Here is what the typical opening game in an MLS , home and home series produces. Calculated teams, little risk from the “road team” . Very rarely these games are decisive in nature and things don’t get good until game two.
*Of course these games are going to be physical in nature. For god’s sake it is the playoffs.
* I would call this game a win for NE because missing such influential players like TAYLOR TWELLMAN and STEVE RALSTON this is a huge task for STEVE NICOL and his squad to get past Chicago. The good news for the REVS is that they have now made it a one game series and we all know that a one game series means you can sometimes expect the unexpected.
* CHICAGO didn’t risk that much at the REVS predictably .
*The two teams cancelled each other out and now the FIRE have the onus them to get the expected win at home. Don’t ever count out a STEVE NICOL side even without key players.
*It is a good thing that NE has depth at the striker position. Injuries to TWELLMAN and ADAM CRISTMAN have left them with the youth of KENNY MANSALLY and KHELI DUBE……
I would expect more conservative type play in opening games. I do believe teams like New York and KC are going to need to produce more than a one goal win in their opening games if they expect to get past Houston and KC…….
*Thursday night remains a tough dilemma for MLS and last night the sparse crowd in cold weather did nothing to hype up the opening of the MLS playoffs and what in the end will be some very exciting games.
GREAT MOVE BY MLS TO CREATE THE NEW TIFFANY TROPHY TO HONOR PHILIP ANSCHUTZ WHOM WITHOUT HIS INTEREST AND FINANCIAL BACKING THERE WOULD BE NO MLS.
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Glenn,
Tonite’s CHI-NE match kind of represented the worst possible side of the MLS playoffs: cold night, small and semi-dead crowd, fake turf, conservative play, no real excitement. These first legs can turn into survival ball pretty quick but I think you are correct that the other series should have more lively legs as the home squads need to get on the board to improve their chances.
Now for the Dynamo and the Red Bulls:
1) Dynamo need to come out with defensive intensity and not let what happened to them at Giants Stadium in August happen again. Keep shape and awareness in the back and avoid silly cards that accumulate in the playoffs very quickly.
2) A 0-0 result is fine for the Dynamo. With the ability for a road squad to bunker in for 90 at Robertson, the Dynamo need to stay level out of the first leg. We cannot count on getting red cards out of the opposition and making comebacks in the final 45 minutes at Robertson to advance. We’ve been fortunate for two years and you can’t press your luck on that.
3) Lastly, depending upon the progress of Red Bull Arena and how NY does next season, this could very well be the final professional soccer playoff game at Giants Stadium. In some ways, it is kind of a sad end to a place that was the mecca of soccer in this country and that has seen a number of tremendous games, teams, and players in the last 30 years, including the World Cup. Now, it is a cavernous aging place that can’t attract good crowds for Red Bull.
Glenn, I know you grew up in the Metro NY area like myself (although I think you have about 10 years on me) and I was old enough to be able to remember going to Cosmos games from ‘80-’82 and remember the crowds even in those years were still pretty large and to probably see a lethargic crowd of 15,000 or so on Saturday watch this game is a bit of a sad commentary on how far that MLS has let the NY franchise fall. I figure every time you go there to do a game you think back to how electric the place was 25 years ago (and for many other games over the years).
And even though I live and like Houston now, there is no better time or weather to play soccer in this country than on a sunny and cool Saturday afternoon in the fall in the Northeast!!! Let’s get after it on Saturday.
It’s no wonder NE gets such sparse crowds. They simply do not offer an attractive product.
That was a hard match to watch…I kept changing the channel every 5 to 6 minutes…just couldn’t stand watching a PLAYOFF game, on ESPN PRIMETIME, with about 5000 people in the stands…
It was cold we know…but that’s no excuse, the Patriots pack up the house even when it’s snowing….
it just goes to show that the people in NE are not believing in this team anymore, they seem old at many of their positions and at times looked as if they didn’t even want to be on the pitch…
Chicago simply took the point they needed and will go back home and finish the job…
What’s with both our first playoff games at 3pm and 2pm…I don’t wanna start grilling and downing BLights that early…!!!
…but I probably will…
Native Houstonian now living in NYC here. I live in Manhattan and will be attending tomorrow afternoon’s game to cheer the Dynamo.
For this game the Red Bulls have discontinued the express busses to Giants Stadium from Port Authority here in Manhattan (they had them for the August Dyn/RB game). Now you have to take a train from Penn Station to Secacus, N.J. and then transfer to a bus to the Stadium. In short, a nightmare.
And the Red Bulls wonder why they can’t draw large crowds!
I agree with you, Moises! BUT, I am happier it is NOT 9:00 PM!! Watching those late games makes it hard to get to sleep when I get all riled up about the playing or the calls. I ahve my tickets and am set to GO to the playoffs. I can’t wait to see our team play and win! On the new trophy….. I liked the old one better. This looks like a cup with a heart around it, not the distinctive soccer ball design.