Toronto FC has talent, but little depth. (Getty Images)

Its the very last team in our 2010 Look-in series. First off sorry TFC fans for not posting this sooner. I had ever intention of doing this last week but set backs got in the way.

Lots of changes have taken place in Toronto this winter. From the turf being removed for natural grass at BMO Field, to a new manager in Preki taking cover and re-doing the roster his way. Lots of changes have taken place but have any really done a good enough job of getting this club ready for 2010?

Will this be the year that Toronto finally gets to the playoffs? Is Preki the right guy to lead the way? Let’s take a look now to see where this team is at right now and what places they need to improve on before the new season gets underway.

Keepers:

Who they have: Stefan Frei, Brian Edwards

Notes: Honestly they are set for years here between these two. Frei is an All-Star keeper in the making and Edwards may be one of the better backups in the league. I’m sure they’re working on getting a third keeper on the books as well. Still they’re covered here.

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Defense

Who they have: Nana Attakora, Nick Garcia, Jim Brennan, Marvell Wynne, Ty Harden, Gabe Gala, Emmanuel Gómez, Zach Harold.

Notes: What they did this winter in this area was added a young prospect in Harold and traded for Harden. Two moves that aren’t bad but aren’t exactly going to help them out in the area that I’d argue they are pretty weak in still. But things could improve since the field is no longer turf, which has to help out the older guys like Garcia and Brennan.

I would have liked to have seen them go more for depth in this area this winter. Adding a quality center back would have been a real upgrade here and would help increase their playoff chances. They do have good speed on the outside with Wynne.

I’d like to think they improved here over the winter but I’m just not buying it yet.

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Midfield

Who they have: Dwayne de Rosario, Julian de Guzman, Sam Cronin, Nane Joseph, Amadou Sanyang, Jacob Peterson.

Notes: Losing Carl Robinson wasn’t a terrible thing in my eyes. Cronin will slide in nicely in his old spot and for the most part they shouldn’t miss too much of a beat with De Rosario and de Guzman leading the way in the center of the park. I would have liked to have seen them go for more depth on the wings but the trade for Peterson should help that area out a decent bit if he is full fit to go this year.

They lost a lot of fire power in this area with Robinson and Amado Guevara both exiting this winter. But if I were a Reds fan I would see it as addition by subtraction. Sure Robinson was a big leader and a fan favorite but if he wasn’t happy there he wasn’t going to help this club in the long haul.

They’ll need more depth on the wings and possibly in the attacking portion of the midfield  here to get through the long season and the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

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Forwards

Who they have: Chad Barrett, Ali Gerba, O’Brian White, Fuad Ibrahim.

Notes: One thing is for certain either Barrett or Gerba have to step up in a big way this year. Also the club has to hope that both Ibrahim and White grow as players. No doubt there is the most pressure on this group of players as compared to the rest of the club. If the team doesn’t score they won’t win, it is as simple as that.

Most would have liked Mo Johnston to get a primary striker for this season this winter but that didn’t happen. Most likely that will come this summer, if at all. I’d like to think they can win with these four (and the help of De Rosario and de Guzman in the midfield) but realistically they didn’t improve in this area at all this winter.

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Overall:

No doubt there is loads of pressure in Toronto this year. Offensively they have to produce like never before and defensively they have to be able to prove to teams that they won’t give up 5 goals in a must-win game. Preki is a good coach though that will change the culture of that club inside and out. The team will be tougher, which may have been lacking in the first place.

I do however have trouble seeing if this club improved this winter though. They have so many questions to be answered as well. I think depth wise they are very weak but I do like the talent they have starting out on the field.

It just looks like another long, yet interesting year in Toronto.

It's do or die for Toronto FC. (Getty Images)

Big time weekend ahead for Major League Soccer. Four clubs have punched their tickets to the post season dance with four remaining spots left open to possibly all get snatched up this weekend.

You can pretty much put a playoff implication on every game this weekend. Either a team will come closer to clinching a spot, will clinch a spot or will be eliminated from contention. Its pretty much as simple as that as we head into the final two weeks of the regular season.

Going into the weekend it is important to see where everyone stands. There will be plenty of scoreboard watching from players, coaches and fans this weekend.

