Welcome footy fans to my 8th annual MLS season preview. Last season I went for the long form preview, a specified blog for each club. This season I'll give a brief overview as what to watch for each team, as well as my world famous (hey, people outside the US will read this, so I'll stick to my claim) season predictions. Lets get stuck in...
CHICAGO FIRE: Veljko Paunovic joins the Fire as their 5th manager in the past seven seasons. With a complete retooling of their lineup, the major question this season will be, can Paunovic turn the worst team in the league into a respectable bunch? There are still major questions about the new look side, what formation will work best for them, and will yet another management change from the front office down to the coach have the desired effect?
COLORADO RAPIDS: Manager Pablo Mastroeni is entering his third season in Colorado, stunning when you consider how dire the team has been during his first two seasons. After scoring only 33 goals in 34 matches last year, John Spencer has been brought in as an offensive guru for the club. With much turnover yet again, its hard to see what the Rapids can do to become relevant again. One attempt they are making is to bring in USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard from Everton in the summer on a DP salary. Yep, their entire season seems to hinge on John Spencer adding goals and Tim Howard coming in the summer to stop leaking them. Seriously.
COLUMBUS CREW SC: With minimal subtractions and depth additions, along with a new DP contract for Kei Kamara, last seasons MLS Cup runners up look set to pick up where they left off. With a solid young foundation only getting better as each season progresses, there are only two real questions marks regarding the Crew. First, can the few aging stars on the club, Higuain, Kamara, and Parkhurst, maintain their high levels of performance as they add an extra season to their legs, and two, can season three of Gregg Berhalter be as effective as the first two.
DC UNITED: Luciano Acosta. The entire season for DC may come down to how well the Boca Juniors loanee Acosta adjusts to MLS and his new teammates. MLS All Time foul sufferer Davy Arnaud needed to retire from the side due to concussions, but he has joined the coaching staff. Former LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids man, Marcelo Sarvas, looks to fill the gap.
FC DALLAS: Fabian Castillo. Maxi Urruti. Mauro Diaz. Jesse Gonzalez. Mauro Rosales. Carlos Gruezo. Acosta. Hedges. Akindele. Manager Oscar Pereja. What more do you need to know? Dallas is the one team in the stacked West capable of winning the Supporters Shield. Will Castillo find himself leaving in the summer as the largest transfer fee ever paid for an MLS player? Could be, but anyway you slice it, Dallas is the team to watch this season. I just wish they didn't play in the middle of nowhere.
HOUSTON DYNAMO: Owen Coyle enters season two in Houston, and many are left wondering what exactly he is bringing to the table other than being a less MLS successful version of Dom Kinnear. This season there are two major questions apart from the manager which will tell the tale of the Dynamo's season. One, will Cubo Torres put a poor loan spell and assault allegations from 2015 behind him and return to his Chivas USA form for the Dynamo? And two, will Christian Maidana be the spark that gets Houston into the playoffs, or the spark that sees them falter even below last seasons mediocre performances.
LA GALAXY: Bruce Arena enters into the last season of his contract in LA by selling Omar Gonzalez and Juninho to Mexican clubs, but adding veteran European talent in Nigel De Jong, Ca$hley Cole, and Jelle Van Damm, veteran MLS talent in Dan Kennedy, Mike Magee, Jeff Larentowicz, as well as Ghanian Emmanuel Boateng. Will they have the legs to last a season in MLS packed with travel and weather? One thing I know for certain, never under estimate Bruce Arena, even when he makes "crazy" decisions like brining in Cole.
MONTREAL IMPACT: Will Didier Drogba play more or less than 14 games this season? Thats where I place the over/under. With him, they are a title contender. Without him, they are a mediocre side. How often Drogba plays, if he still has the legs, and if Cameron Porter comes back and hits the ground running in Drogue's absence may tell the tale of the season.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: Out goes Jermaine Jones and his DP salary. In comes Gershon Koffie. Newly signed DP mid Xavier Kouassi suffered injury seeing out his contract in Switzerland, and will miss the beginning of the season. Apart from that, not much has changed in New England.
