Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt Barger

MLS Week 23 Preview: Rapid Fire Week, Pun Intended

Matt Barger — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:15:44 -0400

Eight games this week. Eight.

There are only 15 teams in MLS.

And three of these teams (TFC, Columbus, and Chivas), have the weekend off. Chivas, three games behind many teams in the west, obviously needed this break, seeing as they were on a two-month vacation that ended three weeks ago. The obvious thing to do is to keep them further back in the schedule, cramming more games into them at the end of the season. This is some brilliant scheduling, MLS.

Apparently the BCS computer does some work in its offseason.

But, to its credit, the schedule does have some appetizing matchups, and this week’s marquee matchup features the Colorado Rapids (30 Pts/20 GP) flowing into Toyota Park to face the Chicago Fire (35 Pts/21 GP). Both teams are currently stuck in the persistent logjam for playoff contention in their respective conferences.

The Fire can keep pace with Columbus and separate themselves from the hungry pack with a win, while the Rapids can keep up with the top tier with a win on the road in Chicago.

What makes this matchup even more interesting is that both teams don’t do well in their given position this match. Hosts Chicago have done amazingly on the road (6-2-4, 22 pts) but not so amazing at home (3-2-4, 13 pts). Conversely, Colorado use their altitude to their advantage (6-2-3, 21 pts at home), but succeed little without it (2-4-3, nine pts on the road).

Still, this game will be scintillating because Colorado have hit a run of fine form lately, thumping positional rivals Chivas USA 4-0 at home. They have found rising international stars Kosuke Kimura and Mehdi Ballouchy to complement the attacking firepower of Colin Clark and Conor “I can only be a great player in MLS” Casey (It’s not bitter if it’s true).

Chicago, still without Captain America Brian McBride, will come into this match tired from a comfortable win over the Galaxy (more on that below). But, regardless of the Fire-Galaxy result tonight, the Fire has proven resilient and fit during busy weekends earlier this season, and I see no reason why this won’t continue on Sunday.

Result: Fire 2-2 Rapids. That is, unless the Rapids’ great form continues into this week, which, seeing a chance for revenge against a tired opponent, it will.

As you may notice, there is no guest prognosticator for this week, as I was so surprised at a Wednesday fixture that I forgot to send out the word to the MLS community. But the first to respond with corresponding predictions below before the Galaxy-Fire fixture tonight will be counted as the guest prognosticator’s scores for this week. Feel free to add your own humorous jabs at the fixtures this week, as well.

As for the rest of Week 23’s fixtures:

Los Angeles Galaxy (31 Pts/21 GP) at Chicago Fire (35 Pts/21 GP) – In addition to being the former hottest team in the league, the Los Angeles Galaxy will get the award for the contender with the shallowest team. Take away their star-signing David Beckham, they fall like a house of cards—even with a dynamic offensive playmaker in Landon Donovan. Funny, the Chicago Fire have been in this situation ever since Brian McBride got hurt. Except they’ve been winning games without him. Result: Fire 2-1 Galaxy.

New England Revolution (24 Pts/18 GP) at Seattle Sounders FC (32 Pts/21 GP) – The big question here is whether Seattle has truly returned to its winning ways. As Seattle was dominating play before Beckham was sent off against the Galaxy, I wouldn’t be too quick to call last week’s away win against the Galaxy a fluke. Now, can they replicate these results against an actual contender? They’re at home, so yes. Result: Sounders 2-0 Revs.

Los Angeles Galaxy (31 Pts/21 GP) at DC United (28 Pts/21 GP) – Bad news for United: Landon Donovan will give you H1N1 this week. Worse news for United: the Galaxy gets David Beckham back from a red card suspension. Result: United 2-3 Galaxy.

Kansas City Wizards (21 Pts/ 19 GP) at San Jose Earthquakes (17 Pts/20 GP) – In addition to playing unattractive and ineffective football, the Wizards lack their defensive rock (Jimmy Conrad), and may not have their two sparkplugs on offense (Claudio Lopez and Santiago Hirsig). Add to that the recent coaching change, and let’s let San Jose have another win. Results: Quakes 2-0 Wizards.

FC Dallas (23 Pts/21 GP) at New York Red Bulls (10 Pts/22 GP) – Do I really have to say anything here? Even if the Hoops have swine flu, they still win. Result: Red Bull 0-3 FCD.

Real Salt Lake (27 Pts/21 GP) at New England Revolution (24 Pts/18 GP) – In New England’s second fixture of the weekend, they face Real Salt Lake in what should be a slugfest…If only RSL knew how to play on the road. In my personal opinion, it’s the colors: RSL wear Barca’s colors at home and they’re phenomenal, but Madrid’s colors on the road and they are anything but. It’s an omen. Result: Revs 2-0 RSL

Seattle Sounders FC (32 Pts/21 GP) at Houston Dynamo (39 Pts/23 GP) – Unlike the game above, the Sounders’ performance in their earlier weekend fixture will have a direct effect on the result of this match. Should another Sounder defender or midfielder have a disciplinary meltdown against New England, it will only give holes for the Brad Davis, Stu Holden, and Brian Ching to exploit. Should the Sounders not win comfortably against New England, which is entirely possible, a well-rested Dynamo will run them into the ground at Robertson Stadium.

Result: Dynamo 2-1 Sounders. Ultimately, the Dynamo will be too much, too soon for the Sounders.

Correct predictions receive two points, correct scores one point. If you would like to be a guest commentator, please let Matt Barger know through comment, PM, or Bulletin Board post.

Matt 12-19, 25 pts (Last week: 3-3, 6 pts)

Guest Prognosticators 16-15, 34 pts (Last week: 3-3 w/ 1 correct score, 7 pts)

MLS Week 22 Preview: Gut Check Time

Matt Barger — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:21:33 -0400

After last week’s dismal 1-5 showing, part of me wonders how much longer the MLS is still going to have wild four-nil results and crazy upsets.

As much as I want these crazy games to continue, my professional reputation needs it to end. Soon.

But it looks like the pain won’t relent this week. Houston Dynamo writer Bryan Ford joins me for six more thrilling but hard-to-call matches continue in Week 22, or “Gut Check Week.” Rising teams need to make their case as to why they should be in the playoffs. Slumping teams must find a way to break their funk and show how their early-season momentum will not crumble under pressure.

The team with the most to prove in this respect is slumping Seattle Sounders FC (29 Pts/20 GP), whose current trail-of-tears road trip continues at the Home Depot Center to a revitalized Los Angeles Galaxy (31 Pts/20 GP).

The Sounders, showing glimpses of having the next Chicago Fire-like expansion season, have found absolutely no rhythm away from home, which has proved telling on their current, abysmal three-game road trip. Their recent heartbreaker at Rio Tinto against RSL extended their losing streak to three games (if you’d like to count the home loss to FC Barcelona).

Perhaps this wouldn’t be the best time to remind Seattle they’re just an expansion team. They currently sit in the West’s last playoff spot, only two points ahead of Chivas (who, by the way, have two games in hand). Another slip-up could spell doom for the promising Sounders, who started the season as unlikely favorites.

But, after three games in one week (four if you want to count the All-Star Game) and multiple line-up changes after a flurry of red cards perhaps the Rave Green Boys can regroup, find their momentum this week. The Sounders currently have no disciplinary restrictions when naming their starting eleven. And they’ll definitely need Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado against the surging L. A. Galaxy.

The Galaxy, known as David Beckham and ten other dudes a year ago, have made the biggest comeback since Lazarus from a 1-1-9 start to 2009. Of course, Becks and the throughballs from heaven are the main reasons for this. But David Beckham and the Galaxy finally discovered something that hasn’t existed at the HDC in three years: defense.

Terrapin standouts Omar Gonzalez and AJ De La Garza have proven to be fierce ball-winners in their rookie season with the Galaxy. They and Jamaican netminder Donovan Ricketts have been providing some much-needed stability and teeth to the Galaxy defense. Goldenballs only provided the last piece of the attacking puzzle, giving the Galaxy three points a game instead of one.

