Avoiding the Drop

Colorado Rapids  v.  Toronto F.C. (Saturday)

You know how people sometimes say that dogs (and some other animals I would assume) can smell fear?  Well, I’m pretty sure I can smell panic and in this case, the smell has been drifting east from Ontario for a few weeks now.  Is there any other team in MLS that has shuffled so many players in and out of its line-up this late in the season, ever?  “Sign and release” seems to be the order of the day in Toronto lately and it all came to a head this week when the club’s talismanic forward, Danny Dichio, abruptly retired to become “Toronto FC Team Ambassador…and Academy Coach” who will, “assist coaches on all three Toronto FC teams while beginning to learn about the nuances of MLS.”  Right.

Seattle Sounders F.C.  v.  D.C. United (Saturday)

Not many clubs get a chance to seek revenge for a big loss so quickly, but that’s what D.C. United have this weekend.  Still smarting from their loss to the Sounders in the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, United have a chance to gain a small amount of satisfaction by beating the Sounders in league play.  Should they be able to do so, they will not only strengthen their own playoff chances, but also to put a severe dent in those of Seattle.  The Sounders, having just won their first trophy in their very young MLS existence, will hope to keep the momentum going and- with a little help- jump back into third place in the Western Conference.  On a somewhat related note, Freddy Ljungberg could be going back to the EPL on a short term loan at the end of the season?  Who does he think he is, David Beckham?

Kansas City Wizards  v.  New York Red Bulls (Saturday)

And now for this week’s version of the “I’d rather go to the dentist than have to watch this match,” it’s Kansas City- the third worst team in MLS (okay, tied for third worst) and New York- the worst team in MLS.  Is there any reason to watch this match?  Well, actually there is, and it’s called “morbid curiosity.”  For example, what kind of effort will the Red Bulls give knowing that, if they lose- and maybe even if they draw- they will be out of the playoffs?  Will they play with abandon and look to entertain the spectators, or will the “mail it in” and let the Wizards run rampant over them?  And what of the Wizards?  They’re a little better off, but most likely only two weeks away from elimination themselves.  Well, at least they have there new stadium to look forward to next year…oh, I see.  Well, that is unfortunate.

Chicago Fire S.C.  v.  Real Salt Lake (Saturday)

This is a week where Chicago could actually make a big move with a win.  Columbus, current Eastern Conference leaders, will be lucky to escape from their match against Houston with a draw meaning a Fire win propels them into first place.  The downside?  A loss coupled with a D.C. United win could drop Chicago out of the automatic playoff spots and into third place.  Real Salt Lake still find themselves on the fringes of the playoff picture and this could be a make-or-break match for them.  Win or draw and they at least remain on the fringes.  Lose and RSL might not have enough time left to get back into the picture.  The only way a loss wouldn’t be devastating is if the Chivas U.S.A. – New England match ends in a draw.  Whatever happens, they need to win.  Kind of simple, ain’t it?

F.C. Dallas  v.  Los Angeles Galaxy (Saturday)

This is a must-win match for the Galaxy.  No, they won’t fall out of the playoff picture if they draw, or even lose, but they could fall out of one of the Western Conference’s automatic playoff places, and after all of the work they’ve done to get one of these spots it would be a shame to see that happen.  For F.C. Dallas, well, it’s a must win in the sense that if they want to have any chance to remain in the playoff hunt they need wins and only wins from here on out.  Okay, that’s not the only thing they need from this point- they also need all of the teams ahead of them to lose as many matches as possible between now and the end of the season.  I’m no mathematician, but I’m not sure that this is a scenario that can actually take place given that many of these teams will be playing each other.  Dare to dream- I guess.

