FC Dallas battles Seattle tonight on ESPN2. (Getty Images)

A Thursday night game in Frisco, TX, boy let’s hope the locals come out for this one since it is on national television. The Seattle Sounders FC come into town tonight to face one of two remaining clubs in Major League Soccer without a win on the year in FC Dallas. Both teams coming off late goals with different outcomes in their last games, Dallas could have seen road points in New York while Seattle gobbled up three points on a very late goal at home against Kansas City.

Dallas is hoping to get their first win and not go April winless, something they haven’t done since 2003 when the Burn went 0-1-1.

Tonight’s contest will be all about who’s offense finally gets going here. Dallas has yet to really see Jeff Cunningham be the Golden Boot winner of last year just yet. Then again this time last year it was a similar effect for him as he really didn’t come alive last year until the summer. Seattle on the other hand is hoping to find more offense than Fredy Montero and to find some sort of consistency on offense.

It won’t be easy though as both club’s defenses are solid. Some may not think Dallas’ defense is any better than before but I’m seeing a tougher group out there and one that is getting loads more possession. If Dallas continues to control the possession in the game like they have in each game so far this year they will eventually work out the kinks in their offense in the process.

Seattle must find ways to spread out FCD with Steve Zakuani and get Freddie Ljungberg involved as early as possible. Dallas usually does a decent enough job clogging the middle of the field so Seattle must rely on their wing play in this one.

Dallas must also find a way to keep a lead, they’ve gotten leads in their last two games but failed to get more than a single point out of them. Its not just the play in the back that has given up those goals but the play in the midfield.

Part of me wants to pick Dallas in this one to get their first home win of the year but I see a draw. Seattle will go up early and hold back as much as possible as they have another road game this weekend in Toronto on Sunday.

Player to watch out for: George John – He’s a Seattle local but he’s also hoping to go the full 90 for the first time against his hometown team. He’ll be called on to handle Montero and the other Sounders coming down the middle of the field.

WVH Prediction: Dallas 1, Seattle 1

Philadelphia Union take their show on the road to Toronto tonight. (Getty Images)

Its a big week for Toronto FC, not only have they made a few changes since their last game (a 4-1 loss at New England) but they will also be making their home debut for the season. BMO Field will also be debuting it’s new grass surface, the grass that fans all across the league have been begging for in Toronto since the club launched in 2007.

Philadelphia comes into town tonight, making their first trip to Toronto. They’re riding the waves of their first win in club history thanks to a Sebastian Le Toux hat trick on D.C. United last weekend.

I look for this to be a fairly physical game, even with Philly’s win over D.C. they’re still an expansion team and you can expect plenty of fouls out of them on the road. Also, Toronto will likely foul a decent bit with all the new parts on the field who aren’t familiar with the MLS style of play.

The Reds are out to get their first win and if they want to do so they need to get their offense in check. With only one goal to their name this season they have to find a way to get guys like Chad Barrett, Dwayne De Rosario and O’Brian White involved more often. Defensively they’ll have to slow down the attack from Philadelphia by keeping Alejandro Moreno and Le Toux in check.

The big thing will come down to wing play and I absolutely love how Philadelphia is doing with the wings in the midfield. Roger Torres is a guy more folks need to talk about here as one of the best newcomers in the league this season. His pace and skill in the midfield is helping the expansion side come alive for manger Peter Nowak.

I’m curious to see how Toronto’s new bunch of players do. Preki added three defenders over the last week in Latvian Raivis Hscanovics, Russian Maxim Usanov and Canadian Adrian Cann. The thing is I have to believe it will take some time before they improve this defense.

In the end here it looks like Philadelphia will likely pick up some road points here. There just isn’t enough to like about Toronto yet this season even though I know Preki is going to turn this club around eventually. It just won’t happen tonight.

Player to watch out for: O’Brian White – He has to be the man that comes alive for the Toronto offense tonight. Sometimes its about taking some chances and he, along with the rest of the Reds, need to take some chances on Chris Seitz’s goal.

WVH Prediction: Philadelphia 2, Toronto 1

Kyle Beckerman will lead RSL into battle with the Dynamo tonight. (Getty Images)

Tonight we get not just one but two solid primetime games on ESPN2. Which kind of begs the question, why didn’t the league have two games go on last week on opening night to kick off the year? Too late to wonder about that now but from the looks of things these two games won’t go head-t0-head with a lot of normal Thursday night TV.