Result: Sounders 1-1 Galaxy (Brian says Galaxy, 1-0). Ultimately, the biggest X factor in this game and for the Galaxy will be captain Landon Donovan. The Galaxy and USA captain has been diagnosed with swine flu and physically exhausted after being double-marked and burned for 90 minutes in Azteca. If he plays, the Galaxy could pull the victory and a stadium of 30,000 will all get H1N1. If he doesn’t, which will likely be the case, a face-saving 1-1 draw will be a very fair result.

As for the rest of Week 22’s fixtures

Chicago Fire (32 Pts/20 GP) at Kansas City Wizards (21 Pts/18 GP)—The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Wizards, who are still recovering from a six-nil beating they took in Dallas. They come back to a serious test against the dominant Chicago Fire. The Wizards need at least a point against the Fire to stay relevant in the Eastern Conference. But the Fire has been blazing in recent weeks, extending their unbeaten streak to six with a win in Robertson Stadium against the league leading Dynamo. Out of the Dallas frying pan, and into a hotter Chicago Fire? Result: Wizards 1-2 Fire (Bryan says Chicago, 2-0). Let’s just say the prediction makes up for the terrible pun.

DC United (28 Pts/20 GP) at Toronto FC (27 Pts/20 GP)—As Brian notes, both teams have stumbled from recent momentum upswings last week. Against Real Madrid. Just like the current game of the week, this battle could have significant consequences in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Ultimately, United’s inconsistent road form will be putting up a fight with TFC’s surprisingly inconsistent home form. How a team could not ride the second-best attendance in the league by a large margin is beyond me. Result: TFC 1-1 United (Bryan says Draw, 2-1). That is, unless a couple United players will show up to play like they did against Real.

Houston Dynamo (38 Pts/22 GP) at Real Salt Lake (29 Pts/20 GP)—Though without confirmed cases of swine flu, Houston stars Ricardo Clark, Stu Holden, and Brian Ching will still be recovering from the beat-down they just received at Azteca. If you haven’t tuned into MLS for the past month, you won’t realize how poorly the Dynamo play without these guys. To add to the equation, they now roll into Rio Tinto to face Real Salt Lake, who carry no one of international consequence and only know how to play soccer when they’re in the comforts of home. Result: RSL 2-1 Dynamo. (Bryan says Draw, 1-1)

FC Dallas (23 Pts/20 GP) at Columbus Crew—The Columbus Crew, now the hottest unnoticed team in the league, has been wrecking balls for the momentum of hopeful underdogs lately, crushing San Jose last week and Colorado the week before. Now they host Dallas, and the Hoops are still glowing from pulling off the highly improbable against the Houston Dynamo. But lightning doesn’t strike twice, and the Crew have proven that they are the deepest and most consistent team in the league. Result: FCD 1-2 Crew. (Bryan says Crew, 3-1).

Chivas USA (27 Pts/18 GP) at New York Red Bulls (10 Pts/21 GP)—Finally, a chance to stop the Goats’ bleeding. Chivas forgot to thank the schedule-makers for their two-month sabbatical with a humiliating 4-0 defeat to the Rapids last weekend. They’ll do that here against the miserable Red Bulls. Result: Chivas 3-1 Red Bulls. (Bryan says Draw, 2-2) Brian went out on a limb. But Brian picked the Red Bulls not to lose, and therefore will always be wrong.

Correct predictions receive two points, correct scores one point. If you would like to be a guest commentator, please let Matt Barger know through comment, PM, or Bulletin Board post.

Matt 9-16, 19 pts (Last week: 1-5, 2 pts)

Guest Prognosticators 13-12, 27 pts (Last week: 3-3, 6 pts)

MLS Week 21 Preview: Dynamo Double-Feature

Matt Barger — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:24:48 -0400

After a week with six-nil and four-nil upsets (destroying my pick record, might I add), the MLS Week 21 lineup has a hard act to follow.

But when you have a Texas derby and a clash of the titans, you can’t really complain. Sounders and USA Soccer columnist Brandon Rust will be my guest prognosticator today, eager to continue the thrashing against my picks.

The Game of Week 21 will be the latter of these two clashes, as the Chicago Fire (32 Pts/19 GP) travel to Robertson Stadium to take on the Houston Dynamo (35 Pts/20 GP). While this is the second consecutive week I’m picking the Dynamo for the weekend showcase, there are too many reasons this pick is irresistible.

First, and most importantly, the Dynamo will be tired. This game will be their second in the week after playing in tonight’s road fixture against Dallas. With the strongest defense and the second-most potent offense in the league, perhaps the midweek fixture is the handicap the Fire need to steal three points.

Second, on a five game unbeaten streak, Chicago have been playing well without Captain America, Brian McBride. The man to thank for this unprecedented success is replacement Patrick Nyarko. His goal was the difference against Salt Lake, and he notched another in the Fire’s last victory over San Jose.

Many were expecting this team to crumble after the loss of their captain, but, like their arch-rivals Columbus, the Fire have rebounded quite well to show they are not just the sum of their parts.

Third, the incredible midfield battle. Cuauhtémoc Blanco and John Thorrington versus Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark. Star creators and enforcers duel again. I think that’s all that needs to be said here.

Finally, this is a must-win game for both teams. The Fire need to separate themselves from the maddening crowd below them and secure their playoff spot. The Dynamo need to stop a growing momentum of poor play at home to maintain their lead in the West.

Either way you look at it, this game will be amazing.

Result: Dynamo 2-2 Fire (Brandon says Fire, 1-0). Ultimately, the smart bet may be on the Fire to take advantage of a tired Dynamo, as Brandon says. But the Dynamo are too good, even after midweek fixtures, to pick against.

As for the Rest of Week 21’s Fixtures

Houston Dynamo (35 Pts/20 GP) at FC Dallas (20 Pts/19 GP)—This Texas Derby is ESPN’s Game of the Week, and for good reason. The Hoops of FCD are fresh and full of confidence from of a six-nil thrashing of Kansas City. They will hope to replicate their six-spot at home against Texas rival Houston. But the Dynamo are not Kansas City. They’re only the most dominant offense and defense in the league. And they’ll have their stars. And those stars will be fresh.

Result: FCD 2-3 Houston (Brandon says Draw, 2-2). As much as I want Dallas to pull the upset, picking against the Dynamo is like picking the Red Bulls to win anything. You just don’t do it.

Seattle Sounders FC (29 Pts/19 GP) at Real Salt Lake (23 Pts/19 GP)—After being embarrassed by San Jose, Sounders gaffer Sigi Schmid stated he prides himself on not letting his team lose two in a row (technically, they already did that after another four-nil loss to Barcelona). Tall order, considering the schizophrenic RSL has only dropped one match at home. And, as Brandon reminds me, Seattle only has one win on the road this year. But the Sounders need this game to get their season back on track. This game will ask and answer an important question: how does this upstart expansion team respond after a huge upset?

Result: Sounders 2-1 RSL. Time to throw the safe pick out the window. Two four-nil beatings should have properly shaken up the Emerald City boys. Time to take it out on some worthy competition.

Columbus Crew (33 Pts/20 GP) at San Jose Earthquakes (17 Pts/19 GP)—After three improbable wins in a row and a six-game unbeaten streak, the Columbus Crew is officially the hottest team in the league. But the Quakes, after destroying the Sounders at Buck Shaw Stadium, are looking to do the same against another heavy favorite.

Brandon says the win was a fluke. But I’m not so sure, seeing as the Quakes have played well against recent competition at home. But unlike the Sounders, the Crew can play without their star import. Result: Crew 3-2 Quakes (Brandon says Crew, 2-1)

Los Angeles Galaxy (28 Pts/19 GP) at New England Revolution (24 Pts/17 GP)—The Galaxy (Brandon’s “hottest team in the league”) will be brimming with confidence after their 1-2 defeat to Barcelona at the Rose Bowl. The Revolution have strung together a three-game unbeaten streak against quality competition (Chivas, Houston, Toronto). More importantly, they’ve regained their lost form. Expect Shalrie Joseph to throw David Beckham around in this one. Result: Revs 1-1 Galaxy (Brandon says Galaxy, 1-0)

Chivas USA (27 Pts/17 GP) at Colorado Rapids (27 Pts/19 GP)—After almost a month of inactivity, the Goats have had a lot of time to cool off their sagging momentum. That may be the difference as Preki’s boys face Colorado in a game that could surely decide the final Western Conference playoff spot. Result: Rapids 1-1 Chivas. (Brandon says Chivas rights the ship, 1-0)

Correct predictions receive two points, correct scores one point. If you would like to be a guest commentator, please let Matt Barger know through comment, PM, or Bulletin Board post.

