Virtual Roundtable
7 ASN Panelists Predict the MLS Playoffs—Just For You
Is New England for real? Does D.C. United have a chance? Will Real Salt Lake counterpunch L.A. to death at the StubHub Center? We've figured it all out for you. Please tell us what we got wrong.
JOHN GODFREY: So here we are, halfway through the MLS conference semifinals. The New York Red Bulls made D.C. United look like the Washington Generals and are comfortably ensconced in the driver’s seat ahead of Saturday’s rematch (2:30 pm, NBC). New England came out swinging—I called it!—and beat the Crew in Columbus, 4-2, making the second leg (5pm ET Sunday, ESPN2) somewhat irrelevant.
The Western Conference matches both ended in ties, so anything could happen in the Los Angeles - Real Salt Lake (7:30pm ET Sunday, ESPN2) contest and Monday’s Seattle – FC Dallas (10:30 ET, NBCSN) game.
What surprised you about these four games, Blake Thomsen? Or did everything play out just as you thought it would? Including, of course, the brace from Charlie Davies….
BLAKE THOMSEN: As usual, everything played out exactly as I anticipated. Loyal ASN readers know that when I wrote that the New England-Columbus showdown would finish 0-0 or 1-0, what I actually meant is that New England would drop the hammer and further establish itself as the favorite in the East with a stunning four-goal haul. Wait, never mind. Let's just say I badly missed the mark on that one.
What surprised me even further, though, was New York's statement of intent against D.C. United. We've seen these Red Bulls fail in the playoffs so many times that it was a bit jarring to see them win so convincingly over a difficult opponent. And how about Thierry Henry?
Everything about this play is just magnificent, from the run into space and then the truly outrageous back heel. All told, that goal surprised me most this weekend, as my jaw is still a bit sore from dropping so violently once Bradley Wright-Phillips swept home.
JOHN GODFREY: I don't want us to get ahead of ourselves, but the prospect of a Revolution - Red Bulls conference final is incredibly alluring. It's almost enough to convince New Yorkers to get on the PATH train and visit Harrison, N.J....
BRIAN SCIARETTA: John, you're going to get your wish. The Red Bulls look extremely motivated right now. They are playing with a chip on their shoulders and look truly motivated to erase the disappointment of last year's playoffs. Think about it: The Red Bulls/Metrostars have had one home playoff win in 15 years. Now they have had two in four days. I think they are going to head to D.C. with a purpose and finish them off.
New England and Columbus is over. There is no way Columbus can win by three goals in New England. It would take the greatest meltdown in league history for it to happen. What I like about the Revs is that the players look like they are having fun out there. There is no frustration at all. When they score one, they want to score another. They relentless attack and play to their strengths.
Red Bulls - New England is very likely the Eastern Conference Final and what an intense one that will be. Still, New England is the team to beat right now. It is amazing the impact Jermaine Jones has had on the outlook of the entire conference.
JOHN GODFREY: Brooke—who do you see surviving in the east, and why?
BROOKE TUNSTALL:
I’ve been all in for New England since the team signed Jermaine Jones. They’ve lost once since he joined and as impressive as Columbus was down the stretch, I can’t see them making up two goals on the road. They’re gonna have to push so many man forward and they’re going to be so vulnerable on the counter and the Revs just have too many weapons to make them pay for leaving the back exposed. That stoppage-time PK they got does make things mildly interesting, however.
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In the other series, I think United has a puncher’s chance though I admit I’m basing this as much on Ben Olsen’s personality and New York’s playoff history than anything I’ve actually seen on the field of late. But—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—Red Bull has that Team On A Mission look to them we’ve seen in the playoffs in so many American sports.
JOHN GODFREY: Does anybody think D.C. United has a chance? Bueller? Anyone…? Anyone…?
NOAH DAVIS: Of course. Taking a two-goal lead to D.C. and then blowing said lead to their most hated rivals would be the most Red Bull thing ever.
