MLS Match Night: Week Six (Your Running Commentary

Tonight is the night the Eastern Conference standings start to come into focus.

With four teams tied on 10 points, just two points behind East leaders Columbus, the Eastern Conference will be cleared up a bit when the Chicago Fire travels to New England and the Kansas City Wizards travel to Columbus to face the first-place Crew.

The West should gain some focus as well, with three intra-conference tilts on the schedule. Chivas USA travels to Texas to face Houston in the 'We're supposed to be better than this' Derby, the offensively strong and defensively challenged LA Galaxy to meet a struggling Real Salt Lake side while first-place FC Dallas looks to rebound from its first loss by facing expansion strugglers San Jose.

If you will be watching tonight's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play by play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

[Reid]

Brothers from the Canada (or US) - Do you guys know if any website has direct feed for the Canadians game that is on now, not sure if those soccer sites people talk of do hockey or not. Thanks guys

[Modibo]

Thorrington on the right for the Fire, Rolfe up top. This is what we've been waiting for.

[Scott A]

Just a friendly pointing out: should be Columbus not Colorado as the East leaders

[Modibo]

Except rolfe was supposed to replace Barrett... Frankowski didn't come to NE?!?

[RS]

Reid,

Go to http://channelsurfing.net/ and scroll down to the game you are looking for. Usually only works with Internet Explorer and you also have to have Sopcast downloaded for it to work. Although I see it in the list, I didn't check the link to see if it works. They work about 75% of the time. Good luck.

[mikeK]

Besides the goal, Fire have shown nothing in the attacking 3rd.

[Modibo]

Yeah, not a very impressive first half for either the Fire or Revs. I kinda wish I could watch columbus...

[Jacob]

Columbus game is on FSC (you can watch it on TVU Player).

It's been decent so far, but with the Wizards down to 10 men at the half, there might be another goal or two left in it...

[Modibo]

Awfully quiet in Foxboro now...

THORRINGTON!!

[Modibo]

OK so I'm happy watching the Fire match now... Revs will be pressing more, as they should at home.

[aristotle]

Columbus are missing too many chances. If they don't score a third goal I have a feeling they won't be able to win this game even with a man advantage.

Robbie Rogers is all speed at this point in his career. He is VERY weak on his scoring chances. He's either going to have to get a lot better or Columbus will need to replace him if they want to continue their run of excellent play.

[Jacob]

Columbus are up a man, winning 2-0, and yet their strategy seems to be to bunker down with seemingly only Moreno up front...WTF?

[Jacob]

Crew are asking to get scored on...worst...strategy...ever

[aristotle]

Yes, it is pretty stupid to have a man advantage and be playing at home with a 2-0 lead, and decide to let the other team do all of the attacking. I'm not saying I know that it's Sigi's fault, but this sure smacks of Sigi's strategy. He never learns. No sooner do you think he's doing the right thing by playing attacking soccer then he retreats into his usual defensive style. Yuck! Columbus is lucky this game hasn't been tied already. K.C. are missing some really good chances.

[Jacob]

Yeah, this is pretty unreal. KC have had 5 or 6 good chances already--they've probably had about 70% of the possession this half. Ridiculous. Columbus should just play their game which would actually force KC to keep some guys back instead of just sitting back and letting KC keep coming at them. I actually hope KC tie the game up and teach Sigi a lesson.

[kjk_40b]

Solid finish by Rolfe earlier, nice to have him back. Hopefully, we see him playing for the Nats this summer.

[Jacob]

I think I'm switching over to the LA game...they've been pretty entertaining the past two weeks.

[Matt M]

Anyone else having problems with MLSnet.com?

I can't get a picture and audio is cutting out. I can't get any of the three current games on mlsnet.

Thanks.

[Jacob]

For some reason the LA game is being broadcast from outer space (I'm referring to the location of the camera showing the game).

[aristotle]

Rogers blows!

[Jacob]

LOL - penalty given to KC.

[aristotle]

I wanted to root for Columbus but this is a disgrace. I really wish they had fired Scmid when he was in trouble last year. He's clueless. He epitomizes bad coaching.

[Jacob]

Columbus 2-1 KC in 81' (Claudio Lopez buried the penalty)

[Jacob]

Galaxy already down 1-0...I didn't see the goal because I'm watching from outer space.

[aristotle]

Even if Columbus manages to hang on and win this game, they should be embarrassed. I don't think their fans will be too impressed even though their record will be very impressive.

[Jacob]

Aristotle --

Agreed.

[aristotle]

They should give Nico Hernandez a chance in place of Rogers.

[Jacob]

One more note about the Galaxy game in Utah - not only is it being broadcast from outerspace, but there are two sets out touchlines, with the soccer one being hidden from view by the stadium seating. Brilliant.

