Bad day for MLS in US Open Cup

Several MLS teams took place in the 3rd round of the US Open Cup today.  A few of those teams will play again in the 4th round - several will not.

Defending MLS Champions Columbus Crew went to OT and then to PKs against the always dangerous Rochester Rhinos.  The Rhinos came out on top in PKs at 5-3 to move on.

The Chicago Fire have been hot in MLS play - but they couldn’t keep it up against Wilmington Hammerheads.   The only goal of the game went to the Hammerheads in the first half.  Four time US Open Cup champions Chicago Fire can now focus on the MLS regular season.

Chivas USA was the third MLS side to fall to a lower division opponent.  They ran into the Charleston Battery and went home 3-1 losers.

Some MLS teams did advance out of this round.  DC United beat the Ocean City Barons 2-0 and The Kansas City Wizards snuck out of Minnesota with after winning 4-2 on PKs after a 3-3 draw.

A couple teams will still be in action on July 1st.  The Houston Dynamo will be playing at the Austin Aztecs while Seattle Sounders FC will be playing at their old USL rivals Portland Timbers.

The new erratic schedule is messing with my MLS viewing

I didn’t like it when it was first announced, and I’m not enjoying the crazy new schedule that Major League Soccer is going with this year.  I’m used to Thursday night games - now I don’t always get a Thursday night game.  I was really looking forward to a game tonight…

So Toronto FC is on top of the east and the defending champions Columbus Crew are on the bottom only one point below MLS Cup runners up New York Red Bulls.  Something doesn’t seem right in this world right now.

I guess we have to wait for FC Dallas vs DC United on Saturday if you have FSC.  This game is going to be a re-match of a US Open Cup play-in game these 2 teams played in just over a week ago.  DC United won that game 2-0 to move in to the US Open Cup.  FC Dallas won’t have those pesky extra games messing up thier nice MLS schedule.  I imagine DC will win this one again.  FC Dallas could be in competition with the LA Galaxy for bottom of the league this year.

Can’t wait for that game!

A New MLS Cup

It was 2005 the last time the West was represented by someone other than two time defending champion Houston Dynamo.  The New England revolution have represented the East even longer, 2004 was the last time someone other than the Revs made it to the MLS Cup.  This year both of those teams dropped out in the first round thanks to the Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls. Of the 4 remaining teams only the Chicago Fire have ever made it to the MLS Cup, so we will see at least one new team playing for the title this year.

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Chicago Fire (#2 East) @ Columbus Crew (#1 East)

Thursday November 13th - 6:30 PM

ESPN 2

The Eastern conference final has possibly the two favorites to win the MLS Cup.  I know I would be happier to see these teams match up for the MLS Cup rather than what we will end up with.  The Crew had the best record in the regular season and get to play at home.  The Chicago Fire are hot right now.  I think the Fire will be too much for the Crew to handle.  Chicago wins 3-2.

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New York Red Bulls (#5 East) @ Real Salt Lake (#3 West)

Saturday November 15th - 8:30 PM

Fox Soccer Channel, HDNet

The Western conference final isn’t really the Western conference final.  New York obviously plays in the East but due to the silly playoff setup they get to play in the Western conference half of the playoff bracket.  Real Salt Lake has never been in the playoffs before.  The Red Bulls have been here but not ever advanced to the final.  After seeing what the Red Bulls did to Houston this is a tough game to predict.  I’ll stick with the home team and say RSL 1-0.

What are your predictions?

Playoff race is on

With just about 5 weeks remaining in the regular season schedule the race to the playoffs is heating up. Here is a quick look at the current situation of each team

Columbus Crew 14-6-5 47pts

The Crew missed the playoffs last year and are on the top this year.  They have at least a spot in the playoffs clinched and are the only team to do so yet.

Last 5: W T W W W (13pts)

Remaining Schedule:

@ New England Revolution
LA GALAXY
@ Chicago Fire
@ New York Red Bulls
DC UNITED

New England Revolution 12-7-6 42pts

The Revolution are always near the top, usually going far into the playoffs and collecing some trophies (just not the MLS Cup).  This could be the year they get that MLS Cup.  They got SuperLiga and aren’t doing so bad at 2nd place in the league.

Last 5: T W L L T

Remaining Schedule:

COLUMBUS CREW
REAL SALT LAKE
@ Kansas City Wizards
@ DC United
Kansas City Wizards 

Houston Dynamo 10-5-9 39pts

Defending MLS Cup champions have a habit of starting the season slow and peaking at the right time and they could do it again this year.

