When losing means winning
By being eliminated in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday, both New England and Chivas enhanced their chances of lifting MLS Cup in November.
Nobody likes to lose, I get that and certainly not in the way I witnessed the Revolution get rolled over by Joe Public at Gillette Stadium. However, crashing out of the competition at this stage means that Steve Nicols side can now focus solely on their main priority and not have to worry about finding enough fit players for an extra six Champions League group matches.
Starting with its SuperLiga final win over Houston on Aug. 5, New England played nine matches in four weeks, while Chivas game against Tauro was its eighth in the last month. Aggregate wins would have meant that, before the end of October, the Revs and Chivas would have to play a further 14 games.
Its a schedule that would test the top European teams and one that is almost impossible to handle with an 18-man senior roster, especially when, as in New Englands case, four of that number, including three of its strikers, are unavailable through injury.
The Champions League is a legitimate competition and, as such, deserves better than to be seen as a distraction. Unfortunately, the travel involved and the stage of the season at which it falls means that, for MLS clubs, it will continue to be. Simply put, the league's best sides are being asked to play too many games and do not have rosters deep enough to sustain campaigns on several fronts. Unless the salary cap is increased along with roster sizes, this will continue to be an issue.
Its a debate that will likely go on and on. For now, while Houston and DC United compete in the group stages, look for New England and Chivas to reap the rewards of playing just one game a week. It is a schedule that could yet pay the ultimate dividend to either side come Nov. 23.
Carve-up in Toronto
Greg Sutton may not agree right now but its hard not to be a fan of John Carver. The Toronto coach's post-match press conferences are must-see viewing due to his honest, candid views about what's on his mind. You may agree or disagree with what he says but his approach is refreshing in a world of lazy cliches and mundane, heard-it-all-before soundbites.
Of course, calling out his goalkeeper in the aftermath of defeat against Chivas likely caused mixed reactions. On the one hand, why shouldn't Carver highlight a mistake that cost his team a point after 90-plus minutes of hard work? On the other, Sutton is experienced enough to know he made an error and being publicly criticized by his coach will do little for his confidence. Moreover, as Carver himself admitted, the Canadian international had made a number of saves prior to his lapse, without which TFC would have lost the game in any case.
While you can make up your own mind about what he says, the way he says it makes Carver's comments a can't-miss part of any MLS weekend. Just don't make a game-deciding mistake moments before a microphone is placed in front of him
Houston's heroics
At various points during the last two regular seasons, fans of Houston no doubt wondered whether their team's tendency to sleepwalk at times would hinder their chances of lifting the MLS Cup. Of course, we all know how that worked out twice.
This year has been much the same with a slow start seeing the Dynamo written off by some as being incapable of a three-peat. The naysayers may yet be proved right but they have likely been sweating on their words a little more in recent times, as Dominic Kinnear's side has chalked up five wins in their last six matches.
Continuity has been a key in Houstons resurgence with many of those championship-winning squads still on the Robertson Stadium roster. That stability has enabled Kinnear to allow some of his younger talents, such as Stuart Holden, Geoff Cameron, Corey Ashe and Kei Kamara, to develop their own roles from those resembling a bit-part into that of a regular contributor. The upshot of it all could be another championship party.
Well played, old man
Another week, another Guillermo Barros Schelotto master class. Only two visiting teams had won at Pizza Hut Park before Columbus arrived to take on Dallas on Saturday but, thanks to the magic of the veteran, the Crew became the third and, in doing so, returned to the summit of the Eastern Conference.
After his corner led (via Chad Marshall) to Alejandro Moreno's equalizer, Schelotto conjured a piece of wizardry to create space for a cross, from which Eddie Gaven could not miss. As I write, I think Drew Moor is still looking for the Argentinean.
Well played, who dat man?
Two players get the nod in the "exclusive" well-played club this week. Remember the name Gregory Richardson, whose four goals and one assist over two legs against New England will have alerted every MLS club. He says Columbus enquired about him once before to his capabilities. Fast, strong and skillful, the 26-year-old can expect his phone to ring soon and often.
A thing that made me go hmmm
Can the Earthquakes make the playoffs? Its a tough ask given their season-long offensive struggles but, if Darren Huckerby can continue to shine and, in doing so, make the young attackers around him better, then it just might happen.
Defensively, only Chicago has conceded fewer goals than goalkeeper of the year candidate, Joe Cannon. Heading into the weekend, San Jose is within two points of third and five points of second in the west. The earth could be moving in 'Quakes' direction.
Andrew Hush
