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| Friday, September 14, 2001 24:15 EST |
New England, Colorado share survivor role
By Jeff Bradley
[ESPN The Magazine]
Speaking as someone whose MLS predictions have been worse than horrible -- Tampa over Los Angeles! Dallas over MetroStars!! Dallas to win it all!!! -- I just want to stick out my chest one more time and say that New England and Colorado forcing third games against No. 2-seeded Chicago and No. 1-seeded Kansas City was so ... predictable.
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First XÎ
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MetroFan.com's Dan Ryazansky's list of things MetroFans have overcome to get to where they are to get to the MLS Cup semifinals:
11. Colombian superstar Ruben Dario Hernandez; Brazilian
superstar Joao Luiz; Chilean superstar Marcelo Vega
10. Bill Parcells and his love for Astroturf
9. The genius of Carlos Alberto Parreira
8. Tab Ramos' boo-boos
7. Alexi Lalas' friendly middle finger
6. The genius of Bora Milutinovic
5. Future considerations, future considerations, and
more future considerations
4. Eduardo Hurtado's deft finishing touch
3. Lothar's excellent French adventure
2. Diallo and his appetite for ribs
1. "Worst team in the world"
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Yeah, yeah, I have to stand up for what little I've gotten right.
The Revolution and the Rapids have been street-fighting, survival-mode teams this entire season. Both clubs' trademark has been to never give the opposition an easy night, to capitalize on mistakes, to scratch, claw and do whatever it takes to get a result. Both clubs also play on horrible fields, Foxboro Stadium and Mile High Stadium, which makes the task of street-fighting and surviving, really, the only way to play.
So, forget that Kansas City and Colorado is the No. 1 seed vs. the No. 8, and that Chicago and New England is No. 2 vs. No. 7. Expect that both Game 3's will be one-goal affairs. And expect both of the higher seeds to show a touch of nerves.
Kansas City clearly has an easier route to advancing since they have the safety net of knowing that a 100-minute draw gets them through. Colorado will have to come out looking to score. The Wizards, even though they are the home team, don't have to take any unreasonable chances. They can let the game come to them.
Chicago has no margin for error, and no choice but to go for the jugular.
So far, the Revolution have done a masterful job of making the Fire pay for their midfield cough-ups. The Revs have also frustrated the forward tandem of Hristo Stoitchkov and Ante Razov to the point that Chicago has had to implore Stoitchkov not to set up shop in the midfield. Aside from his game-winning assist in Game 1, Stoitchkov has had trouble making connections. After missing most of the season with groin injuries, Stoitchkov could simply be tired from suddenly having to play up-tempo matches every three days.
Can the Rapids or the Revolution pull off the big upsets?
I'm done predicting.
Olympic glory
For those who haven't had a chance to catch the U.S. men's Olympic team on MSNBC's tape-delayed telecasts, you've missed some of the most entertaining soccer I've seen in a while. Particularly the first two matches, the draws with the Czech Republic and Cameroon. This was riveting action, even if you knew the results.
It's been repeated to me over and over by those in the know, "this is a youth tournament." So, I'm not going to go into ridiculous superlatives about the Future of American soccer, but...
The U.S. has absolutely taken the game to each of their first three opponents, with speed, skill and ball movement. Attacking players like Ben Olsen and Josh Wolff have given superb performances, while the central defensive tandem of Chad McCarty and Dan Calilff have looked calm, cool and collected. For those keeping score at home, those four players are all part of Project-40. A "job well done" for MLS and the USSF is in order.
Additionally, Ajax midfielder John O'Brien seems to combine a blue-collar spirit with a nice touch on the ball and a terrific feel for the game. As someone who'd never seen O'Brien play a year ago, I must say he's quickly becoming one of my favorite players.
Last but not least, the over-age trio of Brad Friedel, Jeff Agoos and Frankie Hejduk have all delivered what was expected. Friedel let in a soft goal against the Czech Republic but did not cower. Agoos committed the foul that led to Cameroon's penalty, but has added a nice attacking element to Coach Clive Charles' 4-4-2. And Hejduk has been just what you'd expect, hustle and spirit and competitiveness.
As I said, it's been fun to watch, that is, if you've been able to play hooky from work or run your VCRs from 10-5 to ensure you'll catch the game.
In tight space
Now that his MLS season is over, Mamadou Diallo could be on his way to Europe on a loan, if the league office doesn't hold out for too much money. A deal with Werder Bremen of the Bundesliga was pulled back last week when the league asked for in excess of $125,000 (remember, Diallo would only be in Germany for three months).
Nigerian defender/midfielder Mobi Oparaku, who played this year for the El Paso Patriots in the A-League, is working out with D.C. United and could possibly be signed for next season. A marking back for Bora Milutinovic during World Cup '98, Oparaku played as a defensive midfielder for El Paso.
U.S. defender Greg Berhalter's great European job hunt continues. He's been on trial with Norwich, Huddersfield, Ipswich and Bolton, but is still looking for a home. Meanwhile, Carlos Llamosa may get loan work with Luton Town and Norwich is interested in Jeff Agoos, but all D.C. players that are interested in going abroad have to be back with United for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Pub talk
D.C. United is hoping to sell at least 30,000 tickets to MLS Cup, which would be a pretty fair neutral-site crowd for any sporting event. Still, the joke I tried out on a few people this week was that MLS was planning to hold a Dispersal Draft, allocating all available Salvadoran players to the Cup finalists a week prior to the final.
Whenever we talk about the need for new stadiums for MLS, we talk about business stuff. Suite sales, ticket demand, etc. But, is there any greater reason to get teams into their own places than the condition of the fields we're seeing as the playoffs move along. I mean, I was almost disoriented watching the MetroStars-Dallas game on Wednesday night because the field had grass and was devoid of football markings.
It was no coincidence that the Metros-Dallas game more closely resembled a professional soccer match than any of the other games I've seen to this point in the playoffs, mostly because the ball was rolling properly and the field was the proper size. The games at Soldier Field, Foxboro and Mile High hardly have a chance to be well-played.
Getting back to my predictions. I am absolutely the worst. But at least I know it.
So, in the future, if you're a fan of a team, don't send me "eat your words" e-mails. And if you're a player, don't say, "well, the experts on ExtraTime don't believe in us." At least don't count me in as someone who considers himself an "expert."
When it comes to prognosticating, I'm just a dopey fan, trying to put two and two together and make it equal eight, or something.
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