MLS Top 5/Bottom5: Week 3.

Where do Will Bruin and the Dynamo sit in my first rankings?

So I really wanted to try my hand at some rankings and trend spotting this year in MLS.  The fact that there is so much parity in the league makes this kind of thing really fun and challenging for me, and gives me something to think about during long lulls at work, and to keep me up at night with my mind turning over and over.  I decided to wait a couple of weeks though, until everybody had at least a couple of games under their belt, though I suspect that rankings like this are always fairly inaccurate this early in the season anyway.   What I'm going to present to you are my top five and bottom five, with comments on each.

TOP 5--   


1. HOUSTON DYNAMO --The Dynamo were quite impressive in their opening matches, and Will Bruin (above) was on fire.  According to the league site, he is one of the most captained fantasy players going into week four as well.  Dom Kinnear's side has also yet to give up a goal.  However, they still might be a paper tiger.  Their first match was against the Revs, who have been absolutely awful so far, and their second was against the almost equally hapless Montreal Impact, sans Marco Di Vaio.  Also, both of those matches have been at home, where they're always good.  This week they travel to Vancouver, who should provide a better test.

2. TORONTO FC--I've been pretty skeptical about TFC in the offseason and through the preseason.  These new additions are great, but at this point, I still have to see it to believe it from them.  However, I just might be starting to see it.  The win at Seattle was definitely a quality win, though a 1-0 victory over DC at home was slightly less impressive.  Defoe and Bradley have been the real deal for sure, and Cesar is big time keeper in net.  However, their job gets a little harder this weekend coming to RSL, especially without speedster Jackson, who has been suspended by the disciplinary committee. 

3. REAL SALT LAKE--RSL's biggest problem in the opening weeks has been a failure to land the knockout punch, or the inverse, letting some rather simple defensive mistakes put teams back on level ground.  Still, undefeated with 5 points from 3 games with LA and San Jose (2 of them on the road) is a pretty solid start.  The other issue is injuries, especially up top, with Big Dev, Joao Plata, and Robbie Findley all injured. 

4. SEATTLE SOUNDERS--It wasn't a pretty performance, but Seattle took down Sporting in the first match at home at beat the Impact on the road last week.  Those two results were sandwiched around that home loss to TFC.  The Sounders played well at Montreal and executed their game plan and counter attack very effectively, despite not having Clint Dempsey.  If Obafemi Martins stays healthy, he's gonna cause MLS defenses some issues this year, without having to compete with the large "Pay Me" ego that he used to partner with.

5. COLUMBUS CREW--The Crew opened the season with an absolute smack down of DC United at RFK, and then beat the Union at home in week three.  They had to hold on a bit in that one, but it was still an impressive performance against a Union squad that I think is gonna be pretty good.  This weekend they travel to Seattle, where the local supporters will be less than welcoming after the fiasco that surrounded the "Seattle is sending capos to Columbus for the USMNT" article that happened last summer.  They have potentially the biggest test of any of my top five this weekend.


BOTTOM 5--

15. PORTLAND TIMBERS--Sorry, I'm still not sold on the Portland Timbers.  Apparently "Porterball" still means draw at home and lose on the road, at least so far this year.  Their defense is still suspect, and while the midfield is a strength, they still lack a true target guy up front.  Urruti doesn't cut it for me, he's just a bull in a china shop.  The Timbers have yet to show me that they can take the next step by converting all those draws from last year into wins and gain points consistently on the road.  It doesn't get any easier for them this weekend as they play at FC Dallas, who just missed out on my top 5.

16. CHIVAS USA--The Goats are definitely an improved side, and looked decent in their first two matches, even though they had to largely resort to packing it in to try to keep the Whitecaps out after going a man down at home.  It didn't work.  This last weekend they were largely pasted by FC Dallas on the road.  They're better, but not good enough, yet.  This weekend they travel to New York, where the Red Bulls will be looking to smack them around and get their season on track.

17.  MONTREAL IMPACT--I'm not rating them lower because they've been without Di Vaio, and hey, that  road swing through Texas isn't going to be easy for anybody.  However, they never really threatened the Sounders at home either.  They were in the match, but I never really thought, "Oh yeah, here they come."  Getting Di Vaio back will help, but as of right now, I really can't see Montreal really making a push for anything.  This weekend they play at Philly, and I'm forecasting a Union victory.

18. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION--I'm so disappointed in the Revs so far.  I really thought they were gonna build on the playoff run from last year, and they still might.  However, it's hard to really find much that they did right in their opening three matches, though they did get their first point this last weekend, albeit without managing to score a goal.  It's too bad that they didn't get to hold on to Juan Agudelo.  This week they travel to play at San Jose, and you'd have to figure in a win for the Quakes, maybe without having to pull the "Goonie" stuff.

19. DC UNITED--DC was another team that ostensibly got better this offseason, at least they threw a bunch of money at players, particularly one Eddie Johnson.  They then paired Mr. "Pay Me" with Mr. "I Dive and Miss Big Shots" in Fabian Espindola, who also is known to be a bit combative.  Both Seattle and RSL fans predicted that this experiment was not going to go well.  For all their spending and revamping, DC have shown nada, zero, zilch.   This week they host the Fire, and Mike Magee will probably look to feast on DC's back line.

MLS Eastern Conference at the Halfway Point: Entirely Up For Grabs

The failings of Ben Olsen's DC United headline the first half back east.

Interestingly enough, the major story of the Eastern Conference in the first half is not who is at the top of the table, but rather who is at the bottom.  No disrespect to the Montreal Impact, who sit up top, but they've really slipped in recent weeks, and the fact that they remain in 1st place is more of a monument to the inconsistency of the teams behind them than a tribute to their play.  At the bottom though, DC United have been a league worst all season.  This from a team that I personally thought might compete for the Cup this year.  Here is my rundown of the teams and their top players for the first half.

