This is it, the one
and only postseason in Major League Soccer, as its first phase staged in the always-fought
knockout rounds, for both Eastern and Western Conferences its show time!
Let me start with the
Eastern Conference, a first in the bye rounds having a couple of squads from
New York waiting for a rival to designate in the above-mentioned rounds.
It is now or never
for some squads if they want to have persistence and perseverance to see
another day as well try their best to get into their conference semifinals
alongside the league finals, will just a touch of luck do for these squads.
The surprise in this edition
of MLS playoffs is the rise of the new kids in league play, staging their
second year since their last campaign inception, with Patrick Viera at the helm
of this club, and in his first year a gem of campaign he gave to the Sky blues followers.
Many do not doubt that
the NYCFC can stage a magnificent and one of a kind performance in the league postseason,
if not winning it all, with the arsenal in David Villa, Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard
to mention a few.
Do not put out the Jersey
Boys of the New York Red Bulls too, being so patient and anticipating who will
be their next foe and this club along its Boss Jesse Marsch, will try his best
with his club to put on a show whoever they must have to play in their round.
Despite the arsenal
shown by the Bronx Sky Blues, the Red Bulls have the league utmost striker in Bradley
Wright Phillips, Sacha Klejstan and Felipe who can really make a living
nightmare to any squad.
Imagine yourself
seeing a showdown in the east with booth squads from the Big Apple, going at it
and playing for who will have the upper hand or utmost bragging rights in the
Hudson or Big Apple Derby.
Still these two squads
need to wait for a rival and despite being on a bye, for sure, they are looking
forward to see who it will be from these four squads, going for it and looking
forward to advance into the next legs:
Philadelphia Union
vs Toronto FC
For the Canadian squad
appearing in their second consecutive postseason, the TFC has a frontal an all-around
frontal attack alongside a creative midfield and a backfield poised to stop anyone
that will try to threat its posts.
I can see the Union being
a bit belligerent but do not give the TFC nay openings as their striker Sebastian
Giovinco will make their defensive backfield tremble as for the Boys from
Philly Alejandro Bedoya can start something.
For the Union despite
losing to the red Bulls in the final match of the campaign, still they managed
to earned their pass into the league postseason and this squad will not budge
to any squad as well its backfield can become a living nightmare to the TFC
offensive attack.
Still seeing a
persistent Philadelphia Union make it, the postseason can be so strange and
here we do not have the way of seeing who is the weakest or strongest of squad,
at the end we rely on what we see, I do give a slight edge to the Toronto FC.
Montreal Impact vs
DC United
Opening at RFK the Boys
of the Montreal Impact seeing back-to-back playoff appearances consecutively
and once scraping CCL glory, these have a lot of work ahead of them with a foe
not a stranger of staging its first rodeo.
As the DC United Boys
considered a pioneer in MLS and the first squad to lift several league shields,
international and domestic silverware, this time its Manager will see how
productive his initial eleven he used all campaign is.
For the Impact seeing
an impacting campaign with a rebellious and negative Didier Drogba, for Manager
Mauro Biello his aims is that this ugly episode is buried and going forward in
moving on up, still the overall advantage goes to DC United to win this series.
Nothing written and
the Le Gars of the Impact if Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti come inspired
nothing will stop the City of Mary squad in making the feat and advancing into
the next stages.
Now let’s go to the
showdown in the west, as the squads with byes are the Supporters Shield and US
Open Cups winners in the Dallas FC and a squad that stage an all-around revival
after their modest performances last campaign in the Colorado Rapids.
With a Dallas FC always
left on the edge, this time they are playing a one of a kind football and for
sure this time their man at the helm Oscar Pareja wants it all in a way of a
foursome set of shields and they will be a tough foe to play in the semifinals.
For the Rocky Mountain
squad looking to add another star in their uniforms or league shield, they will
be as ready and with a brick wall, guarding their posts in Tim Howard and
leading their all-around revolution in the field with Jermaine Jones.
As both squads look
very even, I will not be surprised seeing Colorado and Dallas in the West final
as both squads are level, but the Dallas FC has a lot to show off in the field
in its initial eleven and offensive attack that for sure can take them to the league
finals.
The West had a very
funny way of finishing the league in is campaign, with four squads looking to
net three posts for this Conference postseason, Sunday became a sort of judgment
day to see who was going to continue or go home.
Here they are the main
characters that will seek a spot into the West semifinals and for sure three of
these overachievers will try tier best to make a run into the league finals.
Seattle Sounders vs
Sporting Kansas City
After the Seattle
Sounders hit almost rock bottom and make some needed changes in its helm, so
far for Brian Schmezter, it has been an amazing experience posting a 8-2-4
record and for the joy of the Sounders fans.
As the Rave Greens
since coming into Major League Soccer, these never failed to make the playoffs
and almost winning their conference, this time you never know what will this lone
Cascadia representative advance.
For the Peter Vermes the ghost of last
campaign postseason penalty situation, that saw his squad eliminated against
the Portland Timbers and once again facing another Cascadia foe in a resurgent
Sounders squad filled with lots of optimism.
For him and his Boys
with a good afternoon in the field and his initial eleven playing like there is
no tomorrow these can give a surprise to the Emerald City Boys, still this
series undoubtedly I lean towards the Seattle Sounders all the way!
Los Angeles Galaxy
vs Real Salt Lake
The Angelino squad
has not been a bit impressive or playing a top quality football lately, that
prompted one of its all-time stars in Landon Donovan to come out of retirement,
to generate at least something exciting.
A true shame with a squad
with the likes of Gio Dos Santos, Robbie Keane, Ashley Cole, Landon Donovan and
Steven Gerrard not as the reinforcing type the American Galacticos expected and
Manager Bruce Arena.
For Real Salt Lake
and their Manager Jeff Cassar getting a bit of help from the heavens, Lady Luck
or more realistically speaking the Portland Timbers, they for sure will play a
one of a kinfd football and maybe do the ultimate of miracles.
These with all the
momentum will not surrender any inch to the Tinsel Town squad and its strikers,
if its defensive backfield and its top rated Nick Rimando comes out inspired,
maybe these can play the role of spoilers.
Despite the firepower
and the all-around class of chaps in the LA lineup, I doubt of an easy series
with the Real Salt Lake squad, playing with lots of spirit and passion, but to conclude
if Gerra and company overcome the odds, the LA Galaxy has a thin edge and chance
of winning it.
At the end, my
prediction for the Eastern Conference Finals will be between the NYCFC and NY
Red Bulls, giving the NYCFC the pass into the finals.
The shootout at the
Western Conference will be between Dallas FC and the Seattle Sounders, with
Dallas going all the way to its second final and maybe this time will be the
merry.
Still the MLS final
if my calculations are right can be between Dallas FC and the NYCFC, with the advantage
going to the Big Apple Boys completing the circle if they make it all the way
to the Promised Land.
Who is your overall
favorite?
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