The talking point since First Kick has been the same: the Western Conference is vastly superior to the Eastern Conference. &nbsp;For the past six months or so, we’ve heard about the top teams in the West and their chances of winning the MLS Cup. &nbsp;Recently, with the playoffs looming, the talk has focused on how either FC Dallas or Real Salt Lake will enter the playoffs as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference due to MLS’s weird playoff system. &nbsp;Yet for all the focus the Western Conference has received in the playoff talk, we are witnessing an incredibly exciting Eastern Conference playoff race, where the stakes could be incredibly high.
This past weekend’s results threw the door to the Eastern Conference open and, instead of beginning to clarify the top three teams, kept eight teams in contention for the three guaranteed spots. &nbsp;One of those eight (Toronto) is realistically eliminated, and another (Chicago) would have to go on a tough but possible run of games, but that still leaves six teams within seven points of first place with roughly five matches to go (or more if you’re DC United with games in hand). &nbsp;Teams that had seemingly locked up spots now have to battle to hold on, while teams that faltered earlier in the season now see a path to late season redemption.
The key component to increasing the logjam was the Columbus/Philadelphia match. &nbsp;With the Union able to get back on the winning track and denying the Crew three points, the first place team in the East was kept close to the rest of the pack. &nbsp;If they had found a way to scratch out a win, they would have been four points clear of second place Sporting Kansas City, not an insurmountable lead but certainly a bit of breathing room. &nbsp;As it was, they could not find a way to take advantage of a close Sporting KC loss to Real Salt Lake. &nbsp;Instead of a battle for second, this Friday’s SKC v. Philadelphia match could be for first place.
The teams currently looking up at the top three also shuffled themselves this weekend into a muddle that may go down to the last match to settle. &nbsp;The Houston Dynamo, who looked like a solid bet for a top three spot before suffering a small swoon, are now level on points with Philadelphia after this Saturday being the most recent team to beat San Jose. &nbsp;Their victory kept them ahead of the New York Red Bulls who were involved in the most intense match of the weekend. &nbsp;Despite a late push from FC Dallas, the Red Bulls defense held on to a 1-0 win for their first victory since July 6. &nbsp;The win also moved them two points clear of DC United who lost for the first time ever in Seattle. &nbsp;In fact, DCU was lapped 3-0 by a Seattle team that looked to be firing on all cylinders. &nbsp;However, with their games in hand, DC is still well positioned to make a late move into the top three, especially with road games against Columbus and Philadelphia, as well as a home tilt with Kansas City to close the season.
But as things stand, the East could still sneak two teams into the four wild card places. &nbsp;So why the stress over the top three? &nbsp;Imagine, if the season ended today, the plight of the New York Red Bulls. &nbsp;As the #10 seed, they would have to travel to Pizza Hut Park to face FC Dallas in a single elimination game. &nbsp;If they won, they would then play a home-and-home with the Galaxy which, if they survived, would see them facing the winner of RSL/Seattle. &nbsp;Now consider if they jumped two spots in the East and grabbed the #3 seed. &nbsp;Not only would they now get to sit out the wild card round (huge for an older team) but they would get an Eastern Conference foe in a home-and-home before the conference final. &nbsp;This week will go a long way to determining the favorites for the top three, as not only do we have the Philly/SKC match but RSL makes an East Coast swing to face New York and DC. &nbsp;So while the West may have the better teams, the East has a better playoff race.

