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Wednesday Night MLS Preview

By on May 16, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

One game tonight in the league. Houston travels north of the border to face a fairly hot Toronto club at an even hotter BMO Field.

Houston has had a week off to regroup and gel a bit more after an impressive road win against Colorado. Dewayne de Rosario found his stroke in the 3-1 win over the Rapids by scoring two goals and getting out of the funk that he was in to start the season. Many people believe Houston is back in their championship form but this game and Saturday’s game with New England are a true measuring stick of just how much in form they really are.

Toronto is coming off of their first win, first goal, first red card, a bunch of firsts really. BMO Field has quickly became one of the toughest environments in the MLS’s history. Sure it is early to say such a thing but they are a very savvy crowd, just as Chicago.

I believe Houston with Toronto native DeRo will get the better of the two teams tonight. I wonder just what kind of reception DeRo will receive from his hometown crowd. I do think he will be a difference maker in this one too, but they need to find Ching to really make some noise. Toronto has to find a way to score without Dichio up top. Maybe Eskandarian can return from a slight injury to provide that spark.

I expect a Houston win but a great atmosphere. I will be watching on my league pass.

WVH Prediction: Houston 2, Toronto 1

Continue Reading · · in Houston Dynamo, MLS, News and Rumors, Toronto FC
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Thoughts on Trade Rumors

By on May 15, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Last couple days or so there has been an interesting trade rumor floating about in the league that really makes no sense what so ever. It all started in Sunday’s LA Times, saying that the Galaxy were entertaining the idea to trade for Carlos Ruiz. FC Dallas’s front office caught wind of it and wasn’t pleased with the rumor.

Another hot rumor was that Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz would be returning to the Galaxy, which lacks an accomplished goal scorer and a Latino flavor. Ruiz, immensely popular in his time with the Galaxy, fills both bills.

To get him, though, the Galaxy would have to give up quality for quality, and the talk was that it might be right back Chris Albright who ends up going to FC Dallas, possibly along with recently acquired forward Nate Jaqua.

A slightly outdated wing back and a vastly overrated striker who plays the exact style as two other Dallas strikers not named Ruiz. For one the trade sounds absolutely unfair to Dallas and this is not the Dallas fan talking either.

Sure the Galaxy would love to  land a top striker like Ruiz; but think about the last time they had Ruiz, he was dumped to Dallas in order to get Landon Donovan. So in my mind and probably in the mind of many others around the league is that in order for LA to get Ruiz they have to give up something as equal in return. Albright and Jagua don’t even come close in salary, marketing, or play.

Now, this trade rumor is absolutely absurd in the minds of the Dallas front office. For the most part in their minds, this is nothing more than a crazy rumor that is a non-story.

As it should be too. I don’t see why anyone in LA would proclaim such rumors either.

Ruiz isn’t going anywhere anytime soon either. He knows Dallas has built around him and wants him there. Not to mention he is the captain. Kinda hard to leave on a crazy trade when you are the captain of a team that is being built around you.

As for LA getting a quality striker to help out Donovan and Beckham, who knows when or if that will happen. Jaqua certainly isn’t the answer they were looking for. I can’t see anyone else on the trading block as of right now in the league who is a solid scoring threat that would work well with LandyCakes.

I guess that story will be written later on…

Continue Reading · · in FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, MLS, News and Rumors
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Houston Looking Into Stadium Issue

By on May 15, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

The city of Houston and the defending MLS Champions Houston Dynamo are currently looking into getting a stadium deal worked out.

The deal to be worked out would get the team a new stadium near the city’s current baseball stadium, Minute Maid Park, and would be a 20,00 – 22,000 seat stadium.

The current cost details look to be in the $70 million range. All the details are set to be worked out by mid-summer. Currently the team plays at the University of Houston football stadium, Robertson Stadium.

I said it before in my season predictions, this team will get a stadium deal before the end of the season and will probably even break ground on it before the MLS Cup. I really do believe that. The team and the city will get this club the stadium it has always been waiting for. Not to say that Robertson Stadium isn’t a good home, it just isn’t their true home.

More details on this as I get them. As for now the details are slim but at least they are in the process of hammering out a deal here. That much is a good sign.