We got two big western conference clashes tonight on ESPN2. First up in Houston its the defending champions Real Salt Lake taking on the Dynamo. Then its off to LA to see the first game in the 2010 Honda SuperClasico between the Galaxy and Chivas USA.

As always feel free to leave your thoughts and predictions below.

Real Salt Lake – at – Houston Dynamo

Probably the best game so far to date this season. Typically the meetings between these two clubs are heated. Six of the last seven Houston-RSL matches have seen red cards, including five ejections in three games last year. Its not a bitter rivalry, just a physical one. Don’t expect anything different this year.

RSL took a huge step forward in week one from their 2009 road campaign by downing San Jose 3-0. Javier Morales looks to be back and better than ever for Claret-and-Cobalt. Look for Houston to have newcomer Lovel Palmer zone in on him in this one. If Palmer can be as effect as Ricardo Clark used to be in the midfield for the Orange, we shouldn’t see too big of a change from a year ago in the defense for Houston. The big thing in this one though is if Houston can slow down the likes of Robbie Findley. Last week in Dallas, the Dynamo had trouble with the speed that FC Dallas presented them. Look for an even bigger challenge with a speedy Findley.

I think the Dynamo will have to find a way to slow down Findley, if they do that they should be fine in this one. But even more so they have to find a way to get their attack going in this one, which means Geoff Cameron will have to get going more in this one.

I see a close draw in this one, even though the Dynamo have absolutely owned RSL at Robertson Stadium in the past couple years. Thing is this isn’t the same RSL club from those years.

Player to watch out for: Kyle Beckerman – He’s not very liked in Houston and he’ll be going head-to-head with Cameron in this one. I think he’ll slow down Cameron enough to keep Houston from scoring a lot in this one.

WVH Prediction: Houston 2, RSL 2

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Chivas USA – at – LA Galaxy

Everyone loves a good rivalry and this one is as heated as any in the league. The Home Depot Center mates don’t like one another at all. Landon Donovan went as far to say today that Chivas is a team that they should beat. Fightin’ words if you ask me.

Chivas hasn’t been able to do much to this Galaxy squad these last couple years. I see that trend continuing here tonight if the Goats fail to find a way to generate offense again. Last week against Colorado they looked slow and lacked creativity on offense against the Rapids. Going against a better defense in LA it won’t be easy to score at all in this one. The Galaxy looked strong in week one against New England and that should carry over to this one.

Look for it to be heated as usual with plenty of cards. I’d expect Donovan to have one of his big games in this one too.

Player to watch out for: Omar Gonzalez – The big defender for the Galaxy will have to find a way to slow down the speed of Maykel Galindo in this one. Lucky for him all he needs to do is be a big physical with Galindo, a few bumps on him should do it.

WVH Prediction: LA 2, Chivas 0

Qwest Field will be packed for tonight's opener. (Getty Images)

Well First Kick is finally here. A couple months ago some folks thought it may not happen due to a possible lockout or strike but all of those issues are behind us and we now get to focus on the beautiful game itself. A new season is here and there’s not a better place to open it up I think then at Qwest Field with the Seattle Sounders FC hosting the new kids in town Philadelphia Union.

Piotr Nowak has spent nearly a year putting together this expansion side for Philadelphia. From the expansion draft in November to the SuperDraft in January, along with several other pickups along the way Nowak faced a tough task to live up to last year’s expansion darling, the Sounders.

Seattle has grown stronger in the winter months as manager Sigi Schmid kept most of his bunch from a season ago that was just a few points off of the Supporter’s Shield mark. Schmid will once again lean on young Colombian Fredy Montero and Swedish star Freddy Ljungberg to guide their attack in 2010.

For Philly to win tonight they’ll have to take the crowd at Qwest Field out of it early. Their attack will have to get going which has been a huge question mark on a lot of folks mind this winter. We know Alejandro Moreno can score and we know former Sounder Sebastian Le Toux can be a hand full but will they really be enough against Seattle’s defense? I kind of doubt it.

Look for Seattle to control things in the midfield with Ljungberg and Osvaldo Alonso. Seattle also has an advantage on the wings with Steve Zakuani and Nate Jaqua.

Matchup to watch: Stefani Miglioranzi vs. Osvaldo Alonso

With Fred suspended due to a red card from 2009 (I hate that cards carry over like that), Migloranzi will be called to do a lot of work on the wings and in the midfield for Philadelphia. Alonso was one of the better defensive midfielders in the game last season, look for him to match up well against Migloranzi.

Player to watch for: Fredy Montero – He’ll scored the goals in this one.

