2010 MLS Thread

[JRLM8]

Saturday Night:
New York Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders
I think the goalies are going to be the difference makers in this game. NY's goalie looked a little shaky with the ball at his feet last week. Now, he is traveling to the hardest place in the MLS to play. The turf will be slick tonight and Seattle will put him under pressure early. Seattle's keeper, Kasey Keller, is a veteran and will know how to handle the wet surface and weather conditions.
Also, Seattle forward, Fredy Montero, has basically made a career about giving NY defenders nightmares. Montero has 3 goals in 2 games against the NY side. Two of the goals have come from individual efforts by taking the ball right off the defenders foot and then beating the keeper 1v1.
For NY, Juan Pablo Angel is starting up top with Mac Kandji tonight. A dynamic partnership with Kandji supplying the speed and Angel with the class. However, Angel is still battling a knock to his knee from preseason and a bad knee on wet turf is usually a bad combo.
NY's defense was more organized and stable last week compared to last year, but Chicago failed to put a good effort forward in the final third. Tonight, Freddie Ljungberg and Steve Zakuani will definitely test the NY back line.
The match up of the night might be in the midfield. Seattle's Oswaldo Alonso against NY's Joel Lindpere should be a fierce battle all night long. I think the Cuban Bulldog will win the battle. And Seattle will take the war.
Sounders line up: GK Keller, D Riley, D Hurtado, D Marshall, D Gonzalez, M Levesque, M Evans, M Alonso, M Zakuani, F Ljungberg, F Montero.
NY line up: Coundoul, Hall, Petke, Ream, Miller, Ubi, Lindpere, Stammler, Richards, Angel, Kandji
Of Note:
NY's head coach was taken to the hospital earlier today with stomach pains. Asst. Coach Richie Williams will be in charge tonight.

Recommended Bet: Seattle ML
Predicted Score: 2-1 Seattle (Ljungberg, Montero| Angel)

[JRLM8]

Seattle is down 0-1 at half. Seattle has had plenty of chances to score, but they have been unable to get that final touch. Hopefully, Seattle's coach, Sigi Schmid, makes a few adjustments at half and takes advantage of the space between the NY centerbacks.

[JRLM8]

Recommended Bet: Seattle ML
Predicted Score: 2-1 Seattle (Ljungberg, Montero| Angel)

Looks like I picked the wrong keeper here. Final score: 0-1 New York. Seattle had 12 corners and plenty of chances to score. They just couldn't find the back of the net.

MLS record: 5-2.

All 16 teams play next Saturday so plenty of action. I'll be back then. This one was frustrating.

[ji03]

Yeah that was disappointing they couldnt put away one of those chances.

[minet123]

I thought red bulls form would make this game low scoring

[JRLM8]

I thought red bulls form would make this game low scoring

They did a good job and putting pressure on Seattle and creating giveaways. But Seattle still had a handful of open looks on goal. This was NY's first road win since August 2008.

Soccer is a cruel game like that.

[JRLM8]

Saturday:
FC Dallas vs Columbus Crew 8:30 PM (ET)
Both teams had last week off so they should be rested and ready for this clash. Columbus will be boosted by the return of Chad Marshall to defense. Frankie Hejduk is also in line to return to the line up.
Dallas will be without their stud center back, Kyle Davies, due to a broken arm. Speculations from Dallas practices suggest that Brek Shea could start in place of Davies. Shea has played a few youth games at CB, but has yet to appear in a professional match in such a role.
Columbus has the most gifted player in the league in Guillermo Barros Schelotto. He can pick apart even the best defenses in the league like a hot knife through butter. He should have no trouble against a patchy Dallas defense.
Dallas' main attack threat is former Crew player, Jeff Cunningham. Cunningham has scored 121 goals in his MLS career. 62 of those came with Columbus, of the other 59. . .only two were scored against the Crew.
Also, Dallas keeper Dario Sala has some trouble against Columbus. In the four games he has played against the Ohio side, he has lost all four with a 2.0 GAA. Columbus swept the season series last year.
Crew are the better team, Dallas does not have much of a home-field advantage. I am going to take the better coach, and better team to win here.
Recommended bet: Columbus ML
Predicted result: 2-0 Columbus. (Schelotto, Lenhart)

[Smogs]

Good luck on this

[JRLM8]

Good luck on this

Thanks Smogs.

[JRLM8]

Saturday:
Chivas USA vs Red Bull New York 4:00 PM (ET)
Chivas USA were awful in front of the net in their first two games of the season. Last week, they missed an open net from six yards away. They just seemed to be cursed. Their defense also let in a pretty soft goal against LA and then a late goal against the run of play. The goal they conceded against Colorado was a very well placed shot.
New York have started the season on a blistering pace. Two wins in their first two games. A win in Seattle, their first road win in two years. It seems like this is a completely different team from previous years. Head coach Hans Backe should return to the sidelines after an emgerency surgery prior to the game last week.
New York will still be without the services of Carl Robinson, so expect a similar starting line up from last week. Chivas USA added Costa Rican defender Dario Delgado during the week, but he is still waiting for paperwork before he can play. NY could have Ibrahim Salou available for the game, but he is traveling from Europe and only arrived in NY last night.
This is NY's second cross-country flight in 6 days. Hard travels to say the least. Chivas USA are terrible though and NY's high pressure and swarming defense should create plenty of opportunities on give aways in Chivas' defensive third. Stud forward, Juan Pablo Angel should have more breathing room against the Chivas USA defenders after going up against two of the best in the league the last two weeks. I think Angel will get his first tally of the week at the Home Depot Center on Saturday.
I don't like NY enough to take the moneyline since they are going to be on their second trip to the west coast. I like the protection against a draw.
Recommend bet: New York +.5
Predicted result: 1-0 New York (Angel)

Saturday:
Chicago Fire vs San Jose Earthquakes 8:30 PM (ET)
There is a lot to love about this match up. San Jose's starting center back picked up a red card in their first game. So they will be starting two rookies in the back four on the road in Chicago this weekend. Chicago is boosted by the return of Conde to the line up. Conde missed last week against Colorado due to knocks, but he is healthy enough for this game. Conde single handily saved three or four shots against NY in the first game, so he is a crucial member of the team.
Collins John and Brian McBride got the start against Colorado and showed they can do well together in this league. John's physicality should create plenty of trouble for a young San Jose defense. Chicago's trouble might be in the middle of the field. John Thorrington and Logan Pause are both likely going to sit this game out. A Husidic and Lawry center mid pairing might be close to worse in the league, but Chicago doesn't have many other options. San Jose's center midfielders aren't terribly skillful so the two teams will likely play on the wings. Chicago added Salvadorian defender Umanzor during the week but his debut is pending on his International clearance.
Chicago's offense should be too much for San Jose to handle. Chicago wasn't terribly effective at home last year, but this is a new coach and new management and a full three points against one of the weaker teams in MLS are a must.
Recommend bet: Chicago -.5
Predicted result: Chicago 3-0 (McBride, John, Nyarko)

I think these two plays plus Columbus are going to be all for me this weekend.