Five-a-side: Postseason scramble
Short slate of weekend games could have major impact on playoff picture
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1. Playoff reset: There are no so-called "six-pointers" this weekend, although all three matches on the abbreviated slate features one side mashing the pedal fiercely in a desperate bid for points -- which makes all three contests in Round 30 worth noting.
We'll start with the basics:
Columbus, Los Angeles and Houston are locked in. Congrats to 'em -- although you can bet they'll be fighting like mad men going forward, looking to claim that top conference spot and host rights for a potential conference finale. (And that's not even mentioning the reach for the Supporters' Shield, which still carries some heft.)
Red Bull New York -- fans there are picking seats for the new arena! -- and San Jose are out, licking their wounds from 2009 and looking to better days ahead. 'Nuff said there.
Real Salt Lake are barely breathing in the playoff chase. Kansas City even less so; a lot must happen in order for interim boss Peter Vermes and his men to find their way out of the regular season woods. Same for RSL, where the odds are slightly better but still utterly dependent on three wins from the final three matches -- a tall order by any standard.
Chicago, Sounders FC, Chivas USA, Colorado and New England still have work to do but do enjoy slightly more margin for error. One loss won't totally trip up the playoff chase for any of them -- although it would make for some increasingly nervous tummies. More in some places than others, but a little more on that later.
Then we have a trio of teams that are, more or less, already in the "playoffs:" D.C. United, Dallas and Toronto FC. A loss would probably cripple the postseason chase for good.
That's the quick 411 heading into the weekend. And it's the background for two matches on this weekend that loom particularly large ...
2. The weekend's biggies: MLS eyes will be focused on to two stadiums during a slim weekend schedule (one reduced to just three matches as MLS schedule makers attempted to minimize the international weekend's impact on pressing matters).
The home teams will be especially absolutely hell-bent for points at BMO Field and at Gillette Stadium, where the trainer's table remains a frustratingly busy place.
The weekend's main event is probably at BMO, where Toronto FC's loyal supporters are ever-so-desperate for a first taste of November soccer. A loss to San Jose and, well, it's all about 2010 at that point.
TFC manager Chris Cummins has had two matches to indoctrinate classy DP midfielder Julian de Guzman. Meanwhile, the injury bug has bitten hard, with Stefan Frei troubled by a dislocated finger, Marvell Wynne slowed by a thigh strain ("slowed" being a relative term when speaking about one of Major League Soccer's fastest set of feet) and Carl Robinson eliminated by a training ground injury.
None of that can worry the men available on Saturday, when Frank Yallop brings his own banged up squad of Earthquakes across the border.
Meanwhile, so much rests on Shalrie Joseph's heroic efforts and New England's impressively rebuilt, young back line to ferry the side's efforts for an eighth consecutive playoff appearance. And this weekend's match is the best chance to move a little closer -- even if it is against the reigning league champs. Columbus faces New England in Foxborough, where the temperatures should be pleasant but showers could be a factor.
This one is so critical because up next for New England is a visit from Chicago, a real Revs' trouble maker. Nicol's team is just 1-4 in MLS matches at home against Chicago since 2005 at Gillette and 2-7-2 overall. From there the Revs visit Crew Stadium, where the Crew have lost just once in MLS in the last 16 months.
3. Matters of Galaxy and Beckham: There was big news out of Los Angeles late this week concerning a certain English international star. AEG president Tim Leiweke talked about an impending loan agreement that will send David Beckham back to AC Milan in January.
Part I of the big news means that Beckham, following the Galaxy's playoff games this year, will return to the Galaxy in July of 2010, as he'll stay in Europe with AC Milan through the spring and then return to southern California with the opening of the summer transfer window. (Although it could be even later in 2010 than this year, as Beckham would presumably be with England for next summer's World Cup, and would then probably take a bit of time off.)
Part II of the big news was Leiweke more or less saying that Beckham would, in fact, return. The Galaxy midfielder does have that out clause in his contract, available to be exercised after this season. Leiweke indicated that he didn't believe Beckham would opt out of MLS, but would indeed finish his playing career with the Galaxy.
