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MLS Week 33 Preview

 Posted by on October 25, 2013 at 12:30 pm  Blogs/Media, Chicago Fire, Global Football Today, Houston Dynamo, MLS, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Portland Timbers, United States
Oct 252013
 

mls 300x281 MLS Week 33 Preview

 

After 32 weeks of close games, major transfers, and the drama of all things Chivas USA there is still much to decide in the last week of the Major League Soccer season.  Although there is not one clear top team in MLS, there are plenty of quality MLS squads throughout the league which makes for a compelling two days of soccer this weekend.

So if you are at a match this weekend or watching one at home, here are a couple of storylines to follow:

#1 The Supporter’s Shield

#

Club

PTS

W

L

T

GF

1

 Real Salt Lake

56

16

10

8

57

2

 New York Red Bulls

56

16

9

8

53

3

 Sporting Kansas City

55

16

10

7

45

4

 Portland Timbers

54

13

5

15

33

 

Four teams are still in the running for the Supporters Shield, a trophy awarded at the end of each MLS Season to the team with the most points. The Supporters Shield is more than just a trophy, as it awards the team the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Should the Supporters Shield make the MLS Cup then they would also host the match. In MLS History, the team that won the Supporters Shield has gone on to win the MLS Cup 6 times (D.C. United- 1997 and 1999, the Kansas City Wizards- 2000, the Los Angeles Galaxy-2002 and 2011, and the Columbus Crew- 2008).

Real Salt Lake took the top spot Wednesday night after defeating Chivas USA 2-1. However, that was the last game of their season so they will have to play the waiting game.  The Red Bulls will face the Chicago Fire (Sunday 5pm UNi Mas) with the Fire still in contention for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Red Bulls Forward Tim Cahill has been on a tear recently, scoring three goals in his past three matches and leading the Red Bulls to an undefeated record in the past 7 matches (5-0-2).

Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City will travel to PPL Park and face the Philadelphia Union (Saturday 3pm NBC Sports Network).  SKC  comes into the match in good form having drawn points in 6 of their last matches (5-1-1).Their last loss actually was against the Philadelphia Union 1-0 in September. Union Forward Conor Casey notched in the decisive goal in the 38th minute. They did win their opening game against the Union at PPL Park 3-1, but the young Union team has grown since then and could still make it into the playoffs. Will get back to that later.

Despite being behind the other teams by two points, Portland looks like they have the best chance to take the Supporters Shield. With the other two teams playing opponents who are still in the Eastern Conference playoff mix, neither New York nor Sporting Kansas City will have themselves an easy match. Portland, on the other hand, will be playing Chivas USA (Saturday 10:30 MLS Live) who will be without their starting goalkeeper Dan Kennedy and his magic ability to make sure Chivas never gets blown out.

Portland has also shown in the past few weeks that they are able to put teams away and earn points in “must-win”circumstances. In previous seasons, Portland has been known as the team with the awesome fanbase and cool mascot, but would break down at the end of the season. They could not win the difficult game, which is why they were unable to make the playoffs last season.  Coach Caleb Porter, Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, and Midfielder Will Johnson have changed the identity of this team and made them a very difficult squad to plan against. Their poise and confidence was evident in the pair of 1-0 victories that they earned against the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders earlier in the month.

The 15 draws may be the deciding factor on whether or not the Timbers win the Supporters Shield. But they should get 3 easy points against Chivas, and if nothing else, gain the top spot in the Western Conference.

#2 Eastern Conference Chaos

#

Team

PTS

W

L

T

GF

3

 Montreal Impact

49

14

12

7

50

4

 Chicago Fire

49

14

12

7

45

5

 New England Revolution

48

13

11

9

48

6

 Houston Dynamo

48

13

11

9

39

7

 Philadelphia Union

46

12

11

10

41

 

 

Although the bottleneck for the last few playoff spots in the Eastern Conference was lessened last week when the New England Revolution eliminated the Columbus 3-2, there are still 5 teams playing for three spots. In addition to the previously mentioned Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union, the Houston Dynamo, Montreal Impact, and New England all still have a possibility of making the playoffs this weekend should results work in their favor.

