The last game of the regular
season decided who got the last place in the 2007 play offs; Blanco goes
onwards whilst Beckham gets to ruminate before another season starts.
First let’s start with the axe –
now that the eight teams have their chance to prepare for the first leg what do
the other franchises do.
WEST:-
Colorado – A team with a solid manager and a
real lack of goals. Will the wily Clavijo
retain his job? I haven’t seen enough of
the Rapids this season to really make anything more than a guess.
LA Galaxy – surely a coach; who
admittedly managed to get the team on a late season burst with some good away
wins; who has a goal difference of -10; only won nine times in a thirty game season;
who has the best US player on is side and the terrible mismanagement of Beckham’s
(a manager who doesn’t get to decide his team sheet should surely resign
immediately) and finally the Galaxy played some of the poorest MLS football
this season, especially the back four; should go. Alexi Lalas comes across as pretty hard nosed
and it’s hard to see how he can justify keeping Yallop on.
Yallop isn’t a bad coach but he’s
probably not the coach that LA need right now.
Real Salt Lake – still struggling with the
previous coach’s poor initial selection of players Jason Kreis is making the
best of a bad hand. Trouble is he’s
traded quality for quality (Beckerman for Ballouchy) so the team as a whole
remains rather poor (Eddie Pope aside but he’ll retire now) and he’s barely out
of his playing boots. He’s a prime candidate
to accept an assistants job but without any coaching experience I think the
rebuilding of Real is beyond him.
EAST:-
Columbus Crew – Some quality players and a
useful coach but a lack of consistency.
That might save Sigi Schmid’s job.
Toronto FC – Mo Johnston has a
sound platform upon which to build, his season has been up and down with two
terrible records to his name (longest winless streak and longest goalless
streak); but he has shown signs of good management and will probably be given at
least 2008 to really turn things around, he really needs to sort out his sievelike
defence.
FIRST ROUND MATCH UPS:-
October 25th
Chicago Fire v DC United
One convincing win for DC and two
draws. DC have taken their foot of the
gas a touch recently and Chicago
will be buoyed by the win against LA.
Expect a tight game with a result for DC. Will Emilio have his shooting boots on?
The weather forecast is cool; mid
40’s; and cloudy.
October 27th
New York Red Bulls v New England Revolution
Two wins and an away draw. The rivalry, the form of NE and home
advantage scream a home win. Angel’s
performance in front of goal could a spanner in the works though.
The weather forecast is cool; low
50’s with a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
FC Dallas v Houston
Dynamo
Two wins and goalless draw
without conceding a goal. Houston seem to have their
rivals’ number. De Rosario is the one to
watch in this game.
The weather forecast is mostly
clear with temperatures in the 60s.
Kansas City Wizards v Chivas USA
Both sides won at home this
season. Tough one to call; if Chivas
injury problems subside you have to fancy them for the win. How will Eddie Johnson perform in front of
goal?
The weather forecast is partly
cloudy and temperatures in the 50s.
This season the East has five teams, the West just three. Is the East the better conference?
The Supporter’s Shield goes to
the East.
63 wins versus 43 for play off
teams – an average of 12.6 versus 14.3.
230 goals versus 126 scored for
play off teams – an average of 46 versus 42.
207 goals versus 95 conceded for
the play off teams – an average of 41.4 versus 31.6.
Each Eastern conference team has
three inter conference games but only plays two against the West.
Each Western conference team has
three inter conference games but only plays two against the East.
Of the ten top scorers only nine
make the play offs; of those nine 6 are from the East.
New York has Angel (19) and Altidore (9). New England
has Twellman (16). Kansas City has Johnson (15). Chivas has Galyndo (12) and Razov (11). LA has Donovan (8). DC has Emilio (20) and Gomez (10).
Of the top five goalkeepers; by
MLS statistics; three are in the West and one of those won’t be in the play
offs.
Assist leaders (for the stattos
amongst you) with only Schelloto from Columbus
missing out. Again, Chivas have two,
Kljestan 13) and Razov (8). LA has
Donovan (13). New
England has Ralston (14). Kansas City has Arnaud
(9). New York has van den Bergh (8). DC has Gomes (9) and Fred (8).
Feisty players abound, the top
yellow card holders (making the play offs are) Robinson (11) for Houston. Marsch (9) and Nagamura (8) for Chivas. Olsen (8) for DC. And the only real livewire in the play offs
is New York’s
Mathis with two reds.
The Supporter’s Shield winner has
won the MLS Cup four times:-
1997 – DC United
1999 – DC United
2000 – Kansas City
2002 – LA Galaxy
Whomever you think is the best
conference it’ll be a tough competition.
The away goal rule will surely come into play so a 2-1 loss away in the
first game isn’t curtains. Some of the
best talents in the MLS are being left out this year but the teams involved
have enough quality to provide the end of season tournament with plenty of
quality football. This season no one
team has dominated the league; every team has had it’s ups and downs. And when it’s win or go home the games can
throw up suprises.
I still have to go with DC – they’ve
just played the best football I’ve seen in the MLS this season.
