|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
 Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:16 am
Quote:
Goal.com: MLS Rankings: Status Quo at the Top
Goal.com 4 hours, 27 minutes ago 1. Houston – A little hiccup against New England won't hamper the Dynamo here. (1) 2. Seattle – Sounders FC probably didn't get the result it deserved in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Chicago, but the draw serves as karmic payback for the point stolen at Toyota Park earlier this year. (2) 3. Chicago – Losing John Thorrington, even for one match, is a big loss for the Fire. He covers a ton of ground. (3) 4. Columbus – Jason Garey's stoppage-time winner gives the Eastern Conference leaders a bit more leeway as they embark on a tricky little mini-road swing (@ Colorado, @ San Jose) over the next two weeks. (4) 5. D.C. United – At some point, United will look at the table and realize a playoff berth isn't exactly iced yet. Maybe then D.C. will find a way to play 90 minutes. (5) 6. Los Angeles – “Earlier in the year, we would have been happy tying a game like this, and tonight there was a sense of disappointment,” Galaxy star Landon Donovan said after his team settled for a 1-1 draw in Kansas City on Saturday night. “We don’t want to give away any points.”(7) 7. Toronto FC – TFC might need that point at the end of the year, but if Mo Johnston doesn't go out and get another center back, it probably won't matter either way. (6) 8. Colorado – Only so much credit can be handed out for beating New York at home. (9) 9. Real Salt Lake – For the first time in its 142-game history, RSL recovered from a two-goal deficit to come back and win a game. The question has to be asked, though: should RSL need such a charge to beat FC Dallas at Rio Tinto? (10) 10. New England – Absolutely massive win for the Revs in Houston vaults them right back into the playoff reckoning. (11) 11. Chivas USA – One thing that can be said about the Goats when they play in Colorado on Aug. 8: they will be plenty rested. ( cool 12. Kansas City – Curt Onalfo's side is just 1-2-4 in its past seven games. K.C. has a couple of games in hand, but those don't count for much with the way the Wizards have played recently. (12) 13. FC Dallas – Welcome to MLS, Jair Benitez. You'll see more dodgy penalty calls like the one called against you on Friday night as you settle in with FCD. (13) 14. San Jose – “It was a good fightback by us,” San Jose head coach Frank Yallop told Center Line Soccer after his Earthquakes overcame a two-goal deficit to grab a 2-2 draw with D.C. “We’re disappointed that we didn’t get the three points…but we showed great spirit to not let (the early goals) get us down, and I thought we could have won it in the end.” (14) 15. New York – On the road: home teams 23, New York 2. Ouch. (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:45 pm
did anyone see the stoppage time win for Columbus?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:51 am
Quote: Goal.com MLS Rankings: Rising in the EastBy Kyle McCarthy, Goal.com Aug 3 Chicago and Columbus hop up a spot in this week’s Goal.com MLS rankings as Seattle slides and Kansas City temporarily falls into the basement after losing 6-0 in Frisco. 1. Houston – Paging, Mr. Cameron. Please report to central defense. (1) 2. Chicago – That’s two consecutive wins on the trot at home and zero goals conceded in the past 374 minutes in all venues. The Fire’s game-in-hand gives them the edge over Columbus again this week. (3) 3. Columbus – It wasn’t the prettiest win in Colorado, but winning soccer games doesn’t have to be artistic when your Argentine playmaker is sitting on the sidelines. Another impressively gutsy performance from the Crew in the wake of continued adversity. (4) 4. Seattle – That performance in San Jose stunk well before James Riley got sent off late in the first half. (2) 5. D.C. United – Time to sort out those defensive issues. ASAP, in fact. (5) 6. Los Angeles – Nice free kick against Barcelona, Becks. Care to do that occasionally in MLS? (6) 7. Toronto FC – “It said an awful lot,” TFC captain Jim Brennan said after his 10-men Reds held on for a 1-1 draw at New England. “After the game we came in here and guys were disappointed and had their heads down because with 10 men, we wanted to win that game. I think if we had 11 men on the field, we would have walked away with the three points today. It shows character when you’re disappointed with one point today. It shows that everybody is on the right page here and we want to win.” (7) 8. Colorado – The Rapids are going to end up watching the playoffs if they