1. Montreal Impact, 31 Points

The Impact have really shown that they are a force to be reckoned with this year, and they got off to a huge start, including road wins in Cascadia, to jump way ahead of the East.  However the shine has come off in recent weeks, especially on the defensive end.  The Colorado Rapids came from behind to beat them at Stade Saputo, and then last week they dropped points at home to the lowly Chivas USA, who actually led for a good portion of the match.  Still, the Impact lead the league in PPG, but my main concern for them going forward is can their aging roster (Di Vaio and Nesta types) keep up with the grueling MLS schedule in the second half, especially considering that they'll be playing in CCL.  

First half Team MVP--Marco Di Vaio.  The Italian leads the league in off-side calls, but he's right there in goals as well.  Until recently he has been a shoe-in for your three goal monte, but has kind of cooled off of late.  Still, he is a great scorer and gives opposing defenses plenty to think about.

2. Sporting Kansas City, 30 Points 
I didn't really think Sporting Kansas City was going to go away, despite the fact that they've struggled a bit more at home than they're used to.  In particular, they seem to be more prone at giving up goals at Sporting Park.  I still think this team has all the tools, particularly with the return of Kei Kamara from his loan in the EPL.  I think he's one of the most fun players in the league to watch and is almost always a danger man.    Like Montreal, Sporting will be dealing with CCL play later on this year, so it will be interesting to see how they hold up and if that gives some of the teams behind them an opening.
First half Team MVP--Graham Zusi.  Zusi is one of the best, if not the best, midfielder in MLS in my opinion, and he's made significant strides with the National Team. To me, Sporting seem to be lacking security in their play when he's not around, and he should help propel them through the congested second half.

3. New York Red Bulls, 28 Points.
I still don't think the Red Bulls have gotten it.  They seem to continue to believe that bringing in guys on basis of name recognition is the way to MLS Cup, regardless of the player's age.  At the beginning of the year they signed former Brazilian international Juninho.  Hey that's great, but he was 38 years old.  Did it work? Nope.  Red Bulls did help solidify their back line with the addition of Jamison Olave, but some injury issues, the same that affected him in recent years at RSL, have started to crop up again, as well as a red card every once in awhile.  However, I do like the signing of Ibrahim Sekagya, a 6'1 defender from Uganda.  He could step in beside Olave and help out a lot.  Tim Cahill has also started to come around, which should bolster their attack.
First Half team MVP--Tim Cahill.  Yeah, I'm not going with Henry here, mainly because I haven't been all that impressed with him this year.  To me the times when the Red Bulls have really been able to hit a higher gear is when Cahill has been in form and in the lineup.  They'll need him to stay consistent to keep threatening the top of the conference.

4. Philadelphia Union, 27 Points.

Well hello there, Philadelphia.  It seems like this team has finally recovered from the junk and the drama that Peter Nowak put them through at the end of his tenure.   Jack McInerney has been the star of the squad, and the return of Sebastian Le Toux has reignited his form and given the Union another weapon.  Speaking of weapons, how about Conor Casey?  Has there been a more underrated pick up in MLS this year?  I kind of figured Casey might be through after being jettisoned from the Rapids, but not only has he stayed healthy, but he has proven that he can still be one of the most productive big men in the league.  My question about the Union is in goal.  Zac MacMath is progressing, but the youngster is still essentially learning on the job and has been fairly inconsistent. I think he'll need to step it up a bit going forward, but still the Union look pretty solid as a playoff team right now.
First Half Team MVP--Jack McInerney.  This is pretty easy to justify.  He's turned into a big time goalscorer who has also proven his ability to pass off to teammates to help create.

5. Houston Dynamo, 26 Points.
Injuries and international absences have hit the Dynamo hard so far this season.  They've been without Brad Davis quite a bit, as well as Oscar Boniek Garcia.  Will Bruin has played well, but is also in the USA camp.  Meanwhile the Dynamo acquired former Rapids man Omar Cummings, but unlike Casey for the Union, Cummings has failed to yield any real dividends for Houston.  To make matters a little more pressing, Houston lost their unbeaten streak at home.  It seems like more and more opponents are figuring out the stadium, and the Texas summer heat only lasts for so long.  I have my doubts as to whether the Dynamo can retain their playoff position, but they always seem to stick around somehow.
First half Team MVP--Tally Hall.  I look at Hall a lot like I do Clint Irwin of the Rapids.  He keeps Houston in matches, and with a little more support he can keep them in the playoff hunt.

6. New England Revolution, 24 Points.
Don't look now, but here come the Revs.  They've been kind of quiet about it, but I think they're one of the more improved sides in MLS.  Diego Fagundez has really come on strong, as has Bobby Shuttleworth in goal.  As you probably know, GK Matt Reis's father in law was severely injured in the Boston Marathon bombing, and the emergence of Shuttleworth has been great to let Matt and his family focus on that.  Saer Sene continues to be a force in attack as well.  Right now they're just a little too inconsistent, especially playing from a winning position.  They seem to be learning how to close matches out.  Still, this team just might fly under the radar right into a playoff spot.
First Half Team MVP--Diego Fagundez.  Sure, he isn't scoring all the goals, but he's proven himself to be highly capable both attacking and creating.  This young man is the future of this club and the future is now!

7. Columbus Crew, 23 Points.
The Crew have been a little disappointing for me this year.  However, they have a completely valid excuse.  They've lost a few key players, including Eddie Gaven, to season ending injuries, and it's wreaked havok.  Jario Arrieta has also missed significant time for national team duty.  Federico Higuain has struggled a bit more than last year, it's possible that the league is adjusting to him somewhat.  What is of more concern however is the fact that he is among a group of Argentinian players who have been suspected of doctoring their passports.  We'll have to see where this goes, but whatever happens, I think the Crew could use multiple reinforcements if they want to stay in the playoff race.
First Half team MVP--Dominic Oduro.  You may not have heard much about him in the rest of MLS, but Oduro has really settled in nicely in Columbus and fashioned himself into one of their top weapons.  His speed is always tough to deal with and his eight goals show an improvement in finishing.