NEW YORK CITY FC: Patrick Viera. Patrick Viera. Patrick Viera. Manchester City would love for Viera to prove himself in MLS before replacing Pep Guardiola in the City hot seat in a few seasons time, but the chances seem slim based on the history of managers new to MLS, let alone the game itself apart from Man City's youth team. NYCFC is still to me a hopelessly unbalanced team, with Pirlo, Lampard, and Villa yet to gel. While Villa had his moments, and Lampard wasn't awful, Pirlo was awful. And while they are in the team with their old legs, younger talents like Mix and Poku are going to be riding the bench. Another major concern this season for NYCFC will be how those ancient legs respond to counter attacks. I smell another mediocre season, but the fallout should be fun to watch.
NEW YORK RED BULLS: Matt Miazga exits for Chelsea while Gideon Baah enters. Apart from that, last seasons Supporter's Shield winners are remarkably the same. Will the league have figured them out, or will Jesse Marsch add enough new wrinkles to keep the train rolling down the tracks?
ORLANDO CITY SC: Antonio Nocerino comes in, as well as Kevin Alston. Apart from that, the one major change Orlando will hope for in 2016 is Kevin Molino being healthy for the entire season. While Orlando had a decent first season, Kaka isn't in MLS to not make the playoffs.
PHILADELPHIA UNION: After a decade in the Netherlands building teams on a budget, the Earnie Stewart era begins in Philly. Youth and undervalued talent seem to be his aims in season one. Will it give the Sons of Ben the winner they deserve? Will Jim Curtain last the season? The experiment will be interesting to watch.
PORTLAND TIMBERS FC: Last seasons Champions, Portland has seen the exits of Will Johnson, Maxi Urutti, Rodney Wallace, and Jorge Villafana. In the always competitive West, its hard to look at Portland and say they are better than last season. While a lot of talent remains, its hard to see a repeat performance in a parity filled MLS.
REAL SALT LAKE: Yura Movsisyan and El Burrito enter as Gil and Jamie exit. While boring boring RSL finished 9th in the West last season, they did evolve into a 4-3-3 formation down the stretch. With a healthy Plata and the new additions, RSL should be fighting for the playoffs.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: It won't be pretty, but it may be affective. Um... yeah.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC: Obafemi Martins leaves for China as Jordan Morris finally turns pro and enters MLS with Seattle. With a DP slot to fill come summer, the Sounders we see the first half of the season may not be exactly as it is come the end of the season. With the money spent and the fan support they have garnered, for me, it is do or die this season for Sigi Schmid. Win or retire. Even if by force.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: MLS goal of the year winner Krisztian Nemeth takes his 16 goals to Qatar, making many ask where the goals will come from apart from Dom Dwyer, leading to the acquisition of new man Nuno Andre Coelho. And the service to the front men will be improved with the depth added through MLS veterans Justin Mapp and Brad Davis. Sporting should be solid in 2016, if not must see TV.
TORONTO FC: Last season on the back of the Atomic Ant, Toronto made the playoffs for the first time. While solid up front with Giovinco, the newly slimmed Jozy Altidore, and Michael Bradley, the defense was flawed at best. This year they look to take advantage of a weak East by solidifying the back through Drew Moor, Clint Irwin, Will Johnson, and Steven Beitashour. If they can survive injuries and summer internationals, this could be the year TFC makes a serious run.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC: The caps were a young, solid, and entertaining side last season, and apart from the subtraction of Gershon Koffie in the mid, they seem to be all set to keep up last seasons good work. They added depth up front with Blas Perez and Masato Kudo, and midfield talent with Christian Bolanos. If you're looking for an MLS team to adopt, this could be it. Think of them as a Canadian Tottenham Hotspur.
So now its time for all of my gloriously inaccurate predictions.(Its MLS, batting .500 is amazing) First, my general thoughts, followed by my final predictions...
WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: Its a straight battle between FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps. LA and Seattle are built for the playoffs, and perhaps not the long grind of a season.
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS: Columbus, NYRB, and TFC. Only the Revs are even near the conversation.
