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Friday MLS Forecast: Week 23
The Forecast discusses a rugby star's stint in Colorado before evaluating the Week 23 fixtures.
Sep 3, 2010 3:26:00 AM
By Kyle McCarthy
Staying out of the English tabloids takes some work. Fortunately for Danny Cipriani, he decided to spend a week in the perfect place to shy away from prying eyes.
The 22-year-old rugby union star and seven-times capped England international stopped off in Commerce City this week to train with Colorado as he prepares to link up with Super 15 expansion club Melbourne Rebels in early October.
“Dan has a friendship with members of our coaching staff and is currently training with the club,” Colorado coach Gary Smith told the Rapids' official website. “He wanted to take advantage of training at altitude and to engage in competitive sessions with our club as we prepare for the last part of our season.”
Spending time with the Rapids allows Cipriani a bit of mile-high privacy as he continues his preseason training before starting a two-year contract in Australia.
Cipriani might enjoy the peace and quiet after a tumultuous couple of years in the spotlight. After bursting onto the scene by nearly securing a place on the England roster prior to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Cipriani continued to grab the headlines with his hard-partying, model-dating ways. The eventual dissolution of his relationship with English television presenter Kelly Brook and his controversial decision to leave London Wasps for a move Down Under only piqued further interest.
As he prepared to embark on his new journey, Cipriani turned to an old love to provide the foundation for success. Before he emerged as a rugby star, Cipriani spent a portion of his teenage years playing in the junior teams at Queens Park Rangers. He returned to the London club for a spell this summer and also joined up with Tottenham Hotspur to train for a couple of weeks.
“He's a good player,” former England international and current Tottenham technical director for player development Tim Sherwood told the Daily Mail. “When he put the kit on, he didn't look like a rugby player, he looked like a footballer. Perhaps he could make it in the Premier League, in time. I don't see any reason why not.”
Cipriani's time with the Rapids probably won't advance that particular diversion to his current career path, but it will allow him the opportunity to work on his fitness in relative anonymity before his Australian journey commences. So long as the tabloids don't hear of a reason to send a writer or two on the long trek from London to Denver.
Last week: 5/8 (63%)
For the season: 71/141 (50%)
Saturday
Kansas City @ Philadelphia – 3:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
This match should set up nicely for the neutrals – free-flowing attacking football is always on the docket at PPL Park and the Wizards like to push forward as well – but the result may hinge on whether Kansas City will approach this match with the right mentality after last weekend's surprising win in Los Angeles.
Prediction: Draw.
Los Angeles @ Chicago – 4:00p.m. (Telefutura) – Goal.com Preview
While Bruce Arena's side hasn't performed particularly well as of late, it's not difficult to see the Galaxy escaping with all three points in this match with the influential Freddie Ljungberg (suspension) and Marco Pappa (international duty) ruled out for for the Fire.
Prediction: Los Angeles win.
Seattle @ New England – 7:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
Fredy Montero will feast if the Revs fail to cut out their momentary bouts of defensive flimsiness.
Prediction: Seattle win
Columbus @ D.C. United – 7:30p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel) – Goal.com Preview
After somehow finding a way to win the more difficult of the two meetings between these two sides in Wednesday night's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal, the Crew should enjoy a somewhat more straightforward task to end its D.C. sojourn.
Prediction: Columbus win.
Toronto FC @ FC Dallas – 8:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
Both teams will have to cope with a rash of injuries, international call-ups and suspensions, but it's easier to see FCD winning without Atiba Harris, Daniel Hernandez and Dax McCarty than it is to see TFC snatching a rare road result without its Canadian contingent.
Prediction: FC Dallas win.
Chivas USA @ Colorado – 9:00p.m. – Goal.com Preview
How will the Red-and-White respond to losing what Justin Braun dubbed the biggest game in the club's history?
Prediction: Colorado win.
New York @ Real Salt Lake – 9:00p.m. – Goal.com Preview
If the Red Bulls plan to halt RSL's home unbeaten streak at 21 matches, they will have to improve their work in possession to compete with the Claret-and-Cobalt's midfield four. It is a tough task on the best of days, but the circumstances don't favor Hans Backe's side here. With Rafael Marquez away with Mexico and Dane Richards off with Jamaica, it's hard to see New York finding a way to achieve parity in the center of the park.
Prediction: Real Salt Lake win.
Sunday
San Jose @ Houston – 8:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
In order to atone for last Saturday's thrashing in Commerce City with a victory, the Dynamo will have to hope Brian Ching (calf) can confound the projections and recover quickly enough to assume his usual spot in the starting XI. If Ching can't feature, Houston may have to settle for more incremental progress.