While West Dominates, East Entertains - World Soccer Talk

While West Dominates, East Entertains

<div style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a title="Robbie Keane by Fergal of Claddagh, on Flickr" href="http:\/\/www.flickr.com/photos/feargal/4117634812/"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a>Photo by Fergal of Claddagh</div>
The Los Angeles Galaxy, looking at its rivals for the MLS Cup and seeing them focus more on acquiring American players overseas and trading amongst themselves, decided to make the big-named signing by <a href="http:\/\/www.lagalaxy.com/news/2011/08/la-galaxy-agree-terms-ireland-international-robbie-keane" target="_blank">acquiring Irish international Robbie Keane</a> from Tottenham. &nbsp;The cost of the contract is huge, rumored to be roughly $9.75 million over two years with the Galaxy sending about £3.5 million in transfer fees. &nbsp;Obviously, this means Keane will be a designated player, which I will discuss below.
Keane’s resume is spectacular, and I would encourage all Barclay’s Premier League rookies to take a look at his extensive resume on Wikipedia. &nbsp;He’s in the top-10 all time in league goals scored, captain of the Irish national team, and has played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. &nbsp;The transfer is also historic because (<a href="http:\/\/www.lagconfidential.com/2011/8/15/2364380/la-galaxy-robbie-keane-transfer#comments">as LAG Confidential points out</a>) this is the first time an MLS team has paid a transfer fee to a BPL club for a player.
So where does Keane fit in? &nbsp;Obviously one of LA’s designated players has to go, and unless I am missing a team dynamic here, that player will be Juan Pablo Angel. &nbsp;The former Aston Villa striker and Red Bulls terror has been an absolute failure in LA, so he will be looking to reinvigorate his career elsewhere. &nbsp;Initially the rumor was that Philadelphia would try to grab him but now the hot rumor is <a href="http:\/\/www.sbnation.com/2011/8/15/2364383/robbie-keane-la-galaxy-juan-pablo-angel" target="_blank">Chivas USA</a> is his destination, if for no other reason than the Goats has refused to sign anyone else this season. &nbsp;The trade, <a href="http:\/\/msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/mls/story/robbie-keane-los-angeles-galaxy-tottenham-juan-pablo-angel-chivas-usa-081511" target="_blank">reported by Fox Soccer’s Ives Galarcep</a>, has yet to be officially announced but is likely to be soon and we can then share what exactly LA will get for him.
Is Keane the magic bullet for LA to win the MLS Cup in a year when the game will be played on their home turf? &nbsp;Keane is certainly an upgrade over Angel if for no other reason than Angel contributed nothing. &nbsp;But to assume Keane solves all of LA’s problems is delusion. &nbsp;Playing for West Ham last season Keane contributed little, scoring two goals in nine appearances for the relegated club and failing to be the offensive threat the Hammers thought they were acquiring. &nbsp;Spurs had been shopping him but received little interest except from Leicester City, so the Galaxy’s offer was certainly a welcome one. &nbsp;This is not to say Keane does not have some goals left in him – he is only 31 and scored 16 times for Celtic just two years ago. &nbsp;But fans expecting a thoroughly dominating player may be disappointed.
This transfer however does have two very interesting subplots for the Galaxy and MLS. The first is that this deal is the first between the Galaxy-Spurs soccer partnership. &nbsp;If you remember <a href="http:\/\/espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/6208/galaxy-spurs-planning-partnership" target="_blank">back in February</a>, the two teams discussed a new partnership that would allow players to potentially move back and forth between the two as well as provide some cross-marketing opportunities. &nbsp;This is the first player move between the two, and I had thought at the time that this could potentially lead to young Galaxy players going across the Atlantic more easily. &nbsp;We will see if this will lead to young Galaxy players getting a chance in London to play at a higher level, and what impact such a swap system would have on MLS.
The other subplot is that LA is again falling back on their model of team building by signing the big name. &nbsp;This site has not been shy in criticizing the Beckham model for team building and how the Galaxy have not won an MLS Cup with their English superstar. &nbsp;Most teams, lacking the pizazz and money of LA, have turned their international player acquisitions to Latin America, U.S. national team members, or, in the case of the Philadelphia Union, both. &nbsp;The results have been telling – Los Angeles and New York (who also likes to make sexy international signings) have not won an MLS Cup since they went acquired their big name international stars. &nbsp;If Los Angeles fails to win an MLS Cup with Keane, does it further signify that MLS is a league that eschewed star power? &nbsp;But what if this is the signing that leads the Galaxy to an MLS Cup? &nbsp;Does that change the championship-winning business model and force other teams to try and sign their own big names to keep up with LA?
Sounds off with your Keane and Galaxy thoughts below.