Oh, and Gordon just came on for Buddle...cue the Benny Hill music.

[aristotle]

These announcers are mind bogglingly stupid. Columbus are not just defending their lead because they have an attack for the first time in half an hour!

[Jacob]

FSC just commended Sigi for playing "positive" by pushing forward instead of just sitting back and trying to defend. Ummmm....except he didn't do it until KC scored in the 80th minute; prior to that, well, see above.

[aristotle]

Well, that was clearly a penalty. Now the referee has saved Columbus from embarrassment.

[aristotle]

I want a job with FOX.

[Casey C.]

LA down 2 17 minutes in. What a weird team.

[Modibo]

Sweet. 7 - 0 against the Revs on the season so far. Very nice for the Fire. Welcome to Chicago Stephen King.

[Jacob]

The ridiculously-far-from-the-field camera perspective shows how disorganized LA's team is. Wow, pub team indeed.

[aristotle]

Weird game when you look at the statistics. New England had 7 corner kicks and Chicago had 0. New England had 11 shots to Chicago's 5. New England's goalkeeper only had to make one save during the match. Chicago wins 3-0!

[aristotle]

Pub teams don't play well on artificial surface!

Amazing how different the camera work can be from one game to the next. Every once in a while you actually see some good camera work and you get hope that maybe they are getting better. Then they go right back to being inept. I think the field caretakers double as camera men to save money. The camera work makes a big difference.

[aristotle]

I wonder what Landon's frustrated about.

[aristotle]

MLS needs to put a stop to this artificial surface crap. Between that and the football lines it's horrible to watch games in Salt Lake.
Alright Becks!

[Jacob]

Beckham with a HELL OF A GOAL.

[aristotle]

What the he*l did Donovan just do?

[Jacob]

That was weird by Donovan for sure.

It annoys me to no end that Gordon will get an assist on Beckham's goal even though he really had nothing to do with it.

[Jacob]

Speaking of turf, is the new RSL stadium (which should be open Sep./Oct.) going to be turf or grass?

[aristotle]

Beckham 2 RSL 2.

I don't think Kreis is going to make it as a coach. He's too much like Sigi Scmid. He's much more concerned with hard work and defense than talent.

[DCM]

Grass with heat below it.

[Jacob]

I officially love watching Galaxy games this season. Their combination of their terrible defense and the Donovan/Beckham attack make Galaxy games the most entertaining.

How is Rimando still in this league? He's worse than Condoul...

[aristotle]

That didn't look offside. Maybe by the old rule.

[Jacob]

Bad call. The player was definitely onside when the shot was taken...too bad too cause I have Beckerman on my fantasy team this week and an assist would have been nice.

[Modibo]

aristotle - the whole season Chicago has gotten fewer corners than the opposition. None of the professionals (journalists) has commented on it. But it's tpyical this season for the Fire.

[Jacob]

I just looked at the MLS matchtracker...apparently Gordon AND Donovan get the assist on Beckham's first goal. Stupid, stpuid, stupid. But, Donovan's also on my team, so I'll take it.

[Louis]

Jacob are you crazy? Condoul is a beast, its his defense that lets him down. And Beckham is getting it done, too bad Landon has gone insane

[aristotle]

I hope Donovan shows up for the second half. He's up to his old tricks.

[Modibo]

Jacob that's why I think the Galaxy should be higher in the "power rankings." This is a fun team to watch. Will they win, will they lose? I don't care. They make golazos! And let them in!

Is that sexy football? Not sure if that's what Gullit means exactly.

[Jacob]

Condoul -- terrible technique, positioning, decision making; great reflexes though. Better lucky than good though, I suppose.

[Brant]

Just got back from the Columbus game, and I think one reason Sigi was trying to lay back was to keep his guys from getting hurt. The KC defense was just mauling people all night long, and the refs were oblivious. That wasn't quite Ricardo Salazar bad, but close.

[Jacob]

Attendance tonight: Revs - 10K; Columbus 10K.

Now, the Revs have been pretty unwatchable so far but Columbus actually have a pretty solid team. Have their years of mediocrity scared off the fans?

[Cameron]

RSL's new stadium is natural grass, I was reading about it on MLSnet this morning.

[Cameron]

I think attendance may have something to do with weather. It's cold as hell here in Chicago tonight and I can't assume that Columbus is much different.

[aristotle]

Modibo:

I think that's pub football isn't it? You play for fun and then go have a beer. I'm not sure that's what the Galaxy organization was looking for though.

[Casey C.]

Has MLS always done hockey assists? (two assists)

[hoyanick]

Um, I'm pretty sure Donovan has been pretty unstoppable this year. What are you guys talking about?