8. Chicago Fire, 21 Points. 
When you talk about the story of the Fire's season so far, you have to talk about Mike Magee.  Some folks wondered if he could continue to play as well as he has after departing the Galaxy.  Yes he has, and he's been the man for the Fire.  Bakary Soumare came over from Philly and helped solidfy things at the back in front of Sean Johnson, one of the better young 'keepers in the league.  However, it seems like the Fire are still having a little trouble putting all the pieces together on a regular basis.  Right now I don't see them as a playoff team.  Sure, they've gotten better, but I can't see them cracking the top five.
First Half Team MVP--Mike Magee, cause duh.  #MikeMageeFacts

9. Toronto FC, 13 points.
At some point the long suffering fans in Toronto are going to get a winner, but it doesn't look like it's going to be this year as TFC have already lost touch with the playoff group.  Last week local media trumpeted the arrival of Diego Forlan, and MLS even asked via Facebook if TFC were now contenders.  Forlan and his agent shot down the reports the very next day, but for a few hours the fans had something to be excited about.  The revolving door of players continues, and I don't see Ryan Nelsen bringing in the stability that the club needs, at least not yet.  I look for the carousel of players to continue as Nelsen looks for guys that fit his mold, whatever that is.
First Half Team MVP--Robert Earnshaw.  One of the new additions that has stuck, Earnshaw has been one of the few bright spots for TFC.  He is probably their only consistent goal scoring threat, for what it's worth.

 10. DC United, 10 points.
How do you go about pinpointing what in the world is wrong at RFK?  Both Dwayne De Rosario and Chris Pontius have been injured, and that hasn't helped, but the defense has been a disaster in front of Bill Hamid.  The front office has seemed clueless for much of the year, and Ben Olsen's penchant for blaming the referees has gotten real old, real fast.  United needs help everywhere.  If they can solidify the lineup and make a run ahead of Chivas USA and TFC, that might be something to build on.  If they can't, Olsen's days may be numbered.
First Half Team MVP--Dwayne De Rosario.  The former MVP has to get healthy and stay healthy.  He is the best hope this team has of getting out of the cellar.

So there you have it, my thoughts on the East.  In the end I suspect that Sporting KC, Montreal, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia, and the Revs will be your five playoff teams, but there is a lot of football left to be played.

MLS 2013: Eastern Conference Predictions and Questions

With the MLS season finally starting tomorrow (yay!) it's time to sit down and pound this out.  I'm not gonna call it a preview this year, because hey, what we all come up with during these prognostications means exactly SQUAT.   I watch as much MLS as anyone who's not paid to do it, and hey, even I'm not sure what's going on.  I think the league could be wide open this year, especially in the Eastern Conference.  So, I'll give my predictions on the order of finish from the ground up, and make a couple of observations about each club.  Then I'll pose a few questions that I think might have an effect on the conference race.

10. Toronto FC--Sorry guys, I just can't see anything better happening for TFC just yet.  I really want to, for their fans' sake, but I just don't see it there.  Last year I predicted they would make the playoffs for the first time.  I'm not going anywhere NEAR that route.  Kevin Payne and Ryan Nelsen can provide a solid foundation, I think, but they don't have the players.  Robert Earnshaw could be a good signing though, and their fortunes might improve if Danny Koevermans can stay healthy.

9. New England Revolution--I'm not sure what New England has really been up to to improve in the offseason either, except for the addition of Juan Toja, which, while solid, isn't a huge "move up the table" move for me.  Jerry Bengston and Saer Sene have quality, Sene showed it more, but I think the Revs will need more from these guys.  Matt Reis is as solid as they come in goal, but they have to keep him from facing firing squads all season.  The other thing this team desperately needs is their own stadium.

8. Philadelphia Union--What do you do with the Union?  I put them above New England pretty much because they got Sebastien Le Toux back.  He'll do good things, but who else will?  Freddy Adu is, what exactly?  Gone I guess.  Carlos Valdes is out on loan, and come on, there is a reason the Rapids got rid of Conor Casey.  I would tab Antoine Hoppenot to up his contribution though.

7. Montreal Impact--The Impact continue to strive to be the first Serie A team from the last decade to be located in North America, but to what end?  Does anybody really think Alessandro Nesta is gonna last all year without getting injured?  The Impact were pretty decent last year, and they have most of their guys back, but I just don't see it as enough to catch the top 5 in the Eastern Conference.  Stranger things have happened though.

6. Chicago Fire--To me. the Fire are the question mark team out east.  They were VERY active in the offseason, and I think they made some nice additions.  Think Jeff Larentowicz, Joel Lindpere, and Maicon Santos.  Sean Johnson is certainly up to the task in goal, and the defense is solid.  They could easily be a 3,4, or 5 team, but I've got them just on the outside looking in.

5. Columbus Crew--The Crew were one of the toughest games for opponents late last year, and I think they've just gotten better.  If Dominic Oduro finds his form, watch out.  The team brings back Federico Higuain and Jairo Arrieta, plus they're always tough score against, especially at Crew Stadium.  I think they'll hit the playoffs this year, and they could do some big damage if they get there.  Don't sleep on this club.

4. Houston Dynamo--Ok, we get it.  Two-time defending Eastern Conference Champs.  The quality on this side is undeniable, and I think they'll still have a significant edge at BBVA Compass Stadium.  Ching is back as player/coach, so his influence is still there.  I don't see why this team couldn't at least follow the same map as they have the last couple of years.  Plus, I wouldn't bet against Dom Kinnear, unless they're playing the Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final.

3. Sporting Kansas City--The loss of Espinoza and Kamara are going to hurt this club.  The addition of Benny Feilhaber is cringe worthy in my opinion, but I will admit I'm biased because I don't care for his attitude.  Their trump cards are Graham Zusi and Jimmy Nielsen.  Plus, like Houston, they're one of the few clubs that I feel have an actual home field advantage at Cheatstrong, err, I mean Sporting Park.  It's not fair to chide Sporting over that though.  They're still one of the top sides out east and should continue to play like it.

2. New York Red Bulls--You'd think this team almost couldn't help but be in the top two just by showing up on the pitch.  The addition of Jamison Olave is a MAJOR step toward addressing their defensive concerns, provided he stays healthy and doesn't continue to fall prey to some of those mental lapses that seem to plague him the last year and a half or so at RSL.  They also have arguably the best player in the league in Henry.  If they can pull it all together, a big "if," they could finally get their hands on some silverware this year.