keep dropping points at home. ( cool 9. New England – Unbeaten in its past four and possessing multiple games in hand, New England looms dangerously for the low-hanging playoff fruit. (10) 10. Real Salt Lake – Another decent road performance without reward. (9) 11. Chivas USA – Get healthy during these bye weeks, Ante Razov … (11) 12. FC Dallas – … or else Jeff Cunningham is going to overhaul you for second place on the all-time MLS goalscoring chart. (13) 13. San Jose – Isn’t it nice to watch a competent pair of central midfielders patrol the center of the park, Quakes fans? (14) 14. New York – Good news: the Red Bulls didn’t lose this week. Bad news: they may still find a way to chuck away those two away goals in the return leg of their CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round tie with W Connection on Wednesday. (15) 15. Kansas City – There is a temporary punishment for losing by six goals in Frisco. This is it. (12)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:14 am
Quote: Goal.com MLS rankings: Crew, Galaxy reach for top spotBy Kyle McCarthy, Goal.com 1. Houston – Watch those wobbly and tired legs, Dynamo fans. The margin between the top three shrinks with each passing week. (1) 2. Columbus – The Crew continue to stun MLS by racking up wins without Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Second-half substitutes Emmanuel Ekpo and Alejandro Moreno deserve the credit for extending the Crew’s unbeaten run to seven games (5-0-2, including four straight wins) in Saturday’s 3-0 win over San Jose in San Francisco. (3) 3. Los Angeles – Five wins and a draw in six games. That’s some sort of form for Becks and his merry band of playoff seekers. (6) 4. Chicago – Who will play left back if Wilman Conde, Gonzalo Segares and Daniel Woolard are all hurt? That’s not a question Denis Hamlett wants to answer, but he had to provide a reply on Sunday night. His pick: speedy midfielder Mike Banner. (2) 5. Seattle – Just a touch of adversity in the Pacific Northwest right now, but this squad is good enough to ride through it. (4) 6. D.C. United – Losing to Real Madrid on Sunday afternoon will have no impact on United’s playoff chase. Getting Clyde Simms back will. (5) 7. Colorado – There are two Rapids teams: one with Conor Casey and Omar Cummings playing together and one without. The former showed up on Saturday night and lashed Chivas USA 4-0. ( cool 8. Toronto FC – Given the fact that TFC will need to focus intently on MLS play to secure its first-ever playoff berth, the Reds’ failure to advance in the CONCACAF Champions League may have provided a necessary, yet embarrassing, stroke of luck. (7) 9. Real Salt Lake – The 1-0 home win over Seattle wasn’t particularly impressive, but RSL is doing just enough to stay on the periphery of the playoff chase. (10) 10. New England – A home setback against the Galaxy won’t kill the playoff chances, but the games in hand are dwindling and the Revs have yet to really find their stride. (9) 11. Chivas USA – Terrible, terrible, terrible performance in Colorado. Will the embarrassment finally rejuvenate the Goats? (11) 12. FC Dallas – Ladies and gents, take a look at your spoiler. The Hoops don’t have enough to make the playoffs, but they do have enough to take points here and there to make things interesting. (12) 13. Kansas City – We’ll see just how intense these Wizards are under interim boss Peter Vermes when K.C. hosts Chicago on Sunday. (15) 14. San Jose – Guess that 4-0 win over Seattle last weekend was just an oasis in the desert now known as the Earthquakes’ 2009 campaign. (13) 15. New York – Are heads ever going to roll in New York? Now that the CONCACAF Champions League is a thing of the past, it’s well past time to do something about these miserable Red Bulls. (14)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:57 pm
lol im gonna predict a clean sheet for houston this week and with mullan almost back we're picking up steam fast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:02 pm
