MLS 2006 Week 4 Predictions
Week four sees the first weekend without every team playing as Chicago, Colorado, Chivas and New England get some time off (because three weeks in is when you need some down time). Like last week, this will be another 2 on 2 weekend as ESPN2 will air both the NY-DC and FCD-KC games (these look to be the two best games of the weekend. Here are the predictions.
Red Bull New York vs. DC United
Saturday - 4pm ET
TV: ESPN2
These are two very different teams. The Red Bulls are currently in chaos mode as huge changes to the organization are worked out while DC is busy hitting their stride. Needless to say, it will be hard for DC to lose this game. For any Mo Johnson fans out there, you better hope for a win as a defeat might just end his deathwatch before it really gets going (even if Red Bull says Mo is safe for now). As far as the game, look for the United offense to keep rolling. Jaime Moreno didn't get a goal last week, but was still hot; Adu was tearing it up, Christian Gomez made his plays and Bobby Boswell acting strong in defense. The Red Bulls surrendered a lead in the final minutes of a game to Real Salt Lake. Even if it doesn't rain, the Meadowlands are going to be one sad place on Saturday.
Mike: NY 0-2 DC
Wife: NY 1-2 DC
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Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake
Saturday - 8:30pm ET
TV: Direct Kick (DK)
Houston needs to get their momentum back after back-to-back loses. Thankfully they have Dwayne De Rosario back, so there will be life in their midfield; Brian Ching is still hoping to score his way onto the World Cup squad, so he will make himself a threat; and Pat Onstad should be able to handle most shots coming his way. For Real, they need to build on their work of last week. No, they didn't look great or even good, but they also did not look horrible, which is a big step up for the club. Still, even with Chris Klein and Jason Kreis playing at last week's level, they should not be much of a challenge for Houston.
Mike: Houston 3-1 RSL
Wife: Houston 1-0 RSL
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LA Galaxy vs. Columbus Crew
Saturday - 10:30pm ET
TV: DK, HDNet
So which LA will show up for a game against a team that three weeks in is already looking like an also ran? Will the fire that lit up in the final 15 minutes of the Chivas game take the pitch or will the "unable to finish" squad that played so poorly against NE and Chicago make the appearance. The answer is mainly up to Landon Donovan. We all saw what he could do last week and the Crew is more like Chivas '05 then '06. However, even if Landon is having an off night, Columbus is so lacking in attack that it will be difficult for LA not to walk out with three points.
Mike: LA 2-1 Crew
Wife: LA 2-0 Crew
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FC Dallas vs. KC Wizards
Sunday - 5pm ET
TV: ESPN2
Ever since Eddie Johnson was traded away, everyone has been waiting for this match. The fact that both teams are currently the best in their respective conference, just makes it a little sweater. And to add to the this goodness, there is a chance Carlos Ruiz will be back in the lineup for FCD. Even without Ruiz, this will be a fine match, but the holes in FCD's midfield are a bit to big to be ignored by KC. I'm going to guess Johnson will score and he will make a show of the goal. Dallas might decided to change to a three forward attack, which would force KC to beat them with defense.
Mike: FCD 1-2 KC
Wife: FCD 3-1 KC
Red Bull New York vs. DC United
Saturday - 4pm ET
TV: ESPN2
These are two very different teams. The Red Bulls are currently in chaos mode as huge changes to the organization are worked out while DC is busy hitting their stride. Needless to say, it will be hard for DC to lose this game. For any Mo Johnson fans out there, you better hope for a win as a defeat might just end his deathwatch before it really gets going (even if Red Bull says Mo is safe for now). As far as the game, look for the United offense to keep rolling. Jaime Moreno didn't get a goal last week, but was still hot; Adu was tearing it up, Christian Gomez made his plays and Bobby Boswell acting strong in defense. The Red Bulls surrendered a lead in the final minutes of a game to Real Salt Lake. Even if it doesn't rain, the Meadowlands are going to be one sad place on Saturday.
Mike: NY 0-2 DC
Wife: NY 1-2 DC
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Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake
Saturday - 8:30pm ET
TV: Direct Kick (DK)
Houston needs to get their momentum back after back-to-back loses. Thankfully they have Dwayne De Rosario back, so there will be life in their midfield; Brian Ching is still hoping to score his way onto the World Cup squad, so he will make himself a threat; and Pat Onstad should be able to handle most shots coming his way. For Real, they need to build on their work of last week. No, they didn't look great or even good, but they also did not look horrible, which is a big step up for the club. Still, even with Chris Klein and Jason Kreis playing at last week's level, they should not be much of a challenge for Houston.
Mike: Houston 3-1 RSL
Wife: Houston 1-0 RSL
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LA Galaxy vs. Columbus Crew
Saturday - 10:30pm ET
TV: DK, HDNet
So which LA will show up for a game against a team that three weeks in is already looking like an also ran? Will the fire that lit up in the final 15 minutes of the Chivas game take the pitch or will the "unable to finish" squad that played so poorly against NE and Chicago make the appearance. The answer is mainly up to Landon Donovan. We all saw what he could do last week and the Crew is more like Chivas '05 then '06. However, even if Landon is having an off night, Columbus is so lacking in attack that it will be difficult for LA not to walk out with three points.
Mike: LA 2-1 Crew
Wife: LA 2-0 Crew
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FC Dallas vs. KC Wizards
Sunday - 5pm ET
TV: ESPN2
Ever since Eddie Johnson was traded away, everyone has been waiting for this match. The fact that both teams are currently the best in their respective conference, just makes it a little sweater. And to add to the this goodness, there is a chance Carlos Ruiz will be back in the lineup for FCD. Even without Ruiz, this will be a fine match, but the holes in FCD's midfield are a bit to big to be ignored by KC. I'm going to guess Johnson will score and he will make a show of the goal. Dallas might decided to change to a three forward attack, which would force KC to beat them with defense.
Mike: FCD 1-2 KC
Wife: FCD 3-1 KC
posted by Mike H at 5:10 AM
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