SUPPORTER'S SHIELD WINNER: Dallas, Vancouver, Columbus, NYRB, or TFC.
US OPEN CUP WINNER: Sporting KC, Philly, Seattle, or Portland.
LEAGUE MVP: Kei Kamara, Sebastian Giovinco, Robbie Keane, David Villa, Fabian Castillo.
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS:
FC Dallas
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Sporting KC
LA Galaxy
Portland Timbers
Houston Dynamo
Real Salt Lake
San Jose Earthquakes
Colorado Rapids
EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS:
Columbus Crew SC
New York Red Bulls
Toronto FC
New England Revolution
Montreal Impact
DC United
Orlando City SC
New York City FC
Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire
SUPPORTER'S SHIELD WINNER: FC Dallas
MLS CUP WINNER: LA Galaxy
US OPEN CUP WINNER: Portland Timbers FC
LEAGUE MVP: Robbie Keane
Thank you for reading my 8th annual MLS Season preview. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to let me know. It should be a great season in MLS.
Until next time, remember, MLS Matters.
Showing posts with label NYCFC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NYCFC. Show all posts
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
WEEK 6 REVIEW/WEEK 7 PREVIEW
WEEK 6 RESULTS:
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 2-2 COLUMBUS CREW SC
FC DALLAS 0-4 COLORADO RAPIDS
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 0-0 COLUMBUS CREW SC
PHILADELPHIA UNION 2-1 NEW YORK CITY FC
DC UNITED 2-2 NEW YORK RED BULLS
HOUSTON DYNAMO 3-0 MONTREAL IMPACT
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 0-0 REAL SALT LAKE
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 1-0 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
PORTLAND TIMBERS FC 0-2 ORLANDO CITY SC
LA GALAXY 1-0 SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
WEEK 6 REVIEW:
The story of the week may have been Colorado finally scoring a goal. Four of them in fact, on the road, against a Dallas side that started well. It was a result no one could have expected, and another reason why we love MLS.
With the start of double game weeks, Vancouver and Columbus both saw double duty, with the two drawing in Vancouver, the Whitecaps losing on the road to San Jose, and the Crew getting 2 road points in the week after drawing the Revs.
In a battle of the potential kings of the East, DC and the Red Bulls battled hard to a stalemate in the nations capital. A case can be made the the new Red Bulls, version Jesse Marsch, could be the best team in the East, if not all of MLS.
Sundays television matches gave us two interesting clashes as Orlando City stunned Portland at home getting a clean sheet as well as two goals themselves. A side everyone predicted to be Kaka-or-bust might finally be starting to gel. In the other matchup, LA Galaxy showed why they are always near the top of the league when they put one goal past the Sounders, then hung on to seal the three points.
TACTICAL CORNER: Over the history of MLS, one thing has proven true. The home side is much more likely to win or draw than they are to lose. Even more so than in many of the top leagues, MLS is a league where you play a high line at home, pressing the game, and attacking to appease the fans. On the road, you play a much deeper line, concede much of the possession, and hope to nick a point on the counter attack.
While there are times common sense says to park the bus, or attack attack attack, why more teams don't play the high line pressing game on the road is beyond me. A good example of this would be Vancouver, a team that often plays the same at home as they do on the road. They often concede possession while using pace on the counter and tactical fouling to control matches the numbers say they didn't control.
Against LA in week 5, Vancouver threw the tactics book out the window, played a high line, pressed the game from minute one, and completely dominated the LA Galaxy in a way Bruce Arena had never experienced during his time with the club. It was a work of art, and my hope was that a talented Vancouver side would now take up the mantle and play this way more often than not, at home or on the road. Then week 6 came, they had a double match week with matches at home and on the road. In both games, they reverted to old form, and walked away with only one point. The team that dominated the kings of MLS, the team with all of the talent needed to play a more aggressive style of football while laying a marker down as to what it takes to be the best in MLS, while a quality side, took their foot back off the gas and played like a quality road side both home and away.
