World Soccer Magazine - October Issue

The November 2009 issue of World Soccer hit news stands and bookstores this past week. The best soccer magazine in the world, whether you are looking for the latest soccer news from around the globe or you are new the game and want to learn more. Here is a preview of what this month's issue features:

• An in-depth breakdown of the world's greatest striker. World Soccer Magazine break down the best 20 strikers in the world (statistically). 
• World Cup Countdown: Updates from each of the qualifying regions and profiles for qualifying teams 11 through 22 (including, Ivory Coast, Germany, Italy, USA, Mexico, Argentina, and more).
• A breakdown of the top 27 biggest shirt deals across the world (#1 Liverpool - 20 million pounds a year from Standard Chartered Bank starting next year; #2 Manchester United - 20 million pounds a year from AON starting next year).
• Dispatch Updates from Spain, Brazil, Germany, South Africa, Italy, Holland, and more.
• Talent Scout: Profiles of up and coming stars from Argentina, Slovakia, Germany, and five Barcelona youth prospects. 
• Interviews with Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan, Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parriera, and Ireland national coach  Giovanni Trapattoni. 
• Travel spotlight city - Buenos Aires, Argentina.

TV Schedule for the Week of 10/31

Full line-up of weekend action across the EPL, Serie A and La Liga, while the MLS playoffs continue after getting started last night with a 0-0 draw between Houston and Seattle. (Note: While I only list the live games here in this post, Fox Soccer Channel will be airing replays of various UEFA Champions League matches from Tuesday through Friday).


Saturday (31st):
- EPL: Arsenal vs. Tottenham - 8:30am - ESPN2HD
- EPL: Bolton vs. Chelsea - 11am - FSC
- EPL: Manchester United vs. Blackburn - 1:30pm - FSC
- Serie A: AC Milan vs. Parma - 3:30pm - FSC


Sunday (1st):
- Serie A: Livorno vs. Inter Milan - 9am - FSC
- EPL: Birmingham City vs. Manchester City - 11am  FSC
- MLS: Playoff Semi-final #1 - New England vs. Chicago - 2pm - FSC
- MLS: Playoff Semi-final #1 - LA Galaxy vs. Chivas USA - 5pm - ESPN2HD


Tuesday (3rd):
- UEFA CL: Atletico Madrid (ESP) vs. Chelsea (ENG) - 2:30pm - FSC


Wednesday (4th):
- UEFA CL: Rubin Kazan (RUS) vs. Barcelona (ESP) - 12:30pm - FSC
- UEFA CL: Lyon (FRA) vs. Liverpool (ENG) - 2:30pm - FSC


Thursday (5th):
- MLS: Playoff Semi-final #2 - Columbus vs. Real Salt Lake - 8pm - ESPN2HD

2009 MLS Playoff Predictions

The 2009 Playoffs kick-off tomorrow night in Seattle (and they will finish there as well - Seattle is hosting the MLS Cup), so lets take a look into the crystal ball for predictions. This year in the MLS has shown that there was only one dominate factor - parity. First place to eighth place was only a difference of 9 points - 3 victories over the course of 30 games. So after New York's incredible run in last year's playoff and this year standings, the title is anyone's for the taking. Here are my quarter-final predictions:

Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo

- Key Players: Kasey Keller (SEA) & Stuart Holden (HOU)

- Thoughts: Best match-up on paper. Both squads have experienced coaching, deep squads and a lot of exciting, attacking players. Seattle is not your typical expansion club and with knowing the MLS Cup will be in their home stadium, the Sounders will come out striking.

- Prediction: Seattle 3-2 on aggregate.

LA Galaxy vs. Chivas USA

- Key Players: Landon Donovan (LA) & Sacha Kljestan (CHV)

- Thoughts: Both teams play at the Home Depot Center, so the home field advantage is out the window. While David Beckham is the big name, Donovan is the man who will lead this team on Sunday. Chivas has struggled to score in the 2nd half of the season and the Galaxy got the better of the rivalry this season.

- Prediction: Galaxy 3-0 on aggregate

Columbus Crew vs. Real Salt Lake

- Key Players: Guillermo Barros Schletto (COL) & Robbie Findley (RSL)

- Thoughts: Real Salt Lake have been hot and cold all year and look very strong win Robbie Findley is running lose. However, the Crew have the experience, the depth and more over all talent.

- Prediction: Columbus 4-2 on aggregate. 

Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution

- Key Players: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (CHI) & Matt Reis (NEW)

- Thoughts: Both teams are stumbling into the post-season and will be meeting the playoffs for the 7th time in the past 8 years. New England have a long injury report and are the only playoff team with a negative goal differential. The strong attacking Fire squad of Blanco, Wolfe and Nyarko will help Chicago jump out to an early lead at home.

- Prediction: Chicago 2-0 on aggregate.

Lets see how I do this weekend. What are your predictions?

2009 MLS Playoff Preview

The 14th regular season of the MLS has concluded and its playoff time. Changes were made to the playoff structure this season so that the top two teams from each conference automatically got in, and then the next best four teams (regardless of conference) would be in. Each team played a total of 30 games this year and at the end the Columbus Crew won the MLS Supporters Shield for the second straight year. The Shield is given to the team with the best regular season record. Here is how the final MLS table looked:

Club		Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
1	Columbus Crew (E1)	49	30	13	7	10	41	31	+10
2	Los Angeles Galaxy (W1)	48	30	12	6	12	36	31	+5
3	Houston Dynamo (W2)	48	30	13	8	9	39	29	+10
4	Seattle Sounders FC2	47	30	12	7	11	38	29	+9
5	Chicago Fire (E2)	45	30	11	7	12	39	34	+5
6	Chivas USA	45	30	13	11	6	34	31	+3
7	New England Revolution	42	30	11	10	9	33	37	−4
8	Real Salt Lake	40	30	11	12	7	43	35	+8
9	Colorado Rapids	40	30	10	10	10	42	38	+4
10	D.C. United	40	30	9	8	13	43	44	−1
11	FC Dallas	39	30	11	13	6	50	46	+4
12	Toronto FC1	39	30	10	11	9	37	46	−9
13	Kansas City Wizards	33	30	8	13	9	33	42	−9
14	San Jose Earthquakes	30	30	7	14	9	36	50	−14
15	New York Red Bulls	21	30	5	19	6	27	47	−20

It was an incredible tight race this year for the conference titles, as well as the final playoff spots. I think this goes to show that the MLS' strategy of a salary cap is paying off in good competition throughout the league. The playoffs this year the first round will feature 4 home and away series, with the aggregate goal total deciding the winner. It is important to note that the away goal rule is not in effect in the MLS. Then the semi-finals and the championship match will be decided in only 1 game a piece. The playoff bracket breaks down like this:

EAST

(1) Columbus Crew vs. (4) Real Salt Lake

(2) Chicago Fire vs. (3) New England Revolution

WEST

(1) Los Angeles Galaxy vs. (4) Chivas USA

(2) Houston Dynamo vs. (3) Seattle Sounders

Here are the game times and channels for the first leg match-ups (all times are ET).

Thursday:
- Houston Dynamo at Seattle Sounders - 10pm  - ESPN2HD

Saturday:
- Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake - 6pm

Sunday: 
- Chicago Fire at New England Revolution - 2pm - FSC
- LA Galaxy at Chivas USA (They share the same stadium) - 5pm - EPSN2HD

Three of the first four games are on TV, a great time to jump into the MLS action if you haven't been following closely this season. Enjoy.