At the end of the night I see Seattle’s crowd and talent on the field being too much for the young Union to overcome. I like Nowak’s side but not enough on the road in a very tough first game. Schmid’s team will show exactly how good they will be this year in the opener.

WVH Prediction: Seattle 2, Philadelphia 0

Juan Pablo Angel needs to step up and lead New York tonight. (Getty Images)

The battle for the Atlantic Cup resumes tonight in Washington as United play host to the New York Red Bulls on ESPN2′s weekly telecast. Both clubs are in need of three points to stay up in the eastern standings and a win over a rival is always nice to say the very least.

We also get a treat tonight in the broadcast booth, Glenn Davis and Kyle Martino will call the game in place of JP and Harkes who are on National team duty. Honestly some may not like Davis or Martino but I think the pairing is as good as, if not sometimes better than JP and Harkes. That’s just me though.

I’ll do my usual week night game preview here with a couple questions along with the quick thoughts on the game. Feel free to post you predictions below as well.

1. What can New York do to win this game?

First of all they have to start early here. Get DC rattled from the start and continue that pressure for 90 minutes. The problem with the Red Bulls this year is flipping the switch off at the wrong time too many times this season. A lot of people thought this would be a good club with the talent in place but maybe its just a matter of poor talent collection afterall along with poor coaching.

New York also needs to rely on getting numbers forward. With DC playing a 3-5-2 most games they tend to lack cover in the back, hense the reason why they tend to give up leads easily and for their high number of draws so far. Push numbers forward early and don’t allow their young rookies to catch you on turnovers.

2. What can DC do to get the three points at home tonight?

DC has to play their game for a full 90. We’ve seen them break away from that too many times this season but when it counts they do know how to put on the pressure and get the goals needed to save points. New York will be without a few players tonight which means they will have a fairly young and inexperienced lineup on the field.

With the way they’ve played New York this season in both league play and in US Open Cup qualifiers, I would imagine the confidence level is pretty high for this bunch going into this game anyways.

3. Player to keep an eye out for.

I know he is a designated player but it’s about time he starts acting like it again. You know I am talking about New York’s Juan Pablo Angel. If he is going to play like a MVP he needs to step up now and do so for his club.

Quick Thoughts:

This is a big game right now for each club. New York really needs three points to move up the standings a bit and get their name back in contention here this season. Eight losses in 13 games never looks good and usually means you won’t see the post season. DC on the other hand just needs to get back to closing games out here. They need to break that deadlock in the east with KC and Toronto and get back up the charts here like they were a couple weeks ago.

I think in the end New York is missing too many guys and even if some were there tonight I doubt they’d make a big difference anyways. DC has too much talent to handle tonight and I think in the end talent wins. Plus New York hasn’t even scored a goal this season on the road and I don’t see it starting tonight.

WVH Prediction: DC 2, NY 0

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

Expect a big night out of KC's Josh Wolff. (Brian Stevens, WVH Photo Correspondent)

Unlike last week where I totally goofed on the date of the game, there is a Thursday night clash this week. That I promise you. This week we get an eastern conference clash between two up and coming teams as New York travels to Kansas City.

New York finally found the net in their last game in the win over RSL, while KC came from behind on the road against Chicago.

As always feel free to leave your score prediction below.

1. Can New York consistently keep up what they started last week at Giants Stadium?

Honestly that is a big question of this club. A year ago they were largely one the worst road clubs in the league, and when you fast forward to this season not much has changed in two road games (two losses and four goals against). But a lot has been said about how this club bounced back last week at home and actually played good soccer for once this season.

Consistent play will be key tonight for New York on the shorter field at CAB in Kansas City. Not to mention the fact that this club hasn’t won a game in KC since 2005. Also double the fact that this starts a big stretch of games for the energy drink club. New York will play the first of four matches in a 10-day stretch tonight, with games against DC on Sunday, at San Jose the following Wednesday in the USOC, and at LA next Saturday.

Getting off to a bad start on a stretch like that can really set a club back.

2. What does KC have to do to keep up their production offensively?

Keep Josh Wolff as a striker. It is as simple as that, when Wolff is free to float around the penalty box he is as dangerous if not more dangerous than most players in this league. I know the Wizards have a long list of guys who’s lead position on the pitch is at striker but Wolff is best when positioned there. Not on the wing. We saw that against Chicago last week, when Wolff was on the wings the Wizards’ offense was stagnent and nearly non-existent. One quick change to move him up top lead to two goals.