The popular consensus seems to be that the Montreal Impact will defeat Toronto F.C. (Saturday 4pm Univision Deportes, MLS Live,) that the Houston Dynamo will defeat D.C. United (Sunday 1:30pm NBC Sports Network,) and that either the Chicago Fire or the New England Revolution will do enough to make it through.

Two things to keep in mind that is being lost in this narrative. One, Montreal has been terrible since July going 6-8-5. Toronto has already secured a draw in Montreal earlier this season and is coming off of two 1-0 losses against Philadelphia and Chicago where they showed they are still trying to win. Second, Houston needs one of the three teams above them to lose because they are so far behind in goals scored, which is the tie breaker should teams be level on points. For example, if both the New England Revolution and Dynamo win, then the Dynamo would need to make up a nine goal difference against D.C. United. D.C. United is terrible, but they are not bad (D.C. better not lost 9-0 because I am taking my nephew to his first game this weekend.) Houston has had great difficulty scoring this year when they need a goal, so they are really going to need Forward Will Bruin to step up and give them that push.

It should also be mentioned that the Crew may be very angry after the 3-2 result that was leveled against them last week by the Revolution. Referee Mark Geiger gave a rather interesting yellow card against the Crew which led to Revolution defender A.J. Soares goal in the 39th minute. I would suspect that the Crew would like to return the favor to New England from last week and knock them out of the playoff contention (4pm MLS Live.)

I think the Fire- Red Bulls match is a lot closer than many people seem to believe. Bear in mind that the Red Bulls have never won a major title in their entire history, and have quite a dubious track record in big games. The Fire have really hit their stride since they lost 3-0 Columbus in September and are a much different team than when they lost to the Red Bulls earlier in the season. They are currently on a 3 game unbeaten where they have outscored their opponents 9-0.  Perhaps New York can turn around their previous misfortunes, secure a playoff spot, and doom the Fire. But that seems like a tall task for a team that has only recently shown that they can consistently pull out quality performances.

#3 The Race for the Golden Boot is On

#

Player

Team

G

A

1

 Mike Magee CHI

20

4

2

 Marco di Vaio MON

20

2

3

 Camilo Sanvezzo VAN

19

6

 

 

In addition to having so many teams still alive for the Supporters Shield and for playoff spots, there is a real battle being waged for the top goal scorer in MLS. The three-horse race between Montreal Forward Marco di Vaio, Chicago Fire Forward Mike Magee, and Vancouver Whitecaps Forward Camilo Sanvezzo has produced some truly amazing goals this season. Although I am not the biggest fan of saying the top goal scorer should always be the Most Valuable Player (Ricketts and Clint Irwin would have a few words about that,) it is true that all three of these players have kept their teams in contention because they were able to make miracles for their team.

I think Magee is going to end up taking the award. It is important to note that if there is a tie then the tiebreaker will be given to the player who has the most assists. Di Vaio almost never passes the ball and I can see Toronto F.C. pushing their defense up to draw him offsides which will limit his scoring opportunities. The Impact have also had difficulties scoring recently, going without a goal in 3 of their past four matches.

So for me it comes down to Magee and Camilo. Both players have come up huge for their team this year, but with Magee playing against a Red Bulls team that have committed the fifth highest number of fouls in MLS (425) he should have more opportunities off of free kicks and penalties. Colorado has also only given up 15 goals on the road this season and will still be looking to climb up in the Western Conference playoff standings.

 

Get to Know Your Local MLS Team: Philadelphia Union

 Posted by on May 13, 2013 at 3:45 pm  Blogs/Media, MLS, Philadelphia Union
May 132013
 

 

gyi0060903353 Get to Know Your Local MLS Team: Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union Supporter’s The Sons of Ben

Founded: 2010

Where they Finished Last Season: 10-6-18 (Did not make the playoffs)

Pedigree: 2011 Eastern Conference Semi-finalists.

Rivals: D.C. United, New York Red Bulls.

