BuffloSoldier
24 Oct 2007, 11:51 AM
...so here's another set of Major League Soccer predictions thrown at you. So much can change during the playoffs--guys get hurt, they get red cards, a team just gets into that zone. Anything can make what you thought on Day One obsolete on Day 10 or 21.
Hopefully, for all of our sakes, they make sense.
The Western Conference
#1 Chivas USA v. #4 Kansas City Wizards
If you go by the regular season and its outcome, Chivas is the clear favorite. They've performed well, got good efforts from "kids" like Bornstein, Guzan and Kljestan, and Preki's getting back Francisco Mendoza--who can only help things for the red and white contingent. I voted Maykel Galindo third in the MVP voting; I really think he's that important to a team that's rather short on goalscoring. Without the injured Ante Razov at his side, Galindo becomes that much more important.
So why am I thinking upset? KC is so Jekyll and Hyde, it's....scary. I hate to beat a relatively dead horse, but Eddie Johnson scares me on several different levels. As goes Johnson, goes the Wizards. I wish it wasn't that simple. KC can pull the upset in this one, and I think they will. 3-2, Wizards on aggregate.
#2 Houston Dynamo v. #3 FC Dallas
If Dallas comes to play, this in my mind is the best of the four quarterfinals. Two teams that don't like each other? Check. Flashpoint players that could either help or kill their squads based on their performance and attitude? Check.
Houston's the paper favorite in the West; they have depth, they're the defending champs, they have guys that are proven gamewinners. Dallas has Carlos Ruiz and question marks. I don't doubt their talent and will to pull the upset; I do doubt their defense, and the ability of Ray Burse (if called upon to start in net) to perform on a high level against MLS' best team. Yes, best team.
Houston loses if: a) their defenders play with abandon and get sent off (not out of the realm of possibility, especially Mr. Robinson) or b) they lose their collective finishing ability. I don't see that happening. Houston, 4-2 aggregate.
Eastern Conference
#1 DC United v. #4 Chicago Fire
If I'm a Fire fan, I'm hoping Saturday got the last (and most potent) bad juju out of my team's finishing and they start with a clean karmic slate Thursday night. If I'm a United fan, I'm wondering if I can trade ankles for a few weeks.
This is the toughest of the quarters for me to predict; so many things on and off the field will decide this one. Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno are dinged up; both could play in the first leg, but how well? Goals in Bridgeview will be at a premium, and if DC wants to take a positive result from this one, they're going to require Christian Gomez or Fred to step up--or Jeebus forbid, a goal from a dead ball opportunity.
Ben Olsen versus Cuauhtemoc Blanco should be a blast--a lot will be riding on who's calling these two games (ref assignment were not known by time of writing). Chicago desperately needs someone, anyone who can finish. Because of that, Juan Carlos Osorio might be ready to tinker with his lineup a bit (http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/soccer_redcard/2007/10/rolfe-back-at-f.html). Not always the best sign. This one could go any way. I say this with utter hesistancy...Chicago, 3-2. The league hopes I'm wrong.
#2 New England Revolution v. #3 New York Red Bulls
This should be the Revs' series to lose. Juan Pablo Angel is Angel; Jozy is Jozy, but the Bulls defense, well...
New England has all hands ready at the pump presently; Steve Nicol has all the boys back from another run at the Revs' first MLS title. Will Nicol keep the faith with Steve Ralston in a central role and Wells Thompson on the right, keeping Andy Dorman--a known game changer--on the bench? It's a lot to ask of a rookie who's still learning to play on this level. Nicol will ask a lot of his marking backs in this matchup; Avery John and Jay Heaps will need to keep Angel off the scoresheet.
As for the Red Bulls--who knows what you'll pull out of bag. They have dynamic attackers like the aforemented A's, Clint Mathis and Dane Richards. But their backline can be taken advantage of, and if I'm a NYRB fan, Jon Conway gives me little ease. Revolution, 4-2, on aggregate, but it's not that close.
Hopefully, for all of our sakes, they make sense.
The Western Conference
#1 Chivas USA v. #4 Kansas City Wizards
If you go by the regular season and its outcome, Chivas is the clear favorite. They've performed well, got good efforts from "kids" like Bornstein, Guzan and Kljestan, and Preki's getting back Francisco Mendoza--who can only help things for the red and white contingent. I voted Maykel Galindo third in the MVP voting; I really think he's that important to a team that's rather short on goalscoring. Without the injured Ante Razov at his side, Galindo becomes that much more important.
So why am I thinking upset? KC is so Jekyll and Hyde, it's....scary. I hate to beat a relatively dead horse, but Eddie Johnson scares me on several different levels. As goes Johnson, goes the Wizards. I wish it wasn't that simple. KC can pull the upset in this one, and I think they will. 3-2, Wizards on aggregate.
#2 Houston Dynamo v. #3 FC Dallas
If Dallas comes to play, this in my mind is the best of the four quarterfinals. Two teams that don't like each other? Check. Flashpoint players that could either help or kill their squads based on their performance and attitude? Check.
Houston's the paper favorite in the West; they have depth, they're the defending champs, they have guys that are proven gamewinners. Dallas has Carlos Ruiz and question marks. I don't doubt their talent and will to pull the upset; I do doubt their defense, and the ability of Ray Burse (if called upon to start in net) to perform on a high level against MLS' best team. Yes, best team.
Houston loses if: a) their defenders play with abandon and get sent off (not out of the realm of possibility, especially Mr. Robinson) or b) they lose their collective finishing ability. I don't see that happening. Houston, 4-2 aggregate.
Eastern Conference
#1 DC United v. #4 Chicago Fire
If I'm a Fire fan, I'm hoping Saturday got the last (and most potent) bad juju out of my team's finishing and they start with a clean karmic slate Thursday night. If I'm a United fan, I'm wondering if I can trade ankles for a few weeks.
This is the toughest of the quarters for me to predict; so many things on and off the field will decide this one. Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno are dinged up; both could play in the first leg, but how well? Goals in Bridgeview will be at a premium, and if DC wants to take a positive result from this one, they're going to require Christian Gomez or Fred to step up--or Jeebus forbid, a goal from a dead ball opportunity.
Ben Olsen versus Cuauhtemoc Blanco should be a blast--a lot will be riding on who's calling these two games (ref assignment were not known by time of writing). Chicago desperately needs someone, anyone who can finish. Because of that, Juan Carlos Osorio might be ready to tinker with his lineup a bit (http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/soccer_redcard/2007/10/rolfe-back-at-f.html). Not always the best sign. This one could go any way. I say this with utter hesistancy...Chicago, 3-2. The league hopes I'm wrong.
#2 New England Revolution v. #3 New York Red Bulls
This should be the Revs' series to lose. Juan Pablo Angel is Angel; Jozy is Jozy, but the Bulls defense, well...
New England has all hands ready at the pump presently; Steve Nicol has all the boys back from another run at the Revs' first MLS title. Will Nicol keep the faith with Steve Ralston in a central role and Wells Thompson on the right, keeping Andy Dorman--a known game changer--on the bench? It's a lot to ask of a rookie who's still learning to play on this level. Nicol will ask a lot of his marking backs in this matchup; Avery John and Jay Heaps will need to keep Angel off the scoresheet.
As for the Red Bulls--who knows what you'll pull out of bag. They have dynamic attackers like the aforemented A's, Clint Mathis and Dane Richards. But their backline can be taken advantage of, and if I'm a NYRB fan, Jon Conway gives me little ease. Revolution, 4-2, on aggregate, but it's not that close.