Continue Reading · · in Houston Dynamo, MLS, News and Rumors
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Bradley To (Finally) Be Named Head Coach

By on May 15, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Our wait is over. Bob Bradley will officially be named the US National Team coach tomorrow at a press conference at 1pm.

* * * PRESS CONFERENCE ADVISORY * * *U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION PRESIDENT SUNIL GULATI TO MAKE MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT AT NEW YORK CITY PRESS CONFERENCE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 AT 1 P.M. ET
Press Conference Broadcast Available Live on ussoccer.com MatchACCESS Web StreamingNational Teleconference Call at 2:30 p.m. ET toFollow Press Conference at Marriott Marquis in Times SquareCHICAGO (May 14, 2007) —

All I can say it is about time. I had read recently that he would have the interim tag removed in the next week or so but now it is official that tomorrow afternoon he will be the head coach of the national team. Again, all I can say is it is about time. Most of you know my feelings on this subject. I have felt Bradley should have been named the head coach a long time ago, even before the big friendly win over Mexico back on February 7th.

Continue Reading · · in FIFA, US National Team, World Cup
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Abel Xavier to LA Thoughts

By on May 15, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

I guess I am a little late on this news but for the most part I was trying to figure out exactly what I thought about it. A couple days ago it was reported that Abel Xavier, a Portuguese defender will join the LA Galaxy later this summer once the transfer window opens up.

Xavier is a thirty-something guy who has been with as many teams in Europe as some journey men we see in other professional leagues here in the US. He may be notable to some for his failed drug test is the 2005 UEFA Cup. He sat out a year and later joined EPL club Middlesbrough.

He has 20 caps for Portugal’s National team over the many years of his 17 year career. So he does bring a bit of experience that may be lacking on the Galaxy’s back-line.

He isn’t a huge name though but his experience should speak for itself if he has anything left in the tank. He may very well be as nutty as Dennis Rodman. If that isn’t enough to get you out of your seat and go see this guy along side David Beckham then I don’t know what will. As long as his personality fits in with the Galaxy then things will work out fine.

I still believe the Galaxy need to go after some offensive power in a striker. Word is that they are trying to get Carlos Ruiz back in a Galaxy uniform. I don’t see it and I don’t want to see it. If a deal like that happened you can very well guess I will be writing a hate letter to the league about how they want to stack the deck for the Galaxy just because of David f’n Beckham. But hopefully it won’t come to that.
Either way, this is a good deal for the Galaxy. He won’t be a designated player or anything like that but I am sure he will have a fairly decent sized contract. Probably one like Schelotto got in Columbus.

Continue Reading · · in LA Galaxy, MLS, News and Rumors
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MLS Power Rankings – Week 6

By on May 14, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

A few shake ups in the power rankings this week because of how teams are playing or not playing. A couple teams had the week off but it shouldn’t affect too much of their ranking really. And lastly I am still a bit confused on why some people insist on ranking certain teams as high as they do after the way they have played recently.

Ranking (last week Ranking) Team (points) -

1. (2) New England Revolution (14 pts.) – This team is playing the best soccer as of late and its been fun to watch really. I think Taylor Twellman looks like a man possessed out there scoring the way he does. No surprise he was the league’s Player of the Week. Another MLS Cup rematch this weekend in Houston will really give us a true idea of how this team is. If it is anything like last weekend in LA, we should be in for a very good match.

2. (1) Red Bull New York (11 pt.) - Starting to not play their best soccer now. No Reyna was the key really against Colorado. They had no midfield control and just looked flat out lost at times. A visit from Columbus could help but remember that the Crew do have a good defense of their own. They will need more of Juan Pablo Angel if they want any shot of beating the Crew. Probably could expect a close draw in this one. If that is the case this team will start falling in these rankings.

3. (6) Colorado Rapids (11 pts.) - Back in the 3 spot is the Rapids. One week they are here the next they fall to five or six. Let’s see if they can hold on to this for a change. Some may call their win lucky against New York but when you outplay a team you outplay a team. Simple as that. They get a visit from KC this weekend, I expect another solid result out of this team as they push on in the west.

4. (5) Houston Dynamo (7 pt.) – They were off yet moved up. How crazy is that? Simple really, I am not ready to rank FC Dallas over them just yet and teams like Chicago and KC don’t deserve this high of a ranking. They don’t. Back to the Dynamo, they have a tough test this weekend with the Revs coming into town. Let’s hope that the week off didn’t cool them off.