Eastern Conference
1. Columbus (13-5-10, 49 pts., 2 games remaining) – X
2. Chicago (10-7-11, 41 pts., 2 games remaining)
Western Conference
T1. Chivas USA (13-9-5, 44 pts., 3 games remaining) – X
T1. Houston (12-8-8, 44 pts., 2 games remaining) – X
T1. Los Angeles (11-6-11, 44 pts., 2 games remaining) – X
Wild Cards
2. Seattle (10-7-11, 41 pts., 2 games remaining)
3. Colorado (10-8-10, 40 pts., 2 games remaining)
4. New England (10-10-8, 38 pts., 2 games remaining)
BOTTOM SEVEN OUT
Real Salt Lake (10-11-7, 37 pts., 2 games remaining)
FC Dallas (10-12-6, 36 pts., 2 games remaining)
D.C. United (8-8-12, 36 pts., 2 games remaining)
Toronto FC (9-10-9, 36 pts., 2 games remaining)
Kansas City (8-12-8, 32 pts., 2 games remaining)
San Jose (7-13-8, 29 pts., 2 games remaining) – Eliminated from contention
New York (4-19-6, 18 pts., 1 games remaining) – Eliminated from contention

For Colorado, Seattle and Chicago it is simple this weekend. You win and you are in. New England can do the same with a win along with a couple other items (DC, Dallas, TFC, and RSL all draw or losing their games this weekend).On the flip side for Kansas City they are all but mathematically eliminated here, they would need about 40 different things to happen to even have hope of reaching the playoffs. In other words this weekend will should put their eliminated status in for good.

Everyone is in action this weekend except for New York who played and lost again in the midweek. As always feel free to leave your score predictions and thoughts below.

Saturday:

Real Salt Lake – at – Toronto FC:

Both clubs need wins it is as simple as that. Toronto did themselves no favor last week with the draw at home against San Jose. I see nothing different happening this weekend out of this bunch as Toronto just hasn’t found a way lately to close out games at home. Even with RSL’s pathetic road record this season I just smell a draw for this game, which pretty much eliminates both sides from playoff contention this season. RSL will still have a little hope going into next week’s finale against rivals Colorado but they will need plenty of things to happen before they can rest their hopes on that game. I like Toronto getting on the board early again this week with either Ali Gerba or Dwayne De Rosario leading the way for the home-side. But look for Robbie Findley or Kyle Beckerman to lead the charge late for a draw.

WVH Prediction: Toronto 1, RSL 1

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Chicago Fire – at – New England Revolution:

The Revs need points in a bad way this weekend to fend off the likes of Dallas, DC, RSL and Toronto. They can do themselves a lot of good with a win here which would nearly kill off the chances of those below them. Thing is they are so banged up that I just don’t know how good they will be at home against one of the best road teams in the league. Chicago needs points to clinch as well as played very well against New England over the last couple years (won six out of their last eight meetings). Even without a few key guys in the midfield I still like the Fire’s attack better than the Revs. Shalrie Joseph will continue his MVP ways but I just don’t see him having enough gas in the tank to carry this club in a physical battle with the Fire.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, New England 0

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Will Robbie Rogers lead Columbus to a second straight Supporter's Shield? (Getty Images)

Columbus Crew – at – DC United:

The Crew have clinched home field through the eastern conference playoffs but now look to snatch up their second straight Supporter’s Shield title. The club standing in the way is the last team and the only team to win back-to-back Supporter’s Shield trophies. DC needs points in a bad way but haven’t looked like the same team at RFK Stadium that we saw go unbeaten for the first few months of the season. DC will be without too many key offensive players in this one and with the way their defense has looked at home recently I just worry about them going against a team like Columbus who rested most of their key guys last week in New England. Throw in the fact that the Crew get both Frankie Hedjuk and Robbie Rogers back this week from international duty and I think you could bank on the Crew eliminating DC from the playoffs while clinching their second straight Supporter’s Shield.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 2, DC 1

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Seattle Sounders FC – at – Kansas City Wizards:

Seattle can clinch with a win and a draw would pretty much get them there as well. You gotta believe Sigi Schmid just wants to make sure they get that ticket punched though with a win in KC. The Wizards as stated above aren’t officially eliminated from playoff contention yet but the question will be for Peter Vermes’ club, will they show up to spoil another club’s hopes? On the slimmer field you have to like the Wizards’ chances a little more. Seattle relies on using space and there won’t be enough in this game to get their attack going like they would like. I still like the Sounders to get the job done tomorrow night though on the road. They’ve gained some big time confidence on the road lately and that can be more than enough to get the job done.

WVH Prediction: Seattle 1, KC 0

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Colorado Rapids – at – FC Dallas:

Colorado would probably like to get out of this one with a draw if they could to eliminate Dallas from playoff contention. A win would certainly help their cause and should punch their ticket. Dallas on the other hand just needs to keep winning here. Which is what they’ve been doing these last couple weeks. Colorado comes into Frisco a bit banged up on defense and will be without both Medhi Ballouchy and Julien Baudet to suspension. That will be key for Dallas as Jeff Cunningham has been a man possessed lately. He along with David Ferreira have really taken things over in a big way for the Red Stripes. The Rapids need a big time game out of Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. If anyone is going to score on this Dallas defense it would be those two. The thing is Dallas has given Colorado fits these last couple years and I think it does enough to keep Dallas going for another week. This one could be a shootout but I think it will remain fairly close.

WVH Prediction: Dallas 2, Colorado 1

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San Jose Earthquakes – at – Chivas USA:

This may be the only game that doesn’t have implications on who will be going to the playoffs or who will be eliminated from contention. Both saw their fate last week as the Quakes were eliminated and Chivas punched their ticket. Look for the Quakes to frustrate Chivas a bit early in this one but I like Chivas to hold off the Quakes for a win tomorrow night. Preki’s side is starting to peak at the right time here and that is dangerous for the rest of the western conference. San Jose will also be lacking some key defensive players which spells trouble for Joe Cannon. Again, the Goats should walk with three points.

WVH Prediction: Chivas USA 3, San Jose 0

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Can Brian Ching and the Dynamo hold off LA? (Getty Images)

Sunday:

LA Galaxy – at – Houston Dynamo:

Best game of the week right here. Expect a very large crowd in Houston for this one as well. Brian Ching will be a man to keep an eye out for this one. I think his impact along with Mexican striker Luis Angel Landin should be a big one. LA will provide a lot of problems for the Dynamo in the midfield but on set pieces I think Houston has an edge in this one. This one should be a low scoring game with the way LA plays defense on the road. Look for them to go for a goal early with Landon Donovan and if that happens you can expect them to camp on the lead. Houston is no different. The thing is I think these are two very evenly matched teams. As much as I like Houston at home in this one something tells me it will end in a draw.

WVH Prediction: Houston 1, LA 1

Jeff Cunningham leads Dallas into Columbus this weekend. (Getty Images)

A fun weekend ahead for MLS clubs. The playoff races are heating up like a wild fire and at this point the majority of the league is still in the running for a playoff spot. While this week may not ultimately determine who goes into the playoffs and who is hitting the links early this fall it will indeed help us all know how is getting closer to clinching said playoff spots.

No San Jose, Colorado or New England this weekend. Just love these unbalance schedules this season, cannot wait until we get to next year when things are balanced again.

Due to a fairly busy Friday I have I will get right down to business here with the weekend picks. Feel free as always to post your predictions below.

Saturday

DC United – at – Toronto FC:

Big game for DC if you ask me. They have a huge stretch of games ahead and they need to find ways to continue to pick up points on the road. Toronto is a good place for them to do so I think with how inconsistent TFC can be at times. Then agian DC’s defense isn’t the most consistent thing in the league either. I expect Toronto to get an early goal in this one from either Dwayne De Rosario (an United killer of some sorts) and even possibly a second from Chad Barrett or Ali Gerba. But I do see DC coming back even if it is two goals down to tie things up and go home with a draw from this one. DC is always dangerous late in games and I see them pushing back into this one thanks to Luciano Emilio and company.

WVH Prediction: Toronto 2, DC 2

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Chivas USA – at – New York Red Bulls:

A couple months ago this would be an easy pick for anyone. Chivas would be all over New York no matter the venue but now with the poor play that we’ve seen out of Chivas these last two months I really wonder if they are any better than New York at this moment in the season. Preki has to find a way to get his side believing in themselves again, getting Sasha Kljestan to be himself again will go a long way in that. New York is still full of injuries and this looks like a game they could actually win. However I just cannot pick them to win a game at this point. A draw actually sounds like the logical pick here for these two. Should be an ugly game.