Quote: Goal.com MLS Rankings: Chivas USA, New England Mount Playoff PushGoal.com 1. Columbus – The Crew rested up this weekend before traveling to Cruz Azul (CONCACAF Champions League) midweek and New York on Saturday. (1) 2. Houston – The Dynamo doesn't often cough up leads at Robertson Stadium, but a point in Sunday night's 1-1 draw against Seattle probably isn't bad considering the chances Sounders FC spurned. (2) 3. Los Angeles – Four points from road games in Chicago and D.C. is a more than respectable work week. (5) 4. Chicago – Inspired late comeback to stun Colorado may have done enough to erase the memory of Wednesday night's awful performance against Los Angeles. (3) 5. Seattle – Speaking of atoning for poor performances, Sounders FC conjured up the right response to Thursday's 1-0 setback against New England by remaining unbeaten against the Dynamo. (4) 6. Chivas USA – Preki currently has 31 players on his team right now. Seven of those players are on the DL. Two of those 31 – Sacha Kljestan and newly acquired Brazilian forward Maicon Santos – did most of the heavy lifting in Saturday night's 2-0 win over Toronto FC. (9) 7. New England – Big, big weekend for the Revolution as wins over Seattle and Real Salt Lake vaulted them into a tie for seventh in the league table. With bottom feeders San Jose and Kansas City visiting over the next two weekends, the Revs will have ample opportunity to continue their climb. (10) 8. Colorado – “We played well for 70 minutes but that doesn't matter now,” Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens said after his team blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Chicago on Sunday night. (7) 9. Toronto FC – Insipid performance at the Home Depot Center heaps pressure on the Reds to get a result in Seattle next weekend. (6) 10. D.C. United – United improved considerably on Saturday night, but only took a point to show for it after a refereeing decision or two went against them. In the grand scheme of things, those two dropped points could loom large. ( cool 11. Real Salt Lake – RSL started off a massive three games in seven days stretch with a whimper in New England. With Chivas USA visiting on Wednesday and a trip to Kansas City beckoning on Saturday, RSL needs to rebound quickly. (11) 12. FC Dallas – “It was good win for Red Bull, and a crap game for FC Dallas,” FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman said after New York notched its first win in 108 days with a 3-2 victory on Sunday at Giants Stadium. (12) 13. San Jose – The Quakes move up a spot after Chris Wondolowski's late goal snatched all three points at the death in Saturday night's 1-0 win over Kansas City. (14) 14. Kansas City – Time to start planning for next year even with those games in hand. (13) 15. New York – One win doesn't erase a season filled with misery, but it sure feels good after 108 days in the wilderness. (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:10 pm
Quote:
Goal.com MLS Rankings: Rapids Climb as Reds TumbleGoal.com 1. Columbus – Memo to Guillermo Barros Schelotto: Do not replicate your flute goal celebration from that VW commercial in Glasgow under any circumstances. (1) 2. Houston – Massive, massive game for the Dynamo in Columbus on Sunday. (2) 3. Los Angeles – Landon Donovan does the business on the international level as well as the club level. (3) 4. Chicago – Will Chris Rolfe's impending move to Aalborg impact the Fire's MLS Cup chase? (4) 5. Colorado – Not often does a bum tooth count as luck, but Conor Casey's oral pain set the stage for the Rapids' 1-0 win over Toronto FC on Saturday night. (6) 6. New England – A 4-2 home defeat to Kansas City is by no means the effort the Revolution wanted to muster to end its three-match homestand. (5) 7. Seattle – Another victory in D.C. on Saturday would go a long way towards making Seattle's playoff dreams come true. (7) 8. D.C. United – While three points may have been there for the taking, United will be more than happy with one after Saturday night's 2-2 draw in Frisco. (9) 9. Real Salt Lake – Chicago's visit on Saturday night represents a must-win for Jason Kreis' playoff chasers. (10) 10. Chivas USA – The home six-pointer with New England on Sunday looms large. (11) 11. Toronto FC – With impending trips to Los Angeles and Chicago on the docket, TFC desperately needs three points in the return leg of a home-and-home against Colorado at BMO Field on Saturday. ( cool 12. FC Dallas – Allowing D.C. to snatch a point after twice taking the lead on Saturday night may just about end the Hoops' realistic playoff hopes. (12) 13. Kansas City – Four goals after 426 minutes without one. Talk about a nice way to break a drought. (14) 14. San Jose – The Earthquakes don't play until starting a home-and-home with Colorado at Buck Shaw Stadium on Sept. 18. (13) 15. New York – Stands to reason that the Red Bulls would have a bye after their first two-game winning streak of the season. (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:41 pm
Quote:
Goal.com MLS Rankings: Fire Stoked as Dynamo Falls