TRAVIS CLARK: Sure United has a chance—it has a solid enough defense to keep a
clean sheet at home and score the two goals needed. I think the only
way D.C. triumphs is via penalties after a 2-0 win.
BROOKE TUNSTALL: I think Lloyd Christmas sums this one up best.
JOHN GODFREY: Let’s go west, to a young man: Jon Arnold—what did you take away from the two Western Conference semis? Has a frontrunner emerged?
TOTAL DREAMBOAT JON ARNOLD: I covered the first leg of the FC Dallas-Seattle series, and while Dallas' players and coaches seemed content enough to not lose, I couldn't help but feel like they knew they'd blown it by conceding that second-half away goal.
It's going to be tough enough to stop Seattle on its home turf, but to give up a goal to Ozzie Alonso of all people after keeping Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, and hell, Lamar Neagle off the board had to just be a punch in the gut. I don't think Seattle would've been panicking even if it had lost. Needing only a tie will be no problem.
It's hard to say anyone distinguished themselves in the Real Salt Lake – LA Galaxy series. How much do you take from a 0-0 in the first round? Maybe you say that RSL actually gets a leg up since it can land an away goal, but even then there doesn't look to be much between these teams. Last week, you made me take a negative tip and talk about why I didn't want to watch something, but I definitely want to see that second leg.
JOHN GODFREY: Let’s go even further west, to an even younger man: Blake Thomsen—is this Seattle’s Cup to lose? Will a fully staffed Galaxy squad succeed? Illuminate us.
BLAKE THOMSEN: In spite of the Shield, in spite of the 4-2 aggregate win for Seattle over L.A. in the last week of the season, this is still the Galaxy's Cup to lose. Yes, the Sounders delivered a big statement of intent in that final week. But we're still dealing with an L.A. side that has the bulk of its core from the 2011 and 2012 championship roster. Further, we must not forget that the Galaxy had a +32 goal differential this season, with the bulk of that coming in the second half of the season once Gyasi Zardes burst into life and Landon Donovan went into "Eff you, Jurgen" domination mode.
With all due respect to TDJA, it doesn't matter that neither Salt Lake nor L.A. distinguished itself in the first leg. The Galaxy will destroy RSL in the second leg because the game is at the StubHub Center and, barring Seattle's stunning comeback a few weeks back, no one goes into the StubHub Center and lives to tell about it.
And then Seattle will come into Fortress StubHub, and L.A. will destroy them, too. Make no mistake: it's L.A.'s Cup to lose, and it's not particularly close. Feel free to attack that statement, haterz.
JOHN GODFREY: Kids these days…. Speed round everybody: Which two teams meet in the MLS Cup Final on Pearl Harbor Day?
TRAVIS CLARK: MLS HQ gets its wish, with a Seattle-NYRB matchup.
NOAH DAVIS: D.C. and Dallas. Upset specials all the way.
BLAKE THOMSEN: L.A. and New England.
BROOKE TUNSTALL: L.A. and New England.
JON ARNOLD: The Seattle Sounders and the New England Revolution. Speed kills.
JOHN GODFREY: I want to see L.A. and New England but I think we'll get Seattle and New York.
Let the comments commence! Give us your predictions below, soccer people.
New England and Columbus is over. There is no way Columbus can win by three goals in New England. It would take the greatest meltdown in league history for it to happen. What I like about the Revs is that the players look like they are having fun out there. There is no frustration at all. When they score one, they want to score another. They relentless attack and play to their strengths.
Red Bulls - New England is very likely the Eastern Conference Final and what an intense one that will be. Still, New England is the team to beat right now. It is amazing the impact Jermaine Jones has had on the outlook of the entire conference.
JOHN GODFREY: Brooke—who do you see surviving in the east, and why?
BROOKE TUNSTALL:
I’ve been all in for New England since the team signed Jermaine Jones. They’ve lost once since he joined and as impressive as Columbus was down the stretch, I can’t see them making up two goals on the road. They’re gonna have to push so many man forward and they’re going to be so vulnerable on the counter and the Revs just have too many weapons to make them pay for leaving the back exposed. That stoppage-time PK they got does make things mildly interesting, however.