Over the coming weeks we will check back in on the tactical decisions made by managers when their teams play home and away, with particular interest on who shows as much aggression on the road as they do at home, and what the results from this style of play are. Vancouver, facing a tactically changed Real Salt Lake in week 7, has the perfect opportunity to play the high line and force RSL onto the back foot on their own home pitch. Sadly, I predict Vancouver sitting back, fouling, and using the counter in an attempt to steal a point.
WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS AND PREVIEW:
NEW YORK CITY FC 2-1 PHILADELPHIA UNION: Another double game week kicks off Thursday as NYCFC and the Union face off for the second time in history, and the second time in five days. Last Saturday the Union won at home 2-1, and I look for NY to return the favor this week. With Mix Diskerud away on international duty, the hill will be tougher for NY to climb, but my trick elbow says that this is the week David Villa will double his MLS goal tally with a brace.
NEW YORK RED BULLS 2-1 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: The UNIMAS Friday night match of the week, Jesse Marsch's men come into the game unbeaten, coming off a dramatic equalizer, with Lloyd Sam in the form of his career, bagging his third goal in 4 matches. San Jose for their part haven't lost in New York since 2011, but also haven't won in NY since 2005. NY could be the best team in MLS early doors, and a win over a tough Dom Kinnear managed side would do much to hush Marsch's summer doubters.
DC UNITED 1-0 HOUTSON DYNAMO: DC are 3-1-1 on the season, without a loss in the last 4. Perry Kitchen had a brace last week, but a strong Red Bulls side came back for a draw, ending DC's win streak. In their first 5 matches, Houston scored 2 goals. Last week, they put 5 past Montreal. The road team has won 3 of the last 5 matches between these two, and what should be a fierce battle could be a draw, but my money is on the home team stealing all three points off a single goal.
COLUMBUS CREW SC 1-0 ORLANDO CITY SC: Columbus sits three points behind Orlando having played a match less. They come home after a coast to coast road swing last week. Up front, Columbus features Kei Kamara, coming off a brace last week, while Orlando features rookie Cyle Larin, fresh off his first career goal. The key matchup this week may be Orlando's Kaka, the man who has scored half of Orlando's goals this season, and the Crew's defensive minded mids. If Trapp is healthy, back Columbus. If not, all bets are off.
FC DALLAS 1-0 TORONTO FC: Bradley is potentially out for international duty. Joey Altidore won't play for the US due to suspension, and is in Texas with the US, so expect him to start. Dallas has won 3 of the last 5 meetings between these teams, with two draws coming in the other results. After starting the season with a win, TFC followed it up with three losses and a bye week. In what should be an interesting match of two teams reeling from recent results, bet the home team.
COLORADO RAPIDS 0-1 SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC: Seattle has won the last four meetings between these two sides, three of those at home, but the most recent coming in Colorado. Of the past 5 matches, Seattle has won twice 4-1, while Colorado won 5-1. While it would be easy to predict that Colorado snapping their 18 match winless streak would give them a boost this week at home, in the end I feel Seattle has enough in the tank to sneak a victory. Clint Dempsey's injury hampers their chances, with Martins being a shadow of himself since Dempsey went down, but this could be a week for Lamar Neagle.
REAL SALT LAKE 1-1 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC: Last season gave us two score draws in Salt Lake City and a win for the Whitecaps at home. Like the Red Bulls, RSL are the other unbeaten team early this MLS season. While RSL hasn't conceded a goal on the road this season, they have let 4 past themselves at home, where they play more openly. Vancouver has never won at the Rio Tinto. While I am predicting a draw, if Laba and Teibert team in the midfield and Vancouver presses the game throughout, expect a minor upset.
LA GALAXY 2-1 SPORTING KANSAS CITY: The home side has won 4 of the last 5 matches between these two, with one draw KC along the way. With Ike Opara out indefinitely with his knee injury, and Dom Dwyer yet to hit his stride, while Roger Espinoza has yet to have the impact upon his return many expected, the odds may be in LA's favor. KC has to rely on other players returning from injury to give them a spark. Look for LA to continue the home cooking this series has become known for.
