The new erratic schedule is messing with my MLS viewing

posted by kidpurple April 30, 2009

I didn’t like it when it was first announced, and I’m not enjoying the crazy new schedule that Major League Soccer is going with this year.  I’m used to Thursday night games – now I don’t always get a Thursday night game.  I was really looking forward to a game tonight…

So Toronto FC is on top of the east and the defending champions Columbus Crew are on the bottom only one point below MLS Cup runners up New York Red Bulls.  Something doesn’t seem right in this world right now.

I guess we have to wait for FC Dallas vs DC United on Saturday if you have FSC.  This game is going to be a re-match of a US Open Cup play-in game these 2 teams played in just over a week ago.  DC United won that game 2-0 to move in to the US Open Cup.  FC Dallas won’t have those pesky extra games messing up thier nice MLS schedule.  I imagine DC will win this one again.  FC Dallas could be in competition with the LA Galaxy for bottom of the league this year.

Can’t wait for that game!

Posted in Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, US Open Cup | Comments (0)

A New MLS Cup

posted by kidpurple November 10, 2008

It was 2005 the last time the West was represented by someone other than two time defending champion Houston Dynamo.  The New England revolution have represented the East even longer, 2004 was the last time someone other than the Revs made it to the MLS Cup.  This year both of those teams dropped out in the first round thanks to the Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls.

Of the 4 remaining teams only the Chicago Fire have ever made it to the MLS Cup, so we will see at least one new team playing for the title this year.

 @

Chicago Fire (#2 East) @ Columbus Crew (#1 East)

Thursday November 13th – 6:30 PM

ESPN 2

The Eastern conference final has possibly the two favorites to win the MLS Cup.  I know I would be happier to see these teams match up for the MLS Cup rather than what we will end up with.  The Crew had the best record in the regular season and get to play at home.  The Chicago Fire are hot right now.  I think the Fire will be too much for the Crew to handle.  Chicago wins 3-2.

 @

New York Red Bulls (#5 East) @ Real Salt Lake (#3 West)

Saturday November 15th – 8:30 PM

Fox Soccer Channel, HDNet

The Western conference final isn’t really the Western conference final.  New York obviously plays in the East but due to the silly playoff setup they get to play in the Western conference half of the playoff bracket.  Real Salt Lake has never been in the playoffs before.  The Red Bulls have been here but not ever advanced to the final.  After seeing what the Red Bulls did to Houston this is a tough game to predict.  I’ll stick with the home team and say RSL 1-0.

What are your predictions?

Posted in 2008 Playoffs, Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake | Comments (3)

Playoff race is on

posted by kidpurple September 24, 2008

With just about 5 weeks remaining in the regular season schedule the race to the playoffs is heating up. Here is a quick look at the current situation of each team

Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew 14-6-5 47pts

The Crew missed the playoffs last year and are on the top this year.  They have at least a spot in the playoffs clinched and are the only team to do so yet.

Last 5: W T W W W (13pts)

Remaining Schedule:

@ New England Revolution
LA GALAXY
@ Chicago Fire
@ New York Red Bulls
DC UNITED

New England Revolution 12-7-6 42pts

The Revolution are always near the top, usually going far into the playoffs and collecing some trophies (just not the MLS Cup).  This could be the year they get that MLS Cup.  They got SuperLiga and aren’t doing so bad at 2nd place in the league.

Last 5: T W L L T

Remaining Schedule:

COLUMBUS CREW
REAL SALT LAKE
@ Kansas City Wizards
@ DC United
Kansas City Wizards 

Houston Dynamo

Houston Dynamo 10-5-9 39pts

Defending MLS Cup champions have a habit of starting the season slow and peaking at the right time and they could do it again this year.

Last 5: T W W L W

Remaining Schedule:

@ Toronto FC
@ Colorado Rapids
DC UNITED
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
LA GALAXY

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire 11-9-5 38pts

The Fire started out with a bang this season – for a while they held the top spot in the league.  Now they are in a slump but if they come out of it at the right time they can bean anyone and could add to their collection of silverware.