Matt 8-11, 17 pts (Last week: 2-4, 4 pts)

Guest Prognosticators 10-9, 21 pts (Last week: 4-2, 8 pts)

MLS Week 20 Preview: Big Fish Return to Small Pond

Matt Barger — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:54:42 -0400

After an inspiring run to an embarrassing final, Team USA’s Gold Cup boys at least have one thing to look forward to: being the big fish in the small pond again.

Two of the biggest fish, Gold Cup Standouts Stuart Holden and Brian Ching, will suit up for the Houston Dynamo (32 pts/19 GP) as they host DC United (28 pts/19 GP) in the game of the week in Week 20.

Fantastic rookie and Crew columnist Chris LaMacchia will be my guest prognosticator. He’ll try to break the current tie in points from last week. He believes the top of the table will separate themselves from the pack this week. My heart agrees, but my head says otherwise.

Despite a valiant Gold Cup effort, Holden and Ching will be relieved to carve up questionable MLS defenses instead of the Mexican brick wall of a back four. In turn, the Dynamo will be relieved to have them back, with team form slumping despite some positive results on the road the past few weeks.

The pairing has been key to Houston’s offensive success and will certainly give the league’s best defense (of 14 GA, only 4 GA at home) some much needed respite. Dynamo midfield enforcer Ricardo Clark will also be looking to show the league why he will be the third American player playing in Series A (with Livorno) in a few weeks.

On the other hand, DC United gets a great winger back in Santino Quaranta, but his absence should have been more or less replaceable with the likes of Danny Szetela, Chris Pontius, and Fred on the United bench.

That said, however, decidedly poor showings in draws at San Jose and at home to the preseasoned Salvadorians L.A. Firpo in the CONCACAF Champions’ League state otherwise.

United will be hungry for three points after giving away crucial draws to weaker opponents, but a win at Dynamo fortress, Robertson Stadium, may prove elusive with a tired squad from a busy two weeks in MLS, CONCACAF, and US Open Cup.

But we should not count them out.

United, when on form, can be one of the most dangerous teams in the league, but they lack consistency on the road. Of their 28 points, only nine have come on the road. This may be the only reason this team stays out of first in the East.

Result: Dynamo 2-0 United (Chris says Dynamo, 3-1). With two potent offenses clashing, this game will be ultimately decided by defense and form. With its dominant defense and the return of its offensive attack, the Dynamo should come through with a victory.

As for the rest of Week 20’s fixtures:

Toronto FC (26 pts/19 GP) at New England Revolution (23 pts/16 GP)—The Revs and Reds meet at a crossroads. New England, hot off of a convincing road win against league-leader Houston, will want to show that their fifth-place position in the East is only because they have at least two games in hand on their competition.

The Reds, on the other hand, will be looking to turn their season around after collapsing against Columbus in the Trillium Cup final and Puerto Rico in the Champions’ League. More poor showings could put them back into dreaded fifth place with a tough schedule in their last ten games. They definitely have the talent to turn around their recent run of bad luck around, but this game is a must-win.

Result: Revs 1-2 TFC (Chris says draw, 2-2). TFC will show United it is possible for the first XI to maintain their form despite three matches in a week.

Columbus Crew (30 pts/19 GP) at Colorado Rapids (27 pts/18 GP)—The Rapids have righted the ship with a much needed 4-0 rout of the Red Bulls. And they showed that they could win without great performances from Colin Clark or Conor Casey. Columbus is surging after the “Bash Brothers’” late, late show against Toronto. While they may get all-star Guillermo Barros Schelotto back, the Crew have shown they can win without him.

Result: Rapids 2-1 Crew (Chris says Crew, 3-2). Away from home, stuck in altitude, and with big bulls-eyes on their back, Bash Brothers Stephen Lenhart and Jason Garey won’t be allowed chances, much less the ball. The Rapids have been great at home this season, and with third place in their sights, they should not falter against the Crew.

Seattle Sounders FC (29 pts/18 GP) at San Jose Earthquakes (14 pts/18 GP)—In the last two meetings this season, Seattle has dominated possession and the score, winning handily at Qwest Field. They can catch pace with Houston (finally) with a win, but they will have to do so without their angry Swede Freddie Ljungberg and the glorious fans of Qwest Field. Not to mention the Quakes have played better than their 14 points this season, especially at home.

Result: Quakes 1-2 Sounders (Chris says Sounders, 3-1). The Sounders will win if Nate Jaqua has his finishing boots on. If not, expect another disappointing draw.

Real Salt Lake (23 pts/18 GP) at Chicago Fire (29 pts/18 GP)—I don’t care how great Laker forwards Yura Movsisyan and Jeff Cunningham are. And I don’t care that Captain Beckerman’s return gives Javier Morales more freedom to attack. Real is on the road, where they are allergic to points. The Fire have been great at home and shown they can keep their form without injured captain Brian McBride. Need I say more?

Result: Fire 2-1 RSL (Chris says Fire, 2-0) Real gets no love from me until they show they can win on the road…and stop stealing Barça’s colors. No team named Real should ever don red, blue, and gold in a home or away strip. Ever.

Kansas City Wizards (21 pts/17 GP) at FC Dallas (17 pts/18 GP)—Chris calls this the “Fail Cup.” While the title is true for Dallas, whose lack of defense has kept the Hoops from contending this season, the Wizards have been flying under the radar in the East, with only inconsistency keeping them from breaking out into a contender status.

Result: FCD 1-2 Wizards (Chris says draw, 2-2). Chris also says all goals will be own goals. I won’t disagree.

Correct predictions receive two points, correct scores one point. If you would like to be a guest commentator, please let Matt Barger know through comment, PM, or Bulletin Board post.

Matt 6-7, 13 pts (Last week: 3-4, 7 pts)

Guest Prognosticators 6-7, 13 pts (Last week: 3-4, 6 pts)

MLS Week 19 Preview: A Consequential Trillium Cup?

Matt Barger — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:58:00 -0400

What is a “trillium,” anyway? Perhaps MLS just made up the flower so they could figure out a way to sell their newest manufactured derby.

But I won’t be too hard on Columbus since Joe G. is back to defend his one-point lead as guest prognosticator.

Week 19’s showpiece is the Trillium Cup, an Eastern Conference derby between the Columbus Crew (27 pts/18 GP) and Toronto FC (26 pts/18 GP). As the Reds travel down to Crew Stadium, one must note that this is the first time the oddly-named Flower Cup actually means something to both teams and the league.

After two long years of expansion-team mediocrity, Toronto FC has finally emerged from the doldrums to become a significant contender to top the East. They are neck-and-neck with their Ohio-based “rivals” for the first time since the Trillium Cup was instated last year.

As both teams have relatively equal schedules for the rest of the year, this match could be the difference for home-field advantage in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Both teams will look to win, but the Crew will do it without their Gold Cup stars for a third consecutive week: defensive anchor Chad Marshall and prolific winger Robbie Rogers.

League-leading goal-scorer Guillermo Barros Schelotto more than made up for their loss in a 3-1 thumping of RSL at Crew Stadium last week, a win that should tell the viewer that the Crew have learned to play without their stars.

Though with RSL’s repulsive road form, perhaps they were just given a pass.

Prolific road warriors, TFC will come in wanting to win after a disappointing home draw to a short-handed Dynamo last weekend. They have lost no one of consequence to the Gold Cup, and while Dwayne DeRosario has orchestrated a fine attack force of Vitti, Barrett, and Serioux, all three players hiccupped against Houston. They’ll have to regain their form if they wish to regain their position on top of the log.

Result: TFC 2-1 Crew (Joe says Crew, 2-1). TFC for the upset. The Reds’ attack is too potent for the Crew’s reserve defense to handle, and the game is too important for Toronto to let the road affect them. But GSB should never be counted out for a goal.