5. (7) FC Dallas (10 pt.) - Getting the win in KC was the biggest step for this team I think. But getting Dario Sala back in the net was even bigger. Now if Carlos Ruiz will get his head on straight then this team could very well control their own destiny in the west. Two games this week for the Hoops. Thursday night encounter with Brimestone Cup rival Chicago and on Sunday at home against RSL. Should be at least four points in there this week one would think. Possibly six with the way the Fire are going.

6. (4) Kansas City Wizards (12 pts.) - How people are ranking this team as a top three team is beyond me. Listen folks, they haven’t beat a solid team yet this year. Seriously, they haven’t. They are in a world of trouble without Jimmy Conrad on the field now too. A trip to Colorado isn’t going to help in my eyes. Though I have seen weirder things this year. They need Eddie Johnson to get back on track.
7. (3) Chicago Fire (10 pts.) - Six goals in the last two games by the Fire. I said it at the beginning of the season, this team does not have the offense to keep up with most teams in the league and really they don’t have the defense to fend off most teams in this league. Toronto exposed just that last weekend as did New England the week before that. A rival coming to town could help but Dallas did get the best of the Fire last year if anyone remembers.

8. (8) Columbus Crew (7 pt.) - Flat out have to find more ways to score. Getting Andy Herron back could help. Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a class act but this team needs some offense still. I hear Sigi is trying to get Carlos Ruiz from Dallas. I highly doubt that would happen. This team goes to New York this weekend. The Red Bulls are going to be a desperate team I feel this weekend after their last two results. That could be a good thing for the Crew.

9. (9) LA Galaxy (4 pt.) – Tough loss this weekend against the Revs. I just want to see how this team is after a couple weekends in a row of actual games and not getting a weekend off here and there. Its killed this teams unity. Thankfully another Chivas game this weekend. Expect three points.

10. (10) DC United (4 pts.) - Didn’t play but it makes you wonder what all went on this past week in DC. I think they will be fine. A visit to Toronto should be interesting. I wonder how a team like DC will handle such an atmosphere like BMO Field.

11. (13) Toronto FC (3 pt.) - First goal, first points, first red card. Love it all. Two more home games this week should be interesting. Any points this week will be a success in my eyes for this club.

12. (11) CD Chivas USA (7 pts.) - Falling from grace but I think they will slowly get back at it. They need Ante Razov to be Ante Razov. If not it will begin a long summer for the Goats. If they bounce back against Toolbox rival LA then things could be looking up for Preki’s club. Don’t lose too much faith, I think they will get a big name in this summer’s transfer season.

12. (12) Real Salt Lake (4 pt.) - RSL is tied with Chivas right now in my eyes. A draw on the road was huge but I feel that Toronto is playing better than the two clubs. But I love how Jason Kreis is handling this club. Getting Freddy the space and the time on the ball is key, he finally looked like the Freddy we all expect to see. I loved it but the own goals against Colorado was weird. We will see how things go after a trip to Dallas this weekend.

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC, Toronto FC
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Final Week 6 Thoughts

By on May 14, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

I got the “I told you so’s” out of the way and I just wanted to put a cap on this past weekend because it was a very entertaining weekend of play in the league.

  • Contrast between who is playing well and who isn’t is intriguing because its almost a flip-flop of how the teams in the league started….New England started off slow and people were writing them off and now they are playing the best soccer in the league…in contrast to New York and Chicago who started off hot and are now cooling off
  • Clint Mathis is still not back folks…I don’t even care if he scores and assists in the next game with the Crew…he is consistently inconsistent.
  • Worst quote of the week following a loss was Bruce Arena:

“It was a bad performance on our part. I am very disappointed. Even though as you can tell, we got it together in the second half. We played 120 minutes on Tuesday, but that is not a reason to lose”

Poor excuse Bruce, your team played across country on Tuesday…the Rapids played across country on Thursday! Suck it up and just tell people you lost because of uninspired play. You shouldn’t even be talking about how you played on Tuesday after a loss. Also they looked a bit lost without Reyna. If he is hurt for any time it will really hurt this team.