[Modibo]

aristotle - never seen a definition of "pub football." Is that what Chelsea plays? j/k

[aristotle]

I knew someone was going to say that about Donovan! Of course he's having a great year. We're just talking about some of his weaknesses that have always stopped him from being consistently good. Like disappearing from games and missing chances that the elderly could score. Please don't crack up. I'm not bashing Donovan.

[aristotle]

Modibo:

Actually, doesn't Abramovich want them to play more like a "pub" team? (More entertaining?)

[Casey C.]

SJ is dominating play so far.

[aristotle]

I don't like the way Beckham is shaking his head.

[Jacob]

One Alan Gordon! There's only one Alan Gordon! Onnnnnne Alan Gooooordon. There's only one Alan Gordon.

[Modibo]

aristotle - I was kidding. ESPN podcast had some fun this past week with the question of "club styles" - a way of playing for a club that continues even if they change managers, players, etc... They were saying that Chelsea was a more exciting side in the 70s, though obviously not as successful. I have NO idea if that's true or not. But I'm not a Chelsea fan any more than I am a Galaxy fan. For this season, though, if I can see a Galaxy game I'll watch. And the old lady doesn't mind the goals, or the, er, Becks..

[aristotle]

I wish Beckham would shy away from a lot of tackles the way Donovan does. I hate to say that but it's just not worth it.

[Jacob]

How's the San Jose stadium looking?

[Casey C.]

The stadium is pretty decent looking, quite full, but obviously small. The pitch looks pretty good.

[aristotle]

I think it's safe to say Morales is no Beckham.

[aristotle]

Doesn't that stadium hold at least 20,000?

[Modibo]

"that's why Gordon's in there" - to head wide?!?

[Jacob]

I thought it was 10K at San Jose.

[aristotle]

That's why Gordon is in there! These announcers are neanderthals. He's in there to miss open goals?

[Jacob]

Modibo - LOL....for those of you who didn't see it, Gordon, alone, on a rebound, straight in front of the goal, manages to head it WELLLLL wide.

[aristotle]

Why is it so obvious to us how stupid that comment was, but not to the announcers?

Jacob are you thinking of K.C.'s stadium?

[Casey C.]

BTW, Starting XIIs

FCD-
Cooper, Alvarez, Toja, Ricchetti, Wallace, Saragosa, Rocha, Davino, Moor, Wagner, Sala

SJ-
Kamara, Glinton, Grabavoy, O'Brien, Corrales, Guerrero, Riley, Hernandez, Denton, Garcia, Cannon

[Casey C.]

XII = XI

[Casey C.]

The SJ stadium (which isn't their future stadium) holds 10K or so. Smallll.

[Jacob]

I just Wiki-ed the San Jose stadium. 11,500 capacity.

I am now Youtube-ing the Benny Hill music so as to play it durnig any future replays of Alan Gordon/Galaxy defending.

[DCM]

Buck Shaw Stadium holds 11,500 and is like KC in that it was originally a baseball stadium that was also used as a football field and now is being used as a soccer stadium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Shaw_Stadium

[Louis]

apparently neither LA or RSL believes in playing defense in the midfield, its just attack after attack, at least it makes for a fun game to watch

[Modibo]

If I were RSL I would be wary of Donovan at this point.

OMG these announcers for the RSL-LA game are poor.

[aristotle]

Where's Peguero?

[Casey C.]

More chances for SJ.

[Jacob]

Yeah, one of the announcers is that Rogandino clown from FSC.

[Casey C.]

BTW, usually every Galaxy game is on somewhere, sad to miss out on this one.

[aristotle]

How did San Jose get 20,000 in a stadium that holds 11,500? I assumed they expanded it in some way, but doesn't that still make the capacity 20,000?

[Jacob]

Casey - SopCast channel 31936

[Louis]

Dononvan seems to be performing his amazing disappearance act today

[Modibo]

Morales gets another chance to match up to Becks.

[Jacob]

aristotle -

If you're talking about past attendance (this season), it's because they played in Oakland for some reason where the capacity is much greater.

[Modibo]

OK, Williams got his chance. Sorry, mate.

[Casey C.]

Right on, thanks Jacob.

[Louis]

I'm pretty sure rimando accidentally saved that header, lol

[DCM]

Both of SJ home games against LAG are being played at McAfee Coliseum (home of the A's and Raiders) which has a capacity of 34,077 for soccer.

[Jacob]

Donovan should have scored, instead he headed it right at Rimando. Tough header to be fair, but Donovan has enough ability where he should score that. Had that been Gordon, well, it would have been the shot of his career.

[Casey C.]

My updates gotta stop for awhile.

FCD v SJ Gamecast at - http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/gamecast?id=237790&league=USA.1&cc=5901