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 2^nd overall Superdraft pick will not only make his MLS debut but will provide some space for strike partner Kenny Cooper.

Book Me Baby!

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.

Book Me Baby!

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.

Book Me Baby!

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.

Book Me Baby!

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

10:00am – Premier League – Stoke City v Chelsea – FSC / FXD

10:00am – Premier League – West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool – FSP

Noon – La Liga – Real Madrid v Sporting Gijon – GolTV / ESPN3.com

Noon – Serie A – Brescia v Bologna – RAI / FSP

12:30pm – Premier League – Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers – FSC / FXD

12:45pm – Eredivisie – PSV Eindhoven v FC Twente Enschede – ESPN3.com

1:00pm – Major League Soccer – Toronto FC v Chivas USA – MLSDK

2:00pm – La Liga – Getafe v Valencia – GolTV

2:45pm – Serie A – AC Milan v Inter Milan – RAI / FSC / FXD / ESPN3.com

3:00pm – Women’s International Friendly – United States v England – ESPN2 / ESPN3.com

4:00pm – La Liga – Villarreal v Barcelona – GolTV

4:00pm – Premier League – Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur – FSP (Delay)

5:00pm – Premier League – Everton v Aston Villa – FSC (Delay)

6:00pm – Premier League – Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – FSP (Delay)

6:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – United States v Panama – ESPND / ESPN3.com

7:00pm – Major League Soccer – Vancouver Whitecaps v Sporting Kansas City – MLSDK

7:00pm – Liga Mexicana – Queretaro v San Luis – Telefutura

7:30pm – Major League Soccer – New England Revolution v Portland Timbers – MLSDK

7:30pm – Major League Soccer – New York Red Bull v Houston Dynamo – MLSDK

7:30pm – Colombia – America Cali v Deportivo Cali – GolTV

8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Guatemala v Honduras – ESPND / ESPN3.com

9:00pm – Liga Mexicana – Santos Laguna v Cruz Azul – Telefutura

9:00pm – Liga Mexicana – Tigres v Atlante – Telemundo

9:30pm – Colombia – Junior v Real Cartagena – GolTV

10:30pm – Major League Soccer – Los Angeles Galaxy v Philadelphia Union – MLSDK

11:00pm – Major League Soccer – Atlas v Estudiantes Tecos – Telefutura

Sunday, April 3

6:30am – Serie A – Napoli v Lazio – RAI / FSP / FXD / ESPN3.com

8:30am – Premier League – Fulham v Blackpool – FSP

9:00am – Serie A – Catania v Palermo – ESPN3.com

9:00am – Serie A – Lecce v Udinese – ESPN3.com

9:30am – Bundesliga – FC Cologne v Nurmberg – ESPN3.com

11:00am – La Liga – Espanyol v Racing Santandar – ESPN3.com

11:00am – Premier League – Manchester City v Sunderland – FSC / FXD

11:00am – Ligue 1 – Nice v Lyon – Euroworld Sport

1:00pm – La Liga – Sevilla v Real Zaragoza – GolTV

1:00pm – Liga Mexicana – Toluca v Monterrey – Telemundo

1:00pm – Liga Mexicana – Morelia v Pachuca – ESPND / Azteca

2:45pm – Serie A – Roma v Juventus – RAI / FSC / FXD / ESPN3.com

3:00pm – Ligue 1 – Lens v Marseille – FSP

3:00pm – La Liga – Osasuna v Atletico Madrid – ESPN3.com

3:00pm – Paulista – Santos v Palmeiras – GolTV

3:30pm – Portugal – Benfica v FC Porto – ESPN3.com

4:45pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Paraguay v Uruguay – ESPND / ESPN3.com

5:00pm – Liga Mexicana – America v Puebla – Univision

7:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Argentina v Colombia – ESPN3.com

9:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Brazil v Ecuador – ESPN3.com

Monday, April 4

7:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Argentina v Colombia – ESPND (Delay)

9:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Brazil v Ecuador – ESPND (Delay)

2:30pm – Championship – Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United – FSP

Book Me Baby!

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

Book Me Baby!

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)

SOCCER FANS TAKE BOY TO ‘WATCH’ HIS FAVORITE TEAM, EVEN THOUGH HE’S DEAD AND IN A COFFIN – (DAILY MAIL)

TEMPORARY STADIUMS A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR MLS? – CHRISTOPHER SAVINO (GOAL.COM)

THAT FOURTH MAJOR SPORT – J HUTCHERSON (US SOCCER PLAYERS)

Book Me Baby!

