WVHooligan - Soccer Blog

Sorry for the delay in getting these up, I decided to hold off until today instead of yesterday like normal since there were no games on Saturday and all four games were shifted to Sunday. Now since it is already the weekend I will actually be pretty brief with these predictions/previews.

Some good match-ups this weekend, both in and out of conference play. Let’s hope that this weekend isn’t a draw-fest like last weekend too!

New York Red Bulls – at – San Jose Earthquakes: The battle of two bottom teams in each conference meet in an early afternoon contest out west. Both clubs have taken on some moves in the past couple weeks since the transfer window opened up, will we finally see some different play out of these two clubs because of those moves? Let’s hope.

Both clubs really need a win, San Jose hasn’t won since the start of June and the Red Bulls are winless in their last four games. The Red Bulls easily won the first contest of the season between these two clubs back at the start of the year 2-0 but the Big Apple side isn’t a great road team this year (1-5-3, 17 goals against).

San Jose has played fairly well at home this season at Buck Shaw Stadium. I look for them to use the cozy atmosphere to get the best of the Red Bulls today. The big reason I say that is because of keeper Joe Cannon, his play lately has been stellar and he is really the lone reason why the Quakes have been in some close games this season.

But what do you get when you mix a club that has little offense against a club that has little defense? A mess of a game. These two historically (yes I know that was an old San Jose club) play some wild games with scorelines like 4-4 or 5-5.

I don’t expect to see that many goals tomorrow but I do see a crazy game like that. San Jose’s offense should get better this week as newbies Darren Huckerby and Scott Sealy have had another week to get adjusted to their new club. Same can be said for New York’s new group of players and for me this game will get bogged down in the midfield. New York should win that battle but on a smaller field I actually like the Quakes.

A draw sounds good though for this one.

WVH Prediction: San Jose 2, New York 2

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LA Galaxy – at – FC Dallas: Ah, another home game for this guy to attend. The last time these clubs met in Frisco it was a bad day for the home side, as LA downed FC Dallas 5-1. Shortly after Steve Morrow was released from his position as head coach of the Hoops and seemingly the wheels started to come off for Dallas then. LA however since then has been the same, loads of offense and no defense.

This should be an interesting one for Dallas. Will it be the last game for Juan Toja and Kenny Cooper? Both pretty much sound like they are on their way out here. LA has a similar situation with Edson Buddle or Carlos Ruiz.

As much as I am wanting to see Dallas turn the corner here this season under new coach Schellas Hyndman, I just don’t see it happening right now. LA may have a bad defense but their offense will be more than capable of putting a few by the Dallas defense tomorrow evening.

Landon Donovan and David Beckham put on another show in Frisco. But Cooper does get one back for the home side.

WVH Prediction: LA 3, Dallas 1

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Chicago Fire – at – Kansas City Wizards: Finally another home game for the Wizards right? It just seems like they hardly ever have home games this season. It should be a stern test for this club who seems like they are turning a corner here this summer as they host the surging Fire.

This eastern battle could be the best match-up of the weekend too. When they played back at the start of the season it was a great game that saw KC steal three points from the Fire at Toyota Park. It was one of those games where nothing went right for Chicago and one bounce go right for the Wizards.

This game should be close as Chicago has a nasty defense and for some reason play really well away from home. KC needs to continue what they did in Columbus, get the ball wide with Claudio Lopez and find guys in the middle like Josh Wolff to finish things home.

I like Chicago mainly because of the play of Blanco right now. After watching his All-Star performance, I see him continuing that hot play tomorrow evening in KC. The Wizards defense is coming around but Blanco will create too many holes in between that backline.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, KC 0

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Columbus Crew – at – Colorado Rapids: The second time in a month these two clash as the Crew travel west for an important meeting with the Rapids. Both clubs looking to find that consistent play as they head for the stretch run here. The Crew want to keep pace with New England in the east and Colorado is hoping to climb the charts in the west.

Colorado has been good at home this season but finding some consistent play hasn’t really been their strong suit. Columbus is still the toughest team to beat in my mind right now. Time and time again they continue to show how hard they are to stop. But Colorado isn’t their favorite place to play in, only one win the Mile High City since the start of MLS back in 1996. That one victory was way back in 1999 too.

I see that continuing here though, Columbus will be missing a couple Olympic players (Robbie Rogers and Emmanuel Ekpo) which will be too much for them to overcome I think. Colorado won’t win by much but they do have enough offense to do some damage.

WVH Prediction: Colorado 2, Columbus 1

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