Leiweke said he prefers any loan agreement to be finalized quickly, so that Beckham and the rest of the side can concentrate on its first playoff appearance since 2005.
On the field, the Galaxy have looked like a team with championship stuff this year, tight and tidy in the back -- which is always the surest track to titles. On the other hand, consider the Galaxy record against the rest of the West (that is, their record against the very teams they are likely to meet in the playoffs). Bruce Arena's side is just 3-5-6 this year against the West, with two matches still to play.
4. Dallas? Playoffs?: It seemed like so much fantasy just a few weeks ago, maybe stoked by too much pizza around the Frisco park.
But sure enough, the club's win at San Jose has kept the team's postseason ambitions alive. It was Dallas' third consecutive win -- and Schellas Hyndman's team will probably need two more of those to keep the playoff dream from going "poof!"
How tough is it to have a five-game winning streak? Hmmm. It ain't easy. Only two teams have done so this year, Columbus and Houston. No one has gone any further -- which means Hyndman's club will match the league's longest win streaks if it can prevail in the last two.
Still, hope prevails for the Red Stripes, with one bunch of math whizzes calculating Dallas' chances of qualification at more than 90 percent if it can win at home against Colorado and then (in a much tougher assignment) on the road at Seattle.
So, how has this happened that Hyndman's team is 4-1-1 since August and 6-3-1 since July? It's about Jeff Cunningham's tremendous form, of course. But it's also about getting the right personnel on the field. Jair Benitez has solidified the left fullback spot. Heath Pearce is now established at right back (although the shakiest of three starts came in the midweek win against San Jose.)
It's about David Ferreira finding form after struggling to adjust initially. Cunningham's race to the top of the Golden Boot chase has somewhat obscured Ferreira's exceptional second half of the season. The Colombian playmaker had just one goal and one assist through the minimal-impact haze of his first dozen starts. Today, he's Dallas' second leading scorer with 7 goals and 6 assists, numbers that some MLS playmakers would love to have.
Finally, it's about addition by subtraction in some places. Andre Rocha limped along rather indifferently through much of the season, with Hyndman attempting to let the young Brazilian play into the form he had in 2008. Finally, FCD's manager had enough and removed Rocha from the starting lineup. Dallas was 3-7-4 with Rocha in the lineup. Without him, the team is 7-5-2.
5. Big changes at BMO: If you had scratched out a list back in the spring of the three or four most inspirational figures from each MLS club, the heart-and-soul guys who steer the team through times good and bad, the names out of BMO Field would probably include Danny Dichio and Carl Robinson.
They weren't just important to the team's mental fortitude, their skills were assets to the performance as well.
Today, both are gone, one finished for the season, the other finished for good.
Dichio has retired. Robinson underwent season ending surgery earlier this week following a training field collision.
So, is it dire news for the Reds, who may need three wins in three matches to retain any playoff hopes? Maybe not as much as you think.
Dichio's role had diminished this year, as just six of his 19 appearances came as a starter. Instead, Pablo Vitti and Chad Barrett were getting into the starting 11 with Dichio settling into a substitute's role (and often quite effective in it).
Robinson, meanwhile, remained the midfield anchor around BMO -- until recently, that is. Do you realize that the Welsh international has not started for Chris Cummins' since August? Injuries, suspension and international call-ups had stripped away his ability to contribute over the last two months.
And lately, of course, Cummins has had access to a world-class holding midfielder in de Guzman, who started the last two matches in a central role.
So in the big picture, Robinson's role has been assumed de Guzman. No disrespect to the Welsh vet, but that's an upgrade.
In the short term, with Amado Guevara unavailable (he's in Honduras for the World Cup qualifier against the United States) and the other injuries around BMO, this is the weekend when Robinson would be welcome back into the starting fold.
Steve Davis is a freelance writer who has covered Major League Soccer since its inception. Steve writes for www.DailySoccerFix.com and can be reached at BigTexSoccer@yahoo.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
