Week 10 Previews

We've already had two midweek match ups, seeing DC destroy Columbus 5-1 at home and Colorado beat the Galaxy, again, 1-0. I called the winners in both those game though who could have predicted DCU scoring in droves and LA keeping their streak of minutes without a goal alive (well, maybe the LA one was easier to foresee? But the midweek matches don't change the fact that we have a full slate of 6 games this Saturday. Nothing on ESPN2 though so hopefully you have another outlet to view the games.


New England Revolution at DC United

7:30pm ET, Direct Kick, MLSLive.tv

Will United have the legs to go the full 90 after a midweek slaughter of the Columbus Crew? Yes. Things still aren't right with the Revs and DCU is riding some pretty big momentum into this game. New England will put up more of a fight than the Crew and Reis isn't the Revs 5th string GK but United will manage.

My Prediction: DCU 3 - 2 NE

Columbus Crew at FC Dallas

8:30pm ET, Direct Kick, MLSLive.tv

The Crew flew straight to Dallas after being dismantled by DC United. Lucky them, they get to go from one game against the best in the East to another game with the best in the West, all in the same week. Things are not going to get any better for Sigi Schmid's boys though the Crew are looking more and more like the hands down winners in their even swap trade with LA several weeks ago.

My Prediction: FCD 3 - 1 Columbus

LA Galaxy at Houston Dynamo

8:30pm ET, Direct Kick, MLSLive.tv

Houston loves playing at home, only dropping 1 game there this season. Now they take on the headless chicken known as the LA Galaxy who are trying their best to beat RSL's minutes without a goal record from last year. Will they find their scoring ways in the Bayou City? It's possible with Canuck defender Adrian Serioux out 6 weeks for toe surgery. But I doubt it.

My Prediction: Hou 2 - 0 LA

NY Red Bulls at KC Wizards

8:30pm ET, Direct Kick, MLSLive.tv

The Wizards are in a downward spiral right now. They have no offense, only managing 1 goal a game for what seems like forever. The Red Bulls are hungry for more wins. Look for them to steal some points from Arrowhead.

My prediction: RBNY 2 - 1 KC

Chicago Fire at Real Salt Lake

9pm ET, Direct Kick, MLSLive.tv

Finally, the road trip that wouldn't end comes to a close in Salt Lake City. The improvement RSL has shown the best several games has been admirable but won't be enough here, even at home. Chicago will at least get the tie if not the outright win, road weary and all.

My Prediction: Chicago 1 - 1 RSL

Colorado Rapids at Chivas USA

10pm ET, Direct Kick, MLSLive.tv

The Rapids would be wise not to mistake Chivas USA for their floundering LA counter part. The Goats will put up a fight and, yes, will beat the Rapids. Last week Chivas got up early and held on. This week they'll just flat out beat the Rapids for the whole 90.

My Prediction: Chivas USA 3 - 1 Colorado

MLS Power Rankings Week 9

Will continue the ascending order theme again this week. Not a lot of movement as most of the teams that should have won did.

12 - LA Galaxy (2-6-1)

Had the weekend off to figure out that the ball is in fact supposed to go into the goal. Now let's see if they can actually do it in a game.

11 - Real Salt Lake (2-5-2)

Pulled the tie out of no where with Jason Kreis' late equalizer. He's lucky he doesn't have a broken leg from Rapids GK Bouna pulling a WWE drop move on him while attempting to stop the goal.

10 - New York Red Bulls (1-2-5)

Dropped a home game to FC Dallas midweek and then beat a severely depleted Bayern Munich team in an exhibition game at the weekend. Too bad only the loss counts.

9 - Chivas USA (2-4-1)

Now the wins are starting to come. Scoring early then holding a team off isn't really their style, but it worked. I know I've said it before, but when John O'Brien gets back this team is going to be really good.

8 - Colorado Rapids (3-3-2)

Blew the lead late and gave up what was almost a sure win. C'est la Rapids. They've got two games to try and survive this week.

7 - Columbus Crew (3-3-2)

Also had the weekend off. Thankfully they do know that the ball is supposed to go into the goal.

6 - Chicago Fire (2-2-4)

It's hard not to have a let down at the end of such a long time away from home. Unfortunately sympathy can't keep them from dropping a spot.

5 - New England Revolution (3-3-2)

Having Noonan back helps but they're still not the same team from last season despite keeping Twellman, Noonan, and Ralston in the lineup during the World Cup. And only getting a point at home is shameful, but enough to trade spots with Chicago.

4 - Kansas City Wizards (4-4-1)

The team is now officially reeling. They're winless in the last 4 games, dropping 3 of them. They're still only scoring 1 goal a game. And it's not going to get any better. Lucky for them they got enough points early before losing players to the WC.

3 - Houston Dynamo (4-3-2)

Got the tie against the Revs in Foxboro despite still badly missing Brian Ching up top. Fortunately for them they have the Galaxy at home this weekend which should be fun.

