MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

For me the NAPA Save of the Week is all about the Colorado Rapids Matt Pickens. The degree of difficulty (and luck) associated with his point-blank ankle save is as high as the Rocky Mountains near the club’s Commerce City home and the most impressive save of the past 7 days. But that’s just my opinion. You can cast your own ballot at MLSsoccer.com now and vote for the NAPA Save of the Week. Will you pick Pickens as the winner or give your vote to someone else?

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The polls are now open at MLSsoccer.com for the NAPA Save of the Week! Check out the nominees above and can cast your vote for the most dynamic denial in Week 11 of MLS play. All this week’s candidates are highlight reel-worthy with a special mention going to Colorado’s Matt Pickens for having not one but two stops in the running.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

When there are multiple games on at the same time, how do you choose which match to watch and which to record? Everyone has their own system and their own allegiances that help them cull the herd. Here’s a look at how I decide who gets my attention now and who has to wait until later.

First Choices: The “A” Games

• Red Bull New York: my local team gets priority but I am typically at the game if possible. I will DVR it however solely out of vanity to look for myself in the crowd.
• Expansion teams: I watch them as much as possible in an attempt to figure out who they are as quick as possible.
• Toronto and Seattle home matches: what can I say, I love a big crowd.
• LA Galaxy: because their star-power, stellar play and crowds are the best total package in the league.
• Whoever the current best team in the league may be.

There are exceptions to every rule and figuring out a viewing schedule has a few of them. Any of the following factors can push a match to the top of the priority viewing queue:

• *Derbies: Chivas USA if they are playing LA, Philly vs. D.C. or N.Y.
• At least one team features a new and/or productive Designated Player.
• Matches with playoff implications
• Player unveiling: new players of interest demand a once over.

Last Choices: these are the matches that almost always get a delayed viewing.

• Dallas (since the loss of Kenny Cooper) and Colorado home matches that do not feature NY, LA, a DP, a new player, a local rival or current best team.
• Matches where the home team play their matches in a current or former NFL stadium*.

*Seattle receives a special dispensation.

The formula isn’t perfect but it’s held up pretty well the last few seasons. What’s your strategy? Let me know in the comments below.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Last night I had a dilemma that is typically reserved for Saturday nights: which match should I watch live and which should I DVR? Chicago hosted Colorado while LA visited RSL and I had decided very early on that I would take in what was sure to be an epic clash at Rio Tinto stadium live since both teams are just on fire right now.

Man, did I get that wrong as the battle that went on in Bridgeview turned out to be one the most entertaining matches of the year so far (for my money at least). Colorado pulled out a stoppage time equalizer to end things at 2-2. Maybe I’m not in the position to tell Wilman Conde & co. what they should do but it has to be said: you can’t leave two guys that open in the box ever, let alone in the dying breaths of a home match.

But on the offensive side, Marco Pappa & the Fire burned the Rapids twice in spectacular fashion;  first on a curling free-kick, then off of a handy heel-flick by Baggio Husidic. As for Colorado, Omar Cummings and Conor Casey once again showed that they can be one of the league’s premier offensive duos. Check out the first goal in the highlights above and you’ll see what I mean. Even though there was no victory on the pitch last night, those of us watching this display at home and in the stands were the real winners.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

A pair of MLS matches on the docket tonight with Chicago hosting Colorado and undefeated (unstoppable?) LA visiting Real Salt Lake. Jason & Simon seem to think that the key to the latter match will be whether or not LA scores first, something they have no problem doing even without the services of Edson Buddle & Landon Donovan. There is also the prerequisite bit of World Cup injury talk: is Bob Bradley really considering starting Onyewu against England or is he just being cagey?

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

If Crystal Palace Baltimore’s Jordan Seabrook doesn’t have a nickname already, he should consider taking on “The Journey”. Not just because Jordan “The Journey” Seabrook has a nice, pro wrestler-esque ring to it but because it sums up his soccer career quite well. See how he took the long, windy road from Indiana to Maryland in the latest installment of Second 2 None.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

It’s Cinco De Mayo and with 4 MLS matches on tap tonight Jason and Simon have plenty to talk about including D.C.’s chance to finally grab a few points tonight. With the rumors swirling that Bill Hamid may start tonight in goal you have to wonder if Curt Onalfo is experiencing a bit of buyer’s remorse in regard to Troy Perkins. Like Simon says in the video above, “you know you are really desperate when you start ti fiddle with the goalkeeper position.”

BY JONAH FREEDMAN

Team press officers in every sport plead over and over again with their players: “Don’t read your own press!” Better to not fill their heads with paranoia — or make their heads grow too big. No surprise that many of them can’t resist. But does what the media write ever actually make them play better? Sure, happens all the time. Nothing spells motivation like a slight in the headlines.

So I’m proud to officially open MLSsoccer.com ’s account. Last week, our own Denver-based ace reporter Nick Thomas wrote this piece detailing how the Rapids weren’t looking past the Earthquakes last weekend, even though they had a seemingly bigger match against the league titan LA Galaxy on Wednesday. And guess what? San Jose used that for motivation as they toughed out a 1-0 win over Colorado.

Said Quakes center back Jason Hernandez after the game, “It kind of bugged me, I saw some article [on MLSsoccer.com] that Colorado’s making sure not to look past San Jose because they have the Galaxy next week. To be honest, that was a bit disturbing, knowing that they were lucky to get two ties from us, and we beat them this preseason. We’re not the same San Jose we were last year.”

I love it. Let’s try inciting another one, shall we? Here’s England manager Fabio Capello to BBC Sport back in December, reacting to his team’s World Cup draw: “It’s not so bad. We played against the USA and Slovenia at home — we played well, we won, but when we have to play here in June it will be difficult.”

Hey, Edson Buddle? Would you mind terribly e-mailing this Insider posting to Landon Donovan? Thanks much.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Kansas City supporters got their first look at new striker Sunil Chhetri in a competitive match last night in the Wizards 2-1 U.S. Open Cup defeat to the Colorado Rapids. The Indian International is the first player from his country to play in MLS and only the third Indian to ever play abroad professionally. This new-found notoriety has gained a significant amount of media attention for Chhetri back home and in turn it has brought him –and the Wizards– a few new fans.

“Somebody from India called me up and told me that Sunil Chhetri is going to play for Kansas City Wizards,” said one of Chhetri’s countrymen who was in attendance last night. “It’s really exciting. It’s great for us to watch someone from our country come here and play in front of us. Not everyone get an opportunity like this.”

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The San Jose Earthquakes return to California this week, wrapping up a whirlwind training tour of London, England. The Western Conference side based the majority of their training at Spurs Lodge in Chigwell, the training grounds for partner club Tottenham Hotspur. The team also undertook a handful of successful scrimmages where they defeated the likes of Spurs, West Ham and MLS foes Colorado Rapids.

For the team it’s been a chance to experience another level of soccer and further relationships. “It’s a great opportunity for the team to see a higher level as far as organizations go”, says San Jose GM John Doyle. “The partnership we have here with Tottenham has really opened their arms up to us.”