Supporters: The Sons of Ben, The Tammany Saints, the illegitimateS, the Corner Creeps, The Bridge Crew, and the Bearfight Brigade.

Coach: John Hackworth

Top Returning Players: MF Brian Carroll, DF Sheanon Williams, MF Amobi Okugo, FWD Jack McInerney.

Key Additions: FWD Sebastian Le Toux (New York Red Bulls,) FWD Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids,) DEF Jeff Parke.

Key Departures: MF Gabriel Gomez (Atletico Junior,) DEF Porfirio Lopez (L.D. Alajuelense,) FWD Josue Martinez (New York Red Bulls,) MF Freddy Adu (Loan-Bahia.)

Young Player to Watch: FWD Jack McInerney, DEF Ray Gaddis

Outlook: A relative newcomer to MLS, the Philadelphia Union have shown in just three seasons that they are steadily building a team for future success. While many franchises have started off swinging in MLS, the Union have taken the path of developing young talent and taking their lumps in their first few seasons.

Although they did have some success in 2011 with a team featuring Le Toux, Colombian Goalkeeper Farid Mondragon, and Midfielder Freddy Adu, 2012 was more accurate about the team’s development. I have never been a fan of former Union coach Petr Nowak as he seems to be from the Bobby Knight mold of coaching: yell at your players, lose your marbles, and toss things around. For a young team like the Union that would seem to be counter-productive to development. So far, I really like the work that John Hackworth has done with the Union. Since taking over the Union, Hackworth has a record of 11-13-6, which is a dramatic improvement from their 2012 team under Nowak.With a team that has seven rookies on their roster and five players over the age of 30, their will be growing pains this season.

When you get a chance to watch the Union, the first thing that you notice is how good Jack McInerney is on and off the ball. As forward, his vision of the field is impeccable. He always seems to be able to find the open spaces in the defense and his excellent footwork. So far this season he has scored over 6 goals, which leads MLS, and I would not be surprised if he will score at least 20. Mr. Klinsmann, if you are looking for young American strikers have a bit of imagination to them, this is your guy.

What makes McInerney even more dangerous is that his strike partner Conor Casey. One of MLS’ most feared strikers, Casey has scored over 50 goals in six MLS seasons. A big tall forward, Casey is able to down headers into the box with ease and is able to take vicious hits from the defense and keep on trucking. While he and McInerney have taken a few games to mesh with each other, their work on D.C. United on Sunday shows promise for the two for the rest of the MLS campaign. Also, if you ever get the chance, make sure to watch Sheanon Williams take throw ins. He may not be able to do the cartwheel throw-in that impressed every high schooler in the 1990’, but he has a cannon.

While the Union’s offense seems to be clicking, their defense still leaves a lot to be desired. While watching them the past few matches, you could definitely tell that their backline is still trying to figure out their roles. Having a veteran defender like Jeff Parke should be able to provide some veteran leadership in what seems to be a very young group. The one player I was impressed during the D.C. United match was Ray Gaddis. A product of the University of West Virginia (go Mountaineers!) Gaddis was not fazed by the footwork of Raphael Augusto and Carlos Ruiz during the United match. Often you can tell the talent disparity in MLS by the players who get bought by the step-over move. Mr. Gaddis stuffed United on multiple occasions and showed incredible poise against seasoned strikers.

Even though Gaddis and Parke are quality players, players like Amobi Okugo and Bakary Soumare have not played to their caliber. And while Chris Albright may have been the future of U.S. Soccer 13 years ago, he should not be anything more than a bit player for this squad. Their goalkeeping is also suspect. Starting keeper Zac McMath has been very disappointing so far this year. On too many occasions he has made poor decisions on his clearances and does not seem to have his backline composed. Still, in what seems to be a running theme for this column, he is still only 21 years old and there is still plenty of room for growth. While backup Chris Konopka has some experience in MLS and in the League of Ireland (Ireland’s top flight division,) it may make sense for the Union to invest in a solid veteran backup as the season progresses.