  • Taylor Twellman is looking like the MVP he was in 2005. Six goals in seven games is just something else to watch.
  • In contrast Eddie Johnson still hasn’t shown to me that he is really back.
  • Scheduling is killing the Galaxy. I know I sound like a broken record but it is true. Thankfully for them they get start playing in consecutive weekends.
  • I will let KC off the hook this weekend for their attendance. Draw (barely) over 10k against Dallas is decent but still nothing to brag about. I do like that they place their supporters on the opposite side of the camera so it looks like people are actually at Arrowhead. Also, hat tip to the Hoops supporters making the drive to KC for the weekend game. Loved the smoke bombs in the late stages of the game.
  • In contrast the leagues ‘best’ in New York had trouble drawing 8,000 for their game yesterday with Colorado. You can’t tell me that in a market the size of New York that they cannot draw over 10k for every game. It is pathetic. Don’t give the mother’s day excuse either or that Giant Stadium is horrible. Nearly 20 million people in New York and around the area and you cannot draw at least 10k to a professional soccer game. Poor advertising Red Bulls, just poor.
  • LA and New England may have been the best match of the season thus far. Very back and forth, very entertaining stuff. Glad I went back and watched it on my league pass on MLSnet.
  • Loved the Toronto game as many of you already know. I have reviewed the little situation between Pickens and Dichio. Both were in the heat of the moment. Both should have gotten reds in my eyes because of how out of hand it really was and the ref probably should have only given a yellow to Gutierrez for his body slam to claim down Dichio. I expect fines and possibly some suspensions. Both Toronto and Chicago fans just need to cool down about it. Also the league needs to take note that the crowds up there will affect the refs just as much as the players. So send you best MLS if you want a fairly called game.
  • Very savvy crowd up at BMO Field. I wish others around the league would take note of just exactly how damn good of a crowd they are. Some expect a cooling off period with the large attendance figures but many people do not realize just how good of a sports town Toronto really is. Probably one of the best.

Okay some weekend awards:

Best Player: Taylor Twellman (gosh that was easy)

Best Keeper: Dario Sala ….thank God he is back in the Hoops lineup

Best Goal: I liked Dichio’s goal but Maurice Edu’s finish on that third Reds goal was amazing

Best Coaching Move: Putting Freddy Edu on the wing…way out on the wing. Great move by Jason Kries

Enough for now…be back later on with Power Rankings and other tidbits.

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, News and Rumors, Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC, Toronto FC
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Tides Are Turning In May

By on May 13, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Isn’t it odd how things are starting to shape up in the league? Sure it was a mere one game for a couple of teams for me to base this standing on but for others it has been building up. It’s strange how I was wrong about some teams but now they are proving to play just as I thought they would to begin with. April must really not be my month on a calendar year but maybe May is. I was off a month on my bases on a couple teams.

After this weekend I have some “I told you so” for some teams and other people out there. I knew it was too early to rank teams like Chicago, Kansas City and even LA too high in any sort of power ranking. I didn’t want to at times but I did because of run of play but now it is coming back around just as I thought it would at the beginning.

Sure, I will admit, I am gloating a bit about this here. You are allowed to when you get somethings right.

I know I have been dead wrong on a couple teams but I will accept that any day.

After this weekend I am seeing the Chicago that I expected. Even saw parts of the Red Bulls that I expected. And again I will point out that Clint Mathis is not back. Still no back-to-back games for Cleetus that were noteworthy for me to proclaim his return. At his rate he will have just as many cards as goals.

Many thought New York was unstoppable more so than ever now with the addition of Juan Pablo Angel but today they looked horrible against a legged Colorado team that had just played at home, across country a couple days earlier. You have to think losing points on the road in that controversy to Real Salt Lake did something to this team. I figured they’d bounce back but I guess not.

Chicago is playing like the Fire I thought they would. No defense, a midfield that isn’t creative enough on their own and strikers up front that are cooling off. I wonder if the next two Thursday night games will be enough to bounce them back on the right track. For now, I doubt it.
I will remind you that KC got off to a good start because they played the league’s worst team in Toronto in back-to-back games, plus throw in the game with a confused DC (at the time) and it is no wonder why they started the way they did. Oh yeah, Eddie Johnson, is slowing fading away folks. Plus, this squad oddly enough reminds me a lot of last years. Get off to a quick start, Jimmy Conrad goes down for a few weeks plus some National team duty, and before you know it they are struggling to find themselves in the east.

