You want some Mo? I'll give you some Mo!

Toronto FC has decided to bring in Mo Johnston to helm the new franchise that begins play in 2007.

This news is a few days old so I'm not saying anything that most have not already heard. I just wanted to comment on how this is a terrific hire for the Northmen (or whatever they'll be called). I've always liked Mo Johnston and thought he never really got a fair shake at Metrostars/RBNY. He broke his coaching seal at an awkward time at the club and the organization was just too fickle for him to do much with it.

Mo is a coach that has a ton of potential and I really think that over the next few years he'll rise up there along Frank Yallop, Piotr Nowak, Bruce Arena (just going on early MLS glory) and Bob Bradley as the creme de la creme of MLS coaches.

I know it might sound a bit cliche to say that when he's able to bring in his own players and set up his own personnel he'll be able to excel and win, but in MLS this is a much more true statement than not compared to other leagues when discussing a new coach's ability to succeed. The discrepancy between the really good players and mediocre players on a team is much larger than in other sports leagues where the majority of players on a team are all about equal in ability save for a handful up upper echelon performers.

An example would be league dominating DC United. There you have Jaime Moreno and David Stokes. This is not a pairing of a good player and a really good player but rather a bad player and a really good player that occasionally start together.

I expect Mo Johnston to succeed though and sooner than some might believe. Let's just hope in Toronto he won't show up to the games looking like he just drug himself in straight from club hopping all night.

Week 22: Weekend Previews

LA Galaxy at DCU
The Galaxy are quickly showing that they're a much better team than their record would suggest (which we all knew), highlighted but a beating of FCD last weekend. The bottom of the West travel to RFK to take on the top of the East (and league). DC finally remembered what it's like to win (courtesy their USOC victory against RBNY) and are looking to prolong that feeling which is a pretty good bet playing at home.
My Prediction: DCU 2 - 1 LA

RSL at RBNY
Earlier in the season one would have said that if there's a game that Bruce Arena would surely get his first win against, it would be RSL. Not so much anymore as they just seem to keep clipping off wins here and there. The fake grass won't help the Red Bulls either since the Monarchs play on the same stuffs. I can still see Bruce Arena finally breaking the seal with this game though really it's a toss up.
My Prediction: RSL 2 - 2 RBNY

COL at CHI
Pretty evenly matched teams going at it. Kyle Beckerman is quietly having a very good season. Can't discount home field for Chicago though.
My Prediction: COL 1 - 0 CHI

HOU at CUSA
The Dynamo head out to the HDC sans Brian Ching again. Houston was clicking but now they found themselves in a mid-season slumber. Right now they can get away with it but pretty soon is when teams need to start firing on all cylinders.
My Prediction: CUSA 3 - 1 HOU
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CLB at NE
This is a tough game to get up an excitement for unless you a fan of either clubs. Both are just ho-humming along, waiting for the playoffs to get here. It'll show in this game
My Prediction: NE 1 - 1 CLB

FCD at KC
The Western Conference is starting to bunch up a little so FCD is going to have to work a little harder than maybe they though earlier in the season to stay on top. Dropping a game to LA last weekend didn't help anything but they can definitely get one back against the Wizards. It's a shame the whole EJ vs. old team hook is barely more exciting than a yawn.
My Prediction: FCD 3 - 2 KC


GAME TO WATCH
LA at DCU is the game to tune in to if you're lucky enough to have HDNet (which I fortunately do). Expect a lot of action and scoring between a great team and a team that's trying to shake off it's underachiever label. I anticipate at least one GOTW nominee out of this one.

Feel free to post comments. I'm just an idiot.

This entire time I'm wondering why no one has decided to post comments to my titillating and knowledgeable ramblings. Well, apparently they have but before they get posted I have to get them the 'OK'. I didn't know this and I just saw today that there were multiple comments dating back several months waiting to get my approval before being seen by the masses.

I'm obviously a master of this blogging thing.

At any rate, now that I know what's up, feel free to comment away.

Oh Bruce!

Not the best start to the Bruce Arena era at Red Bull New York. Thus far they've tied DCU and lost to Columbus in league play and tonight have dropped their US Open Cup game to a DCU team resting a number of starters.

Of course it will take a while to get a hold of this team, get his people in place and bring in his own players but one would hope Bruce Arena, even starting mid-season with someone else's players, would be able to get the Red Bulls into the playoffs.

One would think.