I could write 20,000 words on the subject of Freddy Adu, the highs and lows of his career, how he has never lived up to his hype and who is to blame for that. I am not going to do that. He plays for Bahia, not the Philadelphia Union. I will say that at 23 (or even his real age of 27) he has accomplished quite a bit and still has plenty of time to do more . Playing professional soccer not only in the United States, but also in Europe and featuring for one’s national team is quite an achievement for any person. Perhaps he has not lived up to the expectations leveled on him. That is on him and the American soccer system. Nonetheless, I tip my cap to him because being able to do what he has done, even if he will never be the next Messi, is a pretty cool thing.

The Philadelphia Union are going to be one of the more interesting teams to watch this year. Not because they will be competing for the MLS Cup or the Supporter’s Shield. This team has the potential to be a serious player in Major League Soccer for many years. While a late season playoff push is possible, they just do not have the experience in the net or in their backline to make it to the fall football classic.

Beer of Choice:

HopBack Amber Ale, Troegs Brewing Company

While it would be easy to just say that if you are at a Union game that you should drink a Yuengling or a Keystone Light, both of which are Pennsylvania brews, the true gem of Pennsylvania breweries is the Troegs Brewing Company. A beer with 6% Alcohol By Volume, the Hopback Amber Ale has a nice mix of malt and hops which kind of works well the flashy playing style of McInerney and the simple, straightforward Casey. It also has a bit of a peppery, dry taste at the end of it which sums up the Union supporters pretty well.

 

When Massive Isn’t MASSIVE (Columbus 3-2 Philadelphia)

 Posted by on October 3, 2012 at 8:13 pm  Blogs/Media, Columbus Crew, MLS, United States
Oct 032012
 

Saturday night gave Columbus the opportunity snatch momentum and ride it all the way into the playoffs.

They took advantage of that opportunity for exactly 65 minutes. Jairo Arrieta torched a very underwhelming Philadelphia back line for two goals in the first 50 minutes of the match. But in the 64th minute Andy Gruenebaum received a yellow card for a poor attempt at a save and failed to stop the corresponding penalty kick. The Columbus defense would concede a second goal before Milovan Mirosevic fooled an out of position linesman into thinking he was onside and scoring the the winner just before the final whistle.

It was really a tale of two halves for Columbus. In the first half they looked like they fully understood the opportunity presented to them and took full advantage. But midway through the second half, the wheels came off and we saw the defense exposed for what truly is: dreadful. As if blowing a two goal lead wasn’t bad enough, the winning goal was the result of a horrendous non-call. The Crew got three points, but it hardly felt like a victory when the final whistle blew.

Fortunately for Columbus, they have an extra day off this week. The Crew will host Sporting KC on Sunday afternoon at 4. KC know they will make the playoffs, but they do still have a shot at the Supporters Shield so they won’t be totally relaxed in this one. Still, Columbus have a lot more riding on the line when these two clash this weekend. The extra day off will be huge as Jairo Arrieta had to leave the match earlier than expected with a slight injury. He should be fine, but every day off counts at this point.

Bottom line: Columbus got the three points it so desperately needed; even if it didn’t feel like it. I think the players have put the game completely behind them and are ready to go for Sunday. The Crew are currently one point behind Houston for the last Eastern Conference playoff spot and three behind DC United for fourth place. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can see that Columbus are just five points behind New York and Chicago for second place!

So here’s to a truly MASSIVE run to the playoffs! As MLS (and the NFL and MLB) have shown us: all you have to do is get in. Then anything can happen…

 

“Be MASSIVE!!!”

Wasteful Galaxy Squander Omar Gonzalez’s Return

 Posted by on July 5, 2012 at 3:24 pm  Los Angeles Galaxy, MLS
Jul 052012
 
omar header Wasteful Galaxy Squander Omar Gonzalezs Return
Omar Gonzalez in his return to the pitch. (Robert Mora/LA Galaxy)

Having suffered a horrific ACL injury six months to the day, LA Galaxy defender and 2011 MLS Defender of the Year Omar Gonzalez took the pitch for the first time on the 4th of July, playing a solid if not fairly uneventful 45 minutes. Sadly, it was in the 5th minute following the match’s 90 minutes the Galaxy really needed him.

