View Full Version : MLS 22-24/08
Los Angeles - Chicago 85 2.19 3.21 2.91 22.08.2008 - 04:00
DC United - Colorado 2 1.78 3.30 3.90 23.08.2008 - 23:55
Toronto - New England 4 2.50 3.20 2.49 23.08.2008 - 23:55
Columbus - Salt Lake 4 1.75 3.31 4.17 23.08.2008 - 23:55
Kansas City - Dallas 6 2.07 3.21 3.14 23.08.2008 - 23:55
Chivas - San Jose 4 1.86 3.18 3.90 23.08.2008 - 23:55
New York - Houston 4 2.15 3.18 3.01 24.08.2008 - 21:00
from BetExplorer
Come on guys say something.What do you think about Los Angeles-Chicago-2.Is it possible?This match come after the hard CONCACAF win of USA against Guatemala...Are there many players of these teams who played in this qualification match...Is Beckham gonna play???
Blanco will not play for Chicago. Beckham and Donovan played 80-90minutes last night so they should be either on the bench as a reserve or not play at all.
football_tips
21-08-08, 21:25
http://albbetadvice.blogspot.com/2008/08/mls-preview-los-angeles-galaxy-v.html
Thursday, August 21, 2008
MLS Preview: Los Angeles Galaxy v. Chicago Fire
Los Angeles Galaxy v. Chicago FireWhen: 10:30 pm ET, Thursday, August 21, 2008Where: Home Depot Center, Carson, CaliforniaTV: ESPN2The Gist: Regardless of what happens on the field, all eyes will be on the bench, where the latest big-name in Lalaland will be manning on the bench. The club announced earlier this week the hiring of former US national team coach Bruce Arena, and he is set to begin the revolution against Chicago.And not a moment too soon. The Galaxy are mired in an 8-game winless streak, during which they have fallen from first place to 5th in the Western Conference. They still lead the league in goals scored, but also have conceded the most.Chicago have been up and down of late, having earned a dramatic comeback win over New England two weeks ago and then falling at home to D.C. last weekend. Brian McBride made his debut for the Men in Red, but he was unable to effect the outcome. The Fire are now four points off the pace in the East.What To Watch For: The Galaxy will be without several stars. David Beckham is with England, for whom he started in Wednesday’s 2-2 friendly with the Czech Republic. Landon Donovan went 90 minutes for the United States in their 1-0 draw away to Guatemala. Carlos Ruiz -- who is technically still a Galaxy player, until his transfer to Toronto is made official -- also went 90 minutes, but on the opposite side from Donovan.So the Galaxy attack will be a makeshift one. Edson Buddle, with 12 goals on the year, will surely start up top, most likely paired with Alan Gordon, who scored the heroic equalizer against Chivas USA last week. Beyond that, there is very little firepower in Arena’s arsenal.In the midfield, too, things looks bleak. Peter Vagenas and Alvaro Pires lined up in the middle last week, but they were largely ineffectual and it remains to be seen how Arena will shake things up. He will have to do something to deal with Chicago’s talented midfielders, who love to stream forward into the attack.When the Fire do get forward, the Galaxy defense will again look to rookie Sean Franklin to save the day. A question mark is Argentine Eduardo Dominguez, who was brought in July, but has made only one appearance. Will Arena through the 29-year-old in the middle?The Fire also have doubts in the lineup. Their talisman Cuauhtemoc Blanco played 20 minutes or so for Mexico on Wednesday night, so he could be ready to go on Thursday, if he arrives in time. His presence makes Chicago a totally different proposition. With four goals and six assists, he is the cyclotron in the center of the Fire’s attack.Brian McBride will make his starting debut up top, and with a week of rest and acclimation to his new teammates, he should be much better than he was last week, when he came on in a substitute’s role just two days after returning from China. With Andy Herron, Patrick Nyarko, and Chris Rolfe also in form, the Chicago attack is dangerous as ever. However, in back, they have looked suspect. Big, strong Bakary Soumare seems to have hit a wall and Jon Busch is not making the game-saving stops he did at the beginning of the season. But Wilman Conde, the Colombian centerback, is the key man. He scored his first MLS goal in the win over New England, but it is his defense that he team needs right now. He’s So Hot Right Now: Patrick Nyarko. The Fire’s Ghanaian striker causes all kinds of problems for defenses with his speed. He was a first round pick in this year’s draft, and after arriving late because of school commitments, the former college leading scorer appears to be finding his groove.Prediction: Los Angeles 1 - 1 Chicago
football_tips
21-08-08, 21:26
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores108/108234/MLS803766.htm
Fire-Galaxy Preview
The Los Angeles Galaxy haven't won in more than two months. As a result, they're now looking to a new coach to help them end that dismal stretch and revive their once-promising season.
Bruce Arena makes his debut on the Galaxy sidelines Thursday night when Los Angeles hosts the short-handed Chicago Fire.
The Galaxy (6-8-6) are 0-4-4 since winning 3-0 at San Jose on June 14 to remain atop the Western Conference. The slide has caused Los Angeles to drop toward the bottom of the standings, and finally cost the team's general manager and coach their jobs.
