're up to 10 teams now and it's all over for the USL. All the new league is waiting for is United States Soccer Federation approval which is a slam dunk.

And finally, we enjoyed a nice chat with Toronto FC head coach Preki under more genteel circumstances on the weekend. It was a more introspective and relaxed Preki than you normally see. Even though I've known him since we chatted on the eve of Toronto FC's first-ever game -- which was against Preki's Chivas USA in 2007 -- I learned a few things I didn't know about the man. Watch for the interview on an upcoming edition of Soccercentral.