MLS 13-15/05

[zzax]

Bet Until : 21:00 13/05/2006


Fc Dallas v Houston 2.10 3.20 3.00


Bet Until : 00:30 14/05/2006



Columbus Crew v Colorado Rapids 2.10 3.20 3.00

N Y Red Bulls v Chicago Fire 2.25 3.20 2.75

Dc United v Kansas City Wizards 2.15 3.20 2.90


Bet Until : 03:30 14/05/2006



Los Angeles Galaxy v Real Salt Lake 1.61 3.30 5.00


Bet Until : 00:00 15/05/2006



New Eng Revolution v Chivas Usa 1.66 3.30 4.50



William Hill

[zzax]

Some news:

Galaxy-Crew complete four-player deal


The Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy completed a four-player trade Friday, as a pair of forwards and midfielders swapped conferences. The Crew dealt midfielder Kyle Martino and forward John Wolyniec to the Galaxy in exchange for forward Joseph Ngwenya and midfielder Ned Grabavoy.

In order to make room among their senior international slots, the Crew waived defender/midfielder Duncan Oughton. The Galaxy waived defender Brian Dunseth, doing so in order to also lear a senior international slot.

Martino, 25, was the MLS Rookie of the Year in 2002 and an All-Star for the Crew in 2003. The U.S. international has scored 10 goals and registered 19 assists in 106 career games, including one goal in six games this season.

"I am just extremely excited," Martino said. "When I was in the draft I was hoping to have this opportunity to play here. To make it to L.A. and be able to play for a championship organization, I am just extremely excited and looking forward to getting started."

Wolyniec, 29, joined the Crew via a trade with the MetroStars on June 7, 2005. In 107 career games, he has scored 24 goals and has 10 assists. Wolyniec began his MLS career in 1999 with his hometown MetroStars, spent time with the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution before returning to the Metros in 2003.

"I am really excited," said Wolyniec, who has appeared in one game this season. "To get a chance to play with the champions and to be a part of a team that won a double last year, is a great opportunity. I am really happy to join the team and am looking forward to helping the team in any way that I can."

The Galaxy have some holes to fill over the next couple of weeks with star Landon Donovan, forward Cornell Glen and defender Chris Albright off to Germany to play in the World Cup. The club had a strong need for attacking players, seeing as Donovan has figured in five of the team's six goals scored (one goal, four assists) this season.

"This trade makes us more competitive and will help us to continue to give our fans the Galaxy team that they expect and deserve," said L.A. Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas. "John Wolyniec is a man, and right now this team needs more men. He is big, strong and will run through a wall for you and I know he is licking his chops right now to score goals for the Galaxy. Kyle Martino is a dynamic and exciting player, and a change of scenery is going to do him good."

For Columbus, the deal reunites head coach Sigi Schmid with two players he drafted in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft while with the Galaxy. Ngwenya was chosen in the first round (third overall) while Grabavoy was selected in the second round (14th overall).

"It's one of those trades that I think benefits both teams," said Schmid. "Kyle Martino and John Wolyniec have both done well for The Crew and we wish them luck in their future endeavors with Los Angeles, but Ned Grabavoy and Joe Ngwenya are two young and very talented players who we are excited about and think they have a great future ahead of them."

Grabavoy, 22, scored one goal and had six assists in 34 career games for L.A. The former Indiana University star has played all seven games this season for the Galaxy, including two starts.

Ngwenya, 25, has appeared in 40 matches, starting 15, in his three-year stint with the Galaxy. He has played in two games this season, starting one. The native of Zimbabwe has four goals and two assists for his career.

Neither Dunseth nor Oughton had appeared in any games this season for the Galaxy or Crew, respectively.

[zzax]

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

[A.M.P]

Quality stuff zzax. That LA game is suspended at Betfair strangely...

[zzax]

have no idea why mate. But its more dodgy than it looks like and even I believe LA will win of course and will bet on it , I wont risk a high stake on these odds.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Excellent stuff zzax.

Can't argue with you to be honest after your recent displays you have been putting in.

Looking at LA. They have really suffered with the loss of Glen the past couple of games upfront as they have had no one to come in and fill the void left.

Now they are going to be missing their most creative and influential player Donavon also so i begint to wonder where the goals are going to come from.

Then Albright when played in his proper position is a great defender at the back and he will be sorely missed.

So it was all swinging for a lay of LA until i see that RSL's club captian and best player Pope was away also and Sequira also. Both are probably the two most experienced players in the side.

So im in a bit of a dilemma at the minute there.

One i do like the look off and one i will be having a big big look at later is Chivas who have started the season well.

Also overs in the Dallas game and possibly the red bulls to pick up their first win of the season i think t would be.

All going to come down to players missing though for me which i will look at further later on as i have to go to play football myself.

Cracking stuff again zzax

[zzax]

Thanks mate. Your oppinion is much needed so I am glad you like some of my choices.

I am betting all 4 above plus a small experimental bet on Houston, currently 3.25 Expekt. Its a game with every possible ending and Dallas defense looks quite shaky in some games, so apart the OVER here I will try 1 pt on Houston.

Best of luck to all

[A.M.P]

Took 3pts of LA at Blue Sq for 1.73.

Good luck to us all.

AMP

[kompressaur]

dallas just 1-0 after 85mins. Cracking stuff though zzax and good luck later on tonight

[A.M.P]

Going to follow up on one of Kinky's cheeky little comments after looking at the stats and having a few results go my way. Just got Cheeky Chiva's (Please be my Divas!) for a nice price of 5.7 on Befair.

Now, I'm slowly feeling the ropes on this "Kelly Staking" business and giving Chivas a 25% chance on a bank of 100 quid gives me a stake of 9 pound. As Will Farell says in the Anchorman "It's science!"

AMP

[zzax]

Only DC in

The result in LA is an absolute shock for me

sorry guys

[A.M.P]

No worries zzaxy I did a double take aswell when I saw the results.

Better luck next time.