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)

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)

TFC drop Laurent Robert and add Carlos Ruiz

posted by kidpurple August 20, 2008

Toronto FC have dropped French midfielder Robert Laurent and added Carlos Ruiz to their roster. The French midfielder joined TFC at the beginning of April this year and started 16 of 17 games since then. In those games he has 1 goal and 3 assists.

Carlos Ruiz joins after another short time spent with the LA Galaxy. With the great form of Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan, Ruiz didn’t get much playing time. Ruiz is tied for 7th place on the league all time scoring list with 82 goals in his career. The 28 year old striker has 59 goals for his team prior to joining the LA Galaxy the first time his career brought him to MLS. If those had all been goals in MLS Ruiz would be by far on top of the all time scoring list. Can Ruiz keep scoring lots of goals? Probably not at the same rate he scored during his first time spent at the Galaxy, but he should be able to help TFC.

Posted in Carlos Ruiz, Los Angeles Galaxy, Robert Laurent, Toronto FC | Comments (1)

What is the 4th highest goal scorerer in league history worth?

posted by kidpurple August 8, 2008

Jeff Cunningham has 99 career MLS goals which has him at 4th on the all time league history goal scoring charts. Cunningham is currently 31 years old. How much is a player with those stats worth?

Toronto FC aparently thinks that is worth a 3rd round draft pick in next year’s draft. That is what they received in a trade that sent Cunningham to FC Dallas.

Is this a sign that Kenny Cooper is going away? There have been a lot of rumors about him recently. Maybe FC Dallas just came across a bargain and had to take it. Cunningham along with Cooper could be a very nice combo.

Am I the only person who thinks FC Dallas got the bargain of the year in this trade?

Posted in FC Dallas, Jeff Cunningham, Kenny Cooper, Toronto FC | Comments (0)

Brian McBride traded to Chicago Fire

posted by kidpurple July 30, 2008

The rumors were true. Brian McBride is going to join the Chicago Fire. Toronto FC had the right to McBride, but McBride made it known that he wanted to play near his hometown which is right near Chicago. The Fire sent forward Chad Barrett to TFC along with future considerations in order to get McBride.

McBride spent several years playing for Fulham FC in England after a long and very successful career in Major League Soccer playing for the Columbus Crew. At the league’s 10th anniversary they named the all time best XI team which included Brian McBride.

Any team should be happy to have a player like McBride, but Toronto doesn’t come out of this deal in a bad way at all. Chad Barrett has played with both the US Olympic team and the full men’s national team. He should be a welcome addition at Toronto.

Posted in Brian McBride, Chad Barrett, Chicago Fire, Toronto FC | Comments (2)

Protest at the All Star game

posted by kidpurple July 11, 2008

I saw a headline this morning that said something about Toronto FC fans protesting at the upcoming All Star game.  We know the All Star game is taking place at BMO field – so why would TFC fans be planning to protest?  My first thought was that they didn’t get any players into the MLS All Star first XI even though TFC always has a lot of players high in the fan voting.

It turns out that was not the case at all.  They don’t want BMO field modified to accommodate the American Football team that plays in Toronto.  Right now BMO is soccer specific – which is part of the reason it is such a great atmosphere during TFC home games.  To allow the other team to play some major construction would need to be done – which would take away from the intimate setting of those TFC home games.

Posted in MLS All Stars, Toronto FC | Comments (1)

Major League Soccer in… Ottawa?

posted by kidpurple June 19, 2008

If any of us had to guess who the potential Canadian cities are that would be likely to become the home of a new MLS team I’m sure we’d all go with Montreal or Vancouver, right?

Well the National Post reports that there is some interest in bringing Major League Soccer to Ottawa. The owner of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators has spoke with Major League Soccer about bringing soccer into Ottawa.

The article mentions that Ottawa has received a conditional CFL (american football) franchise to Ottawa that will play at a revamped stadium. I don’t know how/if this connects to an MLS team other than the two teams would possibly be sharing a home field.

The most surprising part of the article was the fact that Toronto FC has a deal with MLS that gives them exclusive operating right in Canada until 2010. Not that it is close to happening – but no other Canadian city can host an MLS team before 2010 thanks to Toronto.

What are the chances Ottawa gets a team before Vancouver, Montreal, St. Louis, Portland, or even another team somewhere in New York?

Posted in MLS Expansion, Ottawa, Toronto FC | Comments (3)

Brian McBride coming to Major League Soccer?

posted by kidpurple May 29, 2008

Brian McBride recently announced that he would not be returning to Fulham for another season in the English Premiership, and that he wants to return to the United States.  Right now Toronto FC would have the rights to get McBride because they have the highest allocation ranking due to their last place finish in the league last year.

So would McBride be coming back to play in Toronto?  A more likely situation would be that he ends up at the Chicago Fire.  McBride grew up near Chicago and has said that he’d like to return to his home.  So Chicago would likely have to make a deal with TFC to get the rights to McBride unless TFC wanted to pass on him in order to keep the top allocation spot open in case someone better comes around.  I can’t imagine they’d see someone better than McBride coming into MLS this season.

The Chicago Fire are currently tied at the top of the league and looking pretty good.  With the addition of Brian McBride they could be a very dangerous team looking for another MLS Championship.  What do you Fire fans think?  I’d be quite happy to see McBride joining my team.

Is there any chance that McBride would end up anywhere other than Chicago?  Would he go back to his former team – Columbus Crew?

Posted in Brian McBride, Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, Toronto FC | Comments (1)

Toronto FC move closer to CONCACAF Champions League

posted by kidpurple May 28, 2008

Tononto FC is one step closer to qualifying for the first CONCACAF Champions League.  TFC is involved in a 3 team playoff which will determine who represents Canada in the regional tournament.  Last night Marco Velez scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute to give TFC a 1-0 victory over USL side Montreal Impact.  The Vancouver Whitecaps are the other team in the three team tournament.

Tornoto FC did have some bad news in the game.  The teams top scorer Danny Dichio was injured and left the game in the first half.  It was a groin injury and the amount of time they expect him to miss is unknown, if he misses any further games.  It doesn’t sound too bad.

Posted in CONCACAF Champions League, Danny Dichio, Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps | Comments (0)

CONCACAF Champions League

posted by kidpurple May 15, 2008

Four MLS teams are already qualified for the very first CONCACAF Champions League, and Toronto FC have a good chance of going as well. Since the spots in the tournament are given out to countries and not leagues – Toronto FC have a qualifying tournament with the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps.

Representing the MLS will be:

  • Houston Dynamo – MLS Cup Champions
  • DC United – Regular season champions
  • New England Revolution – MLS Cup Runner-up
  • Chivas USA – Regular season runner-up (this spot would go to US Open Cup Champions but that was New England who is already in)

Mexico will also be sending 4 teams while Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama will each send 2 teams. Beleize, Nicaragua and Canada each send 1 team while 3 teams will come out of the Caribbean.

The first round of the tournament starts August 26th with all but the top 6 seeded teams playing home and away matches.  Houston Dynamo and DC United are 2 of the 6 seeded teams that don’t have to play in the first round of matches.

Posted in CONCACAF Champions League, Chivas USA, DC United, Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, Toronto FC | Tagged | Comments (0)