1. D.C United--I'm a huge fan of what Ben Olsen has done with this team, in fact I see it as being very similar to what Jason Kreis has done with RSL.  Sure, it would be nice if DeRo stayed healthy and stopped head-butting people, but Chris Pontius is one of the the most dangerous players in MLS to my mind, and they added Carlos Ruiz not only to score some goals, but help rub some people the wrong way.  Hamid is a great talent in goal, and their defense, though not the flashiest or meanest, is more than up to snuff.  This could be the year that DC adds another star over their crest.

Eastern Conference--Three Big Questions

1--Can the New York Red Bulls put it all together and make the run people have been predicting since Henry signed on?

My Answer--YES.  My big beef with the Red Bulls has been defense, and they've definitely improved.  Ultimatey I think DC takes the regular season, but I'd love too see these two squads in the conference final.


2--Who is the "sleeper" team in the conference this year?

My Answer--The Columbus Crew. The middle of the east could be pretty crowded with Houston, Columbus, Chicago, and maybe even Montreal all getting into the mix.  If the Crew can get to the playoffs, they could follow the Houston Blueprint very easily.


3--Is this year when the East catches, and eclipses, the West?

My Answer--YES, in a way..... I still see the top couple of teams out west being better than the top couple of teams in the east.  However, I really see this as being the year those middle teams in the east might outpace the mid-table teams in the west.  That would have a bigger impact, pardon the pun, if we still had a balanced schedule.

So there are my thoughts for the east this year.  Starting tomorrow, we'll get to see just how full of BS and hot air I am.  Good luck to all of the clubs and their supporters.  A couple of you are going to need it.

MLS Inquest 2012: New England Revolution

New man Saer Sene had a great first year for the Revs. (AP Photo)

2012 MLS Inquest: New England Revolution

Record: 9-17-8
Points: 35
Final Position: 9th, Eastern Conference

Player of the Year: Saer Sene
The big Frenchman turned out to be a major coup for new Revs coach Jay Heaps when he signed him last February.  At 6'3, and 185 pounds Sene is an imposing presence on the pitch.  Seeing him play against RSL when the Revs came to town was truly an experience, and he made his presence felt this year.  He led the Revs with 11 goals and notched 3 assists.  In my opnion he should get some consideration for newcomer of the year as he finished number 6 on the MLS Castrol Index.

Flop of the Year: Benny Feilhaber
When you're a capped US International and considered to be a deft passer and goal scoring threat, scoring only 1 goal and 2 assists over the course of an entire MLS season isn't going to be good enough.  Benny also became known more for his mouth and the occasional shady tackle, picking up 5 yellows and one red card on the year.  That's right, more yellows than goals and assists combined.  After almost 2 seasons with the Revs, I'm not expecting Benny to break out and start paying dividends anytime soon.

The Good:
The Revs made another good signing early on when they picked up US International Lee Nguyen after he was released by the Vancouver Whitecaps.  Nguyen quickly settled in for the Revs and was a consistent danger man, much more so than Feilhaber.  Nguyen tallied 5 goals and 2 assists on the year, including dropping a couple on his old teammates in Vancouver.  He should be an asset for the club next season

The Bad:
The Revs never could find consistent form this year.  While they did take the scalps of a couple of eventual playoff squads in LA, Vancouver, and Chicago, a ten match run from mid-July into September saw them on pick up 2 out of a possible 30 points, ending any hope they had of pushing toward the playoffs.  As it turned out, the early season win at the Galaxy was the highlight of the year.

The Ugly:
The Revs continued to try and bolster their lineup, bringing in Honduran international Jerry Bengston as another designated player.  Hopes were raised when Bengston had a great run in the 2012 London Olympics, but ultimately he could not come anywhere close to his national team performance in MLS, only recording 1 goal and 8 shots on target in 13 games.

The Verdict:
There is reason to be optimistic next year for New England, Sene and Nguyen are great finds who should continue to do well for the club.  Also, new coach Jay Heaps acquitted himself pretty well most of the time, as the Revs undoubtedly improved over their last year under Steve Nichol.  If they can add one or two more pieces, or get some more consistent performances from players they already have, they could push for a playoff spot.  It's not out of the question, however the defense will probably have to improve some as well.

MLS Roundup: Bunbury Out, Toja to Revs, Portland May Have Their Man

Sporting Kansas City Forward Teal Bunbury is out for the season. 

There are three big new items on the minds of MLS watchers early this week.  Unfortunately for Sporting Kansas City, they get the bit of unfortunate news.  Striker and American international Teal Bunbury suffered an ACL tear in the 4th minute of Sporting's draw with NYRB last weekend.  He will undergo surgery on Friday and will miss the remainder of the season and the playoffs. 

The loss is a decent sized blow to Sporting, as Bunbury had been rounding into good form.  He had 5 goals in 22 league matches for SKC, and also had a goal during their run to the US Open Cup Championship.  The Puddle wishes Mr. Bunbury a full and speedy recovery.

In MLS player acquisition news, the New England Revolution have acquired 27 year old former MLS All Star Juan Toja through the allocation process.  Before trying his luck in Europe, the former Colombian youth international had some strong seasons in MLS with FC Dallas, scoring 8 goals in 43 league matches.  Apparently the Revs had been contacted by clubs trying to trade into the spot to get Toja, but they've gone ahead and taken him on.  It will be interesting to see where he fits in with the Revs midfield.

The final news is not yet official, but media outlets in Portland are reporting that the Timbers will announce University of Akron head coach Caleb Porter as their new manager Wednesday morning.  Porter has been at the helm of one of the most successful college programs in recent memory at Akron, but failed to play that success into another level when he failed to guide the US U-23 squad into the London 2012 Olympics.  We'll see how much patience the folks in Portland have, because they were obviously not happy with Gavin Wilkinson:

Photo Credit: Associated Press

MLS Disciplinary Committee Strikes Again: Kelyn Rowe

The MLS Disciplinary Committee handed down it's first verdict of the week today, dropping the hammer on New England Revolution rookie Kelyn Rowe.  Rowe clipped NY 'keeper Ryan Meara in the head while going for the ball in the 87th minute of New England's 2-0 win over the Red Bulls last weekend.


