Here are the Second Round matches 4) Kickers vs 1) Battery 3) Impact vs 2) Rhinos 3) Thunder vs. 2) Rampage 5) Whitecaps vs 1) Sounders. Here are my picks Battery Rhinos Thunder Sounders Anyone else?
Battery Impact Thunder Whitecaps I wonder how the long layoff will affect those teams who had byes. Adversely I suspect.
Pretty much agree there. Montreal will give Rochester all they can handle and that one could go either way. But I still think the Rhinos will squeak by. Definitely think Minnesota will dispatch Milwaukee.
Thanks for all the votes of confidence for the Thunder, guys. Actually, I agree with the picks of Rhinos/Battery/Thunder/Sounders, but I think they're all fairly close and could go either way (except maybe for Seattle, who I think will have the least trouble of the 4).
You never know with these rivalry pairings... just ask the lumberjacks. They thought they'd get past Vancouver no problem... and they're reserving their tee times now. I think we'll win in the end, but it won't be easy against motivated opposition. Particularly in Vancouver, now that the Caps have beaten the injury bug and have some momentum as of late. I'm thinking 0-0 or 1-1 in Vancouver, and 1-0 to Seattle in the return leg. If the Caps steal one in B.C., then it could get sticky playing against 10 defenders packed in the box on a narrow pitch. The only way it turns into a rout is if we get a two goal+ win up there and make Vancouver have to take a lot of risks pushing people forward down here. I'd say the odds are against that happening though.
KJ's on a tear for the Kickers, and the Battery are missing a key player. I'm picking the Kickers over the rested Battery.
My picks: Impact -Last year, the Rhinos had the road paved to the finals last year by getting two low seeds (#12 Pittsburgh and #8 Milwaukee) in their bracket on the way to the finals. Not so this year as they will face a tough test in their first playoff series. Battery -I think the Battery finally believe this is their year, and may win this series on adrenaline alone. Thunder -Rampage have faced the Thunder five times in the playoffs, and have failed to advance five times. The Thunder are playing as well as anybody right now, but if they don't play any better than they did in the first round against El Paso or in their final game in Rochester, the Rampage could finally get the monkey off their back. Sounders -I think this could be the closest series, and could go to overtime or a shootout. The Sounders have only won one game since August 14, and that was over the Storm. Vancouver showed a very stingy defense against the high-scoring Timbers. Look for the Sounders to advance in a close one. (just my opinion)
I noticed that a defensive tone was sure set in the first round. There were an average of 1.75 goals per match, and no team scored more than twice in a match. Will the defenders continue to rule, or will the dam break?
Thanks for the confidence in the Impact's chances. We'll make Rochester's life tough, but one point bothers me. Our coach has gotten a little too much defensive after taking a 1-0 lead which led to many heartbreakers. If we ever take the lead Thursday, we need to still go foward. I believe we'll win 2-1 in Montreal and hold on 1-1 in Rochester. By the way, who would have thought of such a turnaround in one year for the Impact. 2001: squad at a minimum, no coach, crowd of 1000-2000 max and missed playoffs 2002: good squad, good coach, crowd of 6000-7700 regular and should have finished 1st in division. Prevision: 4) Kickers vs 1) Battery Battery 3) Impact vs 2) Rhinos Impact 3) Thunder vs. 2) Rampage Thunder 5) Whitecaps vs 1) Sounders. Sounders Semi-finals Battery (we coldn't beat them at home this year) Sounders Final Battery
Charleston over Richmond as I always wanted a final at BlackBaud. Rhinos over Impacty, just becase their the Rhinos. Thunder over the Rampage, because Milwaukee is slumping, and just lost two key players. Whitecaps over the Sounders, due to Seattle's late-season slump.
Dream on, Rhinos will beat the Impact. I predict 1-1 in Monteal, 2-0 in Rochester. Say good-bye Montreal....
Since you must have predicted Rhinos victories everytime we've met this year (final count Mtl 3 Rhinos 1), I'm starting to fell confident about our chances... Are the Rhinos trying to put together a bus of fans to come up north?
Hey Montréal United! Are you interesting in joining the Ultras for Thursday's game? Some of us will be meeting in pub "Métro" on Lajeunesse in front of the AL Van Houtte at Crémazie metro around 5:45pm. Check out our board (which is sadly quiet as of recent times) at www.ultrasmontreal.com (click forum) or email us at ultrasmontreal@hotmail.com. Or you can just meet us at the Stadium near the ULTRAS banners. We'll also watch the return leg at Champs' Saturday night. BTW, I'm Daniel, I wear a striped black and blue Impact jersey and I have lots of curly hair. I'm 19. See you there?
Hi Daniel Great to see you on the field for the Voyageurs' Cup presentation. It looked a bit botched, but still a good thing. As for meeting at 5:45, I just hope to arrive on time to the game.
Battery Impact Rampage Sounders I think Rochester is losing their momentum and the BAttery are gaining their's . The Sounders should take this one. The Thunder/Rampage is the only one I wouldn't put money on, I just don't know enough to make anything other than a guess. Milwaukee looked good when they were here in Chucktown, so that was my choice. Seattle goes down in the third round and The Battery take the Impact. Battery wins the final here at Blackbaud stadium on a gorgeous late Sept. day. Either way they should all be pretty good match-ups Mikey
my half baked picks Montreal v. Rochester - to close to call but I'll take the Rhino's experience. Battery v. Kickers - It's the Battery's year (finally) Minnesota v. Milwaukee - I think the Thunder have something to prove. Vancouver v. Seattle - the Sounders have had a Cinderella season and midnight is quickly approaching. Vancouver to advance.
Ercoli will out coach Lilley again. Like i said, i'll be back here Saturday Night, celebrating advance into the semi's. None of the Stampede are going to Montreal, i am not sure about Safari. I doubt it, since its so close to Sept. 11 and middle of the week, with school and work going on. Are the Ultras coming to Rochester saturday night?
Leg 1: 0-0. Now Montreal has to come to Rochester to to advance. Like i said, its season over Montreal. Good season, but too little too late.
If your gonna put stupid statistics like that on the table then look at your record vs us in Montreal. We are 0-2 and someone we tied you last night. Playoffs are different here, Ercoli will out coach Lilley again, and we'll advance. Hope you enjoy the last couple days of your season. It was a good run huh, but too little too late. No body beats us at Frontier in the playoffs.
I'm a Kickers fan, but . . . I don't see anybody beating the Battery this year. They are sound in all areas, especially on defense. I think it is their year to win it all. Of course, I am hoping (and will be cheering on Sunday at UR Stadium) that I am wrong!!!
I hope the Kickers win too. I want and thought the Impact would win but I doubt they can do it in Rochester. Not only do the fans not stop hackling you but the field had a hill in the middle of it.