<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a title="Toronto FC vs New York Red Bulls - 213 by compscigrad, on Flickr" href="http:\/\/www.flickr.com/photos/jswaby/5249945662/"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a>Photo by compscigrad</div>
After the shine of the first weekend has worn off, MLS gets into the grind with some of its biggest names missing for international duty. &nbsp;Some teams have a second chance to show they’ve improved, while some have another chance to prove they aren’t bottom feeders. &nbsp;Make sure you vote in our poll below for your most interesting match of the week:
<ul>
<li>Congrats to RSL coach Jason Kreis. &nbsp;The team <a href="http:\/\/www.realsaltlake.com/news/2011/03/head-coach-jason-kreis-inks-two-year-extension" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that in addition to retiring his number 9 this summer it has extended his contract through the 2013 season. &nbsp;Kreis is the youngest MLS head coach to win an MLS Cup and has an overall coaching record of 51-42-34.</li>
<li>With Landon Donovan playing for the USMNT this weekend, Bruce Arena will <a href="http:\/\/sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/03/24/beckham.captain.ap/index.html?eref=si_soccer&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fsi_soccer+%28SI.com+-+Soccer%29" target="_blank" rel="noopener">give the captain’s armband</a> to Mr. David Beckham in their match this Saturday versus RSL. &nbsp;This is the first time&nbsp;in three years that&nbsp;Beckham will serve as captain.</li>
<li>Speaking of the national team, they will wear their new red kit this weekend against Argentina. &nbsp;Take a look and learn to love it, because they will wear this one in the 2011 Gold Cup. &nbsp;I am a bigger fan of the blue myself, but it’s still a good look for the team.</li>
<li>The New York Red Bulls <a href="http:\/\/sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/03/24/red.bulls.waive.ibrahim.ap/index.html?eref=si_soccer&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fsi_soccer+%28SI.com+-+Soccer%29" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> forward Salou Ibrahim this week. &nbsp;The well-traveled Ghanan scored three goals in 19 games last season. &nbsp;In addition, the Red Bulls are facing some injury and depth issues, so their match this weekend against Columbus could be quite interesting.</li>
<li>New England’s search for an international striker may be coming to an end. &nbsp;The club <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/new-england-considering-move-forward-lekic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brought in Danish striker Rajko Lekic</a> on trial and may make a move to sign him from his current club Silkeborg.</li>
<li>And finally, <a href="http:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/kc-notebook-ochocino-has-better-day-2-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Ochocinco experiment</a> seems to be going well. &nbsp;Get the latest from the MLS site.</li>
</ul>
[polldaddy poll=4783913]

Week in Review, March 21-25 2011 - World Soccer Talk

Week in Review, March 21-25 2011

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/toronto-bids-hard-for-the/image/3068745?term=toronto+skyline" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
To kick off our MLS Cup 2010 Preview, I am pleased to share that we will be live blogging the match on this site Sunday night beginning at 8:30 PM Eastern.&nbsp; For those of us not in Toronto, please visit this site to share thoughts on the two teams, ESPN’s coverage, or the warmth of your home as opposed to those at the stadium.
On Sunday night, two American teams will invade a Canadian pitch to resolve which is the best team in Major League Soccer.&nbsp; Oddly enough, only one player on either roster is actually Canadian – FC Dallas defender Edson Edward, who was born in Ottawa.&nbsp; BMO Field previously hosted the 2008 MLS All Star Game, so it is not a stranger to large MLS matches.&nbsp; In honor of Canada’s national winter sport (hockey), below is a breakdown of the match up face-off style.

Dallas Attack vs. Colorado Defense:&nbsp; Anyone who has followed any bit of the playoffs knows the Dallas attack starts with David Ferreira.&nbsp; The key to stopping the Dallas attack is stopping the presumptive MLS MVP, which no team in the playoffs has done so far.&nbsp; The Rapids duo of Mastroeni and Larentowicz are next up, and their contribution will be critical to the Rapids’ game plan.&nbsp; Of course the Dallas attack does not stop with Ferreira; the midfield duo of Dax McCarty and Brek Shea are also playmakers who can threaten the Colorado defense.&nbsp; Despite a 1-0 win in their last match and a solid keeper in Matt Pickens, they will be hard pressed to slow down a high-powered Dallas attack.&nbsp; Advantage – Dallas
Colorado Attack v. Dallas Defense:&nbsp; The Dallas defense can be summed up in one word – Hartman.&nbsp; The keeper has been unworldly in the regular season and especially in the playoffs; his first-half saves against the Galaxy kept the momentum with the visiting team.&nbsp; His back line will have a hard time containing the best forwards in MLS, especially Omar Cummings on the wing.&nbsp; If Kevin Hartman wasn’t in goal, I’d give this advantage to the speed and skill of the Rapids.&nbsp; But until the Dallas keeper proves me wrong, I’ll bet on him to keep this category even.&nbsp; Advantage: Push
Hyndman v. Smith: Again, it’s tough to bet against the MLS Coach of the Year.&nbsp; Hyndman’s gameplan against the Galaxy was excellent, using the speed of his team to exploit weaknesses in LA defense.&nbsp; Gary Smith is also a good manager, but usually excellent beats good.&nbsp; Advantage: Dallas
Intangibles: My initial thought is that Colorado would be better equipped to play in a cold match, but they lost their only visit to Canada this year while Dallas drew FC Toronto 1-1.&nbsp; Neither club has won a championship, so that is a push.&nbsp; But their roads to Toronto have been very different.&nbsp; Colorado overcame a scrappy Columbus team and a solid San Jose team to make it this far.&nbsp; Dallas beat the defending champions and the Supporters Shield winners.&nbsp; Advantage: Dallas
Prediction: Dallas looks to have the upper hand in the matchup, but Colorado is a very talented team.&nbsp; I expect a back-and-forth match with Dallas pulling away in the end.&nbsp; Dallas wins 3-1.

2010 MLS Cup Preview - Canadian Style - World Soccer Talk

2010 MLS Cup Preview – Canadian Style

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Leagues: MLS

Week in Review, March 21-25 2011

Leagues: MLS

2010 MLS Cup Preview – Canadian Style