Goal.com Sep 14 1. Columbus – Who would have though the Crew would have the inside track to the Supporters' Shield after a dismal start? It's a real testament to the job Robert Warzycha has done this season. (1) 2. Chicago – Brian McBride's healthy return in Saturday night's 1-1 draw at Real Salt Lake is just what the doctor ordered as the Fire heads towards the playoffs. (4) 3. Houston – The signs aren't particularly encouraging in Houston these days. Is the Dynamo heading for a 2008 repeat? (2) 4. Los Angeles – Give the Galaxy a mulligan for its 6-3 home defeat to FC Dallas, but Bruce Arena has to figure out a way for his slow central defenders to mitigate speedy forwards. (3) 5. Seattle – Is that second win in D.C. in ten days a season changer for the recently sputtering Sounders FC? (7) 6. Colorado – A game effort in Toronto went unrewarded, but the Rapids look like increasingly sure bets to find a way to make their way into the postseason given the form of the teams surrounding them. (5) 7. New England – The Revs' record without Shalrie Joseph in the lineup this season: 0-2-1, one point, zero goals. (6) 8. Chivas USA – Justin Braun looked like he could add a healthy dose of pace to the Goats' playoff chase in his first appearance since June 6. (10) 9. Toronto FC – Dwayne De Rosario made sure a must-win at home to Colorado ended with a victory. (11) 10. D.C. United – Fred and Christian Gomez need to start influencing games if United wants to return to the playoffs. ( cool 11. Real Salt Lake – Normally, there wouldn't be much a problem if an undermanned and outplayed RSL drew at home with Chicago, but Jason Kreis' side can't afford home draws if they want to harbor realistic playoff hopes. (9) 12. FC Dallas – The Hoops are just the type of spoiler a neutral wants to see: all offense, no defense. (12) 13. Kansas City – Six points from three road games in eight days represents a nice haul for Peter Vermes' men. (13) 14. San Jose – Darren Huckerby's season-ending surgery won't impact the Quakes' faint playoff hopes. (14) 15. New York – With that 1-0 loss to Kansas City on Saturday night, the Red Bulls are finally eliminated from the playoff chase. The only question: why, oh why, did it take this long for the math to catch up to common perception? (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:48 pm
Quote:
Goal.com MLS Rankings: Gritty Goats Rise AgainGoal.com Sep 21, 3:59 am EDT 1. Columbus – Guillermo Barros Schelotto's two goals in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Chicago were his first strikes since June 14. (1) 2. Chicago – Peter Lowry is the type of guy teams love to have buried deep on their bench. Every once in a while, he pops up (two goals on Sunday) and influences games with his late runs. (2) 3. Houston – A much-needed three points against RSL should stop the rot for now, but the Dynamo needed to kill that game off early in the first half. (3) 4. Los Angeles – Sean Franklin's return may be even more promising than David Beckham's outstanding performance in Saturday night's 2-0 win over Toronto FC. (4) 5. Chivas USA – Another gritty performance, another well-earned point after a 0-0 draw in Seattle. ( cool 6. Seattle – Who would have thought spotty home form would harm Seattle's playoff chances? (5) 7. Colorado – A point in San Jose isn't horrible, but the Rapids need all three in the return leg on Wednesday. (6) 8. New England – Given its remaining schedule, the Revs really needed all three points in New York on Sunday night. Those games-in-hand grow in importance as the weeks pass. (7) 9. Toronto FC – Julian de Guzman debuted in TFC's expected defeat in Los Angeles. He'll need to contribute straight away to bolster TFC's playoff hopes. (9) 10. D.C. United – File Sunday afternoon's home match against San Jose under the header “must win.” (10) 11. Real Salt Lake – Spirited, but ultimately futile, comeback in Houston wouldn't have been necessary if RSL had started better and had avoided silly mistakes in the opening half an hour. (11) 12. Kansas City – Nine points from the past four games have pushed the Wizards to the fringes of the playoff race, but it's probably too little, too late. (13) 13. FC Dallas – You can't stop Jeff Cunningham, you can only hope to contain him. At least for right now. (12) 14. San Jose – Ryan Johnson giveth (the early goal to stake the Quakes the lead) and taketh (the stoppage time foul on Drew Moor to set up Conor Casey's tying penalty) away. (14) 15. New York – In its past 13 regular season games against New England, New York has mustered a grand total of zero wins. (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:02 pm