I knew New England would find their way. They are starting to look like a team on a mission here. They want a third trip to the MLS Cup to actually win the damn thing for once.

Scheduling for the Galaxy is killing them. Simple as that. They can’t gel as a team and when they will get a chance to it will be a media circus with Beckham in town. I will be shocked if they make the playoffs, I really will. Aside from Becks and Landon I see no true striker on that team and that is not a good thing.

Lastly, the west is going to be catching up to the east real soon to balance things out. Dallas and Colorado have shown this weekend they can contend with the ‘best’ that the east has to offer. Houston already shown signs of life last weekend and I can expect the same next weekend. As for Chivas, a draw on the road helps, but getting positive momentum going is the most important thing.

I will leave comments on Toronto, Dallas, and other teams for later. I just felt the urge to comment on what I’ve seen lately with some teams. I am wrong and right on many things still but then again we all are. I and others wouldn’t blog about this sport if we didn’t care enough to have an opinion on this matter.

But man, isn’t it odd how things are starting to turn here?

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC, Toronto FC
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Saturday MLS Action

By on May 12, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

Even if you don’t like the new MLS club north of the border in Toronto, you have to enjoy watching how their fans are. Watching their game with Chicago this afternoon was probably one of the most fun games I have ever watched as a MLS fan in the league’s short history. Everything about the game from the goals, to the altercation at the end of the first half, to the other goals, to the end was just a joy to watch.

For one, I am not at all surprised over the game with Chicago and Toronto. It has taken longer for me to see the expectations that I laid upon both squads at the beginning of the year. I expected the Reds to be a bit like they are today but injuries and poor play delayed it all. As for the Fire, this was the kind of play I saw coming out of them. It wasn’t pretty but then again I believe Toronto will be the toughest place to play in the league this year for any team.

The goals in the game were very classy and great strikes from both teams. I love the reaction to the Reds goals that the Toronto faithful gave. A second thought on seat cushions will be in the front office of the league and the Toronto front office.

The little fight before halftime is expected. Anyone who has seen Danny Dichio play knows he is a scrappy guy that will look for a fight like that. People in the league aren’t used to his style of physical play. I have to say I love his style of play because it puts the defense on their heels. Expect the league to come down on him and Chicago keeper Matt Pickens. Pickens probably deserved a red just as much as the other two did. Though some will say it was blown way out of proportion, it was really handled well for the most part. Hat tip to the Reds fans though, standing ovation for Dichio as he walks off the field is classic.

Now moving on to Columbus.

I haven’t gotten to see any of it but a one-one draw isn’t too shocking. Early goal by Ante Razov is good to see if you are a Goat fan.

Is it me or do the refs in the league feel they have to card everyone these days? Eight cards in the Columbus-Chivas game today just seems like a lot to me. Maybe I will feel different when I see the game but until then it just sounds high. A lot of games this year have felt that way to me. Something I think the league really needs to take a hard look at.

Now down in Kansas City….

The Hooooooops are up 2-0. Cooper and Toja netting goals for Dallas. Good to see the Hoops scoring without Ruiz who just came on late in the game for Cooper. You can tell the Wizards look like a different team without Jimmy Conrad.

Classy move on the Wizards part with the Lamar Hunt tribute tonight. Actually like the LH logo on the kits.

Dallas is playing better in this game, getting chances and playing much better in midfield, which is also helping their defense. Dario Sala gets the starting nod tonight as well, which is a vast upgrade in the minds of Hoops fans from Shaka Hislop.

KC scores late but cannot find an equalizer. For the first time all season (or at least this weekend) I correctly predict a score to a game. Yeah, I will gloat about this some other time. Okay, probably none at all since my other predictions haven’t gone completely through.

One more game tonight out in LA between the Galaxy and the Revs.

More on that later on…

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC, Toronto FC
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MLS Weekend Preview

By on May 11, 2007 | Follow @WVHooligan |

I have to say I have never and I mean never seen two own goals in a single game until last night. Its tough just seeing one own goal but two by opposite teams that ends up being the final result is rare. Sadly enough I have to say it is unfortunate for the league that it turned up on their prime-time event last night. Nonetheless, it leads into the weekend play and there are a couple intriguing games on tap.