Last 5: T W W L W

Remaining Schedule:

@ Toronto FC
@ Colorado Rapids
DC UNITED
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
LA GALAXY

Chicago Fire 11-9-5 38pts

The Fire started out with a bang this season - for a while they held the top spot in the league.  Now they are in a slump but if they come out of it at the right time they can bean anyone and could add to their collection of silverware.

Last 5: L L W L L

Remaining Schedule:

LA GALAXY
@ Kansas City Wizards
COLUMBUS CREW
@ Toronto FC
NEW YORK RED BULLS

New York Red Bulls 9-8-8 35pts

The Red Bulls have been all over the place, near the top and near the bottom.  You never know what the Red Bulls are gonna do.   They are currently 5th overall but currently 4th in the East with DC and KC within striking distance.  They could go either way in the playoff hunt but I’d expect to see them get in.

Last 5: L W L T W

Remaining Schedule:

COLORADO RAPIDS
TORONTO FC
@ Real Salt Lake
COLUMBUS CREW
@ Chicago Fire

DC United 10-12-3 33pts

One of the most successful clubs in MLS History, defenders of the Supporters’ Shield, DC United is going to make it close to the playoffs this year.  If they playoffs were to start today, they’d be the last team in.  There are a couple teams right on their heels.

Last 5: L T L T W

Remaining Schedule:

@ FC Dallas
CHIVAS USA
@ Houston Dynamo
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
@ Columbus Crew

Chivas USA 9-10-6 33pts

Chivas USA were winners of the Western Conference last year and then took a first round exit from the playoffs.  Right now they have 2nd position in the West although they are 7th overall.

Last 5: W L W W T

Remaining Schedule:

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
@ DC United
@ San Jose Earthquakes
COLORADO RAPIDS
HOUSTON DYNAMO

Kansas City Wizards 8-9-8 32pts

The Wizards must like to cut it close.  They’ve gone down to the very last day of the regular season to determine their playoff fate a couple times in the past few years.  Right now they’ve got some ground to make up to get in this year.

Last 5: W W L L T

Remaining Schedule:

@ Chivas USA
CHICAGO FIRE
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
@ New England Revolution 

Colorado Rapids 9-12-4 31pts

The Rapids have been up and down this year.  They missed the playoffs last year and hope to change that this year.  They are current tied on points with RSL for the 3rd position in the West - which will likely be the last position to get into the playoffs from the West.

Last 5: T W W L L

Remaining Schedule:

@ New York Red Bulls
HOUSTON DYNAMO
@ LA Galaxy
@ Chivas USA
REAL SALT LAKE

Real Salt Lake 8-10-7 31pts

RSL have had a bit of a slide lately.  They had been on top of the West and looking forward to making the playoffs for the first time in their history.  Now they’ve got a battle to get there.  This could come down to the last game of the saeson when they play Colorado.

Last 5: L L T W L

Remaining Schedule:

@ San Jose Earthquakes
@ New England Revolution
NEW YORK RED BULLS
FC DALLAS
@ Colorado Rapids

FC Dallas 7-9-9 30pts

FC Dallas could likely be one of the team that made the cut last year to drop out.  They have had their moments but not enough of them.  They are only 1 point away, but I think it is unlikely they move up.

Last 5: W T L L T

Remaining Schedule:

DC UNITED
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
TORONTO FC
@ Real Salt Lake
@ LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy 7-10-8 29pts

The Galaxy have had ups and downs as much as anyone in the leage.  For a while they got hot and led the west, they’ve also been on the bottom on the single table.  Chances of the Galaxy getting into the playoffs are not looking very good.

Last 5: W L T T L

Remaining Schedule:

@ Chicago Fire
@ Columbus Crew
COLORADO RAPIDS
@ Houston Dynamo
FC DALLAS

San Jose Earthquakes 7-9-8 29pts

The Earthquakes have been close to or at the very bottom for most of the year.  A first year team isn’t expected much more, but they have had a hot run in the 2nd half of the season.  They came up and threatened to take a playoff position, but now they’ve fallen back a little bit.

Last 5: T W W T W

Remaining Schedule:

REAL SALT LAKE
@ FC Dallas
CHIVAS USA
@ Houston Dynamo
@ Kansas City Wizards
TORONTO FC

Toronto FC 7-12-6 27pts

TFC spent some impressive time in the playoff hunt, but now they sit at the bottom of the league.  It would take an amazing run to get them in now.

