The Red Bull players got a sneak peak at their new digs that is “75 percent done” according to managing director Erik Stover. More and more this stadium looks world class.

Editor’s Note: Geoff Reid appears on WVHooligan.com each week. Today he returns to preview this weekend’s FA Cup final.

We’ve reached that time of the European season again and after this weekend it’ll all be over for another 2 months plus. The great thing about the game today is football is going on 12 months out of the year. Most leagues run from August to May, MLS being an exception going from March to November with internationals all in between with big tournaments each summer. For myself, who’s life revolves around the sport 24/7 it keeps me sane! And this time of year I’ve always looked forward to the final of the world’s oldest knockout competition: The FA Cup Final.

This year’s final looks a very intriguing matchup. One side like’s to play open, attacking football although under Guus Hiddink Chelsea look much more stabilized defensively and balanced compared to Luis Felipe Scolari. The other side is a lot more blue collar and hard working being Everton. David Moyes has built himself a very solid foundation with a good bunch of players that have been at Goodison Park for a long time now. Moyes understands that he can’t beat teams like Chelsea by playing better football then them, so what he has done is surround technically gifted players like Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill with workmen like players and it’s worked to a charm the last few years.

Team News: New Brunswick, New Jersey’s own Tim Howard will most likely have a busy day tomorrow. If Tim has a quiet day, then Everton’s defense will have limited Chelsea’s chances and that is the main key here. In front of Howard will be a back four consisting of Leighton Baines, Joleon Lescott, Joseph Yobo and Tony Hibbert. The midfield will likely have five in the middle out of Phil Neville and Maroune Fellaini anchoring the unit with Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar and Tim Cahill being the creative sparks further forward. All of this will mean Moyes will start with a lone striker up top. Who it will be is tough to tell. Luis Saha could get the nod, however, it is possible for Cahill to get the call since he has played as a lone front man before this season.

Chelsea’s lineup won’t be complicated. Petr Cech will start in goal and look for Everton to test him early since his form has been shaky this season. The back four will be the usual suspects of Jose Bosingwa, John Terry, Alex and Ashley Cole. The midfield could be three across the middle with two wide men further forward with a lone top man. Since Hiddink took over, both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba have been paired together more often then not, and their would be no reason why it would change. Whichever system the Dutchman goes with, the midfield will be Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and Florent Malouda but also look for the inclusions of Deco, Saloman Kalou or John Obi Mikel possibly.

Key Matchup: The midfield, that’s the bottom line. Whoever can control the middle of Wembley will win this match. If Phil Neville and company can keep Lampard, Essien and Ballack quiet and win the first and second balls then they should be in good shape. How can the toffees do this? By pressing high and playing physical which are Everton strengths. If Chelseaa’s midfield get any time to feed Anelka and Drogba, Everton will need Howard to bail them out.

Hiddink vs Moyes: Nick Webster from FSC gives the edge to Moyes because he thinks Everton will want it more. I couldn’t disagree more. Sure, Hiddink and the blues would have wanted the Premiership and Champions League more. However, Hiddink has won a lot in the game and he’s accomplished so much in a storied playing and coaching career. Being his first FA Cup Final and a trophy he grew up watching, he will be motivated just as much as the fans. Players like Terry and Lampard understand what the tournament is all about so there will be no complacency from Chelsea.

My Pick: Since this is the FA Cup and romance is what makes this tournament what it is, I’m going for Everton even though I am a red. I wouldn’t be shocked if it went all the way to penalties. US number one Timmy Howard was the hero in the semi-final against Manchester United so why not do it again?

Luciano Emilio and DC travel to New England to face Shalrie Joseph and the Revs. (Getty Images)

I won’t lie, last night’s game between Chicago and Chivas put a sour taste in my mouth for this weekend. The game itself was entertaining but the officiating was lacking in quality as we’ve all seen by now. Hopefully this weekend won’t be filled with yellow and red cards or lots of questionable PK calls.

Sorry for the rant but that’s just how I feel going into this weekend.

As for the weekend ahead here, we have a full slate of games with everyone in action except for Chivas (who played last night). I do hope we get seven quality games like last night’s contest though. Aside from the horrible officiating in the middle it was a good game. I’m gonna start switching things up here for the weekend previews. While I like doing longer previews for each game, time just doesn’t allow me to do so anymore for the weekend games. Instead I will stick with a quick preview and a player to look out for along with the score prediction. Continue Reading…

How quickly will Chivas USA coach Preki be fined by Major League Soccer for his rant last night after the game? Pretty soon I would imagine. Thing is he has a legitimate arguement about how things were called last night by Terry Vaughn.

It’s a shame too how it went down because that game between Chivas and Chicago was really good until that last PK.

Video via Goal.com

Marco Pappa and Chicago face Carey Tally and Chivas USA tonight. (Getty Images)

This seems to be a running theme as of late, conference leaders clashing each weekend. Oh wait, that is because Chivas USA continues to play clubs from the east when they are at the top of the east. Okay, I get it now. Anyways this should be a real interesting game tonight when the league leading Goats host the Fire in a prime-time clash on ESPN2.

