Red Bull Arena should be lively on Sunday. (Getty Images)

Looking at this weekend’s schedule a couple things jump out to you. For one it is a lot of East v. West with the Eastern clubs hosting the majority of the games (4 of 6). Second of all, it is a lot of good team against bad team. Oh boy.

There are a couple really intriguing games on the menu but for the most this weekend could be a “miss” for the league. Hey it happens.

Only the LA Galaxy are off this weekend and I’m sure they are going to enjoy the time off.

Friday

Houston Dynamo at Seattle Sounders FC – Probably one of the better matches if not the best match of the weekend on paper. Houston has started strong with two straight road games, though against weaker clubs. Seattle got off to a nice start to the season last weekend against Toronto. Houston can say they are the only Eastern Conference club to beat anyone from the West at this point and a win in Seattle will certainly quiet folks like myself that are doubting this team. I just think however that Seattle is too much to handle at home. Alvaro Fernandez, Fredy Montero, and now David Estrada are all too much even for a stingy Houston defense. 

WVH Prediction: Seattle 2, Houston 0

Saturday

San Jose Earthquakes at Toronto FC – I wrote yesterday that San Jose can really prove a point or two with a win in Toronto. I still believe that to be true. Toronto has been a popular pick to do well this season (from people like me) but they lost in their season opener last week in Seattle and more importantly lost Torsten Frings for a few weeks. Ouch. Still, a home opener with a team that isn’t that great yet traveling across the country doesn’t add up well for the Quakes. Go with the Reds here.

WVH Prediction: Toronto 2, San Jose 1

Portland Timbers at New England Revolution – Just how bad is this New England squad? No offense or any signs of real life in the first two weeks, but a home game could change that for Jay Heaps. Could. At best this one is a draw but the Timbers have looked strong in their two games and got a point in Dallas last weekend. Kris Boyd and Darlington Nagbe will be too much to handle for New England.

WVH Prediction: Portland 1, New England 0

Montreal Impact at Columbus Crew – After being off for a week the Crew return home to face the expansion Impact. This game sounds interesting, most due to the fact that we still want to see what this Montreal side is really made of here. The big question for both clubs is who will be scoring the goals. Someone has to step up here and you’d think it will be someone from the home side. I feel like this one could end level though.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 1, Montreal 1

Philadelphia Union at Chicago Fire – Whatever is going on in the locker room in Philly will certainly take effect on this game in Chicago. I like the Union but those kinds of issues are always tough to deal with, especially when you have key players missing (Sheanon Williams and Freddy Adu). Chicago has the talent and the likely momentum from being at home to ride out a win in this one.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, Philadelphia 1

Chivas USA at Real Salt Lake – Remember when these expansion mates had fun games? Seems ages ago when they were more evenly matched. Should be an easy three points for Jason Kreis’ club.

WVH Prediction: RSL 3, Chivas 0

D.C. United at Vancouver Whitecaps – Let’s see, no Bill Hamid, Perry Kitchen or Andy Najar for United right? Right. They still have Dwayne De Rosario but he hasn’t shown up yet this season. I’m taking the Whitecaps and their vastly stronger offense to take the points in this one.

WVH Prediction: Vancouver 2, DC 0

Sunday

Colorado Rapids at New York Red Bulls – This one has intrigue written on it for a couple reasons. The obvious one is surrounding Hans Backe the other is just how good is this Rapids club here this season. Both should be answered in this one as the Red Bulls face a weird must-win home game this early in the season. The Rapids are at least watchable these days under Oscar Pareja. Go with a draw on this one as New York gets Rafa Marquez back, which should help their midfield and defense out in a large way.

WVH Prediction: New York 1, Colorado 1

FC Dallas at Sporting KC – Another one of the top games of the weekend, it’s just too bad Dallas will be lacking Brek Shea, Fabian Castillo, Carlos Rodriguez and likely David Ferreira. Time for those depth questions to really be answered here for Schellas Hyndman. Defensively Dallas has looked strong and I’d expect George John to play more in this one as well. They’ll need him as Sporting can be a hand full up top with CJ Sapong and Kei Kamara. Just too bad Dallas isn’t at full strength for this one because it would have easily been a good one to watch.

WVH Prediction: SKC 2, Dallas 1

US U-20 national team starting right back Sheanon Williams has finally signed with Major League Soccer and joined defending champion Real Salt Lake according to the Boston Globe.

College soccer fans will remember Williams as a standout two years ago in the game for the University of North Carolina. Williams left school after a single season hoping to catch a contract in Europe but after a failed year of not getting on board with anyone across the pond Williams had to make a tough choice and find work at home. Injuries and a poor performance at the U20 World Cup didn’t help his chances either.