As for the rest of this week’s fixtures:

FC Dallas (17 pts/17 GP) at Real Salt Lake (20 pts/17 GP) – Thursday night’s fixture features an overachieving underdog against an underachieving Western Conference contender. RSL beat Club America without Kyle Beckerman, but felt their captain’s absence in a 3-1 road defeat to Columbus. FCD has found ways to perform well without Kenny Cooper.

Result: FCD 0-1 RSL (Joe says RSL, 2-0). That hasn’t stopped them from losing, though. Expect that to continue with a fixture against RSL at Rio Tinto, the only place where RSL can perform well.

Chicago Fire (28 pts/17 GP) at Seattle Sounders (28 pts/17 GP) – ESPN’s Game of the Week, and rightly so. The last time the Fire and Sounders met, there were (soft) red cards, bruising hits, and four goals, the last two coming late from Seattle; goals that earned them a deserved road draw after dominating possession for most of the second half.

But that was in Chicago. This is in Seattle, where the fans will be euphoric and en masse despite the 2-0 loss to Chelsea last weekend. Did you hear them screaming? I sure did. From my window in California. Expect that, and the absence of Brian McBride, to be the difference.

Result: Fire 1-3 Sounders (Joe says Sounders, 2-0). The Sounders attack had corner kick practice against Chelsea. Expect that to pay off against the shorthanded Fire.

Los Angeles Galaxy (27 pts/18 GP) at Kansas City Wizards (20 pts/16 GP) – The Galaxy dominated the Red Bulls last week, but that’s easy one. Curt Onalfo’s boys pose a tougher test for Landybecks and Co. But with Becks shaking off the rust against Milan last Sunday with two amazing passes that led to goals, this should be a test they pass.

Result: Galaxy 3-2 Wizards (Joe says Galaxy, 2-1). The Galaxy’s defense is finally good enough to preserve points, but they must give up three howlers a game. That should be enough for Claudio Lopez and Herculez Gomez to do well, but they’ll still lose.

Houston Dynamo (32 pts/18 GP) at New England Revolution (20 pts/15 GP) – Have the Revs finally hit their form? A home win against stumbling Chivas suggests so. But can they do the same against a team who has maintained excellent form despite being shorthanded? Short answer: yes, but probably not. Result: Dynamo 1-1 Revs (Joe says Dynamo, 2-0)

DC United (27 pts/18 GP) at San Jose Earthquakes (13 pts/17 GP) – The Quakes finally have a chance to shake off their poor run of form against United this Saturday. Even with a great win against Colorado, United still needs to find consistency on the road. That doesn’t mean they lose. Result: United 2-2 Quakes (Joe says United, 3-1)

Red Bull New York (10 pts/20 GP) at Colorado Rapids (24 pts/17 GP) – The Rapids lost a big game at United last week. No matter. They’ll take it out on a team who could only threaten the goal if the defense gift-wraps for them a penalty kick. Result: Red Bulls 0-3 Rapids (Joe says Rapids, 2-0).

Matt: 3-3, 6 pts

Guest Prognosticators: 3-3, 7 pts

MLS Week 18 Preview: Becks Overshadows West-East Confrontation

Matt Barger — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:48:16 -0400

With a perfect 6-0 prediction record last week, I have invited this column’s first guest prognosticator, Joe G, to entreat some friendly MLS punditry and competition. More on this at the bottom of the article.

This week, the West hits the road while the East fortifies the castle. But we don’t care about that right now.

David Beckham is back! And Landon Donovan is mad at him!

Say what you want about this. I did. But, despite who you support in the saga, one question has yet to be answered:

Since when did the Galaxy become a playoff contender without these guys?

For the Game of Week 18, the Los Angeles Galaxy (24 pts/17 GP) square off against the New York Red Bulls (10 pts/19 GP) at Giants Stadium. A mostly predictable fixture, the Galaxy gets the nod this week because they will be the team to watch for the remainder of the season.

Not just because of David Beckham’s return. Not just because of the “Landy-Becks” saga.

But because the Galaxy figured out how to win without their squabbling stars.

Just outside the playoff picture on goal differential, Los Angeles has posted three impressive shutout wins against Houston (before the Gold Cup took their starting roster), New England, and Chivas USA. The Galaxy also posted only three losses for the season, tied for the best in MLS. To what do they owe this sudden improvement in form?

Surprisingly enough, defense. This is a team that nixed their indomitable attack force of Becks, Landon, and Edson Buddle by letting in an astronomical league-worst 62 goals in last season, eleven more than the second-worst (D.C. United’s 51 GA).

But after the first 17 games of the 2009 season, the Galaxy have only shipped away 18 goals, tied for fourth in MLS. Couple this defensive improvement with one of the most dangerous attacking duos in MLS history (Beckham and Donovan), and the Galaxy may make their first playoffs since 2005.

That said, rookie centerback Omar Gonzalez and Gregg Berhalter should have their hands full with the Red Bulls’ always-dangerous Juan Pablo Angel, but unfortunately the ex-Villa striker has been the only bright star in this abysmal squad. Ten points, fewest in the league, out of 19 fixtures pretty much speaks for itself.

Should Angel get some service from ex-Zaragoza man Alberto Celades and great-winger-from-last-year Dane Richards, they may threaten the Galaxy’s goal. But, as Juan Carlos Osorio just can’t seem to put anything inspiring together on attack or defense, the Red Bulls are most likely going through the motions and getting ready for next year.

Result: Galaxy 2-0 Red Bulls (Joe says Galaxy, 3-1). The Red Bulls will sell out Giants Stadium, but everyone will be there to cheer on David Beckham, kicking the home team while they’re down. Becks scores, Landon scores, and the press has a field-day recapping the “drama.”

As for the rest of this week’s games:

Houston Dynamo (31 pts/17 GP) at Toronto FC (25 pts/17 GP): ESPN’s Game of the Week. Thanks to ESPN’s smart thinking, Becks’ return to MLS will not be on basic cable, isolating 60 million households who want to see him. Great marketing job, MLS and ESPN.

To be fair, this game is the most consequential. Houston will be looking to extend its lead in the West, while the surging Reds will be looking to take crucial points in a log-jammed Eastern conference.

The difference? The Dynamo are without Brian Ching, Stu Holden, and defense. Toronto, losing virtually no one to the Gold Cup, has finally discovered its form in front of goal, with Chad Barrett and Pablo Vitti leading the way. What’s more, they’ll be hungrier for a win after suffering a 3-0 rout at Houston earlier in the season.

Result: Dynamo 1-2 TFC (Joe says Dynamo, 2-1). If TFC are ever going to beat Houston, this will be the time and place.

Real Salt Lake (20 pts/16 GP) at Columbus Crew (24 pts/17 GP): The Lakers have their own drama, with dynamic forward Yura Movsisyan threatening to leave RSL for Denmark, then committing to stay for the rest of the season.

It didn’t seem to get in the way of a well-earned win against Club America last week without Captain Beckerman. The Crew, on the other hand, lucked out last week with an amazing goalkeeping performance from Will Hesmer. Chad Marshall’s absence showed just how important he is for the Crew.

Result: RSL 2-1 Crew (Joe says Draw, 1-1). With the Crew defense resembling a sieve, Hesmer won’t have the game of his life twice in a row.

Colorado Rapids (24 pts/16 GP) at DC United (24 pts/17 GP): An intriguing rematch. Both teams have incredibly inconsistent form right now and lose only one player to Gold Cup duty, but the Rapids blanked United 3-0 a month ago at DSG Park. United will have revenge on the mind. And they’ll be at home. Result: Rapids 0-1 United (Joe says United, 2-0).

San Jose Earthquakes (13 pts/16 GP) at Chicago Fire (25 pts/16 GP): How many chances were Brian McBride and the Fire attack denied against the Crew last week? They’ll take out all that frustration on the unlucky Earthquakes, who hope to turn their fortunes around on the road against the Eastern leaders. Result Quakes 1-3 Fire (Joe says Fire, 1-0).

Chivas USA (27 pts/16 GP) at New England Revolution (17 pts/14 GP): Both teams are in poor form, but at least the Revs can blame injuries. They also get Shalrie Joseph back. That should be a relief. Result: Chivas 1-1 Revs (Joe says Chivas, 2-1).