Knotted at 1-1 with just a minute remaining in stoppage time, the Philadelphia Union’s Michael Farfan snatched a late winner for his team when he raced on to a cheeky backheel pass from teammate Lionard Parjoy and curled a shot just inside the outside post before the Galaxy defense could close him down. The goal gave the Union all three points and came from the heart of the Galaxy penalty area, a spot that was patrolled for the first time all season by Gonzalez to start the night.

Gonzalez had been substituted at half, a plan he, the coaching staff and the Galaxy trainers agreed upon to start the match.

“I felt like I could have gone maybe like 10 more minutes but we just decided to stick to the plan. This is a thing where you don’t want to play too many minutes, this is sort of a, kind of, progression,” said Gonzalez after the match. “So this game I only got 45 minutes, maybe next game 60 and, you know, go from there.”

Chad Barrett scored LA’s only goal in the match, leveling the score in the 73rd minute after the Union took a 1-0 lead at the stroke of halftime through an excellent backheel redirect from near post to far by forward Jack McInerney. However, had Robbie Keane finished a hat-trick of chances in the match’s first 25 minutes, including two occasions where the Irishman had rounded Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath only to have his efforts cleared off the goal line, Barrett’s goal would have been little more than icing on Gonzalez’s return cake as LA looked the better side until McInerney’s opener.

“We gave the game away today,” said Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena in his press conference following the match. “That’s a game we should have walked away comfortably with three points, in my opinion. Too many chances in the first half that were wasted, poor concentration at the end of the first half cost us a goal and just an extremely poor effort at the end of the game to get exposed and to give up the point we worked so hard to get.”


When asked how the team moves forward from a disappointing loss which sees them unable to capitalize on the loss by the Colorado, a team they are chasing for the West’s final playoff spot, Arena had this to say:


“Probably try a couple other players. That’s the only option we have. If you’re not going to take your chances you’re probably wasting your time getting them. You don’t get any bonus points for creating chances. This can be a cruel game, and maybe it was tonight. But this is another game where there is nowhere else to look but inside our locker room. We have people in position to get us results and we didn’t get it done. That’s how we deal with it. We understand that, this is not about the referee, this or that, anything else, this is about us making the plays that count in the game and we didn’t get it done tonight.”
Next up for LA is a match in Chicago against a Fire side that has surprised many this season and is unbeaten in their last four matches. The Galaxy were without midfielder David Beckham on Wednesday (as a side note, Beckham watched the game with Chelsea midfielder and former English national team teammate Frank Lampard, adding to speculation Lampard could sign with the Galaxy), as he sat out a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Beckham will be available on Saturday in Chicago, and will likely take back his spot in midfield from Marcelo Sarvas, who was less than impressive in the Englishman’s absence. 

After winning three straight, LA have no lost two in a row.

Timbers acquire Danny Mwanga from the Union in exchange for Jorge Perlaza

 Posted by on June 6, 2012 at 6:47 pm  MLS, Portland Timbers
Jun 062012
 

Well, this just happened. Here’s what the Timbers are getting in Danny Mwanga:

* He is 20 years old. Over three seasons with the Philadelphia Union, Mwanga made 63 appearances (37 of them starts). He recorded 12 goals and 9 assists. He will wear the #10 for the Timbers.

* Mwanga was the number one pick in the 2010 MLS Superdraft. He was a star at Oregon State University and played his prep soccer at Portland’s Jefferson High School. Mwanga was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
dannymwanga Timbers acquire Danny Mwanga from the Union in exchange for Jorge Perlaza


Quotable:
“Danny is an experienced, young player who has shown that he can be productive in this league during his time with Philadelphia. He has roots in Portland, his family still lives here, and we look forward to getting him integrated into the team quickly.” ~John Spencer, Timbers head coach

“It is a wonderful opportunity for me to come back to my hometown and play in front of family and friends. I’m excited, and I can’t wait to get out to Portland and get to work. I’m proud to be a member of the Portland Timbers.” ~ Danny Mwanga.