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

6:00pm – Copa Libertadores – Deportes Tolima v Estudiantes de La Plata – FXD

8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Guadaloupe v Costa Rica – ESPND / ESPN3.com

8:30pm – Copa Libertadores – Internacional v Jorge Wilstermann – FXD

10:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Trinidad & Tobago v Cuba – ESPND / ESPN3.com

Thursday, March 31

4:45pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Brazil v Colombia – ESPND / ESPN3.com

7:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Ecuador v Paraguay – ESPN3.com

8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Panama v Suriname – ESPN3.com

8:00pm – Copa Libertadores – Penarol v Godoy Cruz – FXD

9:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Argentina v Uruguay – ESPN3.com

10:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Honduras v Jamaica – ESPN3.com

Friday, April 1

7:30pm – Major League Soccer – Columbus Crew v FC Dallas – FSC / FXD

10:00pm – Liga Mexicana – Necaxa v Guadalajara – FXD

Book Me Baby!

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

6:00pm – Copa Libertadores – Deportes Tolima v Estudiantes de La Plata – Fox Sports World

8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Guadaloupe v Costa Rica – ESPN3.com

8:30pm – Copa Libertadores – Internacional v Jorge Wilstermann – Fox Sports World

10:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Trinidad & Tobago v Cuba – ESPN3.com

Thursday, March 31

3:45pm – International Friendly – England v Ghana – Setanta (Delay from 3-30)

4:45pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Brazil v Colombia – ESPN3.com

5:30pm – Copa Libertadores – Guarani v Cruzeiro – Fox Sports World

7:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Ecuador v Paraguay – ESPN3.com

8:00pm – Copa Libertadores – Penarol v Godoy Cruz – Fox Sports World

8:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Panama v Suriname – ESPN3.com

9:00pm – CONMEBOL U-17’s – Argentina v Uruguay – ESPN3.com

10:00pm – CONCACAF U-20’s – Honduras v Jamaica – ESPN3.com

Friday, April 1

7:30pm – Major League Soccer – Columbus Crew v FC Dallas – TSN2

Book Me Baby!

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…

3) Fans In The Seats. The 21,046 average attendance was an amazing opening soccer weekend. Word spread through the interwebs is that it may have been the greatest opening weekend in MLS history.  Think about it – 210,455 people saw pro-soccer live in the US (+Vancouver) – that’s freakin’ incredible. Hell, beyond incredible. Six of the matches played before 90%+ capacity, including Dallas who tripled their attendance from last year. Plus – extra awesome was the start of the Dallas telecast by showing the best traveling fans in the MLS. The Fire faithful, who even in Seattle have their own section, are all over the place. Love them Section 8 loonies.

4) Game of the Week. This one was easy. Vancouver’s home opener was an awesome, electric “whiteout” of excitement. I actually believe that every team should win their home opener. I feel that even more for an expansion team. The fans and organization work so hard to get their team to feel legitimate in the eyes of the existing base, that it ends up, more often than not, that the first game feels like a let down. Not in Vancouver. The crowd was alive and team came out to play. And play they did the to a four-goal onslaught. Go Whitecaps! Try and find this one some place and watch the full game on the net. It’s worth it.

5) Waste of the Week. The Galaxy and the Revs played what looked liked a youth soccer game with about 1000 thousand called disallowed goals and some seriously sloppy play. It rained so hard during the game my daughter asked if they were in a tsunami.  After an awesome game in Seattle, LA looked like they would rather be anywhere else and NE was saying, “we flew across the country for this crap.” The 1-1 draw was generous to NE who escaped with a point against one of the one best teams in the league when everything conspired to make LAs nearly non-existent. It’s too bad for FOX that the game was such a slopfest. If you must, you can look the goals up on-line but really don’t waste your time.

6) Halftime! About six weeks ago, feeling cocky about the Sunderland, I made the claim that with a win potential win against Chelsea they were a sure thing to play in Europe in 2011-2012. Since that glorious prediction (which they lost) Sunderland reeled off a grand total of 1 point in 6 games. During this run of futility they have not scored in 3 full games and have dropped to 9^th – only 6 freaking points from relegation. Again, like I do every season and like every Sunderland fan in England has ever done, all I can hope from this season is still to finish ahead of Newcastle (currently 36 points). Thanks Black Cats! Is it sooo hard to play for a full season? At least Leverkusen – just dumped in the Europa League – will play in the Champions League next year, which means I’ll have a horse in the big race.

