Friday MLS Forecast: Week Nine

By Kyle McCarthy

Forget about Cristiano Ronaldo. The English press spent more time fixated on another “will he or won't he?” transfer saga over the last five months.

This week brought bad news for those transfer-hungry reporters. It looks like the Chris Birchall-to-MLS story may finally reach a conclusion.

The buzz started when Carlisle United manager Greg Abbott talked about losing the on-loan Trinidad and Tobago international to MLS at the turn of 2009. Parent club Coventry City released Birchall in the January transfer window, but Carlisle couldn't seal his signature. “We couldn't compete with the deal that he has been offered in America,” Abbott lamented, apparently falling for the empty cliché that so many European agents have uttered over the years.

A mooted move to San Jose didn't materialize and Birchall's American deal turned into a short-term deal with League One relegation fighters Brighton. “We feel Chris has earned an opportunity to show us he deserves a long-term contract,” then-manager Micky Adams said. “Once he is fully fit, we are sure he will be a real asset to the squad.”

That short-term deal didn't snuff out those pesky MLS rumors. Los Angeles took pole position in the Birchall sweepstakes and, according to the BBC, offered him a two-year deal in April. Those MLS dreams were thwarted again after Brighton chairman Dick Knight refused to let Birchall leave on a free transfer during the middle of the club's relegation fight.

The end of a season brought a change in Birchall's status. New Brighton boss Russell Slade saved the club from relegation to League Two and then promptly released 14 members of his squad. Luckily enough for Birchall, his name made the list.

Birchall is now training with the Galaxy with an eye towards a move when the transfer window reopens in July, the BBC reported earlier this week. The Galaxy even threw a picture of the midfielder up on its blog to confirm the sighting.

Guess Ronaldo will have to do after all.

Last week: 4/7 (57%)

For the season: 24/49 (49%)

Saturday

Chicago @ Toronto FC – 4:00p.m. (CBC)

The Fire picked up its fifth consecutive draw in last Saturday's 1-1 draw against New England and they aren't happy about it. “These ties are starting to feel like losses,” Chicago midfielder John Thorrington said. “We're undefeated, which is one good thing, but we need to turn these ties into wins.” Toronto watched D.C. United equalize twice after the 85th minute and they likely aren't too happy about that either even if 3-3 is a good result in Washington. All this karma – and the two draws in four matches TFC has already picked up at BMO Field this season – points to even honors.

Prediction: Draw

Colorado @ New England – 7:30p.m.

Watch the wide players in this one. Colorado has a pair of good ones in Colin Clark and Terry Cooke. New England hasn't gotten particularly good two-way play out of its wingers this season, so two of Kenny Mansally, Sainey Nyassi, Wells Thompson and Chris Tierney will have to add something offensively while also paying rapt defensive attention to Clark and Cooke. Road teams don't usually fare well in this series (one win in the past 14 matches, though Colorado picked it up with a 1-0 victory at Gillette last April), so the smart money takes the home side and hopes Steve Ralston can play from the start to spark the Revs' struggling offense (6 goals in 7 games).

Prediction: New England win.

Houston @ New York – 7:30p.m.

Speaking of teams that aren't lighting the lamp frequently (7 goals in 7 games), the Dynamo travels to New York to grapple with the suddenly lively Red Bulls. Recent form favors the visitors: Houston has won three in a row and hasn't conceded in 403 minutes. New York has some weapons to end that streak. In the first game of the season series, the two teams played out a 0-0 draw in Houston on April 11. Expect more goals in this encounter, but a similar result.

Prediction: Draw.

Seattle @ FC Dallas – 8:30p.m.

It's always interesting to see Sigi Schmid play the media when he has team selection issues. With James Riley suspended and Nathan Sturgis struggling with an injury, Schmid has a couple of decisions to make at the back. Here's what the veteran coach told reporters (as recounted by Sounders Insider, the Tacoma News-Tribune's soccer blog) about his looming choice: “We’ve had different guys who have played outside back,” Schmid said. “Obviously, Evan Brown is an option there. Tyson Wahl is an option at left outside back. Patrick Ianni is an option at right back as well. … I think we have some options. We can also bring (Taylor) Graham inside and move Jhon Kennedy (Hurtado) outside. There are different ways to look at it for us. That’s something we’ll use this week to decide.” Even if Schmid taps recently retired assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson to fill one of those vacancies, Seattle has a good chance of getting three points at Pizza Hut Park.

Prediction: Seattle win.

Kansas City @ Real Salt Lake – 9:00p.m.

This one is pretty darn close to a must-win for RSL. The next five matches after tomorrow's tilt against the Wizards: @ D.C., @ San Jose, v. Colorado, @ Los Angeles, @ Houston. Sharp readers will note that four of those matches are on the road and RSL doesn't travel well (0-4-0, 0 GF, 7 GA). RSL head coach Jason Kreis canceled training on Thursday and took his team on a hike. Whatever Kreis does to prepare for home matches, it tends to work (3-0-1, 14 GF, 4 GA). Kansas City does have two good road results already this season (a 1-0 win in Seattle over a ten-man Sounders FC and a 2-2 comeback draw in Chicago), but don't expect a third with the stakes in play for the home side.

Prediction: Real Salt Lake win.

D.C. United @ Chivas USA – 11:00p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)

The conference leaders clash on national television. Set your alarm clocks for 10:55p.m. on the East Coast if you're not used to staying up that late on a Saturday night because this one is probably worth seeing. Then again, Chivas USA sure knows how to kill off a game without sparking much interest in it, so you could fall right back to sleep if they pick up an early goal. The Goats are ruthless. Can they continue that mean streak against a United side that has scored five of its league-leading 15 goals after the 75th minute? It should be an interesting encounter and a draw makes the most sense here. But given Chivas USA's home form (5-0-0, 9 GF, 2 GA), they deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Prediction: Chivas USA win.

Sunday

Columbus @ Los Angeles – 3:00p.m. (Telefutura)

Will Columbus kick on after getting that crucial first win last weekend over Kansas City? That's the big question heading into this contest. For the Crew, that one positive result could turn into three or four pretty quickly with the talent in their squad. Los Angeles has ground out results all season and has come in for criticism in some quarters for its negativity. The Galaxy might be wise to stick with similarly defensive tactics in this one, even though the temptation will be to open up a bit and push for a victory.

Prediction: Draw.

Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.