Correct picks will receive two points, correct scores will receive a bonus point. If you would like to be a guest prognosticator, please leave a note below, on my bulletin board, or in a private message.

Matt: 0-0, 0 pts.

Guest Prognosticators: 0-0, 0 pts.

Defining Irony: David Beckham Unprofessionally Calls Donovan "Unprofessional"

Matt Barger — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:12:27 -0400

Politicians take note: the world would be a better place if we all could bend the truth like Beckham.

At a press conference in the Galaxy’s El Segundo training camp, David Beckham decided to responded to teammate Landon Donovan’s comments by calling the Galaxy captain “unprofessional.” Check out the full video here.

Amazing. Becks skilfully hit and missed the point in the same sentence. The English international correctly pointed out how unprofessional it was to call out a teammate through the media without prior confrontation, and then, using those same words, calls out Donovan's professionalism to the media without prior confrontation.

In other news, the pot just called the kettle black.

But wait, it gets better. When asked if the Galaxy’s criticisms of his captaincy were valid, he said:

“Again, no, because I’ve played for England for 13 years and captained my country 50 times and not one of those players, top players in Europe, has ever criticized me as a captain… I’ve always been known as a different captain to other players and other captains that I’ve played with. You know, I’m not a Roy Keane; I’m not a Brian Robson. I’m not a captain that goes and shouts at players. I go and talk to players but I play, personally, by leading by example. It’s not always about organizing maintenance.”

This point has been repeated by Beckham supporters throughout the saga: top players in Europe (read: not Landon Donovan the jealous nobody) have all said David Beckham is a great captain, albeit a different one who keeps his head down and leads by example.

And this point is equally irrelevant.

David Beckham deftly curls his answer away from the primary point of the question: whether or not the Galaxy players had a point in calling out Beckham as captain. Instead, he presents a laundry list of previous popularity contests won as captain with England as if that somehow validates his mailed-in performance last summer, where he led a divided Galaxy to second-to-last in the MLS.

This answer’s effectiveness is much like Becks’ effectiveness as Galaxy captain: aloof, frustrating, and ultimately without commitment to the task at hand.

And it’s not like Beckham was under any illusions that American soccer culture resembled its European counterparts. After all, he came to Los Angeles with a distinct mission to revolutionize the MLS and soccer’s image in America.

He should have known that charge comes the responsibility to use his marketability to promote soccer in America. That because America has a different culture and style of soccer athlete, perhaps another, “organizing maintenance” leadership style could win the confidence of his teammates.

But perhaps he was too busy promoting soccer and leading his team by being seen courtside at more Lakers games than Galaxy fixtures.

Maybe he was promoting the beautiful game while having breakfast with Hollywood stars and providing cameos on his wife’s reality show.

Perhaps he was hawking Galaxy shirts and MLS brochures in England while serving a one-match suspension instead of supporting his team and league by showing up to the Galaxy’s and Houston Dynamo’s biggest game of the year.

For emphasizing his “leadership by example” rhetoric during the interview, Becks sure does not have a lot to show for his words. Perhaps the next question in the interview could shed more light on this. When asked if he would do anything different this year, he coyly answered:

“No, not one thing. Apart from going to more games. That’d be nice.”

Perhaps that was supposed to portray confidence, but it sure sounded foolish: Becks won’t give up the armband on a side that clearly has no confidence in his leadership abilities. And if he’d like to go to more games, he could have shown up to Galaxy fixtures after the Serie A season ended on May 30^th, after which time the Galaxy had played five matches.

Ultimately, Landon Donovan has clearly won this war of words. Beckham would be good to swallow some humble pie before having that private conversation with his captain.

But Becks can surely spin himself a good story to save face.

MLS Game of the Week Player Ratings – Sounders 2-1 Dynamo

Matt Barger — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:40:04 -0400

The top of the table clash was a stunner. Not only did we see good attacking play on both sides, but we also saw a lobby for the fifth official with Montero’s first “goal.” I still think Chabala cleared it off the line.

As part of this series, I will be giving player ratings after each Game of the Week in the preceding MLS Week Preview. Player ratings are something desperately needed in MLS coverage these days.

For your reference, I will rate a player with a 5 for an average performance, a 3 for a below-average performance, and a 7 for an above-average performance. It will take an earth-shaking performance for a player to receive a 1 or 10 (or 2 or 9 for that matter).

EDIT: Brandon Rust has also published player ratings for the Sounders. Please check out his article here.

Houston Dynamo

GK Pat Onstad – 7: Usually the losing goalkeeper should get the lower scores, but the Canadian was bailing his team out with saves of the year in the second half. Nothing he could do about the second goal, and very unlucky on the first.

RB Brian Mulrooney – 4.5: Looked capable but out of place at right back. Especially with Zakuani running at him.

CB Julius James – 4: Anonymous during Seattle’s many chances during the second half.

CB Mike Chabala – 7: Very unlucky on his goal-line block of Montero’s first goal. Constantly frustrated the Sounder attack, and saved the Dynamo many times in the first half.

LB Craig Waibel – 3: Deserved the yellow card; deserved the boos. He looked slow and frustrated against both Montero and Ljungberg, delivering cheap shots to both.

CDM Ricardo Clark – 6: Strong return from Confederations Cup play for Clark.

RM Brian Mullan – 6: Instrumental in Brad Davis’ first goal, a bright point for the Dynamo offense, beating his Tyson Wahl on the ball more times than Wahl would care to remember.

LM Corey Ashe – 5: The diminutive winger made his speed count in the last third of the game, but couldn’t deliver the ball well at all.

CAM Brad Davis – 7.5: Brilliant playmaking to set up his goal in the 13^th. Looked dangerous throughout, and should have seen more support from his strikers.

ST Kei Kamara – 5: Despite some threatening moves, Kamara was known more for his tackles from behind than his finishing this game.

ST Dominic Oduro – 4.5: Mostly anonymous, uninspiring runs on the ball.

Substitutes:

CAM Danny Cruz (54’ for Mullan) – 5: Developed a few chances late, but struggled to make a substantial impact.

CB Eric Ustruck (60’ for Chabala) – 5: Replaced the injured Chabala well and had a goal-saving tackle against Montero.

ST Ade Akinbiyi (62’ for Oduro) – 4: The former Stoke City striker decided to play as a target man. Too bad Kei Kamara wasn’t playing as his support striker, and his midfield wasn’t serving the ball in the box.

Seattle Sounders FC

GK Kasey Keller – 4: Some decent saves from Keller today, but the first goal was a defensive breakdown Keller needed to organize better, and his distribution from the back was less-than-ordinary.

RB James Riley – 6: Instrumental in both attack and defense, shutting down Kei Kamara with one of his crosses counting as a shot on goal.

CB Jhon Kennedy Hurtado – 5: Marshalled the back line well after the first goal, but received an unlucky yellow card for Brad Davis’s mediocre dive.

CB Patrick Ianni – 5.5: Tale of two halves for Tyrone Marshall’s replacement. His opportunistic bicycle kick goal in the second half was ultimately negated by his collection of half-clearance howlers that led to Houston’s scoring chances and goal in the first half. I think this is the only time a bicycle kick goal-scoring defender will get a 5.5 and snubbed from MOTM from me.

LB Tyson Wahl – 4: Unfortunate side effect of left backs in the modern game: instrumental overlapping in attack, but ultimately absent-minded on defense.

RM Freddie Ljungberg – 8 (Man of the Match): Ljungberg has finally hit his stride. The former Arsenal star showed why he is the outfield captain with his scintillating passing and leadership on the Sounders’ fastbreak. Showed grit and determination despite being marked and fouled heavily, and his fine delivery into the box were repaid with Ianni riding the bike into the net.

CM Peter Vagenas – 4: Ianni looked more of a defensive midfielder than Vagenas today.

CM Stephen King – 6: Strong on both attack and defense, showed the box-to-box grit that his team should take note of.

LM Steve Zakuani – 7: Average brilliance from Zakuani today, who made the most of his runs at an out-of-place Brian Mulrooney.

CF Fredy Montero – 7.5: Brilliant run by Montero into the box for his first “goal.” Fredy is finally clicking with his teammates when he dribbles the ball as well.