Saturday’s games:

Chicago Fire at Toronto FC: A week off for the Reds and you have to wonder what exactly it will do to MoJo’s group. Chicago is coming off of their first lost of the season where they looked like the team I expected them to be at the start of the season. They had no answer defensively for New England and didn’t get enough up front to help their cause.

I really want the Reds to get something here this weekend. Just a goal. Its sad but I have never found myself rooting this much for a team to score other than my own.

This game is interesting to me because I feel Toronto’s crowd and enviornment is like none other in this league right now. Chicago probably hasn’t faced a crowd as savvy as Toronto’s. Thankfully for the Fire Toronto still hasn’t scored a goal in their time in the MLS. I think that will give in this weekend though. For the most part I see a draw, too. I know I feel a little dump thinking the Fire will drop points on the road to the league’s worst but after last weekend I wouldn’t be too terribly shocked by it.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 1, TFC 1

Chivas USA at Columbus Crew: Oh the Fire Preki ads and websites are starting to fire up I bet in Chivas land. From what I hear they are looking for a high profile Mexican to replace the mess-up that was Amado Guevara. They looked a bit out of it last weekend in the Nation’s Capital but things should be a bit different this weekend with the return of Sasha Kljestan. Man, will he really make that much of a difference for this team? Yes.

Columbus in large part, I felt got screwed a bit last weekend in KC. They controlled a decent portion of the game but gave up a goal in the final seconds. Not a good way to go. But thankfully for them this is a home game. I see a much different result against Chivas.

I like the Crew in this one. I see things turning around and I see Schelotto getting more involved.

WVH Prediction: Crew 2, Chivas 1

FC Dallas at Kansas City Wizards: You have to wonder exactly how the week off will do for the Hoops. I think it will help even though they won’t have Carlos Ruiz in action over his no-show this week. Then again the Wizards won’t have Jimmy Conrad who got his jaw jacked up last weekend thanks to the Crew.

Those two ex-factors out it makes this game oh-so interesting. We should see the debut of midfielder Pablo Ricchetti for Dallas. I am telling you he should make a huge difference in midfield for the Hoops.

KC just needs to keep finding Eddie Johnson and they will be alright. He didn’t get in the mix enough against Columbus last weekend and you have to wonder if he is starting to cool off here. If he doesn’t get up for a game against his old club then you should know something is up with EJ. Remember his fast start was thanks in large part to playing Toronto twice in one week. People are quick to forget such a thing.
I like the Hoops this weekend. It will be close and hopefully not as boring as KC and Columbus were last weekend. Jimmy Conrad being out hurts the Wizards a lot.

WVH Prediction: FCD 2, KC 1

New England Revolution at LA Galaxy: A rematch of the 2005 MLS Cup. Yaaaay. I really don’t care about this game and it is large in part because of how the Galaxy schedule is set up. Too many weeks off early in the season is going to hurt this team too much in the long run. Even with Beckham it will. Just you watch.

New England is the hotter hand here. I feel they are playing the best soccer in the league right now, even more so than KC and New York. The ageless Steve Ralston and Taylor Twellman are a fun group to watch. But give credit to that defense, they are pretty tough too. Five goals and five assist between the two. Oh yeah, Andy Dorman is doing pretty well with three goals of his own too.

I like the Revs because I just don’t know how the Galaxy will handle a good team like the Revs.

WVH Prediction: New England 2, LA 0

Sunday’s Game:

Colorado Rapids at Red Bull New York: Oh the cross country trip in a matter of four days. I love how the league schedules games here. Colorado is coming off a weird 1-1 draw of their rivals in RSL while New York is also coming off a weird draw to RSL.

I have to think the Red Bulls will bounce back in this one. Though no Hunter Freeman and I wonder about their goalie situation. The difference maker will be the debut of Juan Pablo Angel. He will score and score a lot I think. I am guessing two goals and maybe an assist. Colorado needs to find a way to stop Angel or it will be a long, long afternoon.

Biggest question on my mind is though, if Clint Mathis can put two good games together back-to-back. If he does, then folks, he has returned to form. If not, he will probably be red carded in the 67 minute.

Take the Red Bulls.

WVH Prediction: RBNY 3, Colorado 1

Continue Reading · · in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, MLS, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, News and Rumors, Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC, Toronto FC