Rowe has received a one game ban and has been fined ye olde undisclosed amount. He will serve his ban this weekend as the Revs host TFC. No foul was called on the play.

Match Thoughts: DC United vs New England Revolution

DC keeper Bill Hamid celebrates after the conclusion of the match (Getty Images)

First place in the Eastern Conference was up for grabs Saturday afternoon as DC United took on the New England Revolution.  A win for United would move them ahead of New York and Sporting KC for top spot.  The Revs needed 3 points to try to close the gap opening up between them and the middle of the Eastern table; Houston, Columbus, and Chicago.

The match was slow to get started as these oldest of MLS rivals felt each other out.  Still it was obvious that DC United had the better energy in the first half, and for the most part they were side pushing the advantage.  The first chance of the match fell to Hamdi Salihi in the 13th minute, but he watched his header go wide of the target.  United would take the lead two minutes later though.  Branko Boskovic sent a free kick into the area from distance and defender Brandon McDonald headed the ball into goal to make it 1-0 to DC United.

New England head man Jay Heaps was clearly exasperated, not only because the Revs conceded the early goal, but because the passion just didn't seem to be there in response.  It got worse for New England before halftime as well.  In the first minute of stoppage time United sent a corner kick into the six.  A scrum ensued, and DC defender Dejan Jakovic emerged and smacked the ball into the back of the net to give United the 2-0 lead going into halftime.

As the teams headed into the locker rooms, Jay Heaps got all fired up and went and screamed in the referee's face.  Apparently he gave his team the same treatment, because they came out looking like a totally different side in the 2nd half.

In the 48th minute Benny Feilhaber sent a scorching shot in at DC 'keeper Bill Hamid.  Hamid managed to parry the shot away, but the ball fell right to Saer Sene, who easily poked home the rebound to make it 2-1.  Just two minutes later, the Revs earned a corner kick, and AJ Soares headed it in for the equalizer. The teams proceeded through the next ten minutes on even ground at 2-2.

DC had one more trick up their sleeves though, and his name was Dwayne De Rosario.  In the 61st minute he penetrated the penalty area, then passed back to the top of the box where Maicon Santos was waiting.  Santos proceeded to smash the ball past Matt Reis to give DC United the 3-2 lead.

New England didn't just roll over though.  In the 90th minute Kelyn Rowe put a header on frame that looked to be the equalizer, but Hamid was able to save the shot and preserve the 3-2 win at full time.

NOTES: DC United did in fact take over first place in the east on 27 points from 15 matches. They trail only Real Salt Lake in the overall table, as RSL has 29 points from 14 matches.  Their next MLS match will be at Philadelphia on June 16.  The loss mires the Revs in 7th place, just one point ahead of the expansion Impact.  However, The Revs get a chance to make up ground as they play Chicago next weekend while the rest of the league is idle.

Match Thoughts: New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo

Matt Reis makes a save in Saturday's match vs the Houston Dynamo (Getty Images)

You be the judge:  what's the biggest story out of this match,  a major missed opportunity for the New England Revolution or another gutsy performance by a weary Houston Dynamo squad to salvage a late draw?  A case could be made for either point, but it's safe to say that the Dynamo left Gillette Stadium the happier of the two sides.

It was kind of a back and forth affair, and it was definitely a chippy match, with Houston dealing most, but not all of the big hits.  Despite the fact that the Revs were looking for their third straight win at home, Houston looked the better side in the opening minutes.  One couldn't really tell that they had just played on Tuesday.

However, the first of the hits came in the 25th minute, and it was a hit that cost the Dynamo dearly.  Brad Davis plowed over Saer Sene in the area and conceded a penalty kick.  How you manage to run over Sene is beyond me after seeing him in person when the Revs played at Rio Tinto a few weeks back.  The guy is HUGE.  Nevertheless, the Frenchman nailed the spot kick to give the Revs a 1-0 lead.

Everyone in MLS knows that the Dynamo are a big threat on seat pieces with Brad Davis providing the balls in.  According to the Revs announcers, New England paid a lot of attention to set piece defense in practice last week.  You really couldn't tell though.  In the 31st minute Davis sent a ball into the box that Will Bruin managed to head home to make the match 1-1.

The second half got even more chippy and the yellow cards started flying.  Both teams tried to attack, but it was the Revolution who got on the board next.  In the 57th minute Sene swiped the ball from Geoff Cameron and streaked up the field, nailing the ball past Tally Hall to make it 2-1 Revs.

It looked like New England would hang on, even as the Dynamo applied a ton of pressure late on.  The pressure paid off for the men in orange in the 87th minute.  Brian Ching and Luiz Carmago put together a nice 1-2 around the Revs area.  The end result was Ching flicking a pass over the Revs defense which Carmago knocked past Reis to equalize the match at 2-2, which was the full time result.  Houston's perseverance paid off, and the Revs were left to rue dropped points at home, miring them in 5th place in the East.

Match Thoughts: Real Salt Lake vs. New England Revolution

Olave says NO. (Getty Images)

Say what you like about Real Salt Lake, but they've certainly liked to make things interesting this year.  Manager Jason Kreis said after last night's match that just once this year he'd like to have a match at home where he could just sit back and relax.  The New England Revolution certainly didn't give him  that chance last night.

It did look like it was possible for awhile.  RSL came out clearly confident after getting some rest without a midweek game this last week.  They passed the ball around really well and slipped some nice balls in behind the Revs defense.  Fabian Espindola took a ball from Javier Morales in the 5th minute and ended up 1v1 with Rev's 'keeper Matt Reis, but Reis made a great play on the ball and totally stoned him to keep the match scoreless.

