Soccer News and the Weekend MLS Preview

The biggest MLS story today is the resignation of FC Dallas General Manager Greg Elliott. He will be replaced by John Alper, who has been a longtime executive within the FC Dallas organization. Word on Bigsoccer is that Elliott is getting the can after the problems and delays related to the opening of Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. According to one Bigsoccer poster, "The 4+ month delay in opening PHP cost Hunt Sports Group an extra $15 million." Ouch.

The Metrostars are hoping to sign Argentine defensive midfielder Daniel Garipe. Ives Galarcep writes, "Garipe is a central midfielder expected to battle with Michael Bradley and Mark Lisi for one of the team's defensive midfield slots." Hopefully, if this Garipe is at all worth bringing in, he won't have to battle for his spot. Michael Bradley (who, as it happens, is the son of head coach Bob Bradley) is not an MLS caliber defensive midfielder, and Lisi isn't a defensive midfielder at all. If Garipe can't beat out those two, I don't suspect that the team would pick up his option for the 2006 season.

In an article in today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer talks about his hope of bringing the Sounders into MLS. Of course, he needs an investor and a viable stadium plan to do it, but he is one of the few USL executives who thinks it would be more beneficial to join MLS than to remain in the USL. Hanauer had this to say about the gap in talent between MLS and the USL:

"The difference right now is about three players. If we could add three top-end players to our roster we could play with any MLS team," Hanauer said. "The MLS and USL are very similar, other than those two or three special players that are making big money that the USL just can't afford."

I'm not so sure that three top-end players would be enough to allow the Sounders to compete over an entire MLS season. That said, it would certainly be one of the deeper squads in MLS.

Weekend MLS preview:

Kansas City v. Columbus - Kansas City was knocked out of the US Open Cup by USL side Minnesota Thunder on Wednesday. That loss though should not be indicative of the club's recent success in MLS competition. I expect that to continue at home against a Columbus side that has struggled with consistent form this season. Prediction: Wizards 2:0 Columbus

New England v. D.C. - What two weeks ago would have been a cracker of a match-up, now may be a much less exciting affair. New England will be without keeper Matt Reis or midfield engine Clint Dempsey. However, Pat Noonan should be available for his first MLS match since the end of the Concacaf Gold Cup. D.C. will be without Brian Namoff (suspension) and likely Jaime Moreno (injury sustained in the Real Madrid "friendly"), but should have both Freddy Adu and Ben Olsen available for this match. Prediction: Revolution 1:1 United

Dallas v. Chivas - Three weeks ago, it would have been laughable to suggest a Chivas victory, away from Los Angeles no less. However, with Chivas' new additions and Dallas' struggling form it isn't outside the realm of possibility. While I don't see victory in Chivas' horizon, unless new signing Mark Wilson is ready to play the full 90, I don't see a victory in Dallas' either. Prediction: FC Dallas 2:2 CD Chivas USA

San Jose v. Los Angeles - Ah, the true "Super Classico" of MLS. San Jose expects a crowd of over 20,000 fans for this nationally televised match (8:00 PST, ESPN2), and expect a good majority of them to come out swinging at Landon Donovan (again). However, LA's road form, once laughable, seems to have improved (a road victory in D.C. last week, and an Open Cup victory against San Jose in Spartan on Wednesday), and San Jose's form seems to have hit a brief snag. That said, Ricardo Clark will be available for this match (although Brad Davis will be out), which should boost San Jose's fortunes immensely. Prediction: Earthquakes 2:1 Galaxy

Last week: 3-2