PHILADELPHIA UNION 1-1 NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: ESPN2's Sunday night clash gives us Philly's second match of the week, after they finally came to life last week. After three home wins, the road team has won the last two meetings between these two. After 2 losses to kick the season off, the Revs haven't lost in their last 4, and are finally starting to click. Jermaine Jones is back in training, and the run many of us expect from them could be getting ready to roll. In what should be a fiesty battle of Eastern Conference foes, look for a draw.
NEW YORK CITY FC 1-2 PORTLAND TIMBERS FC: FS1's Sunday night match features the second of NY's home matches of the week, their first ever clash against Portland. After a stunning loss at home against the other expansion side, Portland look to travel from coast to coast and turn the results around. In MLS, the home team often gets the result, and teams that travel from one coast to another for a match are also at a massive disadvantage, and Portland is still without some very key pieces, I have a feeling they will get it done in Prime Time.
Week 7 injury report:
CHICAGO- OUT: Magee and Nyarko. QUESTIONABLE: Johnson.
COLORADO- QUESTIONABLE: Alvarez, Cronin, Sjoberg.
COLUMBUS- QUESTIONABLE: Trapp, Francis.
DC UNITED- OUT: Johnson, Birnbaum. QUESTIONABLE: DeLeon.
FC DALLAS- QUESTIONABLE: Keel, Kennedy, Diaz.
HOUSTON- QUESTIONABLE: Rodriguez, Garcia.
GALAXY- OUT: Perk. QUESTIONABLE: Walker, Leonardo, Keane.
MONTREAL- OUT: Mapp, Porter.
NEW ENGLAND- QUESTIONABLE: Kobayashi.
NYCFC- OUT: John. QUESTIONABLE: Facey.
NYRB- QUESTIONABLE: Miller, Zubar, Perrinelle.
ORLANDO- OUT: Hall. QUESTIONABLE: Ribeiro, Neal.
PHILLY- OUT: Bird, Fabinho. QUESTIONABLE: Maidana, Edu, Aristeguieta.
PORTLAND- OUT: Johnson, Valeri, Zemanski.
RSL- OUT: Plata. QUESTIONABLE: Pecka, Glad.
SAN JOSE- QUESTIONABLE: Sherrod, Stewart, Lenhart, Francis.
SEATTLE- QUESTIONABLE: Dempsey.
SKC- OUT: Opara, Myers. QUESTIONABLE: Zusi, Sinovic.
TFC- OUT: Caldwell. QUESTIONABLE: Perquis, Bloom, Zavaleta.
VANCOUVER- OUT: Lewis, Bustos. QUESTIONABLE: Rosales, Koffie, Rodriguez.
Hope you enjoyed this weeks review/preview. Any questions or comments, feel free to post them below. Hope to see you back next week, and as always, remember, MLS Matters.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 2-2 COLUMBUS CREW SC
FC DALLAS 0-4 COLORADO RAPIDS
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 0-0 COLUMBUS CREW SC
PHILADELPHIA UNION 2-1 NEW YORK CITY FC
DC UNITED 2-2 NEW YORK RED BULLS
HOUSTON DYNAMO 3-0 MONTREAL IMPACT
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 0-0 REAL SALT LAKE
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 1-0 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
PORTLAND TIMBERS FC 0-2 ORLANDO CITY SC
LA GALAXY 1-0 SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
WEEK 6 REVIEW:
The story of the week may have been Colorado finally scoring a goal. Four of them in fact, on the road, against a Dallas side that started well. It was a result no one could have expected, and another reason why we love MLS.
With the start of double game weeks, Vancouver and Columbus both saw double duty, with the two drawing in Vancouver, the Whitecaps losing on the road to San Jose, and the Crew getting 2 road points in the week after drawing the Revs.
In a battle of the potential kings of the East, DC and the Red Bulls battled hard to a stalemate in the nations capital. A case can be made the the new Red Bulls, version Jesse Marsch, could be the best team in the East, if not all of MLS.
Sundays television matches gave us two interesting clashes as Orlando City stunned Portland at home getting a clean sheet as well as two goals themselves. A side everyone predicted to be Kaka-or-bust might finally be starting to gel. In the other matchup, LA Galaxy showed why they are always near the top of the league when they put one goal past the Sounders, then hung on to seal the three points.