Despite the best efforts of the Claret and Cobalt, the first goal didn't go their way.  The Revs were looking to poach a goal on the counter and they got their chance in the 22nd minute.  Forward Blake Brettschneider broke away on the counter and managed to put a bullet shot past Nick Rimando to make it 0-1 and silence the crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Luckily for the nerves of the home crowd, it didn't take RSL that long to respond, and they managed to even up the score before halftime.  Captain Kyle Beckerman sent in a cross in the 33rd minute that was deflected, but fell right to Alvaro Saborio.  Sabo brought it down and smacked the ball into the back of the Revs net to make it 1-1 heading to the interval.

Real came out well again in the second half, and managed to take the lead fairly early on.  Morales set up a free kick in the 55th minute, and somehow the Revs lost track of Sabo.  He got free and easily headed the ball into goal to give RSL the 2-1 lead,

Just when the home fans thought they might get to relax a little, the Revs got the break they needed.  In the 59th minute Will Johnson went in on Clyde Simms with his studs up around the midfield area.  He was hit with the red card and RSL would be down to ten men for the rest of the match.

They decided to sit back and defend, and ended up doing it pretty well.  The Revs accepted the challenge and went on the the attack, putting pressure on the RSL penalty box.  However the Claret and Cobalt stood strong, and both Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers were able to deal with the situation, clearing a lot of the Revs attempts to pass into the area.  They did get a couple of really great looks though, but once again Nick Rimando was up to the task, including tipping a shot off of a corner kick over the bar late in the match.

New England's hopes faded late when they received a red card of their own.  In the 81st minute Fernando Cardenas was shown the red for a tackle on Jamison Olave.  This wasn't as clear cut as the Johnson red, and honestly it looked like the referee was just looking to even things up, still it stood, and the sides were 10 apiece for the last nine minutes and stoppage.

The Revs continued the attack, but were never really able to produce a huge threat in the final minutes.  RSL dominated through much of the 5+ minutes of stoppage and they held on to win 2-1.

The win draws RSL back level with San Jose at the top of the west.  Johnson apologized to the team and twitter after the match.  The referee correctly gave the red card, so it will be interesting to see if the league has anything else to say about it later in the week.  The Revs lost for the 4th time in 5 games and now trail Sporting KC by 12 points in the East.

Match Thoughts: New England Revolution vs Colorado Rapids

New England's Saer Sene scores against the Colorado Rapids.  (AP Photo)

Lest we forget, it is really hard to get points on the road in Major League Soccer.  The Colorado Rapids looked to be in pretty decent form heading out on their three game road swing after thumping Chivas USA 4-0 at home last weekend.  The New England Revolution were coming into the match at 2-5, so Colorado had to figure to be in a position to at least pick up a point.

The Revs came out of the blocks strong though, looking to defend their home turf in front of a sparse but noisy midweek crowd at Gillette Stadium.  They established possession early on and set about hemming Colorado in around their own 18 yard box.  Despite plenty of passes and decent crosses though, the Revs couldn't find a final ball, let alone trouble Matt Pickens in the early minutes.

After weathering the initial storm, the Rapids finally began to set up shop offensively in the second ten minutes.  The Revs were showing plenty of holes in their back line, and Colorado was keen to take advantage.  They managed to do just that in the 21st minute when Martin Rivero sent in a ball to Jamie Castrillion, who easily escaped the Revs defense and knocked the ball into the net to give the Rapids the 0-1 lead.  It was their first goal in the first 30 minutes of a match all season.

The Revs looked to respond though and managed to do so in fairly short order.  As it turns out, the Rapids defense proved to be just as porous as New England's.   In the 27th minute, the Revs caused all kinds of trouble for the Rapids on a corner kick, and the ball fell to Saer Sene, who volleyed the ball home from about eight yards to equalize at 1-1.

Things didn't get any better for the Rapids in the rest of the first half, as their offense shut down and the Revs pushed for the lead.  That lead finally came in the 39th minute when Sene played the ball to Fernando Cardenas just inside the penalty area.  Cardenas noticed Pickens off his line in goal and chipped it in.  Pickens back-tracked and got a hand to it, but tipped it down into his own net to make it 2-1 to New England heading into halftime.

The Rapids didn't go down easily in the second half, but all in all the Revs did a great job limiting their offensive chances. The best chance came in the 69th minute when Castrillion forced Matt Reis to perry over the bar after a nice feed from Jeff Larentowicz, but it would be about the last time the Rapids threatened in a choppy second half, and the Revs held on to a 2-1 win at home.

The Revolution made the Rapids pay dearly for their two defensive mistakes in the first half, but it must be mentioned that Colorado was without CB Marvell Wynne, who missed the match due to a hamstring strain.  Manager Oscar Pareja told MLSSoccer.com after the match that the coaches were frustrated with the defense and with yet another slow start.  Also, the finishing on offense was a far cry from what the Rapids pulled off against the Goats, but hopefully the return of Conor Casey will help the remedy that.

A final note: The win marks career win number 100 in MLS for Matt Reis, who for my money, is one of the league's real underrated 'keepers.

MLS Injury and Suspension Round Up

Several Major League Soccer clubs will be facing injury and suspension issues going into play this weekend.  Here's my guide to some of the biggest news.

First up, the New England Revolution.  They'll be missing captain Shalrie Joseph after the league handed down a one game suspension earlier this week.  In the 62nd minute of last Thursday's game at FC Dallas, Joseph made a lunging tackle on Ricardo Villar of the Hoops.  It was a late tackle, and Joseph received a yellow card.  Villar suffered a right mid foot sprain on the play.  The league felt it deserved harsher punishment.  Benny Feilhaber is still listed as doubtful, but has trained this week.

Next we have the Houston Dynamo, who are still dealing with both injury and suspension issues as well.  Colin Clark is still in the midst of his ban from the ball boy incident in Seattle, and Adam Moffat will be missing the game through suspension as well.  Brad Davis will be out with a calf injury, leaving the team very short through the midfield for the match against Chicago. The Dynamo will perhaps be looking to former TFC man Nathan Sturgis to help plug these holes.

There's some slightly better news to report from the Columbus Crew camp.  Last week Julius James suffered a collapsed lung after training and was taken straight to the hospital for emergency surgery.  According to MLSSoccer.com, he's feeling better and recovering, but will be out for at least a month.  The Puddle wishes him a speedy and safe recovery. 