ST Nate Jaqua – 6: Incredible ball to Montero for the first goal. Needs to play more like a target man than the support striker, but did look very menacing in attack.

Substitutes:

LW Sebastien Le Toux (for Zakuani 56’) – 7: The wing isn’t even his natural position.

CF Roger Levesque (for Ljungberg 90’) – NR: Can’t rate Roger for garbage time curtain call minutes.

MLS Week 17 Preview: Sounders-Dynamo, Rivalries Headline Showcase Week

Matt Barger — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:53:03 -0400

With two top-of-the-table clashes—one of which is a regional rivalry—and the always-entertaining Super Classico, this Saturday will be a MLS showpiece.

Oh, and just in case you care, some English guy is coming back to the Galaxy the following Thursday.

Headlining this momentous week is a big match at the top of the Western Conference: Houston Dynamo (31 pts) at Seattle Sounders FC (25 pts).

This game may very well tip the power balance in the Western Conference.

Houston are looking to make the Conference title a two-horse race: a win would extend their lead to an insurmountable nine points over third-place Seattle. On the other hand, a Seattle win can move the Sounders to second place in the conference and bring the top spot in the West within striking distance—three points.

This match pits Seattle’s potent offense (24 GF, second in MLS) against Houston’s rock-solid defense (10 GA, first in MLS).

But Gold Cup duty has robbed both teams of key players: Stu Holden and Brian Ching for Dynamo, Brad Evans and Tyrone Marshall for Sounders FC.

Houston has lost two key playmakers in attack, and Seattle loses an impact player and an anchor in defense.

Houston also reclaim Ricardo Clark from national team duty. He and Brad Davis should have an intriguing midfield battle with Seattle’s Freddie Ljungberg and Osvaldo Alonso.

Add the Steve Zakuani vs. Cameron Weaver rookie battle, and this clash looks like it may be the game of the MLS regular season.

With so much talent on either side, intangibles will decide this battle. This is Houston’s first trip to Qwest Field. The raucous environment has affected the attitude most every team that has played against Seattle, and should play a huge factor in what is perceived to be a very important match. Houston’s poor recent form, with a loss to the Galaxy and a scrappy road win against KC, may be amplified by entering the hostile environment without their two veteran leaders.

But Seattle’s inconsistent form against top clubs in this league should not be ignored. The Sounders convincingly lost two games at Chivas USA while dominating possession. They drew against DC United after leading 3-1 at 70 minutes.

But they also forced draws against Columbus at home and Colorado at Toyota Park, and they recently showed maturation in a rout of Colorado at home.

Result: Dynamo 1-2 Sounders. Houston Dynamo are missing too many important players to give them the nod outright. The Sounders have what it takes to pull off the upset, but only if they keep up their scintillating recent form.

As for the other matches:

Columbus Crew (23 pts) at Chicago Fire (24 pts) – The plot thickens with another 1-3 matchup in the East. Schelotto and the Crew are looking to continue their positive momentum with a big road win, but losing Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers to Gold Cup duty could prove to be the difference against a potent, experienced Fire attack.

While they miss Logan Pause, Gonzalo Segares, and Jon Busch, Chicago has proven that when they find their form, they are the most dangerous team in the league.

Result: Fire 2-2 Crew. Chicago snatch a tie from the jaws of victory once again.

Chivas USA (27 pts) at LA Galaxy (21 pts) – El Super Clasico will not disappoint. Chivas has been on a run of poor form in SuperLiga and MLS, while the Galaxy will be looking to rally after convincingly beating the Dynamo at home without Landon Donovan.

A big X-factor in this match will be Alecko Eskandarian, who was traded to the Galaxy from Chivas USA and has been a huge factor in both teams’ offense. Captain Donovan returns to amplify his team’s offensive kick.

Result: Chivas 1-2 Galaxy, with four yellow cards, three red cards, and Eskandarian being punched in the face more than once.

Kansas City Wizards (19 points) at New England Revolution (16 points) – Don’t let the Revs’ low point total fool you; they have at least two games in hand. Both teams need this game to stay relevant in the East.

The Wizards don’t have Davy Arnaud or captain Jimmy Conrad, but the Revs are without Shalrie Joseph, whose absence leaves the “Steven Gerrard” effect.

Result: Revs 1-1 Wizards. Without Joseph, the Revs just look sloppy, but the Wizards are sloppy already.

FC Dallas (17 pts) at Colorado Rapids (21 pts) – The Hoops have lost Kenny Cooper to Gold Cup duty, and therefore have also lost any hope of scoring a goal in this match. It doesn’t help that the Rapids just got Conor Casey back. Result: Rapids 3-0 FCD.

Toronto FC (22 pts) at San Jose Earthquakes (13 pts) – TFC kept Dwayne DeRosario from the Gold Cup, and he will most likely lead the steamrolling of the lowly-but-lovable Earthquakes. Result: TFC 2-0 Quakes.

And to think this is the warm-up to David Beckham’s return next Thursday. Amazing.

America to Oguchi Onyewu: Good Job, Now Live Up To Expectations

Matt Barger — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:34:42 -0400

Congratulations, Oguchi Onyewu, for being the first American outfield player to be signed to an elite European club. Now, just don’t do what that other guy did in your position.

Not that Tim Howard had a bad career at Manchester United, but earn your spot and bring positive results to Milan’s starting eleven.

Oguchi Onyewu’s three-year contract with AC Milan is no doubt a big signing for American soccer. Unfortunately, Gooch has to cast away a tradition of disappointment by highly-touted Americans being signed by big European clubs.

Americans are quick to forget Tim Howard’s short reign as Manchester United’s number one goalkeeper. Given a hero’s exit by the MetroStars faithful in 2003, Tim Howard was supposed to be the next big American goalkeeper in England. He was replacing the retiring Fabien Barthez as a Schmeichel-esque rock in between the posts.

Howard played well during his first season, but a collection of howlers in his second season saw him fall out of favor. During the 2004-2005 season, Sir Alexs opted for Roy Carroll and, eventually, an aging Edwin van der Sar in 2006.

Sure, his stellar goalkeeping at Goodison Park has brought Everton back to relevance, but Howard’s European career will be seen as just another American who couldn’t live up to his signed club's expectations.

This unfortunate (and unfair) view of Americans in Europe is only supported by almost every other American who has tried their trade in the top four leagues. While there are some notable exceptions, some notable examples include:

DaMarcus Beasley has seen success with PSV but is the ultimate American journeyman. He has fallen out of favor at Eindhoven, Man City, Rangers, and for the possible fourth and final time at Schalke 04.

Landon Donovan turned his back on Bayer Leverkusen after being loaned to the San Jose Earthquakes. Bayern Munich responded by doing the same when the Galaxy captain came crawling back to Germany eight years later.

Wunderkind Freddy Adu has struggled to find the bench on both Benfica and Monaco, the club to which he was loaned to get some more playing time. The same can be said for fellow prodigy Jozy Altidore, whose record €7.4 million signing to Villareal was disrupted by a heartbreaking loan spell at Segunda Division champs Xerez CD (where he couldn’t make the bench).

Even Oguchi Onyewu has had his unsuccessful stint in the big time when he was unluckily paired with the infamous Titus Bramble in Newcastle. After being dropped by Sam Allardyce, he was brought back to Standard Liège. Age 25 when he left St. James’ Park, he was too old to be loaned out for development and it seemed his European career would finish in Belgium.

Gooch thought otherwise, and, after leading Standard Liège to the Champions’ League and the United States to the final of the Confederations Cup, he proved to the Rossoneri he was worthy of playing with the world’s elite defenders.

Even if he is tapped for the starting position next to Alessandro Nesta, competition for his spot at the San Siro could stand to knock him out of that role and back to anonymity in Belgium. Brazilian international center back Thiago Silva signed his contract with Milan a month before Onyewu. Starters Kakha Kaladze and Daniele Bonera can also play center back. Milan also has a center back developing out on loan, Digão, Kaká’s little brother. With this much depth at center back, Gooch could be seen as a one-year placeholder while Thiago Silva and Digão find their feet and form.

In short, Oguchi Onyewu still has much more to prove before we can celebrate his move to the San Siro as a step up for American soccer.