The game kicks off a little late for you east coast folks (10:30ET). I haven’t decided if tonight will be a twittering during the game kind of night like last night or not here. All depends on the amount of time that I have later on this evening. I may just enjoy the game without the use of a computer in front of me.

Anyways, if you have a score prediction for tonight, leave it below.

1. Is Chivas starting to slide?

One has to wonder with their last two results if the AmeriGoats are starting to hit a wall. They’ve given up goals in spots that they weren’t at the start of the season and aren’t putting away clubs like we had seen. Then again it is almost expected for that kind of thing to take place when you get this big of a jump on everyone to start a season. The thing is there is one club that is starting to get real close to the Goats in the standings, and that is Chicago.

The Fire are still undefeated here and are really picking things up these days on the field with a couple wins lately. Guys like Chris Rolfe have been the big part of that so I would expect Chivas to play a bit tighter tonight defensively to slow down the Fire attack.

2. What does the Fire have to do to stay undefeated?

Its is as simple as playing their game and controlling the midfield with guys like Marco Pappa and Blanco. Lately the Fire have done everything right in terms of controlling the game and keeping as much pressure of their defense as possible. It also hasn’t hurt that their defense has really come together a good bit in recent weeks to now allow as many goals as they were earlier in the year.

Chicago also has to spread Chivas out. The AmeriGoats do well in controlling tight spaces but when you spread them out they can tend to get exposed a bit more. The Fire are excellent at using the wings and sending balls into the box for Rolfe and Brian McBride.

3. Player to keep an eye out for.

Sacha Kljestan has to be the big factor in this game for Chivas. We know he has struggled so far this season but this could be a great time to showcase his talents and get back into the spotlight for his club.

Quick Thoughts:

We really have an excellent matchup tonight on our hands. The league’s best defensive club (Chivas) against the best offensive club (Chicago). While Chivas doesn’t score as many goals they have scored a bunch at home this year. I have a feeling it will be a tight game with loads of fouls (Chivas leads in fouls committed and Chicago is near the top if fouls suffered).

In the end it does scream a draw with the way things are going this season but I like the Fire here to continue on their winning and inch closer to Chivas in the standings. Something out the last couple weeks with Chivas worries me a bit about this club and I think the Fire will expose that a bit more tonight. Then again I could be totally wrong and see Chicago’s undefeated mark end tonight but I’m going with my gut feeling here.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, Chivas 1

Just a lovely press release for those interested. The World Football Challenge launched its #1 Fan contest today in search of the biggest diehard soccer fans in the U.S.

Fans of Chelsea FC, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Club America to compete for no. 1 fan title and trip to see their club play live in the United States

American soccer fans can win a trip to see their favorite international teams live this summer at the World Football Challenge by showing how they are their club’s biggest fan in the United States.

Fans of Chelsea Football Club, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Club America can submit videos online for a chance to win a trip to see their team play live in the U.S. this July as part of the inaugural World Football Challenge tournament.

The four winners, one for each team, will be awarded two tickets to their club’s July 26 World Football Challenge match, two club jerseys, round trip airfare for the winner and a guest and two nights’ accommodations.

Soccer fans can visit www.worldfootballchallenge.com for more information and complete contest rules.

Note: This contest has nothing to do with WVHooligan.com, we just played the part of the hype-machine to get people interested!

Gary Smith would like some changes made to the Open Cup. (Getty Images)

Colorado Rapids manager Gary Smith does not like the US Open Cup. At all.

The Colorado Rapids head coach lashed out on the sad state of the U.S. Open Cup after his side’s 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday. His hits on the USOC included the venue of last nights game down to the importance of the Cup itself.

“(The way) the whole system has been conducted has led us down a path that it was obvious the MLS league games are far more important to everybody in our league,” Smith said. “Why should we risk our best players when nobody actually sees this as an important competition?

“I come from an environment and culture where Cup games are part of the fabric as English football and European football. I think people at the top have demeaned this competition by playing it here for starters. Why don’t we play the games at Qwest? Why, when we offered up the facilities at our own turf, are we not there?

“I understand there was a coin flip that nobody saw, and strangely enough Seattle won the toss. The difference tonight is they are at home and maybe they are slightly more adept to playing on a plastic surface. They go through to the next round and good luck to them.”

Smith was also a bit unhappy about the draw to play in Seattle and how it was done. Most may not know it but it was done by the flip of a coin. Yes, somehow a coin flip decided who hosted this match.

“Why can’t we promote the Cup in a more sensible fashion so everyone can get behind it?” he said. “There is a behind close door draw done and we end up here in a facility that is below par. We have seen two very good teams do battle on a below-par surface and facility.

“I don’t understand that with the strides the MLS and the league made in this country. Seattle has proved this week already what a good team they are. It doesn’t suit them either and I’m surprised.”

To be real honest Smith brings up a lot of valid points here. I’m behind the notion that the Open Cup should take on more importance for all clubs. The way it is set up is still a bit of a joke in some ways. I know there are certainly plenty of ways to improve the Cup but that is another post for another day.