WVH Prediction: New York 1, Chivas 1

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FC Dallas – at – Columbus Crew:

I thin this will be the test to see if Dallas is for real again with the play of Jeff Cunningham or if they are just playing with everyone’s emotions down in Dallas. The Crew have been on an absolute run as of late that gives people in Columbus confidence going into a game like this. Dallas will pick their spots in this one with Cunningham but I just see too much depth in the Crew to pick against the homeside in this one. Even without Guillermo Barros Schelotto they are tough to handle and that home winning streak will continue. Steven Lenhart and Jason Garey have been huge lately and will be tough for a weak Dallas defense to handle.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 2, Dallas 1

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Houston Dynamo – at – Real Salt Lake:

This one is a big one folks. Not just for the homeside but for the visitors as well. Houston needs a good road showing in this one to restore some confidence that is a little shaky right now. RSL just needs as many points as possible going forward, a win in this game could get them into the playoff discussion for good here but a loss would definitely put a black eye on the run. I see this game meaning a lot more to RSL which is why I am going with them here. I want to pick the Dynamo but with many of their key players (Stuart Holden, Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark) being a bit gassed from their trip to Mexico in the mid-week I just see RSL being a little fresher, which will prove to be a big difference.

WVH Prediction: RSL 1, Houston 0

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Seattle Sounders FC – at – LA Galaxy:

Probably game of the week material here. Seattle needs to start showing up on the road but honestly this is a tough place to start doing so with how the Galaxy are playing these days. I could really see this one going either way or even to a draw but something tells me the road struggles for Seattle will continue here and LA gets a big win that gets them closer to the top of the league tables. Even if Landon Donovan isn’t good enough to go the full 90 minutes I think LA just has too much going for them right now to not pick them.Seattle will keep it close but their defense will let them down late in the game.

WVH Prediction: LA 2, Seattle 1

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Sunday

Chicago Fire – at – Kansas City Wizards:

How will KC be under Peter Vermes? We will find out this weekend. I just don’t think a big turnaround is going to happen though. Their defense is still shaky and you have to wonder if they have really gotten over their last result (6-0 loss in Dallas). Chicago is one of the best road teams in the league and I think they will at least get a point if not three this weekend. I’m going with the Fire in this one as they will want to avenge their last road game, where they should have gotten a draw in Houston.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, KC 1

Some clubs will get games in the middle of a long week like DC and Toronto. While a couple sides are off all together Chivas (thanks to the X-Games) and New York (thanks to the CCL). Then there is LA who host a big time friendly against FC Barcelona on Saturday.

As always feel free to leave your score predictions below to this week’s action.

Saturday:

Toronto FC – at – New England Revolution:

Have the Revs turned a corner here on their season? The last two games would certainly suggest that. Plus now they get a Toronto side that could be a bit gassed from having to play in the CCL tournament this week. All signs could be pointing upward for Steve Nicol’s crew if they can get three points this weekend. With the games in hand they can certainly catch Toronto this weekend with a win. Another good thing for Revs fan, Toronto doesn’t score in New England. Three games at Gillett Stadium, three loss, 1 goal for and nine against. I see New England keeping up with that run this weekend. They’ll do good to control the pace of this game and find a way past a suspect Toronto defense. I do see TFC getting on the board with Ali Gerba though, he’s just the strker they’ve been looking for here. It’s just their defense isn’t good enough right now to win games on the road.

WVH Prediction: New England 2, Toronto 1

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Kansas City Wizards – at – FC Dallas:

What to make of Dallas now without Kenny Cooper? Well, we’ve pretty much gotten a good idea of that over the last month or so when he was gone at the Gold Cup. KC rolls into town looking for points and a way to get back into the playoff discussion here. No doubt this is a very do-or-die match for KC. They may have games in hand but they won’t get many chances to beat a club like Dallas for a while here. KC gets Jimmy Conrad and Davy Arnuad back in this one and that will be good enough to beat a Dallas squad looking for answers to close down Claudio Lopez and company. Dallas has to generate some offense early and keep KC off the board late. If Dave van den Burgh and Jeff Cunningham can do that Dallas may earn at least a point here. I’ll go with a draw just for that even though I kind of see KC walking out of Frisco with three points.