Match Day #2 v. Philadelphia Union

 Posted by on March 24, 2012 at 12:42 am  Chicago Fire, MLS
Mar 242012
 

The Fire open the gates for their 15th season tomorrow night, hosting the Philadelphia Union at Toyota Park. The good guys are coming off a 1-1 away to Montreal, while the Union are searching for their first points of the season, collecting two losses thus far in the 2012 season. Here are 3 keys for the Fire to claim 3 points.

1) Skip the inverted wingers.
-Last week the Fire crowded the center of the pitch in the final third; both Logan Pause and Marco Pappa played on their weak-side, forcing them to cut in when in possession. The only width was provided by the full-backs (Segares and Gargan). The end result was a muddled mess. The Fire need Pause on the right and Pappa on the left (or do they?), and they need to hold shape in order to give Grazzini the space he needs to deliver the final ball.

2) Pappa: the time is now.
-Marco Pappa drifted through the 1-1 draw in Montreal pretty anonymously. Whether stationed on the right, left, or in the CAM role when the Fire played a 4-2-2-2; Marco had little impact against the Impact. He needs to get his head in the game and work with Grazzini, instead of trying to take the same role. If not, the Fire need to be ready to bench Pappa and try newcomer Rafael Robayo on the wing. Robayo plays on the right, but Logan Pause already showed his willingness to shift to the left last week. (If Nyarko drifts back and to the left, like he is prone to, and Robayo takes the right wing, this should provide plenty of opportunity for Oduro, provided the service is there.)

3) Tornaghi time!
-Paolo Tornaghi, the new ‘keeper from the Milan youth ranks, played well in the Montreal draw. A start at home against a struggling Union team could be just the ticket to solidify his place Sean Johnson’s backup. Or maybe more…

The Fire host the Union at Toyota Park in Bridgeview on Saturday. Kick-off time is set for 7:30.

Prediction: 2-1 win for the Fire

Timbers looking to come out strong against the Union

 Posted by on March 10, 2012 at 7:57 pm  MLS, Portland Timbers
Mar 102012
 
The Portland Timbers kick off their 2012 season by hosting the Philadelphia Union on Monday, March 12th at Jeld-Wen Field. Game time is slotted for 6:55 p.m. PST and you can watch the action on ESPN2.

KEEP AN EYE ON:

* Kris Boyd. There’s a lot of pressure on Boyd and although his goal in the 7th minute in last week’s preseason match against AIK gave the Timber faithful a glimpse of what could be, a goal in this first match could help set the tone for the Timbers season. If Boyd scores a goal in the first half, Jeld-Wen will erupt.
* The Timbers backline. Over the weekend it was announced that Columbian centerback Hayner Mosquera might be ineligible to play tonight due to the Timbers still awaiting the receipt of his ITC (International Trade Certificate). I found a blog post from DC United that explains it really well. Check it out.
The bottom line is while the ITC could arrive today, there’s a distinct possibility it won’t. As a result, Mosquera’s replacement will have to be rookie Andrew Jean-Baptiste. With veteran Steve Purdy out with an injured hamstring, it looks like Jean-Baptiste’s will be making his MLS debut.
* Jeld-Wen field. MLSSoccer.com reported the other day that Toronto’s tifo might be one of the best ever. With all due respect to TFC and MLS, the buzz is that they haven’t seen anything yet and tonight’s tifo is going to be stellar. Along those lines, expect the second year Timbers to really take advantage of their home field support this season.
With that, here is my best guess at a starting lineup:

TimbersLineup Timbers looking to come out strong against the Union

INJURY REPORT:
PORTLAND TIMBERS — OUT: DF Futty Danso (L foot fracture); DF David Horst (R hip surgery); FW Eddie Johnson (concussion); DF Steve Purdy (L hamstring strain); MF Sal Zizzo (L ACL surgery); DOUBTFUL: MF Franck Songo’o (R knee sprain); PROBABLE: FW Kris Boyd – R ankle sprain); MF Darlington Nagbe (R ankle sprain); FW Jorge Perlaza (L Achilles tendinitis)
PHILADELPHIA UNION — PROBABLE: DF Chris Albright (L groin strain)

If you haven’t seen it already, check out my full Timbers season previewup on Global Football Today’s main site.

