The Week That Was - October 29th

Here are the updated standings:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3qPRqJFXHoRaVhYdm0yWUxoZ2c/edit?usp=drive_web

Toronto FC

We did our part but the necessary results did not fall our way to eliminate Montreal from the playoffs but what we did do was make them have to take the hardest path to MLS Cup and probably, with the poor form they showed against us, will not make it past the first round.

But on to what we did right.  Earnshaw made a goal-scorer’s deflection to put us up early in the game and we continued to push and could have scored 2 or 3 more if not for the framework and Troy Perkins.  Finally Bendik showed again why Stefan Frei has been able to get games making two incredible game saving stops in the 53^rd and 87^th minute.

But it could have been completely different if the referee had made the correct call in the Earnshaw skirmish where he hit a Montreal player in the face and should have received a red card for his actions.  This kind of officiating is one of the major roadblocks to the growth of MLS and the refs need to be called out on every bad call not just the ones that affect each supporters own team.  If we do not speak up nothing will be changed in the quality of officials in MLS.

The win was a good way to end the season but now is when the real work begins and we will see if something will finally change with this club and if this group of people in control does not change it I don’t see many people being around for when the group that does change it comes around.

Movers of the Week

The Western Conference kept the same order of the 5 playoffs teams after this weekend’s games.  But the Eastern Conference saw a lot of shake ups.  Chicago fell from 4^th to 6^th just outside of the playoffs, which New England took advantage of and jumped from 6^th to 3^rd. Houston followed suit and moved up from 5^th to 4^th as Montreal slipped from 3^rd to 5^th.  All of this movement will surely lead to some exciting playoff soccer.

Predictions

Last Week

Chivas USA @ Real Salt Lake	RSL Win	Correct RSL Win 2-1
Sporting Kansas City @ Philadelphia Union	SKC Win	Correct SKC Win 2-1
Montreal Impact @ Toronto FC	TFC Win	Correct TFC Win 1-0
FC Dallas @ San Jose Earthquakes	SJ Win	Correct SJ Win 2-1
Portland Timbers @ Chivas USA	POR Win	Correct POR Win 5-0
Houston Dynamo @ DC United	HOU Win	Correct HOU Win 2-1
New England Revolution @ Columbus Crew	NE Win	Correct NE Win 1-0
Chicago Fire @ New York Red Bulls	NY Win	Correct NY Win 5-2
Colorado Rapids @ Vancouver Whitecaps	VAN Win	Correct VAN Win 3-0
LA Galaxy @ Seattle Sounders	SEA Win	Wrong Draw 1-1

Last Week’s Prediction Record	9-1
All Time Record	67-62

For a 51.94% success rate in my predictions across the season since July 23^rd

Playoffs

Knockout Round

Colorado Rapids @ Seattle Sounders	SEA Win
Montreal Impact @ Houston Dynamo	HOU Win

Conference Semifinals (Home & Away)

Houston Dynamo vs New York Red Bulls	NY Win
New England Revolution vs Sporting Kansas City	SKC Win
Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers	POR Win
LA Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake	LA Win

Conference Finals (Home & Away)

New York Red Bulls vs Sporting Kansas City	SKC Win
Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy	POR Win

MLS Cup Final

Portland Timbers @ Sporting Kansas City

POR Win