WVH Prediction: Dallas 1, KC 1

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Real Salt Lake – at – Chicago Fire:

Will RSL ever turn a corner for good on the road? Will Chicago start stepping up their play at home? I think those two questions will be answered this weekend in some way or another. Chicago has been so-so at home beating only San Jose and New York at Toyota Park. RSL on the other hand as we all know is not the best road side in the league. RSL hasn’t found consistent play on the road yet this season and even though Chicago hasn’t turned on the flames at home yet I do believe it starts this weekend. They need points to stay with Columbus and the rest of the top part of the eastern conference. Don’t count a draw out of this one though, with the way RSL scores they could do it early to Chicago the way they did it late to Dallas a week ago. Thing is with Wilman Conde and Bakery Soumare in the back I just don’t see RSL getting too many by the Fire this weekend. I’m going with the homeside here, but only by a narrow margin.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 1, RSL 0

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DC United – at – Houston Dynamo:

Probably game of the week material here. Both teams really do need a pick up based on recent form and I don’t see a reason why Houston won’t be the club to come out on top in this one. Dominic Kinnear will get the bulk of his lineup back from the Gold Cup and that should be enough for me at home. I see Houston controlling the midfield since DC will be without Clyde Simms. It will be interesting to see who has more gas in them though, DC who played midweek game in the CCL or Houston’s all-stars (Brad Davis and Geoff Cameron) who played a full 90 minutes against Everton. I think in the end Houston returns to winning because I just don’t see them dropping two in a row at home here. I do expect DC to make a run late though.

WVH Prediction: Houston 2, DC 1

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Columbus Crew – at – Colorado Rapids:

Columbus continues to prove to us all that they can win and win big without Gillermo Barros Schelotto. Thing is can they do it on the road in Colorado? Winning in the Mile High City is tough enough and with the way the Rapids played last week you can bet they are rested enough to do it again if Columbus let them. Jason Garey and Steven Lehart have stepped up bigger than ever and now the Crew get striker Alejandro Moreno back. I just don’t know if that will be enough to get three against the Rapids. A draw sounds good here in this one because the Rapids get Conor Casey back in the fold as well. Expect this to be the best game this weekend as these two battle to a very tough draw.

WVH Prediction: Colorado 1, Columbus 1

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Sunday:

Seattle Sounders FC – at – San Jose Earthquakes:

Seattle will be without Freddie Ljungberg in this one but I think the bigger loss in this game goes to San Jose who may be without striker Ryan Johnson. We’ve seen time and time again that this club is better with Johnson leading the attack. Without him they are pretty boring to watch up top. I expect Seattle to control this one from start to finish as they get Brad Evens back in the midfield from Gold Cup duties. He will be a difference maker for the Sounders in this one. Throw in the fact that San Jose has yet to really get much out of Darren Huckerby here so far this season makes me go with the visitors. Probably a goal from both Nate Jaqua and Fredy Montero sounds about right here.

WVH Prediction: Seattle 2, San Jose 0

Here is the order of goals: Jacob Peterson, Mehdi Ballouchy, Ryan Johnson, Claudio Lopez, Ali Gerba, Jason Garey, Jeff Cunningham, and Yura Movsisyan.

Nick Garcia heads north to Toronto. (Brian Stevens, WVH Photo Correspondent)

San Jose Earthquakes continue their roster revamp here with another trade today.

They have sent veteran defender Nick Garcia and the discovery rights to Canadian national team forward Ali Gerba to Toronto FC for a 2010 third-round draft choice. TFC also waives keeper Greg Sutton in the process to make room for this deal.

I think not having a lot of picks over the last couple years has caught up with San Jose as they are starting to deal players for picks here. Garcia is still a quality player that will definitely help Toronto’s defensive issues here. He has shown some decline in this play this season but a change of venue could help him out a bit.

The 27-year-old Gerba was born in Cameroon and has played for more than 10 clubs, most recently MK Dons in England. Honestly I am not sure what to make of his potential signing with the club at this point.