Quote: Goal.com MLS Rankings: Sleepless in Seattle?Goal.com Sep 28, 2009 8:57:34 AM 1. Columbus – With a playoff berth now sealed, the Crew can turn its sights to the Supporters Shield. (1) 2. Chicago – Too much sloppiness at the back from the Fire in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Toronto FC, but Brian McBride rescued a point in the second half. (2) 3. Houston – Not a bad time to have a weekend away from the action. (3) 4. Los Angeles – No Beckham, no spark, no points in Columbus. (4) 5. Chivas USA – Will Sacha Kljestan's 90th minute penalty miss in Saturday night's 1-1 draw with New York cost Preki's side dearly at the end of the season? (5) 6. Colorado – The 0-0 draw at Kansas City wasn't pretty or effective, but the Rapids set themselves up for the proverbial “win-and-in” game at home against New England on Saturday. (7) 7. New England – Two-game road swing through Dallas and Colorado could prove considerably more difficult if Edgaras Jankauskas (groin) and Steve Ralston (knee) aren't fit enough to travel. ( cool 8. Seattle – With Toronto FC and D.C. United flush with home games, it's time to start wondering if Sounders FC could slip out of the playoffs altogether as its form dips. (6) 9. Toronto FC – Huge point in Chicago means seven points from three remaining games could be enough to make the playoffs. TFC better shoot for all nine just to make sure. (9) 10. D.C. United – Devastating second-half collapse allowed San Jose to snatch all three points at R.F.K. Stadium and placed United in some playoff peril. (10) 11. Real Salt Lake – The 3-0 loss at FC Dallas may just about end RSL's playoff hopes... (11) 12. Kansas City – …and ditto for the Wizards' 0-0 home draw with Colorado. (12) 13. FC Dallas – Was that a shutout FCD posted to accompany those three goals? (13) 14. San Jose – Finally, a first away win on the campaign. It only took 12 tries (14) 15. New York – Will the late season push force Richie Williams into contention for the permanent gig? (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:46 pm
Quote:
Goal.com MLS Rankings: Galactic Playoff Return Leads To L.A.'s ClimbGoal.com 1. Columbus - The MLS-record 22-game home unbeaten streak is now over. It only took two rare occurrences - Roger Levesque's first MLS goal and Guillermo Barros Schelotto's first MLS penalty miss - to end the Crew's stellar home run. (1) 2. Los Angeles - The Galaxy have won six games by a 1-0 scoreline at the Home Depot Center this season (five home games, plus one “at Chivas USA”). (4) 3. Houston - The Dynamo has picked up five red cards in its past six games. Poor discipline doesn't win championships. (3) 4. Chicago - Doesn't something about the Fire appear just a bit off-kilter as the season winds to a close? (2) 5. Chivas USA - The Goats hadn't scored in its three previous away games before Maicon Santos and Jesus Padilla found the net in D.C. (5) 6. Seattle - A little bit of luck goes a long way and Sounders FC had just enough of it to escape Columbus with a victory. ( cool 7. Colorado - The Rapids could ill afford a draw against New England, but they really couldn't stomach losing Mehdi Ballouchy (caution accumulation) and Julien Baudet (ejection) for the trip to FC Dallas in two weeks. (6) 8. New England - One point from trips to FC Dallas and Colorado isn't exactly what the doctor ordered, but it does give the Revs chance to control their destiny with home games against Columbus and Chicago over the next two weekends. (7) 9. Toronto FC - Chris Cummins must have smiled as he watched Chivas USA thump United at home. The road to the postseason just got a tad bit easier. (9) 10. D.C. United - With Saturday night's 2-0 submission to Chivas USA, United has now lost three on the trot at R.F.K. Stadium for the first time since 2000. (10) 11. Real Salt Lake - Not sure that 4-1 win over BYU on Friday night will help prepare RSL for the end of the campaign. (11) 12. Kansas City - A 1-1 draw in Houston would taste sweeter if the Wizards hadn't played the majority of the match up a man after Cam Weaver's diabolical challenge and hadn't watched their faint playoff hopes all but disappear with the point. (12) 13. FC Dallas - Was anyone surprised to see the 3rd Degree report that stated Jeff Cunningham has an incentive clause in his contract tied to his goal production? Cunningham could see his contract for next year renewed automatically should he reach a certain scoring threshold, according to the report. (13) 14. San Jose - This belated four-match unbeaten streak will make the 2009 season appear a bit more productive than it actually was. (14) 15. New York - The Red Bulls are now at 26 consecutive games on the road without a victory after Saturday night's 1-0 loss in San Jose. (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:19 pm