In the other series, I think United has a puncher’s chance though I admit I’m basing this as much on Ben Olsen’s personality and New York’s playoff history than anything I’ve actually seen on the field of late. But—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—Red Bull has that Team On A Mission look to them we’ve seen in the playoffs in so many American sports.
JOHN GODFREY: Does anybody think D.C. United has a chance? Bueller? Anyone…? Anyone…?
NOAH DAVIS: Of course. Taking a two-goal lead to D.C. and then blowing said lead to their most hated rivals would be the most Red Bull thing ever.
TRAVIS CLARK: Sure United has a chance—it has a solid enough defense to keep a
clean sheet at home and score the two goals needed. I think the only
way D.C. triumphs is via penalties after a 2-0 win.
BROOKE TUNSTALL: I think Lloyd Christmas sums this one up best.
JOHN GODFREY: Let’s go west, to a young man: Jon Arnold—what did you take away from the two Western Conference semis? Has a frontrunner emerged?
TOTAL DREAMBOAT JON ARNOLD: I covered the first leg of the FC Dallas-Seattle series, and while Dallas' players and coaches seemed content enough to not lose, I couldn't help but feel like they knew they'd blown it by conceding that second-half away goal.
It's going to be tough enough to stop Seattle on its home turf, but to give up a goal to Ozzie Alonso of all people after keeping Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, and hell, Lamar Neagle off the board had to just be a punch in the gut. I don't think Seattle would've been panicking even if it had lost. Needing only a tie will be no problem.
It's hard to say anyone distinguished themselves in the Real Salt Lake – LA Galaxy series. How much do you take from a 0-0 in the first round? Maybe you say that RSL actually gets a leg up since it can land an away goal, but even then there doesn't look to be much between these teams. Last week, you made me take a negative tip and talk about why I didn't want to watch something, but I definitely want to see that second leg.
JOHN GODFREY: Let’s go even further west, to an even younger man: Blake Thomsen—is this Seattle’s Cup to lose? Will a fully staffed Galaxy squad succeed? Illuminate us.
BLAKE THOMSEN: In spite of the Shield, in spite of the 4-2 aggregate win for Seattle over L.A. in the last week of the season, this is still the Galaxy's Cup to lose. Yes, the Sounders delivered a big statement of intent in that final week. But we're still dealing with an L.A. side that has the bulk of its core from the 2011 and 2012 championship roster. Further, we must not forget that the Galaxy had a +32 goal differential this season, with the bulk of that coming in the second half of the season once Gyasi Zardes burst into life and Landon Donovan went into "Eff you, Jurgen" domination mode.
With all due respect to TDJA, it doesn't matter that neither Salt Lake nor L.A. distinguished itself in the first leg. The Galaxy will destroy RSL in the second leg because the game is at the StubHub Center and, barring Seattle's stunning comeback a few weeks back, no one goes into the StubHub Center and lives to tell about it.
And then Seattle will come into Fortress StubHub, and L.A. will destroy them, too. Make no mistake: it's L.A.'s Cup to lose, and it's not particularly close. Feel free to attack that statement, haterz.
JOHN GODFREY: Kids these days…. Speed round everybody: Which two teams meet in the MLS Cup Final on Pearl Harbor Day?
TRAVIS CLARK: MLS HQ gets its wish, with a Seattle-NYRB matchup.
NOAH DAVIS: D.C. and Dallas. Upset specials all the way.
BLAKE THOMSEN: L.A. and New England.
BROOKE TUNSTALL: L.A. and New England.
JON ARNOLD: The Seattle Sounders and the New England Revolution. Speed kills.
JOHN GODFREY: I want to see L.A. and New England but I think we'll get Seattle and New York.
Let the comments commence! Give us your predictions below, soccer people.
