MLS Predictions

Another interesting week. With the absence of many Gold Cup players, many teams were left without team leaders. Some teams/players responded, while others did not.

Ives Glarcap: 5 – 1 – 0
Ryan Hunt: 2 – 4 – 1
MLSP: 2 – 4 – 0

Well, just as we leave Ives for dead, he comes back with a great week. Overall, it has tightened up:

Ives: 25 – 38 – 6
Ryan: 24 – 39 – 4
MLSP: 26 – 37 – 6
Guests: 2 – 12 – 0

A big week this week, with 7 matches. We could see a big swing, especially if some of the road teams start winning.

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For clarification, I have been out of town the last few days (Disneyland), and these predictions were written on a Southwest flight Wednesday night, and I had no knowledge of any MLS games currently going on. Sorry to took so long to post today.

NY Red Bull at Toronto – NYRB had been playing well, slumped a bit, and has been back beating up teams, at home. Toronto doesn’t look like an expansion team at all, at home. Toronto now faces NYRB and FC Dallas at home, followed by six straight road games. It could be a long time before they see another point. JPA has been a beast of late, just showing what an experienced world class player can do in this league. Look for him to dominate a once again week back Toronto line. NYRB 2, Toronto FC 0

Colorado at Houston Dynamo – Well, a stumper here if I have ever seen one. Dynamo start playing a bit better (they actually scored), and then they loose a bunch of guys to the Gold Cup. Colorado plays pretty well on the road, but they never show up in Toronto and get dominated. Colorado will be playing for a tie, and I have a feeling Houston may be as well. Could be the most boring game of the year. Colorado Rapids 1, Houston Dynamo 1

LA Galaxy at FC Dallas – Well, how many players will LA gave on the bench this week? My guess, 2 plus a goalie. Hope no one gets hurt. I just don’t see LA competing at all in this match, or any matches until Donovan returns from Gold Cup play in a few weeks (then leaves again for CA). FC Dallas is at home, and should be able to dominate the midfield with their speed. Look for chances a plenty for the FC Dallas forwards. FC Dallas 3, LA Galaxy 0

Chivas USA at Chicago Fire – Who knows which Chicago team will show up this week. In the end, it really won’t matter, as they should be good enough to beat a depleted Chivas team at home. They did a good job beating Columbus last week at home down a man, but really, it is Columbus after all. The team knows they need to win and win big at home to keep Dave S on the bench for much longer, and this should add a few more weeks to his job. Chicago Fire 1, Chivas USA 0

New York Red Bull at DC United – Of all the games this week, this is the one I would like to be at. Great rivalry, no love loss here. NYRB is playing well, but with a match on Wednesday, and traveling to play again on Sunday, it might take a toll on this team. DC is playing better, but not great, and under normal circumstances, I would see a NYRB win on the road, but with the injuries to the Red Bull back line, and the travel, look for a better game. NYRB 2, DC United 2

Houston Dynamo at Columbus Crew – Houston has to play on Thursday at home, then travel to Columbus for a Sunday match up, already short some key players. Still, even then, Houston should win this match. Columbus is just not good, they can’t win on the road, and it seems they just hope to tie at home. Look for Houston to bust it at home against Colorado, and then travel to Columbus and bunker back and hope to catch Columbus off guard. Another boring match possible here. Houston Dynamo 1, Columbus Crew 1

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Looks like Ryan has the week off this week. Too bad, with another tie on the road, I was looking for RSL to jump to 12th in the power rankings.

My column gets an off week this week .. but i’m still interesting in the pick-off … for tonight’s game: New York 2, Toronto 1

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New York Red Bulls at Toronto FC

Toronto has made BMO Field a tough place to play but the odds are stacked against Mo Johnston’s team here. The expansion squad has a shaky defense to begin with and must now try and beat the league’s best team without starting goalkeeper Greg Sutton and three defenders, all of which are playing for Canada in the Gold Cup. That will be music to the ears of Juan Pablo Angel, Clint Mathis and Jozy Altidore, who should all flourish as the Red Bulls beat their former coach. Red Bulls 3, Toronto FC 0.

Colorado Rapids at Houston Dynamo

This matchup has defensive struggle written all over it. The Rapids are solid on the road and will be looking for a point. The Dynamo will be lacking the attacking players to break down Colorado’s back line. The Rapids could take the three points here but that would require one of the teams in this match to score. Don’t bet on it. Rapids 0, Dynamo 0.

Chivas USA at Chicago Fire

The Fire finally broke their losing skid last week and now return home hoping to defeat some familiar faces. Former Chicago stars Ante Razov and Jesse Marsch enjoyed a stint with the U.S. national team last week and should ride the momentum of that experience. Razov and speedy Maykel Galindo will offer a much tougher test for the suspect Fire defense than Columbus did. Chivas USA wins on the road as Chicago will struggle, especially if Chris Rolfe misses another match due to injury: Chivas USA 2, Fire 0.

Los Angeles Galaxy at FC Dallas

The Hoops continue to struggle with consistency, but they face a Galaxy team missing Landon Donovan as well as starters Kevin Harmes and Ante Jazic. Where will the offense come from for Los Angeles? Your guess is as good as coach Frank Yallop’s. FC Dallas should have little trouble controlling possession and keeping constant pressure on the Galaxy’s shorthanded defense. Barring a star performance from goalkeeper Joe Cannon, this one could get ugly: FC Dallas 2, Galaxy 0.

New York Red Bulls at D.C. United

Confidence is high in Red Bulls camp after Wednesday’s comeback victory in Toronto. Juan Pablo Angel’s goals helped overshadow a flat first-half performance. They can’t afford another slow start against a D.C. United team that is starting to hit its stride. The forward tandem of Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno will take full advantage of the Red Bulls’ shorthanded defense and do just enough to offset the continued masterful play of Angel: D.C. United 2, Red Bulls 1.

Houston Dynamo at Columbus Crew

Someone forgot to tell Houston that the absence of Dwayne De Rosario and Brian Ching would stifle its offense. A 2-1 victory over Colorado on Thursday shows that the Dynamo aren’t about to wilt while their stars are away. The Crew, on the other hand, are showing few signs of life. Aside from Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s wasted flashes of brilliance, Columbus’ offense has been stagnant and isn’t likely to catch fire against Houston’s stingy defense. The defending champs move a step closer to .500, and the Crew fall even further into the East basement: Dynamo 2, Crew 0.

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Well, another week down, still no clear cut dominant team. DC playing better, but not great. Kansas City appears to be the best team, but will be without EJ, their entire offense, for a few weeks. I am sure the Gold Cup and other international tournaments coming up will not help clear the muddy water. Teams like RSL, who will not lose anyone to Gold Cup, have a chance to make up ground on teams who lose significant players. The joys of a non-standard season.

Ives Glarcap: 1 – 5 – 0
Ryan Hunt: 4 – 2 – 2
MLSP: 2 – 4 – 0

Look at Ryan, showing us all how it is done. Looks like I am in the lead, barely. I think throwing darts might be more accurate than the three of us:

Ives: 20 – 37 – 6
Ryan: 22 – 35 – 3
MLSP: 24 – 33 – 6
Guests: 2 – 12 – 0

Ives has fallen on hard times. If I could stop picking RSL to win on the road, and just realize they will tie every game from here on out, I would be killing every. Too bad they aren’t playing this week, it would be a sure point for me.

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