Quote: Goal.com MLS Rankings: Chivas USA, FC Dallas Continue Playoff Push1. Columbus – Another week with an assortment of missing players, another win in New England. (1) 2. Los Angeles – It might take six points in the final two games to hold off surging Chivas USA for top spot in the West. (2) 3. Chivas USA – The Red-and-White is now unbeaten in its last five (3-0-2) after a 2-0 victory over Kansas City on Saturday night. With an extra match remaining, does Chivas USA have the inside track to the Western Conference crown now that it has drawn level with L.A. and Houston? (5) 4. Houston – How will Corey Ashe's knee injury in Sunday night's friendly with Monterrey impact how Dominic Kinnear uses his bench over the next month? (3) 5. Chicago – Perhaps one of the many injured Fire players can recover in time for Saturday's trip to New England. A healthy defender or two, for example, would be a nice start. (4) 6. Seattle – That win in Columbus looks golden after the results this weekend. (6) 7. Colorado – Forty points may be just enough to get the Rapids into the playoffs, but a point in Frisco on Saturday would solidify the Rapids' playoff chances while also undermining FCD's hopes. (7) 8. FC Dallas – Consider this bump a correction for keeping FCD down in the teens for too long. The Hoops may just be the most dangerous team in MLS right now, but do they have enough left in the tank to make it into the playoffs? (13) 9. New England – How will the Revs generate the goals they'll need to beat Chicago next weekend? ( cool 10. Toronto FC – Last-gasp draw against San Jose heaps pressure on the Reds ahead of RSL's visit next weekend. (9) 11. D.C. United – After the nadir reached last weekend, United can take solace that the results this weekend didn't cripple its playoff hopes. (10) 12. Real Salt Lake – Nine points would almost certainly seal a playoff berth for RSL. Can Jason Kreis' side string together its first three-game winning streak of the season? (11) 13. Kansas City – Saturday night's loss at Chivas USA snapped a four-match unbeaten run and ended the Wizards' playoff hopes in every realm but the mathematical one. (12) 14. San Jose – The Earthquakes didn't deserve a spot in the playoffs, but they do deserve a few plaudits for improving as the season winds to a close. (14) 15. New York – Avram Grant didn't seem like the right fit, did he? (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:47 pm
Quote:
Goal.com MLS Rankings: Wild Card Shuffle1. Columbus – The Crew will hope for better luck at the sharp end in Puerto Rico. (1) 2. Los Angeles – Gritty 0-0 draw in Houston won't mean much if the Galaxy can't take care of business at home against resurgent San Jose. (2) 3. Chivas USA – With a game in hand, the Goats know three points in Chicago on Thursday night would go a long way to sealing the Western Conference crown ahead of Sunday's top-of-the-table clash with Houston. (3) 4. Houston – After Sunday's draw with the Galaxy, it's likely going to take a road victory to ensure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. (4) 5. Seattle – The wait is over. Sounders FC is headed to the playoffs after a 3-2 win in Kansas City on Saturday night. (6) 6. Chicago – It would take a unique confluence of events, but the Fire could still find a way to miss the playoffs. Amazing, isn't it? (5) 7. FC Dallas – Saturday's 2-1 win over Colorado handed FCD its first four-match winning streak since July 8-29, 2006. ( cool 8. Toronto FC – Can TFC overcome its shaky road record and wobbly late-game hand on the wheel to seal all three points in New York on Saturday night? (10) 9. Colorado – The Rapids enter a season-deciding match in Sandy with six goals and four points (0-2-4) in their past six matches. Not good. (7) 10. D.C. United – It wasn't an aesthetic piece of workmanship, but United lives to fight another day with a 1-0 win over Columbus. (11) 11. New England – With most of the tiebreakers favoring other teams, the Revs will have to win in Columbus and hope for some luck elsewhere. Those are some difficult odds indeed. (9) 12. Real Salt Lake – Even with a home win over Colorado, RSL is going to need some serious help to reach the playoffs on 40 points. (12) 13. Kansas City – The Wizards could have folded after being eliminated from the playoff chase before the kickoff of Saturday night's 3-2 loss to Seattle, but they didn't. (13) 14. San Jose – Speaking of teams that won't quit, the Earthquakes took yet another point by holding Chivas USA to a 2-2 draw in Carson. (14) 15. New York – A game and determined effort wasn't enough in Wednesday night's 2-0 loss at Real Salt Lake. (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:03 pm
