Soccer By Ives

Kljestan has sights set on a title in what could be his final MLS season

                                                                     Photo by ISIphotos.com

While there are other MLS first round series that get more attention, the Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake battle has enough storylines to make it just as appealing as the rest. You have the expansion class of 2004 meeting for the first time in the playoffs, Real Salt Lake making its playoff debut and Alecko Eskandarian facing his former club and entering the playoffs healthy for the first time since winning MLS Cup MVP honors in 2004.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked yet significant storylines involves Chivas USA standout Sacha Kljestan, who just might be set to play his last MLS matches before a transfer to Europe this winter.

A target of several clubs last summer, including Steve McClaren-led FC Twente, Kljestan admits that he has thought about this being his last hurrah in MLS.

"It’s very present in my mind," Kljestan said of the possibility that this could be his last playoffs in MLS. "I think this is the year we’re really going to go for it, and for me it's special because a championship is something I've never won on any level."

Red Bulls Report: Wolyniec could get call, Pietravallo still an option and Stammler's sacrifice

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While you can't always assume you will see the exact starting lineup Juan Carlos Osorio will use by watching training, you can oftentimes get a glimpse into the possibilities he is considering. Based on this week's training sessions, it appears that there is a strong likelihood that he will give a chance to reserve striker John Wolyniec.

The veteran forward hasn't scored a goal this year in 19 appearances, and hasn't made a start since the Red Bulls' 1-1 tie vs. Chivas USA on June 28, but his physical presence, tireless work ethic and good understanding with Juan Pablo Angel could earn him a start agains the Dynamo.

"We have given opportunities to several players and I believe now is the time to turn to some new options," Osorio said. "John is in contention because he brings some different elements to the game.

"He is strong, he works hard and he and Juan (Pablo Angel) have a good understanding."

My take on the MLS Awards

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With Major League Soccer announcing finalists for 2008 league awards on Thursday, I had the chance to take a closer look at the contests for the honors.

Here is my take on the top awards for ESPN.com. There were certainly plenty of snubs, and some questionable finalists. The question for you is this. Which were the most glaring of each?

poll by twiigs.com

poll by twiigs.com

Share your thoughts on the finalists, and the snubs, for the 2008 MLS awards in the comments section below.

This weekend's soccer on TV

It may be tough to imagine it, but Tottenham is playing in a can't-miss match this week.

That's what happens when you finally fire your winless manager and your new manager leads you to a win and an unforgettable comebackdraw. Now, all of a sudden, Tottenham has the look of a team worth watching.

And what better way to test that improving Spurs squad than to take on unbeaten league leaders Liverpool? That match, along with the three MLS playoff games, headline this weekend's soccer on TV action.

Here are the Top Five matches to watch as well as the weekend's schedule of matches on TV:

SBI MLS Playoff Predictions

The 2008 MLS Playoffs kicked off last night with Chicago's 0-0 tie vs. New England, and while the playoffs are already under way, you can't have playoffs without playoff predictions.

SBI senior writer Dylan Butler and I will give you our picks for the first round, and predictions for the entire playoffs, including our picks for the MLS Cup final.

Now, without further ado, here are the SBI MLS Playoff Predictions:

FIRST ROUND

CHICAGO vs. NEW ENGLAND

(IVES)- Chicago got the tie it needed in game one and should overwhelm the Revs defense at Toyota Park on the way to a series win.

(DYLAN)- This series would have been a lot closer, but no Taylor Twellman, no Khano Smith and especially no Steve Ralston, no shot for the Revs.

Is Los Angeles headed for a battle with Donovan?

Whether you want to call it simply a case of a team saying what its fans wanting to hear, or an actual case of battle lines being drawn, Landon Donovan's very public desire to make a move to Europe could be leading Donovan and the Galaxy toward a showdown.

Donovan has stated repeatedly and very clearly in recent days and weeks that he wants to go to Europe. He feels it is time to make the move and is eager to leave this winter. Galaxy president Tim Lieweke and head coach/general manager Bruce Arena have both stated that Donovan isn't going anywhere.

"I believe that landon Donovan is going to be playing with the LA galaxy in March," Arena said on Thursday. "The words that Tim Lieweke said on Monday are accurate.

"We’re again adamant about the fact that we’ve got to get this club headed in the right direction," Arena said. "One of the easiest ways to get that accomplished is to have two great players like beckham and donogcan on the field.

"We certainly desire, want and demand that they’re going to be playing with us in march."

The SBI Friday rundown

Good morning all. Apologies for the late start to the morning but I was busy buying my Abel Xavier Halloween Costume (it's tougher finding a platinum blonde curly afro wig than you would think).

I am at Red Bulls training this morning and will be offering some updates on the team. As you learned last night, Seth Stammler is out for the year after having meniscus surgery. He will be out two to four months with the injury.

Here is a rundown of some of the topics we will touch on today on SBI:

Bruce Arena gave his take on the Landon Donovan situation and stated clearly that the Galaxy plans for Donovan to stay with the team in MLS. That story is getting very interesting.

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We spoke to Sacha Kljestan about Chivas USA's upcoming series with Real Salt Lake.

Stammler out for season after knee surgery

BREAKING NEWS

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Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler's season is over.

The versatile midfielder underwent knee surgery on Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. The surgery will force Stammler to miss the rest of the season, sources told SBI on Thursday.

While it remains unclear just when Stammler incurred the torn meniscus, sources have told SBI that Stammler played several games with the injury. The injury proved too much in the regular season finale against the Chicago Fire, which he was forced to leave at halftime.

