May 19, 2006

Mark Lincir’s MLS Picks – Week 8

Thanks to FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson, the new “worst player in MLS” I lost the FC Dallas game when he headed home the game-tying for the Houston Dynamo. That’s not a good thing, especially considering that it’s Goodson’s second own goal of the season.

On the weekend and week, because I took the FC Dallas/Galaxy midweek affair as a gimmie, I was 4-3. That’s right, a winning record! Overall I’m still a ways from catching up to .500 at 17-23, but isn’t that what MLS is all about? This week I’m hoping that the defenders know what teams they’re playing for and that somebody can hold onto a lead in the second half. All it takes is a little bit of coaching, but maybe I’m asking for too much.

Chicago Fire @ Dynamo: I like the Fire’s guts, but the Dynamo are tough to beat. Houston cannot afford to drop these points at home and it’s highly unlikely that they will. The Dynamo are averaging over 20k at home in a stadium that looks damn good on television. Good for the new boys in town! Houston 2-1.

Chivas USA @ Red Bulls: Who’s worse? We’ll find out Saturday. The Red Bulls might want to maybe, just maybe getting rid of Amado Guevara. Ya think? The most embarrassing storyline of the young MLS season is the Red Bulls inability to control their temperamental midfielder and it’s making everybody look bad. Buy him out, sell him, but do something, because this saga has gone on way too long. Red Bulls 1-0.

D.C. United @ Columbus Crew: Sigi brought over a couple of his boys from the Galaxy and it paid off immediately. We’ll see if they can bring some magic to this week’s tough match up against United. It’ll be close, but D.C. is good. D.C. United 3-2.

New England Revolution @ FC Dallas: Didn’t these guys just play each other? FC Dallas is going to be tough to beat at home and this week should be no exception, unless Ruiz totally skates, which me might just do. FC Dallas 1-0.

Kansas City Wizards @ Real Salt Lake: RSL petitioned the league to switch their win over the Galaxy last weekend to a loss, because even they can’t believe they pulled it off. RSL will be riding high from their first win of the season last week over the Galaxy, but it won’t be enough to propel them to victory over Gansler’s boys from the Midwest. Wizards 2-0.

Colorado Rapids @ L.A. Galaxy: Apparently it’s not that Steve Sampson doesn’t know what he’s doing. Really? Because we all know that he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Colorado will pull the upset at the HDC if they play smart and stretch the Galaxy on their home turf. Landon’s not coming home anytime soon guys, so get over it! Rapids 1-0.