Tottenham Hotspur F.C.  v.  Manchester United F.C. (Saturday)

It’s early days in the EPL, but here is a match that could tell us a great deal about both clubs.  First, are Tottenham as good as they seem to be thus far?  I think they might be, and not just because I’d like to see the “big four” become at least the “big five.”  No, I think it’s because of Aaron Lennon.  Anyone who has watched the way he’s been playing in the Premiership or the way he torched Croatia recently in World Cup qualifying- without even scoring a goal- knows what I’m talking about.  Second, we will learn if all of the whining, bullying, and buying in success of the last twenty-three years on the part of Manchester United has finally come to an end.  We can only hope that this is the last we see of this talentless and ill-led group of charlatans and we are able to welcome the true champions of Highbury and Anfield to their thrones.

Ross County F.C.  v.  Queen of the South (Saturday)
The Staggies are on a roll.  They’re in third place, they’re in the middle of two successful cup runs, and they thrashed Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the first Highland Derby of the season.  Not only that, but new signings Paul Di Giacomo and Michael McGovern seem to be the “real deal.”  Queen of the South- the Doonhammers if you prefer- are tied for first place in the SFL’s First Division, one point ahead of Ross County.  So, with a win, County could not only pass Queen of the South for second place, they could move into first place if Raith Rovers lose or tie in their match against Partick Thistle.  I’m going to go out on a limb and predict a draw in the Raith-Partick match and a win for County.  I am not, however, impartial in these matters.  Up the County!

Birmingham City F.C.  v.  Aston Villa F.C. (Sunday)

This weekend brings the first Second City Derby of the season.  That’s right, the second biggest city in England is Birmingham, not Manchester, or even Liverpool.  At present, both teams from the City of a Thousand Trades are in the middle of the Premiership pack, though most expect that when all is said and done, the Villians will be challenging for a place in Europe and the Blues will be hoping to avoid relegation.  Birmingham did help themselves in midweek by adding Finnish midfielder Teemu Tainio on a season-long loan, so that will be a bit of help for them.  Aston Villa, unfortunately, got a little weaker recently as defender Curtis Davies underwent shoulder surgery that will keep him on the sidelines until at least the new year.  I see an upset in the making…

C.F. Os Belenenses  v.  S.L. Benfica (Sunday)

This weekend gives us our first look at Freddy Adu on his new team- what?  Oh, right, Beleneses got him on loan from Benfica, so he won’t be playing in this match.  That’s okay, though, it will give young Mr. Adu a chance to practice for his new role at his new club- sitting on the bench.  I wish Freddy the best, I really do, but I just don’t see how this loan spell is going to be any different than the one at Monaco- some garbage time during league matches and a few meaningless run-outs during cup matches.  Not exactly the recipe for getting his career back on track.  I’m not sure coming back to MLS is the answer either, but riding the pine for one “top” European league after another is little more that footballing purgatory and it isn’t going to lead him back to the USMNT any time soon.

New England Revolution  v.  Chivas U.S.A. (Sunday)

Alright, we’re going to call last weeks loss to the Wizards an unfortunate turn of events.  Who could have known that New England’s best player was going to get ejected early in the match?  So, back to work this week with two games still in hand over most of the teams they’re competing with for a playoff spot.  Can they bounce back?  I for one hope they can- I’d rather not face a longer than normal offseason.  It’s hard to gauge Chivas.  They were, for the first two months of the season, the best team in the league.  This was followed by a horrible patch that saw them drop out of playoff contention until recently when they’ve done just enough to keep themselves on the fringes of the playoffs.  The question is, do they have enough left to make a final push?

Houston Dynamo  v.  Columbus Crew (Sunday)

This would be the opposite of the Kansas City v. New York match.  Here we have the two best teams in the league facing off in what should be a cracker of a game.  Normally, I would want to see the Crew win (despite the awful club crest and colors!), but Ricardo Clark of Houston (for whom I have rarely had much positive to say) saved the USMNT’s proverbial bacon this week with his stunning goal against Trinidad and Tobago.  So, a win for the Dynamo will serve as my gift to him.  Until recently, there hasn’t been much to motivate the Crew- they’ve been safely ensconced in first place for weeks.  However, Chicago has closed to within a point of the Eastern Conference leaders and I don’t think the Crew will feel good about that just because they’ve played one less match than the Fire.  Still, go Houston!