Stammler's injury will make Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio's decisions that much tougher as he prepares for the Red Bulls playoff opener against Houston on Saturday.

Chicago Fire at New England Revolution: Match Night Commentary

The 2008 MLS playoffs are about to kick off tonight with the most familiar of playoff match-ups as the New England Revolution play host to the Chicago Fire at RFK Gillette Stadium (8pm, ESPN2). (Sorry DC fans, guess it feels weird having playoffs without RFK).

The Revs have beaten the Fire in the past three playoffs, but the task will be extremely difficult this time around without Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston, who are both out due to injuries. Throw in red card suspensions to Khano Smith and Gabriel Badilla and the Revs will face Chicago without four key starters.

I will be providing commentary throughout the night. Whether you will be watching the match, or want to follow the match here, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match (commentary after the jump):

MLS announces finalists for 2008 awards

Major League Soccer announced the finalists for its 2008 awards on Thursday. Columbus Crew star Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Chicago goalkeeper Jon Busch and San Jose midfielder Darren Huckerby were among the players up for regular season honors.

As expected, Schelotto and Donovan were among the finalists for leage MVP honors, with Cuauhtemoc Blanco being the third nominee. Blanco is the lone repeat finalist for the award.

Here is the complete list of award nominees:

Galaxy loans Beckham to AC Milan

David Beckham is heading to Italy.

Major League Soccer confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the Los Angeles Galaxy have reached an agreement with Italian power AC Milan on a short-term loan deal for Beckham.

According to the MLS statement on the loan, the loan is set to begin on January 1. Beckham will return to the Galaxy in time for "training and the start of the 2009 MLS season."

Now that the inevitable has happened, what do you think of the move? Like the idea of Beckham playing for AC Milan before the 2009 MLS season? Think it's a risky move on the part of MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy? Do you think the Galaxy had any say in the loan?

Share your thoughts on Beckham's loan move in the comments section below.

Red Bulls Update: Stammler struggling with knee injury, Jimenez improving

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The New York Red Bulls may be forced to face the defending champion Houston Dynamo without midfielder Seth Stammler, who has been sidelined this week with a right knee injury that could force him to miss the MLS playoff opener at Giants Stadium on Saturday.

"Seth, unfortunately, is day to day," Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "We allow him to do more individualized training sessions and then in the day or two before the game he participates (with the team).

"Up to this point, he is struggling."

Richards ready to run wild on Houston (again)

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It has been two months since the New York Red Bulls trounced the Houston Dynamo, 3-0, at Giants Stadium, but the memories are still fresh in the mind of Dane Richards.

The Jamaican winger enjoyed arguably his best game of the season that day, torching Dynamo left back Wade Barrett repeatedly, recording an assist while also blowing past  Barrett for a 26th minute goal en route to the stunning 3-0 victory at Giants Stadium on Aug. 24.

While Richards has burned defenses before, he thinks that Houston's struggles with playing on artificial turf played a part. The theory makes sense considering the Dynamo is a horrid 0-6-6 in MLS games on artificial turf in the club's three years of existence.

“That’s the good thing, they don’t like the turf,” Richards said. “Personally I’m going to try and run that left back to the ground because he don’t like the turf.

"Brian Ching, one of their top strikers, he definitely don’t like the turf," Richards added. "We were really physical with (Dwayne) De Rosario last time and he doesn’t like it, he came out early in the second half.

"They don’t like the turf and we’re going to use it for us.”

Chicago Fire at New England: Match Day

The 2008 MLS playoffs kick off tonight with the Chicago Fire traveling to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Revolution tonight (7:30pm, ESPN2).

The task is a difficult one for the Revs, who must try to beat Chicago without Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston, the team's two best attacking players. Couple that with the red card suspensions to Khano Smith (who was hit with a three-match ban for his slide-by on Herculez Gomez) and Gabriel Badilla and New England will be missing four starters against a Chicago team that won all three meetings between the teams this year.

Does New England really have a chance, or will Chicago run all over the Revs and move a step toward breaking their three-year playoff losing skid vs. the Rev?

What do you think of the Chicago-Revs series? Share your thoughts on the series, and tonight's opening game, in the comments section below.

Who should the Red Bulls start vs. Houston?

                                                                               Photo by ISIphotos.com

The New York Red Bulls are two days away from game one of their Western Conference playoff series vs. Houston and head coach Juan Carlos Osorio has some tough decisions to make.

With a handful of players playing terribly in the regular season finale vs. Chicago, Osorio must decide which players he can still trust to deliver in a big game.

Some decisions are easy, like handcuffing defender Gabriel Cichero to the bench, but what about some others? Do you take a chance on Juan Pietravallo considering he seemingly can't go a game without assaulting somebody. Do you give Jorge Rojas a try considering how invisible he was in some recent games?

With these things in mind, here is a lineup you could see take the field on Saturday vs. Houston:

You Write the Caption: The Freddie Ljungberg edition

Welcome to the latest installment of You Write the Captions. This week's contest features a photo of Major League Soccer's newest millionaire, Seattle Sounders FC signing Freddie Ljungberg, who already has fans in Seattle buzzing about the impact he could make on and off the field.

The photo in question isn't necessarily a funny one, but it does leave plenty of room for creativity on the caption front. It's up to you to deliver the humor.

Before we get to the photo, congratulations are in order to Dave (whichever Dave he may be) for the winning entry in the Ronaldo Rehab edition of YWTC. His submission was voted the top choice, edging out my favorite, from Pablo Chicago, 33 percent to 25 percent.

Now, on to the Ljungberg photo: