Midweek Previews

As I see it, last Friday’s “half-assed” predictions were the best I’ve produced in terms of format and content. As such, bits of that will be retained for future editions...like today’s.

For first-timers, MLS’s in-house (and wearyingly thorough) game previews are embedded in the match-up headers; home teams are always listed first. After some I have some fun, I’ll pass on the concrete stuff I think matters.

Columbus Crew v. Real Salt Lake
(TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 4:30 p.m. PST)
The Battle for Superlative Dominance
It’s no secret Columbus stinks, though just how bad may not be common knowledge. Their current 12-game winless streak equals the second-worst run in league history. With this team approach goal with the timid reverence the apes showed the obelisk in 2001: A Space Odyssey, the assumption that the Crew will seize sole ownership of the second-worst all-time run seems a safe one. RSL - who, by the way, set the record for futility with 18 winless games - is actually on a bit of an up. They’ve now won two(!) in a row and, unlike the Crew, they’re scoring goals.
- If the Crew’s injuries didn’t equal RSL’s the latter would have a problem. That many of RSL’s injury woes and worries (those listed as “probable”) includes many of the familiar names in defense at least holds out hope for a Columbus goal.
- Really, this one is about Joe-mentum. RSL has it, while Columbus has its opposite.
- RSL’s road form isn’t the worst: 3-7-0 (W-L-T; 9 points); shockingly, it’s actually better than Columbus’ home form (1-4-5, 8 points). Ouch.
REAL SALT LAKE WINS.

Red Bull New York v. DC United
Who’s Schoolin’ Who?
As noted in several spaces, tonight marks Bruce Arena’s official coaching debut; the whuppin’ he guided Red Bull through against Barcelona didn’t really count. Out of curiosity, did anyone ask DC head coach Peter Nowak what he thinks about Bruce debut? The answer, I’m assuming, would be some variation, of “So what?” As hard as it is to sneak out from under that story line, Red Bull’s recent, decent run serves as the more important sub-text for this game; can they keep it up? Even against the league’s indisputably best team? They've got home field, if nothing else.
- Too little has been said (to me anyway) about DC’s good fortune with injuries. I don’t even know who Devon MacTavish is. Could this be the secret to their success?
- Not to be crass, but is Brandon Prideaux still alive? I don’t see him on the injured list and he’s not in either of the past two line-ups.
- This is a good rivalry, formally (or is it informally?) dubbed the Atlantic Cup. DC leads the all-time series with 23 wins to Red Bull/Metros 15 (there are 4 draws besides). Given DC’s history, one would think it’d be more lopsided. It seems New York plays DC tough.
Still, DC UNITED WINS. I’m thinking The Bruce will have to wait for his first - and Dema Kovalenko for his revenge.

Chicago Fire v. Kansas City Wizards
Shrug
Like most mid-table clashes, not a lot of enthusiasm in this one; it's playing for the playoffs, really, and no one of which I'm aware thinks either of these teams will go far. It doesn’t help that these teams have played one another something like eight times in a row (NOTE: This is only perceptual). Chicago had the better of the last meeting, an Open Cup win featuring each side’s B-team. The question of who wins comes down to whether KC remembers how they scored those four goals against Columbus, or whether Chicago rediscovers the comforts of home.
- From a personnel point of view, Chicago finally seems close to whole. It now seems a matter of making the parts serve the whole.
- Who does Chicago coach Dave Sarachan pair with Nate Jaqua? Chris Rolfe (stats) or Andy Herron (stats)? Never having been all that high on Rolfe, my answer would be Herron.
- History plays a role here: Kansas City has a hell of a time with Chicago away. Based on that detail, I went against KC over the Fire for the Open Cup draw, which counted as my umpteenth wrong pick of this 2006.
CHICAGO WINS.