Last 5: L L W L L

Remaining Schedule:

LA GALAXY
@ Kansas City Wizards
COLUMBUS CREW
@ Toronto FC
NEW YORK RED BULLS

New York Red Bulls

New York Red Bulls 9-8-8 35pts

The Red Bulls have been all over the place, near the top and near the bottom.  You never know what the Red Bulls are gonna do.   They are currently 5th overall but currently 4th in the East with DC and KC within striking distance.  They could go either way in the playoff hunt but I’d expect to see them get in.

Last 5: L W L T W

Remaining Schedule:

COLORADO RAPIDS
TORONTO FC
@ Real Salt Lake
COLUMBUS CREW
@ Chicago Fire

DC United

DC United 10-12-3 33pts

One of the most successful clubs in MLS History, defenders of the Supporters’ Shield, DC United is going to make it close to the playoffs this year.  If they playoffs were to start today, they’d be the last team in.  There are a couple teams right on their heels.

Last 5: L T L T W

Remaining Schedule:

@ FC Dallas
CHIVAS USA
@ Houston Dynamo
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
@ Columbus Crew

Chivas USA

Chivas USA 9-10-6 33pts

Chivas USA were winners of the Western Conference last year and then took a first round exit from the playoffs.  Right now they have 2nd position in the West although they are 7th overall.

Last 5: W L W W T

Remaining Schedule:

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
@ DC United
@ San Jose Earthquakes
COLORADO RAPIDS
HOUSTON DYNAMO

Kansas City Wizards

Kansas City Wizards 8-9-8 32pts

The Wizards must like to cut it close.  They’ve gone down to the very last day of the regular season to determine their playoff fate a couple times in the past few years.  Right now they’ve got some ground to make up to get in this year.

Last 5: W W L L T

Remaining Schedule:

@ Chivas USA
CHICAGO FIRE
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
@ New England Revolution 

Colorado Rapids

Colorado Rapids 9-12-4 31pts

The Rapids have been up and down this year.  They missed the playoffs last year and hope to change that this year.  They are current tied on points with RSL for the 3rd position in the West – which will likely be the last position to get into the playoffs from the West.

Last 5: T W W L L

Remaining Schedule:

@ New York Red Bulls
HOUSTON DYNAMO
@ LA Galaxy
@ Chivas USA
REAL SALT LAKE

Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake 8-10-7 31pts

RSL have had a bit of a slide lately.  They had been on top of the West and looking forward to making the playoffs for the first time in their history.  Now they’ve got a battle to get there.  This could come down to the last game of the saeson when they play Colorado.

Last 5: L L T W L

Remaining Schedule:

@ San Jose Earthquakes
@ New England Revolution
NEW YORK RED BULLS
FC DALLAS
@ Colorado Rapids

FC Dallas

FC Dallas 7-9-9 30pts

FC Dallas could likely be one of the team that made the cut last year to drop out.  They have had their moments but not enough of them.  They are only 1 point away, but I think it is unlikely they move up.

Last 5: W T L L T

Remaining Schedule:

DC UNITED
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
TORONTO FC
@ Real Salt Lake
@ LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy 7-10-8 29pts

The Galaxy have had ups and downs as much as anyone in the leage.  For a while they got hot and led the west, they’ve also been on the bottom on the single table.  Chances of the Galaxy getting into the playoffs are not looking very good.

Last 5: W L T T L

Remaining Schedule:

@ Chicago Fire
@ Columbus Crew
COLORADO RAPIDS
@ Houston Dynamo
FC DALLAS

 San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose Earthquakes 7-9-8 29pts

The Earthquakes have been close to or at the very bottom for most of the year.  A first year team isn’t expected much more, but they have had a hot run in the 2nd half of the season.  They came up and threatened to take a playoff position, but now they’ve fallen back a little bit.

Last 5: T W W T W

Remaining Schedule:

REAL SALT LAKE
@ FC Dallas
CHIVAS USA
@ Houston Dynamo
@ Kansas City Wizards
TORONTO FC

Toronto FC

Toronto FC 7-12-6 27pts

TFC spent some impressive time in the playoff hunt, but now they sit at the bottom of the league.  It would take an amazing run to get them in now.

Last 5: L T L L T

Remaining Schedule:

HOUSTON DYNAMO
@ New York Red Bulls
@ FC Dallas
CHICAGO FIRE
@ San Jose Earthquakes

Posted in Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC, Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Red Bulls finally get their stadium

posted by kidpurple September 4, 2008

Okay – so the title is probably a bit mis-leading. Everyone knows that Red Bull Park (or whatever it will be know as) is being built as I sit and type right now. I just came across a link to a webcam – you can watch the progress of the construction here:

http://www.earthcam.com/clients/redbullarena/

Free Beer!

Red Bull fans – how does free beer sound? What if you got free beer and a foosball tournament? Then – what if some of the Red Bulls were there to play foosball against you? Check it out

This is happening again tonight at 7:30pm. Get there and come back here with pictures tomorrow.

Posted in New York Red Bulls | Comments (1)

US Open Cup Update

posted by kidpurple June 30, 2008

The third round of the US Open Cup is upon us.  There are 8 MLS teams remaining in the tournament – each of which will face a non-MLS team.

Three teams from the USL Second Division have made it to the round of 16.  These teams all face MLS teams in this round.  Here are those matchups:

Crystal Palace Baltimore vs. New York Red Bulls

Richmond Kickers vs. New England Revolution

Cleveland City Stars vs. Chicago Fire

The remaining lower level teams all came from the USL First Division:

Rochester Rhinos vs. DC United

Miami FC Blues vs. FC Dallas

Charsleston Battery vs. Houston Dynamo

Carolina Railhawks vs. Kansas City Wizards

Seattle Sounders vs. Chivas USA

The previous round saw the exit of 8 more USL First and Second Division teams along with the only team from outside USL to make it that far – Hollywood United.  Hollywood United are a part of the United States Adult Soccer Association.

What MLS teams may fall to their lower league opponents?

Posted in Carolina Railhawks, Charleston Battery, Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Cleveland City Stars, Crystal Palace Baltimore, DC United, FC Dallas, Hollywood United, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Miami FC Blues, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Seattle Sounders, US Open Cup | Comments (0)

Jozy Altidore finally moving to Spain

posted by kidpurple June 5, 2008

There has always been talk of where Jozy Altidore will end up going when he leaves MLS, and how soon it would come.  Major League Soccer has agreed on a deal with La Liga’s Villarreal.  The agreement is reportedly worth $10 million, which is a record transfer fee for an American player topping the recent transfer of Eddie Johnson to Fulham for $6 million.

Villarreal finished 2nd place in Spain’s La Liga this year behind champions Real Madrid.  The New York Red Bulls are currently in 10th place overall in Major League Soccer.

Posted in Eddie Johnson, Jozy Altidore, New York Red Bulls, Villarreal | Comments (0)

Thierry Henry Rumors

posted by kidpurple May 22, 2008

Where will Theirry Henry be next year? Rumors were New York, now they are LA and Seattle. Some say he will still be in Barcelona and maybe has already agreed to stay in Barcelona. How could the Galaxy fit him on their team? Why would he go to an expansion team? New York seems the most likely to me, but is that even a rumor anymore of have they claimed they are not even interested anymore? I can’t keep up with the Henry MLS rumors anymore…

LA Galaxy

Where do you think the French striker will be playing a year from now?

Posted in Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Seattle Sounders, Thierry Henry | Comments (3)

Good things in store for San Jose Earthquakes in 2008

posted by kidpurple March 24, 2008

The newly created San Jose Earthquakes team just finished up the Carolina Challenge Cup, an annual pre-season tournament featuring 4 teams.  This year along with the Earthquakes the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, and home team Charleston Battery.  San Jose went a perfect 3-0 to win the tournament while the USL team went 1-1-1 which was good enough to finish in 2nd place above the other 2 MLS teams.

Usually pre-season results don’t mean much – but that hasn’t been the case of the Carolina Challenge Cup.  Each of the past 4 years the winner of the Challenge Cup has gone on to see great results in the MLS regular season.  The winner has either won the MLS Cup or the MLS Supporters’ Shield in each of the past 4 years.

Which will it be for the Earthquakes?

Posted in Carolina Challenge Cup, Charleston Battery, New York Red Bulls, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC | Comments (0)

Do the DP’s have to be old timers?

posted by kidpurple March 11, 2008

In order for the LA Galaxy to bring David Beckham to Major League Soccer the rules had to change.  The salary cap was too small for Beckham to fit on any team by himself, so the league added DP’s which only count toward some of your salary cap.  After that the team can pay that player as much money as they want to.  The Galaxy were able to get their 32 year old man Beckham for a huge amount of money.

Later other teams got in on the action and New York Red Bulls even traded to get 2 DPs.  The have 32 year old Juan Pablo Angel and 34 year old American Claudio Reyna to fill their DP slots.  Chicago has 35 year old Blanco, DC United will have 32 year old Marcelo Gallardo, and Kansas City has now signed 33 year old Claudio Lopez to fill their DP slot.

The average age of the DPs that will be playing in the league at the start of this season will be 33.  In the past the average age of the whole league has been right around 27-28 years old.  So the average DP is about 5-6 years older than the league average.   These number may not be accurate today – they were based on some numbers I saw that were a few years old.  I would guess the league average might be a little bit younger today.

While the DP’s are great to have around, I can’t wait for the day they don’t have to be all these old timers.  There is no problem with them – some of them have been tremendously important for their teams (Juan Pablo Angel, Blanco) but some have made small impacts (Claudio Reyna, David Beckham).  Maybe that isn’t totally fair, both Reyna and Beckham were held back by injuries.

While these old guys are coming into the league, young guys like Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey are leaving the league.  These are young guys that could potentially hold a DP slot someday.  Yet they are leaving the league to go play in Europe.  I can only imagine that money and better experience are the main reasons these players are so eager to head to Europe and leave MLS behind.  Both are very valid reasons but this needs to start changing in MLS.

Our national team does just fine when they have an MLS dominated lineup so we can’t say our young Americans need to play in Europe to build a better national team.  I’m sure the experience doesn’t hurt, but I don’t really see it as necessary.  So if the money was there for MLS would they be able to keep more young talent?  Preston North End, a team at the bottom of the 1st division in England, recently wanted to bring Taylor Twellman to England.  Either MLS or the Revolution would not let him go which angered the striker because this low level team was going to pay him three times his salary here in the MLS.  I wonder it Twellman would have been ready to go for the same pay he receives now?  What if it had been a top notch premiership team willing to pay his current salary?

I guess two things probably need to happen before these DP slots don’t have to be filled by these near retirement old timers.  First we have to get rid of the idea that Europe is so massively better for the payer’s development.  I’m not arguing that Europe isn’t better for our young talent – but I do believe that a young player can have a successful career in Major League Soccer and be competitive with the national team.  If people start to believe this it just comes down to money.  If it is just money I would think that more teams would fill their DP slots with young talent.  Claudio Lopez should be pretty awesome this year, but who would you rather have for the long run, Eddie Johnson or Claudio Lopez?

Posted in Blanco, Chicago Fire, Claudio Lopez, Claudio Reyna, Clint Dempsey, DC United, David Beckham, Eddie Johnson, Juan Pablo Angel, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, Marcelo Gallardo, New York Red Bulls, Taylor Twellman | Comments (1)

Juan Carlos Osorio headed to New York

posted by kidpurple December 18, 2007

Juan Carlos OsorioJuan Carlos Osorio will be replacing Bruce Area at New York Red Bulls this coming season. Osorio has been in NY before, both as a player and as an assistant coach. This past season he turned the Chicago Fire season which was a disaster before his arrival.

Osorio has spent time on the coaching staffs of Club Deportivo Millonarios, Manchester City, New York Metrostars, and most recently as the head coach of the Chicago Fire.

The Fire received 2 MLS SuperDraft picks in return for allowing the Red Bulls to talk to Osorio.

Who will take over at the Fire now?

Posted in Chicago Fire, Juan Carlos Osorio, New York Red Bulls | Comments (0)