Let’s just hope he can buck the current trend of disappointment that has followed the big signings of his fellow Americans.

Stage Set for an Exciting Gold Cup: Official 2009 Predictions

Matt Barger — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:36:55 -0400

After two long analyses of Team USA’s long-term and short-term goals, it is time for this reporter to put his money where his mouth is and put forward some good old-fashioned prognostication. In this prediction, I will walk through my version of the tournament with detailed analysis of the group stages, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final matches. Can Team USA defend its title? Maybe. But it will be a very hard road to get back. And don't worry, there will be plenty of controversy along the way. Let us begin.

Begin Slideshow

Great Expectations for Team USA's Reserve Squad: Gold Cup Preview Part 2

Matt Barger — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:11:50 -0400

Team USA fans, say it with me now: We will not judge our team by this Gold Cup.

We don’t need to win this cup. We will judge our team on August 12th, when Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and the rest of the first team face Mexico at Azteca.

Team USA has earned massive respect after their Confederations’ Cup success, especially to the casual American sports fan. Consequently, these fans have put an extraordinary amount of expectation on this year’s Gold Cup squad to carry on their first team’s momentum by defending the CONCACAF Gold Cup next month.

Needing to be assured Team USA is not just a flash in the pan, casual soccer fans will judge our class against the CONCACAF “minnows.” As many on this site have said: moral victories will no longer be tolerated; anything less than three points in CONCACAF is an abomination.

Trust me, they don’t need this. This B-team (see part one) has enough targets on its back.

Bitter rivals Mexico are sending their first-class talent to avenge their Cup final loss in 2007. Canada will be seeking retribution for its controversial semi-final loss in 2007. El Salvador and Honduras are seeking revenge after having a chance at three points against our first team in World Cup qualifying.

Costa Rica will want to rub their recent 3-1 home win against our first team in our reserves’ faces at this tournament. And, as defending champions, every other team will be sending out their best boys to thrash us. Roles have reversed. Team USA now has everything to lose.

Team USA fans: get ready to hate Bob Bradley again.

Despite the pressure, the ever-aloof Coach Bradley will focus on the long-term goal I mentioned in part one: use this competition to find a solid bench for the 2010 World Cup. What does this mean?

More awkward formations. More strange line-ups. More dodgy substitutions. Especially against smaller competition like Grenada and Haiti. Bob Bradley will make sure he knows how each player on his 23-man roster will respond to the pressure of international competition.

Of course, Team USA will hopefully send the best this team has to offer—Freddy Adu, Stuart Holden, Jimmy Conrad, and company—against stronger competition, but this team is not the first team, nor is it the U-23 2008 Olympic team. These boys are the American faces of an import-crazy MLS.

So, how will the MLS stars and alumni deal with their continental counterparts?

According to recent history, not so good. The 2008 Olympic Team performed well, but went three-and-out in Beijing’s U-23 tournament. And they had Brian McBride and Jozy Altidore.

But many players on the Gold Cup squad were not on that team. Many of these players star on MLS sides that regularly struggle against continental, not just Mexican, competition. No Revolution fan can forget Joe Public’s 4-0 thrashing of New England at Foxborough during the CONCACAF Champions’ League, a cup where lowly USL sides put up a bigger fight than our MLS stars.

Do you know who Joe Public is? Exactly.

Even when MLS is in form and face out-of-season Mexican competition, they still struggle. Just last week, Chivas USA just got embarrassed by Tigres’ U-20 side in the SuperLiga.

But what about when these stars are put together? They have done a little better… against European out-of-season reserve teams. The MLS All-Stars, even with David Beckham, were almost outclassed by West Ham’s reserves in a 3-2 victory.

Yes, West Ham’s reserves.

Knowing this, will Team USA buck the trend and beat all comers this Gold Cup?

Two things work in their favor:

First, they are the host nation. Like in 2007, they will get that favorable official decision in crucial games, and they will have our fans’ support in every big game.

Second, Bob Bradley is an incredible motivator. Coach Bradley and the Confederations’ Cup veterans will make sure this JV squad understands the short-term and long-term opportunities for this team. It will be up to these players to stand up to their opposition and uphold the USA’s dominance in CONCACAF and this competition.

So, does the USA defend the Gold Cup?

You will hear my official prediction in the third and final part of this preview. As always, you are free to leave your own thoughts on this question below.

MLS Auditions for Bradley's 2010 Bench: Gold Cup Preview Part 1

Matt Barger — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:30:54 -0400

Last week, Team USA Coach Bob Bradley named his roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. To reward his first team’s massive performance this Confederations’ Cup, he is giving his stars a break and putting in...

I think the correct term is “junior varsity”. See for yourself: http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090625&content_id=5521428&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

Freddy Adu, Marvell Wynne, Heath Pearce, Charlie Davies, and Luis Robles are the only players joining the Gold Cup team on a plane from the Confederations Cup in Johannesburg. Nineteen men on this roster are playing or have played in MLS. Only Pearce, Robles, Davies, and Jeremiah White have not.

Bradley’s motives here, unlike most of his tactical substitutions the past two weeks, are easily understood. Like the MNT Coaches before him, Bradley is looking to MLS to find the right bench that will sustain and amplify the USA’s world-beating momentum for the next summer’s trip to South Africa.

Needless to say, this selection brings up many questions. Some serious, others less so.

For this first part, we will just focus on the serious, long-term effects of this roster on the 2010 squad.

How many 2010 spots will be contested? Probably six.

Coach Bradley did not play six substitutes this Confederations’ Cup: Danny Califf, Jose Torres, Pearce, Adu, Wynne, and Robles. Let’s assume Bob Bradley needs to see more from these players.

Add to that three of Bradley’s underachieving substitutes—DaMarcus Beasley, Conor Casey, and Sacha Kljestan. Beasley is probably safe because of Bradley’s faith he will return to form.

That makes eight open spots. Subtract two open spots for the introduction of Jermaine Jones and the re-introduction of Maurice Edu, and you have six spots up for grabs.

Can any of the newcomers seriously challenge for these spots? Maybe two or three. Let’s go by position:

Goalkeeper: Robles is probably safe. He’s the only one with Bundesliga experience.

Defense: Wynne and Pearce will have their hands full defending their places. Bundesliga and MNT veteran Steve Cherundolo is back from injury. Michael Parkhurst, with an improvement in form from a season in Denmark, can steal the other spot.

Midfield: Team USA has too much depth here. Assuming Jones starts, Edu and Benny Feilhaber are locks for the bench, while Ricardo Clark and Kljestan have some proving to do. Jose Torres will prove himself at Azteca in August (you heard it here first).

At this Gold Cup, Stuart Holden or Davy Arnaud will make the strongest challenge for Kljestan or Clark’s spot. Sorry, Kyle Beckerman, we have two defensive mids—Jones, Edu—a holding mid in Michael Bradley, and, therefore, no room for you.

Forward– It’s official: Freddy Adu is sleeping with Bob Bradley’s daughter.

Only a vindictive father could keep the creative Benfica winger on the bench this Gold Cup. He and Charlie Davies need solid performances to assure their spots.

But with Brian Ching and Kenny Cooper in the line-up and Bradley’s good graces, it is completely possible Adu could be riding pine throughout the Gold Cup. For his potential, let’s hope not.

Could any of these players start for Team USA in 2010? Maybe Steve Cherundolo. Perhaps Freddy Adu. Most likely, no one else.

While the talent gap between MLS stars and their European alumni is tightening, it is still too wide to confidently say these newcomers will usurp any starting places.

I do not see anyone except established MNT veterans—Ching, Cherundolo, and Adu—shaking up the starting lineup come 2010.

But some of these MLS stars and alumni should provide the spark off the bench in 2010 that will relieve pressure off of the unlikely stars of the Confederations Cup.

Confederations Cup: In Defense of Team USA's Questionable Red Cards

Matt Barger — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:33:36 -0400

Despite night-and-day performances this Confederations Cup, Team USA has remained dependable in one department:

Unjustified, soft red cards to the midfield.