Last 5: L T L L T

Remaining Schedule:

HOUSTON DYNAMO
@ New York Red Bulls
@ FC Dallas
CHICAGO FIRE
@ San Jose Earthquakes

Pat Noonan back to New England and then right to Columbus

Pat Noonan played for the New England Revolution before going to Norway’s Aalesunds FK at the beginning of the year. Now the Revolution have signed their former striker and immediately traded him to the Columbus Crew. During Noonan’s years with the Revolution he has played 136 and scored 42 goals. The Revolution will receive a first round draft pick and allocation money and the rights to trade allocation position with the Crew.

Brian McBride coming to Major League Soccer?

Brian McBride recently announced that he would not be returning to Fulham for another season in the English Premiership, and that he wants to return to the United States.  Right now Toronto FC would have the rights to get McBride because they have the highest allocation ranking due to their last place finish in the league last year.

So would McBride be coming back to play in Toronto?  A more likely situation would be that he ends up at the Chicago Fire.  McBride grew up near Chicago and has said that he’d like to return to his home.  So Chicago would likely have to make a deal with TFC to get the rights to McBride unless TFC wanted to pass on him in order to keep the top allocation spot open in case someone better comes around.  I can’t imagine they’d see someone better than McBride coming into MLS this season.

The Chicago Fire are currently tied at the top of the league and looking pretty good.  With the addition of Brian McBride they could be a very dangerous team looking for another MLS Championship.  What do you Fire fans think?  I’d be quite happy to see McBride joining my team.

Is there any chance that McBride would end up anywhere other than Chicago?  Would he go back to his former team - Columbus Crew?

An odd turn of events

Like much of the current MLS season, last night was a little bit odd.

Expansion teams are supposed to suck - unless you are the Chicago Fire.

So last night the new San Jose Earthquakes, the expansion team, beat the old Earthquakes and 2 time defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo 2-1. This win for the Earthquakes puts last years Supporters’ Shield winner (DC United) into last place.

Meanwhile the Columbus Crew are still on top of the league. The Crew have been miserable since 2004.

It sure is going to be an exciting season!

Crew top the single table, Dynamo at the bottom?

Would have you said I was crazy if I told you 6 weeks ago that today the Columbus Crew would be on top of MLS and that Houston Dynamo would be on the bottom?

I imagine if you say no - you are either lying or a Columbus Crew fan who happens to hate Houston.  How many of you are there out there.  I suppose it isn’t crazy to think that a lot of any fans hate the Dynamo - they are 2 time defending champions.  I don’t think the Crew and Dynamo is necessarily a big rivalry, is it?

Well anyway, how long will it be before Houston is above the Crew?  Maybe the Crew stay higher than the Dynamo all year?  What do you think?

Last Remaining Team Without a Win is the Defending Champions

The defending champions Houston Dynamo are the only remaining team without a win on their record.  Tonight at 6:30 PM (CST) The Dynamo take on a hot Columbus Crew team who has 9 points from 4 games.

The Dynamo may still be without Pat Onstad in goal.  Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear would not say if Onstad would be back in goal tonight - he has been practicing all week.  The Dynamo will be without Eddie Robinson who is serving a 3 match suspension for actions taken in the Kansas City Wizards game.

Can the defending champions finally get a victory tonight, or will the Columbus Crew continue their hot streak and take all the points from Houston?

Thursday Night MLS is back!

We finally get back to our beloved Thursday night MLS on ESPN.

vs

Columbus Crew (2-1-0) 6pts - 3rd(T)

DC United (1-2-0) 3pts - 9th(T)

The season is so young but these teams are in opposite positions of where they ended last season - and most seasons for that matter.  The Crew have picked up 2 home wins while DC United has only a single win with 2 losses in the first 3 weeks of the season.  This game Columbus does not have the comfort of playing at home.  Starting a season slow is nothing new for DC United.  Last year they had an awful start to the season and ended up with the best record in the league.  The Crew are looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2004 when they were dropped in the first round by the Revolution. I don’t think DC United will continue in their losing ways tonight.  My MFLS prediction for this game is a 2-0 DC United win.  This pretty much seals the deal for Columbus to at least pick up a point.  My MFLS team and predictions have been horrible so far this year.