PREDICTION:

Right now, the Timbers biggest opponents seem to be injuries and visa/transfer issues. The last week has seen injuries to defenders Futty Danso and Steve Purdy which have been a serious hit to the team’s depth along the backline. Add to that the likely chance that Hayner Mosquera’s ITC will not arrive in time for tonight’s match leaves the Timbers with the raw Andrew Jean-Baptiste filling in.
All that said, the Union have plenty of questions on their side of the pitch as well. The biggest being, with the trade of Sebastian LeToux, who is going to score goals for the Union?
Timbers Coach John Spencer will have the team ready to play tonight and you can expect the Jeld-Wen faithful to be in full force to give the team a 12th man on the pitch.
Timbers win 1-0 in a cold, wet night at Jeld-Wen.

Thanks for Nothing, New York Red Bulls…

 Posted by on October 21, 2011 at 11:33 pm  Uncategorized
Oct 212011
 

…you too, Philadelphia Union.

New York’s 1-0 home victory on Thursday night completely took the air out of what was going to be an exciting finish to this MLS season. Dane Richards’ seventh minute header clinched the final Wild Card spot for New York, when it seemed like they were doing everything in their power these past weeks to give that playoff place away.

Now that the 10 playoff teams are set, the only thing left to play for (for some) is the seeding. Luckily for the Fire, they can still have an influence on the final playoff table.

The Columbus Crew come to town for a 7:30 pm kickoff on Saturday with the chance to grab the top seed in the East. The Fire are playing for pride, and to show that, despite it all, they deserve to be counted amongst the stronger teams in the league. A Fire win, coupled with a win by Houston, could send Columbus down to the Wild Card round. I expect both teams to come out fired up and ready to end the regular season with a win.

The Fire should be able to field their strongest lineup, although Sebastian Grazzini was kept out of practice earlier in the week due to his recurring hamstring issues. Despite this, I would expect to see him in the starting 11.

Projected Lineup: (4-3-1-2)
Johnson; Gargan, Anibaba, Gibbs, Segares; Pause, Pardo, Pappa; Grazzini; Oduro, Nyarko

Prediction: I think both teams are going to leave it all on the field. Columbus doesn’t want a quick turnaround and a midweek Wild Card game; the Fire want a final say in the playoff race and to show that they are “the best of the rest.”
Fire 3-2 Crew

Win and They’re In

 Posted by on October 20, 2011 at 5:59 pm  Uncategorized
Oct 202011
 

The MLS playoff picture and the path in which the Red Bulls need to take became a little clearer last night as the Portland Timbers and DC United fought to an epic draw.  The result eliminated DC and means Portland has to win at Salt Lake to have any chance.  Of course this is all moot should the Red Bulls win.  The team has their destiny in their hands.  Win and they go to the playoffs.  Neither Chicago or Portland could catch them at that point.  All they have to do is just win.  Of the course the Red Bulls never make it that easy.

The biggest news at the club is that Thierry Henry is out of this game due to his straight red card he received against Kansas City this past Saturday.  Henry currently sits 3rd in the league with 14 goals on the season.  His goal scoring production will be sorely missed.  Fortunately, Luke Rodgers, the team’s second leading goal scorer will still be on board for the match and Backe has options to replace Henry with either Dane Richards or Juan Agudelo.  Neither are anywhere near the caliber of player Henry is, but they’re not a huge drop in talent.

The Red Bulls need to figure out their offensive options as Philadelphia has the best defense in the East and second best overall.  The last time these two teams played, the Union were thoroughly out played by the Red Bulls.  Yet they managed to frustrate the Red Bulls with stout defense and managed to capitalize on a Tim Ream error for a 1-0 victory.  Scoring will once again be a very tough task.

Last week’s result against KC was a fluke due to the fact that they played a man down for much of the match.  The momentum built up to that point will not have dissipated.  Despite missing Henry, the Red Bulls are going to the playoffs: 1-0

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