Some Picks now
LA - RSL
A must win for LA Galaxy team. After my pick against them in midweek now I feel its time to give them some credit, because I really cant imagine another slip up against the outsider in the division. LA already won against RSL few weeks ago away from home with 3-2 and with Salt Lake form in this campaign it would be no wonder if they do it again.
Salt Lake currently hold the record of most games without victory, failing to take the 3 points in 18 games with last win back in August 2005. Altough they changed their squad pretty much during the break its obvious they still are experiencing some great difficulties.
Team news:
INJURY REPORT: LOS ANGELES GALAXY - QUESTIONABLE: FW Alan Gordon (sports hernia); PROBABLE: MF Peter Vagenas (concussion); DF Ben Benditson (sports hernia) ... REAL SALT LAKE - OUT: DF Paul Broome (L ankle internal derangement); MF Seth Trembly (L knee ACL tear); PROBABLE: DF Willis Forko (bilateral hamstring strain); DF Danny Torres (L popliteal strain)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: LA: Landon Donovan, Chris Albright (USA; 2006 World Cup) ... RSL: Eddie Pope (USA; 2006 World Cup); Douglas Sequeira (Costa Rica; 2006 World Cup)
SUSPENDED: none
As we see Donovan is with the national team and LA will miss him largely until the end of the World Cup. No need to mention he is their best player, no matter if he playes behind the strikers or as a striker himself. Chris Allbright will also be hugely missed, but I think LA will find a solution how to adapt their play without these 2 basic players until they return from international duty.
Both teams lost their last games, but both played quite well in them. LA was with a man more for nearly 50 minutes and despite having the ball possesion didn’t manage to break determined Dallas side and lost 0-1.
Salt Lake also had some improvement in their game, but lost once again.
Salt lake also has some crucial missings due to international call upps. Most experienced and influential player Eddie Pope is with US national team. He started iun the first 11 in all 6 gamers this season.
Also Douglas Sequeira is with Costa Rica national team. He also was in the first 11 in all last 6 games of RSL this season.
Now with both teams having 2 basic players missing I think the forces are pretty levelled, but still the current champions are a much better side IMO. Without Donovan there is no doubt they will miss the creative spark in midfield and attack, but if the team manage to put a determined performance I believe they can bounce back from the bad streak they are in now.
I will back LA, but with a medium-low stake as I am still not impressed by them. It will be a real disaster for the champions if RSL ends their 18 games winless streak here. Still I have some doubts this may end as a draw, that’s why high stakes are not recommended.
LA 4 points @ 1.73 Bluesq.com, 1.62 average price. Anything below 1.60-1.62 is unbackable IMO.
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I am also giving a vote of confidence to NY Red Bulls to snatch their first victory of the season. Its not gonna be easy, but I think this is the time to back them. They had a week off and will be quite fresh with last game played on 29th of April, a 0-0 draw away at Chivas.
Chicago is in a decent run currently with 3 draws and 1 win in last 4 games, where they had to play against some top teams and still didnt lose.
Its gonna be extremely difficult for NY to win tonight at the Giants Stadium, but its far from impossible. They have a nice squad with some experienced players.
Team News
INJURY REPORT: NEW YORK RED BULLS - OUT: DF Taylor Graham (abdominal strain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Mike Magee (R ankle sprain); FW Edson Buddle (L hamstring strain) ... CHICAGO FIRE - OUT: DF Jeff Curtin (athletic pubalgia surgery), DF Jim Curtin (R foot fracture), DF Gonzalo Segares (L ankle sprain), MF John Thorrington (L hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: GK Matt Pickens (R calf strain)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: CHI: FW Andy Herron (through May 13)
Any result here would not be a great surprise, but I am still willing to back the Red Bulls in their attempt to get their first win of the season infront of their own crowd.
3 points NY Red Bulls @2.38 Bluesq.com @2.30 Bet365, both prices worthed a shot
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DC United - Kansas City
DC United hosts Kansas City in one of the top games this round. The 2 teams are close in the first part of the table with Kansas being 2nd with 13 points and DC being 4th with 11 points.
DC are 2-2-9 at home, Kansas is 2-0-1 away.
Its been a while from their last meeting back in July and I believe now we have 2 pretty equal sides.
Key factor here is again the international call ups and I believe the world cup will hit Kansas City hopes of a good season. The Wizards will be without three players on U.S. national team duty for the next 6-8 weeks. Defender Jimmy Conrad and forwards Josh Wolff and Eddie Johnson were selected for the U.S. squad that will play in the World Cup, which begins June 9.
All 3 are key players for Kansas City. Conrad is a main defender with 4 starts this season and anyone who follows MLS is aware of the names of Wolff and Johnson. From 9 goals scored by the Wizards this season new star purchase Johnson has scored 2 and Wolff 1. Now the only big gun upfront they have for the upcomming weeks is Scott Sealy. But he is still to open his goal tally this season, where he played more like a substitute. Of course he will be very motivated to play on high level in next weeks so he can prove he deserves more confidence.
Important midfielder Olsen is the only DC player on international duty.
Team News
NJURY REPORT: D.C. UNITED - OUT: DF David Stokes (R quad strain); MF Santino Quaranta (R hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: GK Nick Rimando (mid-foot sprain); MF Clyde Simms (hamstring strain) ... KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - NONE REPORTED
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: DC: Ben Olsen (2006 World Cup; USA) ... KC: Josh Wolff, Jimmy Conrad, Eddie Johnson (USA, 2006 World Cup)
SUSPENDED: none
All in all this is a big game and I expect both teams to put their best performance. The problem is that the missing players in Kansas are really very important for their current formation and with the likes of young star Adu, experienced Moreno and so on DC will be too strong for a weakened Kansas side. Still there is some probability of a draw, so I will be a little cautious once again.
I will back DC United here with 4 points @2.25 Bet365 & Expekt.
Under 2.5 goals – 4 points @1.90 Gamebookers
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Dallas - Houston
An appealing bet here. 2 offensive sides meet eachother for the second time just in space of a week after a cracking game in Houston, which ended 4-3 for Dynamos. This game is a derby and a hot atmosphere is expected again.
I have every reason we are about to see another high scoring game here with both sides looking for goals like they did last Saturday. It’s a bit hard to predict a winner here, altough I somehow fancy Houston to win again, but will not risk any money on this. Instead I wll go for
OVER 2.5 goals at an average price of 1.70 and will put 6 points on it. I just cant imagine it will be a low scoring game as its just not the way these 2 teams play.
Team News
INJURY REPORT: FC DALLAS - NONE REPORTED ... HOUSTON DYNAMO - OUT: MF Aaron Lanes (R fifth metatarsal fracture)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: HOU: Brian Ching (USA; World Cup 2006)
SUSPENDED: DAL: Bobby Rhine (through May 13)
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Thats all folks
Go on, Kiko
blast me