7) Play of the Week. One play dominated the weekend in my opinion. It was classic old school English style play.  I’m talking about the basic straight down the middle counter attack. It seemed like a thousand years since we saw it used so effectively in the MLS, if it ever was – maybe Chicago with Novak and Razov back in the day. Recently the teams seemed stuck in the fast wingers and then center cross type of attack. Seattle had made it’s mark with that recently and you can see teams like Dallas really take it to a high art. Lately the teams seem to prefer the sleep inducing slow build with 10,000 passes until the team eventually gets down to the goal area. But this week we watched Seattle get burned twice by a pair of awesome down the spine counter attacks. Also, Toronto used it in De Rosario’s goal in Vancouver, Josh Wolff in DC, and you can argue that two of Colorado’s goals came on the counter. Welcome to the new MLS where the counter – the “fast break” of soccer is more than welcome.

The Cascade War. I truly believe the success of the rivalry here in the Pac NW is parallel to the future success of the league. If this rivalry takes off then I think the league has a template that will make the league a long-term success. So I plan on tracking the spotlight up here who’s got the upper hand. Right now, there is a dual spotlight; Vancouver and Seattle are sharing it Vancouver is trending way up and in Seattle it may be a bit harsh. Now I don’t expect Vancouver to go undefeated and their first trip to Philly may well mean their first loss in MLS. But what they this did this past weekend put them on the MLS map as must watch. Seattle on the other hand, has the focus for an entirely different reason.  Two losses in less than a week and the very strange release of Blaise Nfuko left the team backtracking in the media. I’ve never seen the heat on Seattle shift so quickly. This really makes the Houston game on Friday a must for Seattle on so many levels. Portland hasn’t played at home just yet, so they are trending third right now, even though they may end up with a win in Toronto.

9) The Sounder Way. Something is very weird in Seattle and I can’t put my finger on it. But the loss of two European DPs, both let go in mysterious ways makes me very nervous. It also makes me wonder who’s running the ship. Now it’s no secret Freddie Ljungberg wanted to use MLS to get in shape and get back to Europe. I knew that, so I assume Sounder management did, but when he started taking about it – he’s got traded to the Fire mid-season. He played hard and made the Sounders better – they haven’t been the same since he left. Now I wasn’t a real fan of Nfuko, but after one season in which he played in Europe and in the World Cup, AND then in a half season of MLS, I was somewhat eager to see him play this year. But he admitted he wanted to retire at the end of the year and possibly clashed with the team on playing time and position and since then every then everything seemed to sour. So I have to ask the million dollar question – is it the DPs or is it Sigi? My fear – seriously, my biggest fear, is that it’s Sigi.

10) An idea…I think. Let me toss this at you. What if the MLS allowed each team one Injury Transfer slot for a European player? Hear me out…going back to Beckman in his Euro star days and the Brazil teams of the 90’s, the US has trained various star names in our training facilities. Even Wayne Rooney was down in Oregon at the Nike facilities to get back in shape this past season. What I propose is that the MLS embraces our facilities, and the fact that players like training here AND we are playing meaningful games when other leagues are down – so that we can offer them the opportunity to get their players trained back up to game shape. Let’s call it the Charlie Davies rule (yes I know he actually signed with DC, but if this was offered maybe he could have transferred to DC to get in game shape so he could go back to Sochaux and play in Europe). I think the transfer idea is something that will really help the MLS with the European teams…I mean wouldn’t you rather have a player train and get time in a MLS tilt in the good old US of A  in the summer instead of transferred down a division to play in  Ipswich in the fall and winter.

10) Rating this week’s games.

4 Freekicks – must watch to claim you are a MLS fan

Seattle v Houston: Seattle needs a win, Houston can’t fall too far behind in the East. This week 2 game actually matters.

RSL v LA: An early season preview of the playoffs?

3 Freekicks – If you can find the time do so…

New England v D.C. United: DC looked great last week and the Revs were in a horrible match – it’s interesting to watch just to see if DC has the mojo to go two games in a row.

2 Freekicks – Actually interesting beyond the fan base

Toronto FC v Portland: Can Portland get its first win?

Chicago v Kansas City: What did the Fire learn last week and can they deliver at home? It’s road game 2 for the lost tribe of SKC, when will it start to affect them?

Philadelphia v Vancouver: I don’t think Vancouver will have the same excitement in week 2 on the road.

Columbus v New York:  Watch it if you have an Eastern Conference bias.

FC Dallas v San Jose: Watch it if you have a Western Conference bias.

1 Freekick – Only the team’s fans are interested
Chivas v Colorado: what’s the over/under on Chivas getting a point? I say 3 games…

Book Me Baby!