3. Player to keep an eye out for.

For New York be be successful in the midfield tonight they need a big game out of Seth Stammler and Jorge Rojas. If either of those two fails to keep possession in New York’s favor it will be a long night on a New York defense that is still a bit shaky. Plus keeping the possession means more chances on Kevin Hartman’s goal for Juan Pablo Angel and Mac Kandji.

Quick Thoughts:

The Wizards are either hot or at least luke warm depending on who you talk to right now. Their offense is clicking like it should and their defense is playing some decent soccer as well. But truth be told their midfield is really been stepping up and Curt Onalfo has been making some big time subs in the second half in recent games.

New York needs this win to keep rolling here but I don’t like their chances on the road. For me its one of those things, if they can prove to me that they can consistently put it together for a full 90 on the road then I will feel better about picking them in games like this. But they haven’t done so yet. I like KC in this one due to another strong performance out of the big four of Hartman, Jimmy Conrad, Claudio Lopez and Josh Wolff.

WVH Prediction: KC 2, NY 1

Luciano Emilio hopes to keep a hot hand for DC tonight against New England. (Getty Images)

EDIT: Yeah I goofed and realized the game was on the wrong day…sorry folks…my brain is in another place right now…

I love a good rivalry, and yes I am one that still finds any of the eastern clubs against one another an interesting rivalry. I especially love it when we get one of the league originals pitted against one another in a Primetime clash on ESPN2.

This week we are getting just that with New England traveling south to face DC at RFK Stadium.

1. How will the extra week help New England?

Anytime you get a little bit of a break in a long season it should help with getting players healthy again. Thing is Taylor Twellman is still listed as out for this game, as are rookie Kevin Alston, Gabriel Badilla, and Mauricio Castro. All four players are key parts to this club and without them healthy in the early going it could be a long game against a DC club looking to hit it’s stride in the early going of this year.

Even without those guys I see Steve Nicol using that extra time off wisely to get his troops ready for this rivalry. Last year the Revs and United split the season series but the one New England loss came in RFK Stadium.

2. What can DC do to find some momentum here?

Well getting healthy is one thing but staying consistent offensively and defensively is another. Their depth has been questioned a lot in the early going this year due to three blown leads in games. DC has to show they can keep a lead at home and on the road. Usually finding that magic touch starts at home and even oddly enough it can come against a rival. They need to get the ball to the hot foot of Luciano Emilio early and often in this one.

3. Player to watch out for.

In this Primetime clash I am going to be eager to watch New England’s Jeff Larentowicz in the midfield. As he controls the defensive side of the ball for the Revs, it allows guys like Steve Ralston and Shalrie Joepsh to do their thing and spread the attack out to speed on the wings with Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi. I’ve said for years that Larentowicz may be one of the most under appreciated players in the league.

Quick Thoughts:

For New England to keep their early success going here they need to control things in the midfield like they normally do. Secondly they have to find a hot hand in front of the net and start scoring. Offensively they haven’t really impressed this year but somehow they have gotten the job done enough to be near the top of the table already this season. Saying that though I am going with DC in this one since it is at RFK. It is still one of those places that is a homefield advantage and hopefully the crowd will be loud and crazy for this one. I think Emilio keeps his current pace up and rookie Chris Pontius gets on board as well. New England will keep it tight with a late goal though.

WVH Prediction: DC 2, New England 1

“We didn’t see the kind of ratings climb we’d like to, so we’re trying something different,” said Scott Guglielmino, ESPN vice president of programming.

The decision to cancel the regular Thursday night game marks a stunning turnaround for a league that two years ago believed it was creating destination programming that would increase interest in MLS. But even the 2007 arrival of David Beckham couldn’t boost MLS ratings.

MLS games averaged a 0.2 rating and 289,000 viewers on ESPN2 in 2007. Those numbers dropped to 0.2/253,000 viewers the following year. Its highest rating during that period was Beckham’s second regular-season game in August 2007 that earned a 0.6/658,000 households.

Instead ESPN will now carry a MLS Game of the Week on it’s telecast. The Sports Business Journal cited today that it will be aired on four different nights throughout the season. The weekly matches will occur on Thursdays (10 times), Saturdays (eight times), Wednesdays (six times) and Fridays (three times).

Its a tough blow to the league but in all reality I kind of see this as a blessing. Thursday nights and really week night games anymore in American sports carry little in terms of ratings. Pushing to get more weekend telecasts of their games is where the league needs to be anyways. You see this in terms of attendance right now, the mid-week matches stuggle to sellout (except for a couple locations) while the weekend number typically do much better.

What do you all make of this news? Think it could be damaging to the league or will it help it out in the long run?