MLS Matchday 12 Preview
MLS Matchday 12 Preview
It’s Rivalry Week, so of course all of my picks this week will be rivalry games. There are a few I won’t get to given the strict structure of this column, but feel free to check out Chicago vs. St. Louis and LA Galaxy vs San Jose. Those should be fun given it’s basically just soccer’s Cubs Cardinals and the Cali Clasico, one of the OG MLS Rivalries. We also ended up with 6 free games on Apple TV this weekend and a gambling scandal to round it all out. MLS is truly back.
LATE BREAKING NEWS AS I WRITE: Free Trial for MLS Season Pass! Do it! It’s free!
Game of the Matchday: New York vs New York City (Saturday, 6:30pm CT; Apple TV — MLS Season Pass) The Hudson River Derby. Red vs Blue. New York vs New Jersey. Middle Eastern oil money vs German energy drink/racing/extreme sports money. These are the rivalries that define the modern world and are all at stake here. New York City FC has been the better team this year, and don’t even have to play a true away game at Red Bull Arena since it’s been their home more than once. But New York Red Bulls are looking for that new manager bounce after letting Gerhard Struber go to both see his family and also for ignoring racism? Anyway, this game is always good. It’s like a true American rivalry. What’s more American sports than having two teams in NYC and just letting them hate each other while the nation looks on? I contend not much. Tune in and see if bottom of the East Red Bulls can use this as a starting point to turn their season around, or if they get outclassed by City Football Group, who seem to view NYCFC as a key cog in their global project compared to Red Bull’s view that New York is the bottom of their ladder. It’s an MLS game and a commentary on capitalism all rolled into one.
Freebie of the Matchday: Portland vs Vancouver (Saturday, 9:30pm CT; Free on Apple TV) Portland have gotten over their early season injury crisis for the most part and are in the playoffs. This game is at home for them so I definitely won’t rule them out, but I really picked this as a chance to talk about the Vancouver Whitecaps. They’re just fun! They switched to the classic 4321 Christmas Tree formation after playing 5 at the back last year, and head coach Vanni Sartini (who is a fun dude in his own right) turned Julian Gressel from a wingback into an excellent central midfielder, allowing him to get Ryan Gauld more attacking help on the field. Gauld is one of the better playmakers in MLS, and the Scottish Messi (Google it, I did not make this up) has been good so far this year. Brian White and Simon Becher have given them an effective two man striker rotation and they just play fun soccer. Watch the Whitecaps!
Atlanta of the Matchday: Atlanta vs Charlotte (Saturday, 6:30pm CT; Free on Apple TV) Will Giorgios Giakoumakis play? That is the only question that matters today. In the games he’s played, Atlanta have had a focal point on offense, an outlet for long balls, and the ability to control the game. In the games he hasn’t played, they’ve looked dull and unable to control anything. He’s listed as questionable this week, so I am hoping for maybe a late cameo if we are lucky. Equally as important is Franco Ibarra coming back from his red card + training session concussion (he goes hard at all times it seems). Atlanta’s midfield has lacked his tackling and ability to push the ball forward, and the results have shown it. On the Charlotte side, this is a team I cannot figure out. Atlanta blew them out earlier in the year sure, but they just beat NYCFC. But they lost 3–0 to DC United the week before who are fine, but not that good. Most importantly, this is a good preview for Birmingham Legion to scout their Open Cup opponents. I will pass my notes along to the team. I am thinking 1–1 draw this week after giving up an early goal but Giakoumakis comes off the bench to equalize later in the game, and maybe knocking on the door again near the end of the match. My predictions have been abysmal recently, so I am toning down the positivity until the summer transfer window when Atlanta can get in some new, useful midfielders.
Squad Pick of the Matchday:
Espinoza: MVP candidate, Galaxy are bad
Bouanga: MVP candidate, RSL are allowing the 5th most Expected Goals Against per FBref
Ferreira: Austin just give me terrible vibes right now, given up 2 goals 3 games in a row
White: Got a glowing review in my post, Portland 3rd most xGA
Gil: MVP candidate, I just don’t trust Miami even after defeating Atlanta
