MLS WEEK 3 PREVIEW: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION v PORTLAND TIMBERS
MLS WEEK 3 PREVIEW:
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION v PORTLAND TIMBERS
7:30pm – Gillette Stadium
Broadcast – Direct Kick / Match Day Live
Local TV – Comcast SportsNet (New England) / KPTV Fox 12
What to Expect?
The Timbers won their first game as an MLS club, against MLS competition when they beat the extremely beatable Chivas USA in the US Open Cup on Wednesday. That’s tells us exactly nothing about Portland, or helps us envision the team they will; field outside of Boston Saturday Night.
The Timbers are now fully fit, but does that mean they are capable of taking points from a seemingly improved Revolution side with a good young backline? Not likely. Portland should have had goals last week against a weaker Toronto side, but lost that match 2-0. The Timbers will need to be a lot more serious in front of goal if they don’t want this match to get away from them.
I like what I see in the Rev’s, they seem a little more in control and fluid than during last season. The difference is in a confident backline, no doubt, but also due to the pairing up top of the Zach attack (yeah, I said it). Zack Boggs and Zack Schilawski have looked well playing together and I expect Sanna Nyassi will create enough problems for the Portland defense from his place on the wing to open up many chances for these two. Portland will also be down to third string keeper Jake Gleeson due to injuries to Adin Brown and Troy Perkins. All this and ugly weather too. Look for the Revs to lay down the hammer on the axe’s during the second half and run out 3-1 winners.
Fantasy Player Spotlight
New England: Sainey Nyassi. If Nyassi doesn’t score he’ll provide assists or opportunities.
Portland: Jeremy Hall. He’s been working hard for the Timbers, it may pay off this week.
Fantasy X-Factor: Darlington Nagbe can be the tonic in front of goal for Portland. Now fully recovered from injury the Liberian 2nd overall Superdraft pick will not only make his MLS debut but will provide some space for strike partner Kenny Cooper.
![[del.icio.us]](http://nagoyaarts.com/goodmanbrowne/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://nagoyaarts.com/goodmanbrowne/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://nagoyaarts.com/goodmanbrowne/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://nagoyaarts.com/goodmanbrowne/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Twitter]](http://nagoyaarts.com/goodmanbrowne/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
MLS WEEK 3 PREVIEW: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS v SPORTING KANSAS CITY
MLS WEEK 3 PREVIEW:
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS v SPORTING KANSAS CITY
7:00pm – Empire Fields
TV – MLS Direct Kick / Match Day Live
TV Local – KSMO (SKC) / Sportsnet Pacific (VAN)
What to Expect:
Both clubs signed Designated Players who scored a brace on opening weekend. Both DP’s were red-carded in week two. Ouch. No Omar Bravo or Eric Hassli. Where will the goals come from this week?
Both teams are also 1-1 going into this match. For Vancouver it will be a return to Empire Fields, the site of their First Kick thrashing of Canadian cousins Toronto FC. A trip to Philly last weekend was a workmanlike 1-0 loss for this expansion team that seems to sign new players every other day. Omar Salgado has been cleared to suit up for the Caps after the U-20’s and the club has landed US International Alejandro Bedoya who they took in the Supplemental Draft. Vancouver is a work in progress, but I like the way they are shaping up and they could thrill at home this season, while grinding out ugly results on the road.
KC is also a work in progress though the club has been picked by many to go deep into the playoffs. The club beat Chivas USA 3-2 in the opening weekend though the score is deceptive. Kansas City should rightly have routed the goats, but somehow let them slip back into the game. Conversely, in Week 2 the Chicago Fire had a 3-0 lead on KC before halftime when KC showed up and managed two goals playing with 10 men. Peter Vermes’ side is struggling in the defensive end.
This one looks even, but both teams are missing so many players that they will shift their systems. Look for the ‘Caps to play tight and defensive and KC to use Bunbury, Kamara and rookie CJ Sapong in an all out effort to keep the ball as far from their own end line as they can.
Fantasy Player Spotlight
Vancouver: Atiba Harris may be asked to shoulder the scoring load for the ‘Caps in the absence of Hassli, but then again it might be Camilo. Regardless of who starts this match, it will be won or lost for the ‘Caps in the midfield partnership of Terry Dunfield and Gershon Koffie.