TACTICAL CORNER: Over the history of MLS, one thing has proven true. The home side is much more likely to win or draw than they are to lose. Even more so than in many of the top leagues, MLS is a league where you play a high line at home, pressing the game, and attacking to appease the fans. On the road, you play a much deeper line, concede much of the possession, and hope to nick a point on the counter attack.
While there are times common sense says to park the bus, or attack attack attack, why more teams don't play the high line pressing game on the road is beyond me. A good example of this would be Vancouver, a team that often plays the same at home as they do on the road. They often concede possession while using pace on the counter and tactical fouling to control matches the numbers say they didn't control.
Against LA in week 5, Vancouver threw the tactics book out the window, played a high line, pressed the game from minute one, and completely dominated the LA Galaxy in a way Bruce Arena had never experienced during his time with the club. It was a work of art, and my hope was that a talented Vancouver side would now take up the mantle and play this way more often than not, at home or on the road. Then week 6 came, they had a double match week with matches at home and on the road. In both games, they reverted to old form, and walked away with only one point. The team that dominated the kings of MLS, the team with all of the talent needed to play a more aggressive style of football while laying a marker down as to what it takes to be the best in MLS, while a quality side, took their foot back off the gas and played like a quality road side both home and away.
Over the coming weeks we will check back in on the tactical decisions made by managers when their teams play home and away, with particular interest on who shows as much aggression on the road as they do at home, and what the results from this style of play are. Vancouver, facing a tactically changed Real Salt Lake in week 7, has the perfect opportunity to play the high line and force RSL onto the back foot on their own home pitch. Sadly, I predict Vancouver sitting back, fouling, and using the counter in an attempt to steal a point.
WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS AND PREVIEW:
NEW YORK CITY FC 2-1 PHILADELPHIA UNION: Another double game week kicks off Thursday as NYCFC and the Union face off for the second time in history, and the second time in five days. Last Saturday the Union won at home 2-1, and I look for NY to return the favor this week. With Mix Diskerud away on international duty, the hill will be tougher for NY to climb, but my trick elbow says that this is the week David Villa will double his MLS goal tally with a brace.
NEW YORK RED BULLS 2-1 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: The UNIMAS Friday night match of the week, Jesse Marsch's men come into the game unbeaten, coming off a dramatic equalizer, with Lloyd Sam in the form of his career, bagging his third goal in 4 matches. San Jose for their part haven't lost in New York since 2011, but also haven't won in NY since 2005. NY could be the best team in MLS early doors, and a win over a tough Dom Kinnear managed side would do much to hush Marsch's summer doubters.
DC UNITED 1-0 HOUTSON DYNAMO: DC are 3-1-1 on the season, without a loss in the last 4. Perry Kitchen had a brace last week, but a strong Red Bulls side came back for a draw, ending DC's win streak. In their first 5 matches, Houston scored 2 goals. Last week, they put 5 past Montreal. The road team has won 3 of the last 5 matches between these two, and what should be a fierce battle could be a draw, but my money is on the home team stealing all three points off a single goal.
COLUMBUS CREW SC 1-0 ORLANDO CITY SC: Columbus sits three points behind Orlando having played a match less. They come home after a coast to coast road swing last week. Up front, Columbus features Kei Kamara, coming off a brace last week, while Orlando features rookie Cyle Larin, fresh off his first career goal. The key matchup this week may be Orlando's Kaka, the man who has scored half of Orlando's goals this season, and the Crew's defensive minded mids. If Trapp is healthy, back Columbus. If not, all bets are off.
FC DALLAS 1-0 TORONTO FC: Bradley is potentially out for international duty. Joey Altidore won't play for the US due to suspension, and is in Texas with the US, so expect him to start. Dallas has won 3 of the last 5 meetings between these teams, with two draws coming in the other results. After starting the season with a win, TFC followed it up with three losses and a bye week. In what should be an interesting match of two teams reeling from recent results, bet the home team.