2 - DC United (5-1-3)

Won at Arrowhead for the first time is 2001. They're right there with FC Dallas as class of the league. Adu's finally showing something with Eskandarian's cooled off a bit from his white hot start.

1 - FC Dallas (6-1-3)

You can't argue with winning games. I think they might actually be able to sustain the pace they're on through the season too, which is scary.

Week 10 Midweek Previews

We've got two games this Wednesday. Columbus travels to DC and the Galaxy take on the Rapids at Mile High.


Columbus Crew at DC United

7:30pm ET, Direct Kick, MLSlive.tv

DC United joins FC Dallas as the two hottest teams in MLS right now. The Crew are still trying to find their winning legs. United had to settle for the tie a few weeks ago in Columbus but aren't having any trouble getting results at home. Look for DC to expand their lead in the Eastern Conference.

My prediction: DCU 2 - 0 Columbus

LA Galaxy at Colorado Rapids

9:30pm ET, Direct Kick, MLSlive.tv

Hopefully the Galaxy use their week off to figure out how to score a goal. Never mind winning. They just need to score. Walk before you can run. Colorado is coming into the game kicking themselves for letting a win at RSL devolve into a draw in the final minutes. Colorado has already picked up a win against LA at the HDC earlier this year. Getting another 3 points off the hapless Gals is the safe bet though I'll also venture to guess that LA ends it's scoreless streak.

My prediction: Colorado 2 - 1 LA

Other MLS thoughts from this weekend

What is with the Current Affaris lead in music at the KC Wizard games? Are they going to expose the Wizards for having a mediocre offense?

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It was announced during the Colorado-RSL broadcast that Real Madrid will be coming to take on Real Salt Lake on August 12th. This games sounds about as much fun as going to the processing plant and seeing cows get turned into hamburger meat. I mean, it's always nice to see Real Madrid play but to be honest it would probably be worth paying money just to see an intrasquad scrimmage.

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According to this article, Ronaldo has turned down the NY Red Bulls and MLS for a 10-year, $120 million contract to come play. I guess the MLS brain trust and investors/operators have definitely decided to implement the "Beckham Rule".

Latvia is one of those Baltic states

In the US's final send off series game, they squeeze out a 1-0 win of the small Baltic nation of Latvia. It was again a better performance than Morocco but still not nearly as satisfying as one would hope.

Brian McBride got a knock on his head early in the game that reminded me of, but what as bad as, the one he got over his right eye in the qualifier against Mexico in Columbus for the 2002 World Cup.

Pablo Mastroeni has been the steadiest player for the US. He shows up to play every minute he's on the filed as opposed to some others. Bobby Convey has also shown great tenacity and fire and I think he's played his way onto the Starting XI against the Czechs.

Good to see Eddie Johnson closer to his old form. He was robbed on two offside calls against him that weren't. He deserved a goal somewhere in that game.

"Paging DeMarcus Beasley. Mr. Beasley, please meet your party in Germany." Where as DMB gone? The player that's been trotting around out there these past games his nothing more than a shell of the player from the last World Cup and from his club team in Holland. At this point he's only coming in as a sub for games.

Well, the USMNT has another match ahead against Anglo that closed to the public and media then it's the Czech Republic on June 12th (your very own blogger's birthday).

Other people loved them, but I wasn't a big fan of the special edition "Don't Tread on Me" jersey's the USMNT sported for this game. But that's just me.

Week 9 Wrapup

Well, I went 3 for 5 in my Week 9 predictions, even calling the correct scores on two games so a big pat on the back for that.

I also predicted that the Colorado vs. Real Salt Lake game was going to be a waste of national broadcast and I was right. Shame.

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This was not a good weekend for MLS refs. Referee Colin Tait in the Rapids-RSL match blew a litany of calls, including what should have been a straight red on Colorado's GK Bouna Coundoul for his attempted two-footed tackle that turned into Bouna landing his flying butt on Jason Kreis' leg. And then in the DCU - KC match, ref Terry Vaughn quickly lost control on the game after calling a PK in DCU's favor for a foul in which no one was actually touched then giving Alecko Eskandarian a yellow card after he was pushed into KC keeper Bo Oshioniyi and then calling off Alecko's subsequent goal off the corner kick due to another mysterious foul.

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Speaking of Bouna Coundoul, the Colorado keeper is quickly acquiring people's Carlos Ruiz level of disdain for his time wasting play acting and dirty play. Not a good start.

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I wish someone would have told me I could get away with wearing a pair of different colored but same brand of shoes again. I had to find this out from Clint Mathis in the COL-RSL game. Granted, the last time I did it when I was 10 years old in 1988 the colors I choose weren't neon yellow and hot pink, but I still think the one red, one black Chuck Taylor All-Stars I did lace up were pretty cool.

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Jovan Kirovski is the most killjoy of a player to have 5 goals on the season. The goals he's scored this year have just been the most anti-climatic things that leave you with feeling of general malaise.