Kansas City: Teal Bunbury. He’s been on a run of form to beat the band, but in this league it’s consistency that gets you the low-money Scandinavian League contracts.
Fantasy X-Factor:
For KC look for CJ Sapong to provide a match winning goal while the Whitecap defense tries to mark Teal Bunbury out of the game. For Vancouver, how about this weeks signings? Big defender Mouloud Akloul and American International Alejandro Bedoya. Will either play? I don’t know, but they are both capable of being difference makers.
MLS WEEK 3 PREVIEW: TORONTO FC v CHIVAS USA
TORONTO FC v CHIVAS USA
1:00pm – BMO Field
TV National – TSN Canada, MLSDK United States
TV Local – Prime Ticket (Chivas)
The Jokes on Who?
April Fools day was not passed over by either of these teams, but only one of these MLS problem clubs were kidding.
Chivas USA unveiled their new “Third Jersey” on Friday, in a wonderful practical joke. And even gave the credit to Jorge Campos for the design. Yikes
For the full, hilarious article, CLICK HERE
North of the border there seemed to be another joke coming out of Toronto. That was a deal that would send the clubs talismanic leader to New York Red Bulls. This April Fools news turns out to be true. Dwayne DeRosario is being shipped to the Big Apple in exchange for Danleigh Borman, Tony Tchani and Red Bulls 2012 Superdraft pick.
What to expect:
Two new managers trying radically different schemes to rebuild MLS franchises, both of which have never contended. More than the matchup of rebuilding squads, the tactics, approach and long-term strategy of the two new bosses will be worth watching.
More than this long-term test of different styles, these clubs need points and quick, but both managers are struggling to find the squad, starting XI and style that will best suit. This is an experimental battle.
Both sides are capable of scoring and both sides have ugly defenses. Javier Martina proved that TFC isn’t inept, but will he suffer with the loss of DeRo? Chivas is just lost offensively, still struggling for an identity, though with Justin Braun, Alejandro Moreno, Tristan Bowen and Victor Estupinan it’s not hard to see how they get goals, if against the run of play and in losing efforts. On the defensive side Portland was unfortunate to not score more against TFC last weekend, and Chivas is regularly rotating players in and out due to injury, suspension and call-ups on their backline. There will be goals.
Fantasy Player Spotlight
Chivas USA: Marcos Mondaini. Watching Chivas USA has become work, but one of the bright spots has been this 26-year-old Argentine. His crosses in Chivas’ first match were wonderfully accurate, which was a nice balance to Nick LaBrocca’s erratic horror-show crossing in the goats second match. If someone on Chivas decides to get on the end of some of these works of art, the team will succeed and Monaini will start to rack up the assists.
Toronto FC: Javier Martina. Martina seems to be the epitome of the Winter style player, he may have a breakout season. If the service is there on Saturday afternoon, Martina could single-handedly demolish an undermanned Chivas defense.
Fantasy X-Factor’s:
Where are Alan Gordon and Tristan Bowen? Both players were with the Galaxy in 2010. Will Gordon finally play a role as a late sub this week against a club he spent the pre-season with? Bowen, a standout Homegrown talent with the Galaxy last year, couldn’t break the starting XI and was sent to the Goats. It seemed like only a matter of course that he would be starting and scoring for goal starved Chivas. Instead he is only being used as a late sub. Regardless of if Bowen finally gets a full 90 or if he comes on late, he is more than capable of being a difference maker.
COLUMBUS CREW v FC DALLAS: PREVIEW
COLUMBUS CREW v FC DALLAS: PREVIEW
COLUMBUS CREW v FC DALLAS
Friday, April 1
7:00pm – Columbus Crew Stadium
TV National – Fox Soccer Channel / Fox Deportes
What to Expect?
I really am interested to see these two teams against each other at a cold and unfriendly Crew Stadium on Friday Night. I think the Crew, along with Houston, will be the biggest disappointments of the 2011 season, and I also have stated that I thought FCD would finish at, or very near the top of the Western Conference.
Three weeks into the season, I’m not at all confident in either of those conclusions.
Notoriously slow starting FC Dallas has looked unconvincing in it’s first two matches, and it is uncertain what the cause is. Not only did they fail to score in San Jose last week, but couldn’t even manage a shot on goal.
Much has been said about the teams key losses, maybe too much has been said, but I promise I will stop mentioning the loss of Dax McCarty, Atiba Harris and Heath Pearce as soon as another reason for being mediocre becomes evident. Until then, FCD has more questions than answers in their lineup.
Dallas may begin to answer some of those questions for a wider audience on Friday Night with the National TV debut of 18-year-old Fabian Castillo, who may prove to be the solution to the squads lackluster attack. So little is actually known about this kid from Colombia, if he goes bust, Schellas Hyndman and Oscar Pereja will look like fools. If he works, the biggest beneficiary will be David Ferreira. The 2010 MVP will need an option upfront if Dallas are going to avoid being forgotten in the early days of a tough Western Conference.
Columbus also underwhelming in 2011 will also receive a push upfront with the return of Emilio Renteria to the starting XI. The Crew looked like they were just slightly off of form as a potential Eastern Conference contender during the Champions League matches with RSL, but have since become the same that limped their way into the post season in 2010, only to get dropped in the first round of the playoffs.
Selfishly, I hope some of these questions for both sides gets answered Friday Night, because I hate to waste a National TV broadcast on a 0-0 snore fest.
Who’s MIA?
Columbus: Korey Veeder (U-20s), Danny O’Rourke, Shaun Francis (Injury)
Dallas: Moises Hernandez (U-20s), Kyle Davies, Edson Edward (Injury)
Fantasy Player Spotlight
Columbus: Emilio Rentaria. Quite a bit is expected of Rentaria, and there is no better way to jump start your clubs season than by coming back from an injury at home and scoring.
FCD: Dallas Defender corps. If you are a Fantasy team owner, I hope you have any number of Dallas defenders. This team has seven defenders that would start on any other team. Look for them to be the difference Friday Night.
Fantasy X-Factor: Fabian Castillo and Jeff Cunningham. Castillo could be the spark, in his first MLS start, that awakens the incredible talents of Ferreira. Come October, Cunningham’s return to Columbus could be the story of the year or the years forgotten story.
SOCCER ON US TV THIS WEEKEND (APRIL 1-4)
SOCCER ON US TV THIS WEEKEND (APRIL 1-4)
KEY
FSC – Fox Soccer Channel
FSP – Fox Soccer Plus
FXD – Fox Deportes
ESPND – ESPN Deportes
ALL TIMES EASTERN
Friday, April 1
7:30pm – Columbus Crew v FC Dallas – FSC / FXD
8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Costa Rica v Canada – ESPND / ESPN3.com
10:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Mexico v Trinidad & Tobago – ESPND / ESPN3.com
10:00pm – Liga Mexicana – Necaxa v Guadalajara – FXD / Azteca
Saturday, April 2
7:45am – Premier League – West Ham United v Manchester United – ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
7:45am – Championship – Leeds United v Nottingham Forest – FSP
9:30am – Bundesliga – Borussia Dortmund v Hannover 96 – GolTV
9:30am – Bundesliga – Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach – ESPND / ESPN3.com
SOCCER ON CANADIAN TV THIS WEEKEND (APRIL 1-4)
SOCCER ON CANADIAN TV THIS WEEKEND (APRIL 1-4)
ALL TIMES EASTERN
Friday, April 1
7:30pm – Columbus Crew v FC Dallas – TSN2
8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Costa Rica v Canada – ESPN3.com
10:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Mexico v Trinidad & Tobago – ESPN3.com
Saturday, April 2
7:45am – Premier League – West Ham United v Manchester United – TSN2 / RDS / ESPN3.com
7:45am – Championship – Leeds United v Nottingham Forest – Setanta
9:30am – Bundesliga – Borussia Dortmund v Hannover 96 – GolTV
9:30am – Bundesliga – Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach – ESPN3.com
10:00am – Premier League – West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool – Setanta
10:00am – Premier League – Stoke City v Chelsea – Sportsnet