COLORADO RAPIDS 0-1 SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC: Seattle has won the last four meetings between these two sides, three of those at home, but the most recent coming in Colorado. Of the past 5 matches, Seattle has won twice 4-1, while Colorado won 5-1. While it would be easy to predict that Colorado snapping their 18 match winless streak would give them a boost this week at home, in the end I feel Seattle has enough in the tank to sneak a victory. Clint Dempsey's injury hampers their chances, with Martins being a shadow of himself since Dempsey went down, but this could be a week for Lamar Neagle.
REAL SALT LAKE 1-1 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC: Last season gave us two score draws in Salt Lake City and a win for the Whitecaps at home. Like the Red Bulls, RSL are the other unbeaten team early this MLS season. While RSL hasn't conceded a goal on the road this season, they have let 4 past themselves at home, where they play more openly. Vancouver has never won at the Rio Tinto. While I am predicting a draw, if Laba and Teibert team in the midfield and Vancouver presses the game throughout, expect a minor upset.
LA GALAXY 2-1 SPORTING KANSAS CITY: The home side has won 4 of the last 5 matches between these two, with one draw KC along the way. With Ike Opara out indefinitely with his knee injury, and Dom Dwyer yet to hit his stride, while Roger Espinoza has yet to have the impact upon his return many expected, the odds may be in LA's favor. KC has to rely on other players returning from injury to give them a spark. Look for LA to continue the home cooking this series has become known for.
PHILADELPHIA UNION 1-1 NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: ESPN2's Sunday night clash gives us Philly's second match of the week, after they finally came to life last week. After three home wins, the road team has won the last two meetings between these two. After 2 losses to kick the season off, the Revs haven't lost in their last 4, and are finally starting to click. Jermaine Jones is back in training, and the run many of us expect from them could be getting ready to roll. In what should be a fiesty battle of Eastern Conference foes, look for a draw.
NEW YORK CITY FC 1-2 PORTLAND TIMBERS FC: FS1's Sunday night match features the second of NY's home matches of the week, their first ever clash against Portland. After a stunning loss at home against the other expansion side, Portland look to travel from coast to coast and turn the results around. In MLS, the home team often gets the result, and teams that travel from one coast to another for a match are also at a massive disadvantage, and Portland is still without some very key pieces, I have a feeling they will get it done in Prime Time.
Week 7 injury report:
CHICAGO- OUT: Magee and Nyarko. QUESTIONABLE: Johnson.
COLORADO- QUESTIONABLE: Alvarez, Cronin, Sjoberg.
COLUMBUS- QUESTIONABLE: Trapp, Francis.
DC UNITED- OUT: Johnson, Birnbaum. QUESTIONABLE: DeLeon.
FC DALLAS- QUESTIONABLE: Keel, Kennedy, Diaz.
HOUSTON- QUESTIONABLE: Rodriguez, Garcia.
GALAXY- OUT: Perk. QUESTIONABLE: Walker, Leonardo, Keane.
MONTREAL- OUT: Mapp, Porter.
NEW ENGLAND- QUESTIONABLE: Kobayashi.
NYCFC- OUT: John. QUESTIONABLE: Facey.
NYRB- QUESTIONABLE: Miller, Zubar, Perrinelle.
ORLANDO- OUT: Hall. QUESTIONABLE: Ribeiro, Neal.
PHILLY- OUT: Bird, Fabinho. QUESTIONABLE: Maidana, Edu, Aristeguieta.
PORTLAND- OUT: Johnson, Valeri, Zemanski.
RSL- OUT: Plata. QUESTIONABLE: Pecka, Glad.
SAN JOSE- QUESTIONABLE: Sherrod, Stewart, Lenhart, Francis.
SEATTLE- QUESTIONABLE: Dempsey.
SKC- OUT: Opara, Myers. QUESTIONABLE: Zusi, Sinovic.
TFC- OUT: Caldwell. QUESTIONABLE: Perquis, Bloom, Zavaleta.
VANCOUVER- OUT: Lewis, Bustos. QUESTIONABLE: Rosales, Koffie, Rodriguez.
Hope you enjoyed this weeks review/preview. Any questions or comments, feel free to post them below. Hope to see you back next week, and as always, remember, MLS Matters.
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