GM Alexi Lalas was fired and coach Ruud Gullit resigned, citing personal reasons. The moves came a week after a 3-2 loss to the Earthquakes - owners of the worst record in MLS - on Aug. 3.
On Monday, the Galaxy hired Arena to fill both positions. Known for guiding the United States to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, he also led D.C. United to the first three MLS Cup finals, winning two (1996-97).
The team also named former Fire coach Dave Sarachan, Arena's assistant at the '02 World Cup and with United, its associate coach.
``It is a challenge, but it's a great challenge,'' said Arena, who went 71-30-29 in eight years (1998-2006) as the U.S. coach. ``I have a great opportunity in a great environment and I think we can make things much better than they are right now.
``We intend to win championships. We know it's going to take time and take some patience.''
Arena's return to MLS in 2006 didn't go according to plan. He was fired by New York at the end of last season despite getting the team to the playoffs in consecutive seasons. He went 16-16-10 in just more than a year with the club following a disappointing 2006 World Cup, during which the Americans failed to advance out of the group phase with an 0-2-1 record.
``I am impressed with his passion, desire and focus and believe that his recent experiences with the U.S. national team and Red Bulls have prepared and motivated him for this next challenge,'' Galaxy investor/operator Tim Leiweke said.
Arena feels his new team is equipped for him to be immediately successful with the Galaxy.
``As a coach, I look at this roster, we have Landon Donovan and David Beckham as a starting point,'' he said. ``That's fabulous.''
Donovan, who played under Arena with the national team, leads MLS with 14 goals and has seven assists - one fewer than Beckham's team-leading eight. Beckham also has five goals, but won't be available Thursday after playing in England's friendly against the Czech Republic in London a night earlier.
Donovan, though, is expected to be back from the U.S. team's World Cup qualifier against Guatemala on Wednesday.
Los Angeles hasn't faced the Fire (9-6-5) since losing 1-0 on a goal by midfielder John Thorrington in injury time Oct. 21. The defeat eliminated the Galaxy from playoff contention on the final day of the regular season, while securing a postseason berth for Chicago.
The Fire might have Thorrington, who has four goals this year, back after he sat out Saturday's 1-0 loss to D.C. with a left calf strain.
Thorrington's return could help Chicago withstand the absences of midfielders Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico) and Marco Pappa (Guatemala) and defender Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica). All three players are with their national teams for World Cup qualifying.
football_tips
21-08-08, 22:02
Good value on Chicago IMO
Although both teams will miss key players due to International games last night, I rate LA missing more crucial.
I've watched MLS highlights and LA is really an average team in MLS at best, w/o the trio of Becks, Donovan & Ruiz. The rest of the team look amateurish with the exception of Bundle.
Becks with team high of 8 assist and 5 goals
Donovan league top scorer 14 goals and 7 assist
Ruiz transferring to Toronto
I doubt a couple of training session with new coach Arena (ex US national team coach) will turn LA into world beaters miraculously.
Chicago will miss their midfield maestro Blanco in this match as well, should have adequate cover in the form of Nyarko.
And they are playing more organise football than LA at the moment, losing only once for the last 6 games.
With LA conceding average 2 goals per game (42 goals against in 20 games), I fancy Chicago to score a couple.
W/o the fire power of the above mentioned players for LA, I doubt the can score more than 1 goal in this match.
LA recent matches:
Aug 15, 2008 Major League Soccer CD Chivas USA 2 - 2 Los Angeles Galaxy
Aug 3, 2008 Major League Soccer San Jose Earthq... 3 - 2 Los Angeles Galaxy
Jul 28, 2008 Major League Soccer FC Dallas 4 - 0 Los Angeles Galaxy
Jul 20, 2008 Major League Soccer Red Bull New York 2 - 2 Los Angeles Galaxy
Jul 11, 2008 Major League Soccer Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - 1 CD Chivas
Jul 5, 2008 Major League Soccer Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - 2 NE Revolution
Jun 29, 2008 Major League Soccer DC United 4 - 1 Los Angeles Galaxy
Chicago recent matches:
Aug 17, 2008 Major League Soccer Chicago Fire 0 - 1 DC United
Aug 10, 2008 Major League Soccer NE Revolution 1 - 2 Chicago Fire
Aug 3, 2008 Major League Soccer Chicago Fire 1 - 0 CD Chivas USA
Jul 28, 2008 Major League Soccer Kansas City Wiz... 0 - 0 Chicago Fire
Jul 20, 2008 Major League Soccer Chicago Fire 0 - 0 Real Salt Lake
Jul 13, 2008 Major League Soccer Chicago Fire 2 - 1 Toronto FC
Jul 8, 2008 US Open Cup DC United 2 - 1 Chicago Fire
I'm going to back Chicago DNB @2.30 (5/10)
For those who are risk adverse, can consider Chicago +1/4 HC @1.93
Will risk 2.5 units on Correct Score punt since the LA lacking fire power and miserable defense:
0-3 @33
1-3 @27
0-4 @93
1-4 @74
Chicago score 5 & above @101
All 0.5 unit
Good luck everyone, bet at your own risk and sensibly
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
0