Last but not least, SoccerbyIves is reporting that NY Red Bulls defender Wilman Conde may miss up to a month after injuring his groin in practice.  Conde has already missed three matches for Red Bulls so far, and Ives is keying in on Markus Holgersson to step up.  Click the link above for the whole story.  Plus, if you're interested in MLS and you're NOT following Ives on Twitter at @SoccerbyIves, you should be.

Match Thoughts: FC Dallas vs. New England Revolution

Ugo Ihemelu of FC Dallas scored the winner in stoppage time. (Getty Images)

Well this wasn't the most scintillating soccer game you could ask for, but watching MLS is never a bad way to spend a quiet Thursday evening and viewers were treated to a surprise finish.  Coming into the match, the two squads seemed to be heading in different directions.  Dallas got drilled 4-1 at DC last week and the New England Revolution were coming off of back to back wins for the first time since 2009.  Their last game was a 3-1 thumping of the Galaxy in LA.

One could tell right off the bat that there wasn't going to be 4 or 5 goals score in this one.  You'd like to think it was going to come down to a defensive battle, but the word of the day wasn't defense, it was "sloppy."  Neither team seemed to be willing to take any risks, and the simple possession passing wasn't really precise for either side either.  There wasn't even a quality chance until the 20th minute, when FC Dallas nearly took the lead.  Blas Perez worked himself into space in the New England area and shot toward the far post.  Revs 'keeper Matt Reis made himself just big enough to ruin the angle and force Perez to send it just wide.  Brek Shea would force a save out of Reis on 34 minutes, but that was about all of the offensive action for either side in the first half.

The second half was a little different story as New England came out with a lot more energy, and tried to hem the Hoops in against their own goal.  However, despite some good possession, the best they could really manage was a shot by Saer Sene in the 57th minute that was fairly easily tracked down by Kevin Hartman.  Lee Nguyen sent a rocket toward the goal in the 67th minute, and it caught Dallas defender George John square in the face.  He was down for a couple of minutes, but eventually walked off and looked ok.  He did not return to the match though.  Ricardo Villar also left this one early with an injury for the Hoops after a rough tackle from Shalrie Joseph in the 63rd.  Joseph received a yellow card for the play.

The game went into stoppage time and it looked like both teams were going to settle for a 0-0 draw, but then the Revs messed up.  On what was surely the last attack of the match, A.J. Soares fouled Blas Perez right outside the Revs' 18.  Zach Lloyd sent the ensuing free kick into the six, where it found the head of Dallas's Ugo Ihemelu.  The center back calmly headed the ball past Reis into the back of the net for the game winning goal, handing Dallas 3 points by virtue of the 1-0 victory.

It might be tempting to speculate that the Revs were a little hard done by.  Certainly they were better than Dallas for long stretches in the second half, but their demise was of their own making.  Prior to the last foul on Perez, the Revs could have played the ball into touch, but didn't, allowing the Dallas attack.  The foul by Soares was just foolish, especially since he had a pretty good match up until that point.  Plus, allowing Ihemelu into the six virtually unmarked on a play like that is just asking for trouble.  I'd also say the Revs need to do some work up top.  Sene seemed to be surprised by the physicality of Dallas from time to time, and even the Revs commentators mentioned that his work rate was fairly poor, just wanting the ball played into him where he stood.  For the most part Dallas handled him very easily.

For the Hoops it's a big three points that might help them get on track.  They were riddled with injuries and suspensions coming into this one, and Brek Shea isn't on form yet, but they have to feel better after this.  We'll see how they hold up over the course of the season.

Match Thoughts: Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution

Matt Reis is consoled by Sharlie Joseph (Getty Images)

The New England Revolution had a bad day Saturday in Kansas City. They really got their hats handed to them by a superior Kansas City side. Yes they were down a man for most of the game, but they really didn't look all that into it prior to that. I fear it might be a long season for the Revs supporters.

New England did have a couple of chances very early. Benny Feilhaber hit a shot wide in the 5th minute, and Lee Nguyen followed with another miss a few seconds later, but that was pretty much all she wrote for the Revs offense.

In the 9th minute Matt Reis came way out of goal to make a tackle on his left side. Sporting still had the ball, and Roger Espinoza sent a shot in on goal that looked sure to catch Reis out. Fortunately for the Revs, the shot hit the post and bounced away.

Then it all fell apart in the 14th minute. Stephen McCarthy got into a scrum with C.J. Sapong just outside the Revs area. There was nobody else between Sapong and the goal, and the foul was whistled and McCarthy was shown the red card. The Revs felt hard done buy as there really wasn't any kind of goal scoring opportunity and the play was headed toward the corner, but he was the last man. and the Revs faced the daunting prospect of playing down a man for the rest of the match.

A good team like Sporting is usually going to capitalize off of this, and they did in a big way. In the 28th minute the Revs failed to clear a scrum in front of their goal and Graham Zusi eventually tapped the ball home to give KC the 1-0 lead. Then in the 39th Kei Kamara had a shot saved by Reis, but the ball fell right back to him and with no defenders around to help, Kamara easily banged the ball into the goal to give Sporting the 2-0 lead going into half time.

Sporting came out and iced the game very quickly in the second half. In the 47th minute Seth Sinovic sent a back bass to C.J. Sapong in the box. Sapong easily slammed in the goal to give Sporting the 3-0 lead.

It was a score that held to full time as the Revs were never able to really mount a serious campaign on the Sporting goal. Instead, Benny Feilhaber and company continued to complain to the referee about every little thing as opposed to playing football, and Sporting easily closed them out to collect the three points.

MLS Preseason: Revs, RSL Pick Up Wins, Chivas USA Falls.

Time to start getting excited MLS fans, the preseason action is starting to heat up and the regulars are starting to see some more time on the pitch. Clubs have been playing at various venues and competitions this year, as usual. The New England Revolution, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, and NY Red Bulls have been fighting it out in Arizona. Meanwhile, Chivas USA took on Mexico Primera Division side Tijuana in San Diego.