Quote:
Goal.com MLS Rankings: One Last Time Before The Fun Starts1. Columbus – After losing three of four heading into the playoffs, the Crew suddenly looks a bit wobbly. (1) 2. Los Angeles – The Galaxy might face a local derby in the Western Conference semifinals, but there is a positive to the playoff pairing. Chivas USA probably presents the best possible matchup despite the added rancor. (2) 3. Houston – Dominic Kinnear has a fair and just point about having to play three games in a week when no one else has to do so. Here's an idea: the Dynamo should just swap hosting privileges with Seattle. Houston can't host on Thursday night, so the Dynamo would get a few extra days of rest for the first leg and travel to Qwest Field for the decisive match. Sound like a plan, Dom? (4) 4. Chivas USA – Consider the last week a giant opportunity lost. (3) 5. Seattle – Freddie Ljungberg and Fredy Montero could carry Sounders FC to a title. (5) 6. Chicago – For the fifth consecutive year, the Fire will meet… (6) 7. New England – …the Revolution in the Eastern Conference playoffs. (11) 8. Real Salt Lake – If there is a right time to play Columbus, RSL may just have found it. (12) 9. FC Dallas – The Hoops can be proud of their late-season run, but it ultimately went for naught when they couldn't extend their winning streak to five matches at Seattle. (7) 10. D.C. United – Changes are coming. The most important task: constructing a solid defense. (10) 11. Toronto FC – Poor season-ending performance in New York once again revealed an Achilles heel at the back that the Reds can't seem to fix. ( cool 12. Colorado – No wide players, no playoffs. (9) 13. Kansas City – After the past few weeks, it's fairly clear that Peter Vermes is a viable candidate for the full-time Kansas City gig. The question is whether he wants to swap a fairly stable front-office position for one that is far more volatile. (13) 14. San Jose – Time to go shopping for a central defender or two and a striker or three, Messrs. Doyle and Yallop. (14) 15. New York – The Red Bulls have a serious decision to make regarding interim coach Richie Williams. Is he the man to take the team forward or is he better suited to another situation? (15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casting Pearls night Captain
|
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:38 pm
MLS Playoffs: Goal.com MLS Rankings: Narrow Distinctions
(Note: In my consternation in trying to assemble the rankings this week, I opted for a different approach from the one I used to compile the power rankings last Wednesday and the weekly rankings during the course of the season. In this edition, I have slotted each of the four playoff series from the most likely to turn over [Houston-Seattle] to the least likely to turn over [New England-Chicago] in my estimation. With the fine balance in each of these ties, it's a rough science at best.)
1. New England – After Shalrie Joseph's goal snatched a 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon, the Revs will defend for their lives and attempt to snatch a goal off a set piece in the return leg at Toyota Park. (-)
2. Los Angeles – The Galaxy will look to replicate the latter stages of the first half of Sunday's 2-2 draw rather than the beginning of either stanza. (-)
3. Real Salt Lake – With the Crew's attack stumbling in recent weeks, RSL's best bet to spring an upset may be pressing players into the attack and trying to grab another goal. (-)
4. Houston – In the tightest of the four series, the Dynamo holds the narrowest of advantages after a gritty 0-0 draw at Qwest Field on Thursday. (-)
5. Seattle – Sounders FC's recent road form (4-1-1 in the past six) certainly should give the Dynamo pause. (-)
6. Columbus – The Crew should find a way to break through at Crew Stadium, but can Columbus score enough to avoid the perils of overtime and penalty kicks? (-)
7. Chivas USA – Speed, speed, speed over the top with a dash of Kljestan and a return to defensive sanity. That's how the Red-and-White should approach the “away” leg. (-)
8. Chicago – The first 20 minutes (and last year's 3-0 second leg playoff win) showed the Fire can rip the Revs apart when required, but Chicago have to cope better with New England's physicality and improve its set piece defending (or avoid conceding them in the first place) to advance to a second consecutive East final. (-)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