Noon – La Liga – Real Madrid v Sporting Gijon – GolTV / ESPN3.com
Noon – Serie A – Brescia v Bologna – RAI
12:30pm – Premier League – Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers – Sportsnet One
12:45pm – Eredivisie – PSV Eindhoven v FC Twente Enschede – ESPN3.com
1:00pm – Major League Soccer – Toronto FC v Chivas USA – TSN
1:00pm – Ligue 1 – Paris Saint-Germain v Lorient – TV5 / Euroworld Sport
2:00pm – La Liga – Getafe v Valencia – GolTV
2:45pm – Serie A – AC Milan v Inter Milan – RAI / The Score / ESPN3.com
3:00pm – Women’s International Friendly – United States v England – ESPN3.com
3:00pm – Ligue 1 – Toulouse v Montpellier – Euroworld Sport
4:00pm – La Liga – Villarreal v Barcelona – GolTV
5:00pm – Premier League – Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur – Setanta (Delay)
6:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – United States v Panama – ESPN3.com
7:00pm – Major League Soccer – Vancouver Whitecaps v Sporting Kansas City – Sportsnet Pacific
7:00pm – Premier League – Everton v Aston Villa – Setanta (Delay)
7:30pm – Colombia – America Cali v Deportivo Cali – GolTV
8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Guatemala v Honduras – ESPN3.com
9:00pm – Premier League – Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Setanta (Delay)
9:30pm – Colombia – Junior v Real Cartagena – GolTV
11:00pm – Premier League – Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers – Setanta (Delay)
Sunday, April 3
6:30am – Serie A – Napoli v Lazio – RAI / Fox Sports World / ESPN3.com
8:30aam – Premier League – Fulham v Blackpool – Setanta
9:00am – Serie A – Catania v Palermo – The Score / ESPN3.com
9:00am – Serie A – Lecce v Udinese – RAI / Fox Sports World / ESPN3.com
9:30am – Bundesliga – FC Cologne v Nurmberg – ESPN3.com
11:00am – La Liga – Espanyo; v Racing Santandar – ESPN3.com
11:00am – Premier League – Manchester City v Sunderland – Setanta
11:00am – Ligue 1 – Nice v Lyon – Euroworld Sport
1:00pm – La Liga – Sevilla v Real Zaragoza – GolTV
2:45pm – Serie A – Roma v Juventus – RAI / TLN / Euroworld Sport / ESPN3.com
3:00pm – Ligue 1 – Lens v Marseille – Fox Sports World
3:00pm – La Liga – Osasuna v Atletico Madrid – ESPN3.com
3:00pm – Paulista – Santos v Palmeiras – GolTV
3:30pm – Porugal – Benfica v FC Porto – ESPN3.com
4:45pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Paraguay v Uruguay – ESPN3.com
7:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Argentina v Colombia – ESPN3.com
7:00pm – Ligue 1 – Lens v Marseille – Euroworld Sport (Delay)
9:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Brazil v Ecuador – ESPN3.com
11:45pm – Championship – Norwich City v Scunthorpe United – Setanta (Delay)
Monday, April 4
Noon – Scottish Premier League – Motherwell v Aberdeen – Setanta (Delay from 4-2)
2:45pm – Championship – Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United – Setanta
MLS WEEK TWO REVIEW – HIGHLIGHTS, POWER RANKINGS, RECAPS, ARTICLES
MLS WEEK TWO REVIEW – HIGHLIGHTS, POWER RANKINGS, RECAPS, ARTICLES
MLS HIGHLIGHTS
MLS WEEK TWO HIGHLIGHTS – DREW EPPERLY (WVHOOLIGAN.COM)
WEEK TWO RECAPS
MONDAY MLS BREAKDOWN – KYLE MCCARTHY (GOAL.COM)
MLS WEEK 2: PLAY THROUGH – (US SOCCER PLAYERS)
WHAT WE LEARNED: MLS WEEK 2 – DREW EPPERLY (WVHOOLIGAN.COM)
WEEK IN REVIEW: MARCH 21-25 2011 – ROBERT HAY (MLS TALK)
FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MLS WEEK 2 (AND POWER RANKINGS) – STEVE DAVIS (SI.COM)
WEEK TWO POWER RANKINGS
MLS POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 2 – (MLSSOCCER.COM)
2011 MLS POWER RANKINGS: MARCH 28 – (SOCCERNET.COM)
GOAL.COM MLS RANKINGS : WEEK 2 – KYLE MCCARTHY (GOAL.COM)
SOCCER AMERICA DAILY POWER RANKINGS – RIDGE MAHONEY (SOCCER AMERICA)
MLS POWER RANKINGS 2011 WEEK 2 – DREW EPPERLY (WVHOOLIGAN.COM)
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER POWER RANKINGS-WEEK THREE – JOSHUA MAYERS (SEATTLE TIMES)
MLS POWER RANKINGS, WEEK 2 – SCOTT FRENCH (ESPN LA)
SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 2 – (SOCCER BY IVES)
2011 MLS POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 2 SLIDESHOW – JO-RYAN SALAZAR (BLEACHER REPORT)
BONUS ARTICLES
MLS OPTS FOR HEADLINES – J HUTCHERSON (US SOCCER PLAYERS)
TEMPORARY STADIUMS A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR MLS? – CHRISTOPHER SAVINO (GOAL.COM)
SOCCER ON US TV THIS WEEK (MARCH 29-APRIL 1)
SOCCER ON US TV THIS WEEK (MARCH 29-APRIL 1)
KEY
FSC – Fox Soccer Channel
FSP – Fox Soccer Plus
FXD – Fox Deportes
ESPND – ESPN Deportes
ALL TIMES EASTERN
Tuesday, March 29
Noon – International Friendly – Ecuador v Peru – FSC / FXD
2:30pm – Euro 2012 Qualifying – Lithuania v Spain – ESPND / ESPN3.com
2:30pm – International Friendly – Germany v Australia – ESPN2 / ESPN3.com
2:30pm – International Friendly – France v Croatia – ESPN3.com
2:30pm – International Friendly – Colombia v Chile – FXD
2:30pm – International Friendly – Republic of Ireland v Uruguay – ESPN3.com
3:00pm – International Friendly – England v Ghana – FSC
4:30pm – International Friendly – England v Ghana – FXD (Delay)
4:45pm – International Friendly – Germany v Australia – ESPND (Delay)
5:00pm – International Friendly – Colombia v Chile – FSC (Delay)
8:00pm – International Friendly – United States v Paraguay – FSC
8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Suriname v United States – ESPND / ESPN3.com
10:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Guatemala v Jamaica – ESPND / ESPN3.com
10:30pm – International Friendly – Mexico v Venezuela – Univision
Wednesday, March 30
SOCCER ON CANADIAN TV THIS WEEK (MARCH 29 – APRIL 1)
SOCCER ON CANADIAN TV THIS WEEK (MARCH 29 – APRIL 1)
ALL TIMES EASTERN
Tuesday, March 29
6:15am – International Friendly – Japan v J-League All Stars – Setanta
2:30pm – Euro 2012 Qualifying – Lithuania v Spain – TSN2 / ESPN3.com
2:30pm – International Friendly – Germany v Australia – ESPN3.com
2:30pm – International Friendly – France v Croatia – ESPN3.com
2:30pm – International Friendly – Republic of Ireland v Uruguay – ESPN3.com
3:45pm – International Friendly – Portugal v Finland – RTPI
8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Suriname v United States – ESPN3.com
10:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Guatemala v Jamaica – ESPN3.com
Wednesday, March 30
GONZO’S PROFESSIONAL FOUL – WEEK 2
GONZO’S PROFESSIONAL FOUL
Opinions, factoids and other stuff from a soccer guy from Chicago who happens to live in Seattle.
Week 1 of MLS season 16 in the books it’s time for the mid week Starting 11.
1) Let’s run some stats. We had 10 games featuring all 18 teams and all the games were on TV someplace. There were 27 goals scored (that’s 2.7 per match for those with math issues). The average attendance was 21,046, led by 36,433 fanatic green wearing Sounders fans on a Tuesday’s Opening Night in the rain. Some other factoids – four players lead the Golden Boot chase with 2 goals and the Seattle/LA tilt had a combined 0.43 US Rating (ESPN and ESPN Deportes) – that’s up 115% from last year. The big bump came from regular US viewers. And that doesn’t include ESPN3 viewers.
2) Congrats on Birthday number 16! Baseball’s Opening Day is an event, the pinnacle of sports openings, if you will. Personally, I’ve seen many opening days or weeks – most of them at a stadium someplace. This one may simply be the best week-end of games I‘ve seen in MLS history. It’s time to give MLS it’s due. At every point this past week was awesome. Every game was actually fun to watch. They weren’t universally the best games I ever saw but the atmosphere was great, the player’s heads (and hearts) were in it and the fans were back in droves. Every game seemed to have a hook as if the league was saving up storylines and releasing the all at once. The League, the partners, the players and especially the fans have to be extremely pleased – I am.
CONTINUE…