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 MLSsoccer.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Staying out of the English tabloids takes some work. Fortunately for Danny Cipriani, he decided to spend a week in the perfect place to shy away from prying eyes.
The 22-year-old rugby union star and seven-times capped England international stopped off in Commerce City this week to train with Colorado as he prepares to link up with Super 15 expansion club Melbourne Rebels in early October.
“Dan has a friendship with members of our coaching staff and is currently training with the club,” Colorado coach Gary Smith told the Rapids' official website. “He wanted to take advantage of training at altitude and to engage in competitive sessions with our club as we prepare for the last part of our season.”
Spending time with the Rapids allows Cipriani a bit of mile-high privacy as he continues his preseason training before starting a two-year contract in Australia.
Cipriani might enjoy the peace and quiet after a tumultuous couple of years in the spotlight. After bursting onto the scene by nearly securing a place on the England roster prior to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Cipriani continued to grab the headlines with his hard-partying, model-dating ways. The eventual dissolution of his relationship with English television presenter Kelly Brook and his controversial decision to leave London Wasps for a move Down Under only piqued further interest.
As he prepared to embark on his new journey, Cipriani turned to an old love to provide the foundation for success. Before he emerged as a rugby star, Cipriani spent a portion of his teenage years playing in the junior teams at Queens Park Rangers. He returned to the London club for a spell this summer and also joined up with Tottenham Hotspur to train for a couple of weeks.
“He's a good player,” former England international and current Tottenham technical director for player development Tim Sherwood told the Daily Mail. “When he put the kit on, he didn't look like a rugby player, he looked like a footballer. Perhaps he could make it in the Premier League, in time. I don't see any reason why not.”
Cipriani's time with the Rapids probably won't advance that particular diversion to his current career path, but it will allow him the opportunity to work on his fitness in relative anonymity before his Australian journey commences. So long as the tabloids don't hear of a reason to send a writer or two on the long trek from London to Denver.
Last week: 5/8 (63%)
For the season: 71/141 (50%)
Saturday
Kansas City @ Philadelphia – 3:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
This match should set up nicely for the neutrals – free-flowing attacking football is always on the docket at PPL Park and the Wizards like to push forward as well – but the result may hinge on whether Kansas City will approach this match with the right mentality after last weekend's surprising win in Los Angeles.
Prediction: Draw.
Los Angeles @ Chicago – 4:00p.m. (Telefutura) – Goal.com Preview
While Bruce Arena's side hasn't performed particularly well as of late, it's not difficult to see the Galaxy escaping with all three points in this match with the influential Freddie Ljungberg (suspension) and Marco Pappa (international duty) ruled out for for the Fire.
Prediction: Los Angeles win.
Seattle @ New England – 7:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
Fredy Montero will feast if the Revs fail to cut out their momentary bouts of defensive flimsiness.
Prediction: Seattle win
Columbus @ D.C. United – 7:30p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel) – Goal.com Preview
After somehow finding a way to win the more difficult of the two meetings between these two sides in Wednesday night's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal, the Crew should enjoy a somewhat more straightforward task to end its D.C. sojourn.
Prediction: Columbus win.
Toronto FC @ FC Dallas – 8:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
Both teams will have to cope with a rash of injuries, international call-ups and suspensions, but it's easier to see FCD winning without Atiba Harris, Daniel Hernandez and Dax McCarty than it is to see TFC snatching a rare road result without its Canadian contingent.
Prediction: FC Dallas win.
Chivas USA @ Colorado – 9:00p.m. – Goal.com Preview
How will the Red-and-White respond to losing what Justin Braun dubbed the biggest game in the club's history?
Prediction: Colorado win.
New York @ Real Salt Lake – 9:00p.m. – Goal.com Preview
If the Red Bulls plan to halt RSL's home unbeaten streak at 21 matches, they will have to improve their work in possession to compete with the Claret-and-Cobalt's midfield four. It is a tough task on the best of days, but the circumstances don't favor Hans Backe's side here. With Rafael Marquez away with Mexico and Dane Richards off with Jamaica, it's hard to see New York finding a way to achieve parity in the center of the park.
Prediction: Real Salt Lake win.
Sunday
San Jose @ Houston – 8:30p.m. – Goal.com Preview
In order to atone for last Saturday's thrashing in Commerce City with a victory, the Dynamo will have to hope Brian Ching (calf) can confound the projections and recover quickly enough to assume his usual spot in the starting XI. If Ching can't feature, Houston may have to settle for more incremental progress.
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 MLSsoccer.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page.
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