From Ricardo Clark’s late-but-harmless knee-high tackle to Sacha Kljestan’s late mugging of Ramires to Michael Bradley winning the ball first but cleating the ankle, it seems that Team USA wants to practice playing down a man against big competition while showing off some depth in center midfield. Bravo to them.

But the tackles, as many pundits and fans rightly claim, would merit yellow cards at most for every team except the United States. Fans blame the refs for this double standard, claiming the refs are colluding and conspiring to keep this upstart team from disturbing the balance of power in the system.

But allow me to, gulp, defend these officials for a moment. Before I do, let me say that two of those challenges, especially Bradley’s challenge, merited the softest red cards I have seen in international play. I was ready to blame the referee, but then I listened to the BBC’s take on Bradley’s red:

“They should have learned from their previous two sendings-off… I’d say in England that would probably be a free kick.”

These two statements sum up the recent problem with USA discipline. Let’s look at them separately, and in reverse order.

“I’d say in England that would probably be a free kick.”

Yes, and in MLS, play would have continued unfettered. These red cards illustrate the disagreement between the American and international (read: European) conceptions of a foul.

MLS is not a La Liga dive-fest. Play revolves around bruising hits and tackles in central defense and midfield.

It’s not modern football, but MLS embraces and markets this brand of football as the “non-sissy” response to their sport’s domestic pantywaist stereotype. Whether that’s a good thing is another article altogether, but when it comes to translating American soccer to the big stage, American players have struggled to adapt accordingly.

Look at it on the club level. Jozy Altidore, known for his physical play, can’t seem to get any love in Spain.

Those who have succeeded in Europe have done so in England and Germany, two of arguably the most physical European leagues. Clint Dempsey, currently our most successful prototype, has succeeded by learning how to dive (poorly) and forgetting how to defend. The rest of our players are relegated to France, Belgium, and Scandinavia, all respectable but not top European leagues.

“They should have learned from their previous two sendings-off.”

Everyone in the world except Team USA seems to know that we have had a reputation for enforcer play in midfield, especially in big games.

Clark, Kljestan, and Bradley got their send-offs not just for their individual play, but for the bruising play of Pablo Mastroeni, John O’Brien, and Eddie Pope when they wore the Team USA jersey. Yes, many times they didn’t receive cards for these fouls, especially in CONCACAF (known for terrible officiating) and even in the 2002 World Cup.

But their style of play has compounded over time and resonated in the current American soccer tradition, earning Team USA the reputation of being stubborn, rigid, and reckless in defense and midfield. Why did we love Onyewu and DeMerit yesterday?

They beat Spain to the ball. Literally.

That reputation, warranted or not, has given us a keener eye and a sterner whistle from international officials.

But even if we didn’t have that reputation and we still had those first two send-offs, should Ricardo Clark’s soft red teach us to stay out of reckless, studs-up tackles in the midfield?

Instead our midfield, unrelenting, refuses to adapt and stubbornly continues sliding into every tackle like banished Newcastle bad boy Joey Barton.

So, when we get the seemingly inevitable send-off this Sunday, don’t blame the referee.

Blame MLS. Blame Pablo Mastroeni.

And don’t forget: It’s not fair, but it’s our reputation. We earned it.

Manchester United: No Big Signings? No Problem!

Matt Barger — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:17:08 -0400

Manchester United is not Real Madrid.

The Bleacher Report has gone mad these past few weeks over who Manchester United needs to replace Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo. From Ribery to Benzema, Valencia to the wholesale purchase of the Dutch National team, I think I’ve seen every possible iteration of possible “big signings” Manchester United can pick up to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and now Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez.

Is it entertaining? Yes. Will one of these user-concocted signings happen? Probably.

But is a big-money replacement for Ronaldo necessary? In my honest opinion, no.

Let me repeat: Manchester United is not Real Madrid.

Yes, they have made their share of big money signings. Yes, they have made it look at times like there were buying a championship. They’ve thrown their big-money weight around for players like Tevez, Rooney, Ferdinand, and Saha. But with the current lineup, I strongly believe they do not need another £35 million man to build another path to dominance.

Why? For the third time, Manchester United is not Real Madrid. Manchester United has never been just the sum of its parts. We don’t have to buy this star and that star and that star all in one offseason and expect them to “star power” their way to a championship the next year like some absurd video game.

Manchester United can build a championship team without the big-money signing. Sir Alex understands that strong role players built and groomed within a system can pay off dividends on the football field and in transfer negotiations.

Remember the aftermath of David Beckham’s exit? Cristiano Ronaldo was signed as a role player for only £12.7 million. He was perceived as a rising star, a shadow of the brilliant young star he is today. Groomed under Sir Alex’s system, he became the world-class offensive dynamo he is today, and the showpiece of many other similar role-player signings and academy call-ups (Carrick, Vidic, Park, Fletcher) that built the foundation for a treble.

Obviously, this does not mean that the current squad will win the championship this year. Serious questions must be asked and answered from Darren Fletcher, Anderson, and Park Ji-Sung. Dimitar Berbatov still needs to show the world-class finishing he is getting paid for. Star reserves like Danny Welbeck and Kiko Macheda need to start fulfilling the enormous potential that fans have placed on them. Even Wayne Rooney has to prove he can shoulder more of the goal-scoring debt that will go amiss with Ronaldo’s exit.

Despite that, Manchester United has the squad that should live up to its top four billing and can have a chance to win the Premiership this year.

But it is the perceived notion that Manchester United cannot win a title without Ronaldo that puts them in the best position possible to build the foundation to win the Premiership and do well in Europe this year. The pressure to win the Premiership has been passed to Liverpool and Chelsea; the pressure to do well in Europe has been passed to Chelsea, Barcelona, and Madrid.

Manchester United, out of the spotlight, can just focus on building chemistry with their new signings (however big they may be), improving their academy call-ups, and creating a new, “post-Ronaldo” treble around a still very strong squad.

So, could Manchester United use the services of Ribery, Benzema, or Sneijder to win a championship? Absolutely.

But do they really need those high-profile players this offseason? According to history, absolutely not.

Real Madrid: Wheeling, Dealing, and Ducking Their Defensive Duties

Matt Barger — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:55:18 -0400

As a Manchester United fan, you have to love this. You just got 96 million euros for a player who did not want to stay with you. This is in wake of the incredible 68 million euro signing of Kaka (In your face, Man City!), and reports speculate that they are first in line for striker David Villa, right in front of next-best suitor Chelsea (a team that actually needs him).

These three cavalier blockbuster moves can stand to revolutionize Real’s already strong attack...but what does it do for their defense?

As far as strikers and midfielders go, Real were already stocked. Spanish legend Raul, Gonzalo Higuain, and most of the Dutch National Team (Huntelaar, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Robben) spearheaded an attack that scored 83 La Liga goals last season, second to only Barcelona in goals scored.

Real’s backline, where there were enough holes for 52 goals last season (not the worst in La Liga but certainly poor for a team which considers itself part of Europe’s elite), will have even more holes to fill with the exodus of Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro to Juventus.

Neither Christian Metzelder, Pepe nor wing back Marcelo have shown the quality in defense to stop the bleeding, and Sergio Ramos, for all his efforts, can only do so much.

So the answer, obviously, is to bring in two attack midfielders not known for their tackling and a possible fourth striker.

But just imagine that incredible offense at work: Ronaldo receiving the ball from a beautiful one-two from Kaka, dribbling through defenders along the wing, then missing high and wide from a forty-yard blast, while an open David Villa screams for the ball in the box.

Meanwhile, Raul and the Dutchmen are left scratching their heads on the bench (not because they could do better, but because they just lost 4-3).

It’s almost like the Galacticos are oblivious to their 6-2 embarrassment at the Bernabeu to Barcelona, or the 4-0 thumping they suffered to Liverpool in the Champions’ League.

Or maybe the Madridistas are so enamored by the stars they sign they forget the mantra so true in any sport played in any part of the world: defense wins championships.

Real Madrid, with their epic signings, has become a team that resembles their Cristiano Ronaldo centerpiece: incredible but selfish in attack, absent-mindedly average on defense, and the emotional faith and fortitude of a petulant brat.

And, as a Manchester United fan, I must say I will enjoy watching the Madridistas throw up their hands in despair while they come up second-best in La Liga and anonymous in Europe for yet another year.