First to Arizona, where the Revs took on the Galaxy in the first match of the Desert Diamond Cup. Just two minutes into the match, Benny Feilhaber put the Revs in front with an awesome bicycle kick. Edson Buddle later equalized for LA. At full time, the Revs took the win 3-2, behind a Jeremiah White goal in the 74th minute.

The second game of the cup was between RSL and New York Red Bulls. Paulo Jr scored the only goal of the match on 75 minutes to snatch the victory for RSL. Both teams fielded a team heavy on youngsters and trialists.

The news wasn't as great for Chivas USA as they squared off against Mexican side Tijuana in San Diego. The Xolos roughed up Chivas pretty good, beating them 5-2 in a match that featured 34 fouls, 7 yellows, and 1 red card. The conditions were far from ideal for Chivas though, as the crowd was heavily pro-Xolos, and the Mexican side is in midseason form through their Clausura 2012 campaign.

Reports Say Revs To Name New Manager

There hasn't been a ton of soccer news during the international break, but we did get some potential news today out of MLS.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the New England Revolution are set to name their new manager. According to the paper, former Revs defender Jay Heaps as their new boss sometime this week.

Heaps made a record 294 appearances for New England, and won the 1999 MLS Rookie of the Year Award. He also was capped by the USMNT four times. In recent years, Heaps has provided color commentary on the Revs TV broadcasts.

According to the Globe, Heaps will be announced on Tuesday and introduced at a press conference on Wednesday.

Stevie Nicol Out As Manager of New England Revolution

Major League Soccer's New England Revolution announced today that they are parting with long time head coach Stevie Nicol. It is being described as a mutual agreement to part ways.

Despite a very successful career with the Revs, including 4 MLS Cup Final appearances, a US Open Cup, and a Super Liga title, Nicol has seen the team flounder the last couple of years as manager. The Revs had not made the MLS playoffs since 2009. This season they finished dead last in the Eastern Conference and tied the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps with only 28 points for the lowest total. They also won one fewer match.

That's a tough job up there in New England, and Stevie had held it for ten years. That's a record tenure as an MLS manager. His career record in MLS is 112-108-81. The 112 wins puts him fourth on the MLS all time list.

Best of luck to Mr. Nicol in the future. He's a quality manager.

Two more MLS squads learn their playoff fates

Coming into this weekend, LA, RSL, and Seattle had clinched playoff births and Vancouver had been eliminated from playoff contention.

Tonight, LA pretty much clinched up the Supporter's Shield with a 2-1 win at home over RSL. Toronto FC was officially knocked out of the playoffs by virtue of a 1-1 draw against NY. The New England Revolution were also knocked out after their loss to Seattle. San Jose is barely alive after a draw with Sporting KC.

If you're scoring at home--

IN THE PLAYOFFS--
LA Galaxy
Seattle Sounders FC
Real Salt Lake


OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS--
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Toronto FC
New England Revolution

Hurricane Irene Forces MLS Postponements

As Hurricane Irene approaches the East Coast of the United States, Major League Soccer has been forced to postpone several matches originally scheduled for this weekend. They are:


Philadelphia vs. New England. Now rescheduled for Sept 7, 2011 at 8 PM ET


New York vs. Los Angeles. Now rescheduled for October 4, 2011 at 8 PM ET


DC United vs. Portland Timbers. New date and Time TBD.


A statement from MLS:

“With the safety of our fans and clubs top of mind, and thanks to the cooperation of our clubs and broadcast partners, Major League Soccer has rescheduled two games that were originally set for this weekend,” said Nelson Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Competition and Game Operations. “We expect that Hurricane Irene will likely cause hazardous travel and unplayable conditions throughout the Northeast. We appreciate our fans’ understanding of these decisions and the media’s assistance in communicating the message.”


Stay tuned to the MLS website and Puddle on the Pitch for further info on this subject. For the most current information on Hurricane Irene, please visit The National Hurricane Center and your local weather outlets.

Match Thoughts: New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union

If you haven't watched this game yet, don't bother unless you're a hardcore Philly fan.

The Union just game out from the opening the whistle and smacked a hapless New England side all over the pitch. The Union did what they wanted, when they wanted. The closest thing New England could muster to offense was Benny "Flopper" Feilhaber hitting the floor every chance he got to try and earn free kicks. When that didn't work, Benny got mad and started running into people because he can't play nice. He also tried out his Karate Kid impression a couple of times, which earned him a pair of yellow cards and a seat in the locker room for most of the second half. Of course, the little Brat threw a tantrum and huffed and puffed at everybody on the way out. What a joke. Whatever the Revs are paying this Clown, it's way too much. How in the World did he not succeed in Europe? --SARCASM--

Anyhoodles, Ruiz and Valdez scored for The Union in the first half. In the second half, the Revs sucked some more, Benny got sent off, and Williams added a third for the Union. New England looked more like your local AYSO team than an MLS side. A pathetic effort, even in the words of their own announcers. 0-3 to the Union the Full Time Result.

Steve Nichols head should be exploding any day now. I've said it before, this Revs team needs to be blown up and rebuilt. Great match by the Union though.

World Football Challenge: New England Revolution vs. Manchester United

Why am I blogging about this? Why did I watch this crapfest instead of Copa America? I mean hell, Brazil was playing.

Anyway, we ditched Super Liga this year in the name of this World Football Challenge thing, where a very few MLS fans get to shell out a bunch of money to watch mainly B-sides from major European clubs come beat up on MLS. In other words, to make money for the bigger markets.

Tonight's game was a perfect case in point. The Revs hosted ManU and got their asses kicked.

Predictable really.

The first half sucked. Reis made a nice save on Berbatov and Rooney had a nice header. No score though.

All the subs came in for the second half and the Red Devils lit up a star struck sub keeper for Revs. Owen scored, Macheda scored twice, and JS Park rounded out the scoring for United.

The Revs did pull one back off a free kick awarded for another Phantom Foul, leaving Rio Ferdinand justifiably aghast at the idiotic ref. Final score, 1-4, and I should have watched the Copa.