New York v. Toronto PRUS / SCOTT / CULLUM / PENSO Seattle v. Dallas TOLEDO / ROCKWELL / GARNER / WILEY
Real Salt Lake v. Colorado GONZALEZ / STRICKLAND / BOLES / HERNANDEZ Columbus v. New England STOTT / DITTMAR / MUSCHIK / VAUGHN
Chivas USA v. Houston GEIGER / TOVAR / MANIKOWSKI / REYES Los Angeles v. San Jose PETRESCU / VERGARA / ANDERSON /REYES
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS -- FIRST LEG Real Salt Lake vs Columbus - GEIGER / STRICKLAND / DITTMAR / HERNANDEZ
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS -- FIRST LEG New England vs Chicago - TOLEDO / FEREDAY / BARKEY / GRAJEDA WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS -- FIRST LEG Chivas USA vs Los Angeles - STOTT / QUISENBERRY / ROCKWELL / WARD
It will be interesting to see if Jorge Gonzalez gets a big appointment (maybe even a semi) if he is going to be nominated for the FIFA panel. Since Alex Prus turned 45 in June, I'm guessing the US will want another referee to replace him ASAP and Gonzalez appears to be the top ranked national. What do you guys think?
Unfortunately, I think you're right. I've never really rated him. He just doesn't seem to have that certain something that separates him from the pack. Something missing. Final crew? I'll go for Terry in the middle & Chico as 4th. ARs - not sure yet.
Surprised we haven't tried to predict the MLS Cup assignments, yet. Always instructive to look at the history: 08: Toledo/Barkey/Quisenberry/Geiger 07: Prus/Fereday/Wienckowski/Hall 06: Marrufo/Lowry/Clement/Stott 05: Stott/Strickland/Barkey/Valenzuela 04: Kennedy/Clement/Quisenberry/Okulaja 03: Hall/Lowry/Fereday/Kenny 02: Terry/Barkey/Eddy/Kennedy 01: Stott/Itaya/Wilson/Tamberino 00: Tamberino/Lowry/Vergara/Stott 99: Weyland/Clement/Lowry/Hall 98: Terry/Reed/Nagy/Tamberino 97: Hall/Olson/Barkey/??? 96: Baharmast/Tamberino/Olson/??? I'll say, for 2009: SALAZAR/SUPPLE/ROCKWELL/VAUGHN I think it's almost certain that it's Salazar or Vaughn for the whistle, so I'm just making a guess there. Whomever doesn't get this one likely gets one very soon. As for ARs, I'll go with one guy who's been around and should/will get an MLS Cup before he gives up his FIFA badge after 2010 (Supple) and then one of the younger FIFA ARs who is moving up the list quickly (Rockwell).
I hope Supple gets it. I had the pleasure of working with him this weekend (Boys prep school game; he was CR). It was a fantastic experience to work with someone so highly qualified (even though he was upset that I didn't have long-sleeve green...). Besides, I'd love to watch the Cup and be able to say that I ref'd with one of them.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS -- SECOND LEG Columbus vs Real Salt Lake - TOLEDO / SUPPLE / FLETCHER / PETRESCU
Prus and Barkey as the Referees of the Year. As Barkey was the SAR last year for MLS Cup I doubt he will be back this year. But I could easily see Prus as the 4th for Salazar (my pick as well) on the final.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS - SECOND LEG Los Angeles vs Chivas USA - SALAZAR / GANSNER / QUISENBERRY / PRUS That's one hell of an experienced crew for that one. Still nothing posted for the Chicago-NE match tomorrow. I'd guess either Vaughn or Stott since Geiger and Prus have 4th assignments.
It'll be his last big game if he refs it the way he reffed the Columbus-Houston game back in September. Questionable red cards and late PK.
According to Alex Prus's facebook ( ) he has control of the NE CHI game and is "expecting a tough one". He went on to say it possibly "could be my last game with a white badge"
Well that solves that mystery! I guess he's flying out to California afterwards. I wonder why they haven't posted a preview, though.
Western Conference Final - Houston @ LA Galaxy REFEREE: Terry Vaughn. SAR (bench): Thomas Supple; JAR (opposite): Darren Clark; 4th: Paul Ward