Some had hoped he would have been available before the MLS SuperDraft last month but from what I heard he and the league hadn’t agreed on a contract in time. Now it appears to be done as he is headed to a fairly good situation for him with the defending champions, a club that I think he will do well with.

Update: According to Keepin It Real, Williams is on trial with the club. Also many asked how RSL got him on board in the first place, from what it sounds like the club had a discovery claim on him.

Update #2: According to a league spokesman Williams has not been designated to RSL. Instead he is just training with the club and will be placed in a weighted lottery to determine who gets his player rights. He’s only signed a developmental contract too.

Jack McInerney is a young player with a bright future.

As I mentioned a week ago I am hoping to get this into a regular thing for at least the next few weeks as we really start to gear up for the 2010 SuperDraft in just a couple (yes only a couple) months away. The response has been pretty solid so far and I’ll be honest a few of you have mentioned some players that I had not heard of yet until now. I’m glad you did because now some of them are going to be making these watch lists.

Today has a heavier focus on some guys that could be in line for a Generation adidas contract this year. I know I’ve already mentioned a couple in my last two posts (round 1 & 2) but today I have a couple more names. Since the US U-20 and U-17 World Cup runs are over now a lot of folks are saying we could see a number of players get offered GA contracts for this year’s draft. I will also start off with two from the U-20 team that were both on the watch list last year for a GA contract.

Again, some of these kids may go the MLS route and some may not. That we will have to wait and see in a few weeks as the college seasons wrap up.

And just like last week, if you know of some guys that are worthy to be looked at here please email me or send their names to me via Twitter so I can include them in the next batch.

Gale Agbossoumonde (Miami FC/US U-20): Now this may not end up being a SuperDraft player as he is playing for the USL/TOA/whatever’s Miami FC right now. But one has to figure that he will get a look at from some MLS clubs that need defensive help. He’s still a little raw but the talent is there and he could possibly still be in line for a Generation adidas contract. Draft or no draft he is a name we all need to keep an eye on.

Sheanon Williams (unattached): He left UNC last year after his sophomore season and has been unattached ever since. Would he still be worth a GA contract or even a late round draft pick? I still believe so. I was pretty high on him last year and he did have some solid play this year with the U-20 World Cup.Why he hasn’t been picked up anywhere is anyone’s guess. I believe he tried to get on somewhere in Europe and failed. It might be time for him to just come to MLS and play.

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Luis Gil (U-17s): We mentioned a couple days ago that Gil is reportedly going the MLS route after the World Cup in Nigeria with the U-17s. Gotta believe he will get a GA contract if that is indeed the case.

Jack McInerney (U-17s): After Gil and the other prized U-17s (Charles Renken, Joseph Gyau), McInerney is probably one of the most talked about. He scored a solid goal against the UAE in the group stages of the Cup and he one of the most consistent shooters of the team (he also scored the lone goal against Spain). He’s got loads of talent and I’d imagine a few MLS clubs would love to have him as a long-term project.

Zac MacMath (Maryland): He’s only a sophomore but lots of people are already talking about him going pro from what I’ve been told. He’s certainly talented but with guys like Brian Perk and Sean Johnson (see below) probably rated above him would he risk going? It all depends on if he gets a GA contract or not I think. Right now there are a lot of quality keepers out there and I kind of think he’d be better off staying at Maryland for another year.

Sean Johnson (U-20s): He was with Central Florida but he saw some time with the U-20s this year but mostly sat on the bench behind Perk. If you haven’t seen this kid its too bad because he has plenty of upside. He reminds me a lot of Chris Seitz with how he handles things in front of the goal. I only hope he goes to a club that actually plays him instead of keeping him locked away on the bench.

Brian Ownby (Virginia): Didn’t see a lot of time with UVa this fall because of his time with the U-20 squad in Egypt. He’s definitely a guy I could see be in line for a GA contract. He’s quick and good on his feet. He’s also a pretty proven scorer which can go a long way on the next level. More than likely I think he will be converted to a wing player on the next level but he certainly knows how to score.

Ofori Sarkodie (Indiana): This senior defender should certainly be high on some draft boards. He doesn’t post monster numbers in terms of goals or assists but what he does do best is clean up in front of his own goal and handle possession pretty darn well. He has pretty good speed and size which is always good to have on the pro level.

Barry Rice (Kentucky): Another senior defender that loads of folks seem pretty high on and for good reason. UK people tell me he is the best defender the school has ever seen. I have a feeling he will have to put on a good show at the MLS Combine but we should see his name called in an early round come January.