Galaxy Go After the Big Name, Sign Robbie Keane - World Soccer Talk

Galaxy Go After the Big Name, Sign Robbie Keane

<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a title="DC United Supporters Go Crazy by ctoverdrive, on Flickr" href="http:\/\/www.flickr.com/photos/ctoverdrive/5626494072/"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a>Photo by Connor Turner</div>
Those who know my writing know that I have an affinity for DC United and have followed the team, with varying levels of intensity, since its inception. So it should surprise no one that I have been closely following the Black-and-Red this season, not just because of rooting interest but because this has shaped up to be an intriguing season for a number of reasons. Ownership essentially hit reboot after last year’s&nbsp;disastrous&nbsp;campaign and brought in a new coach who was incredibly familiar to MLS fans. The team went through a semi-purge and brought back to the States a striker who needed redemption after a horrible accident and a seeming snub from the national team picture. MLS’s most honored franchise itself needed to remain relevant in an era of flashy new franchises and stars, more professional play, and a growing distance between the dominant days of the late 1990s/early 2000s.
So more than halfway through the season, DC stands a much-improved team over last season. They sit in the middle of the Eastern Conference and two points off the final wild card spot. Their defense has shown signs of improvement while their offense has shown signs of explosiveness. Like many MLS teams, DC United is good but not great, and the next two months will determine if they can reach a the next level where they can grab a playoff spot. In the Eastern Conference, this may well mean a top-three seed.
Which brings me to the original question: is the 2011 version of DC United good enough to make the playoffs? Below are a series of pros and cons of if they should be considered playoff contenders. Agree or disagree? Sound off in the comments section.

DC United Should be Considered Favorites to Make the Playoffs
Dwayne De Rosario: Right now the trade with New York is looking like genius for the Black-and-Red. During a stretch where Charlie Davies is looking a bit worn-down and some key offensive players have struggled, the former MLS MVP is kicking it into another gear. &nbsp;He essentially willed DC to a draw against Toronto when down a man the entire game, he broke through with two goals in San Jose when a scoreless draw looked likely, and he has set up teammates countless times for scoring chances. This was the DeRo New York hoped they were trading for, and if he continues to play this way he should be considered for the MVP award. Regarding DC’s playoff chances, he gives them the opportunity to win every game just through his&nbsp;play-making&nbsp;ability and is arguably still one of the league’s top players.
Favorable Schedule: Here is DC’s next four matches – Vancouver, at Chicago, at Kansas City, and Portland. While not a cakewalk, DC has a much easier slate of opponents in the next three months than many of its competitors in the Eastern Conference. It has already played Los Angeles, Dallas, Colorado, and New York twice and will play Real Salt Lake at home. While they still have to go to Philly and Seattle, their schedule is loaded with teams in the lower half of the league including Chicago and Vancouver twice. &nbsp;And the team still has games in hand over the teams in front of it, providing them with the opportunity to pick up points while opponents are idle.
Weak Eastern Conference: While New York, Philadelphia, and Columbus are generally acknowledged to be the top three teams in the Eastern Conference, the truth is DC is only three points behind the third-place Red Bulls with two games in hand. &nbsp;Even with a negative goal difference, there are no unbeatable teams in the Eastern Conference that would prevent DC from advancing in the standings. &nbsp;All three of the top teams have weaknesses and the two teams in front of DC (KC and Houston) have even bigger question marks, with DC playing Kansas City twice in the next two months. If United were in the Western Conference, they would have to settle for a wild card run but in the East, they could make a play for a seeded spot.
Away Wins: DC United’s away record this year has been quite impressive: 4-3-3 with a zero goal differential. &nbsp;Their impressive results include draws at the Home Depot Center, Pizza Hut Park, and Rio Tinto, and wins at JELD-WEN (first MLS team to do so) and Red Bull Arena. While there have been some&nbsp;embarrassing&nbsp; results as well, this team shows impressive fortitude on the road and is not afraid to play in even the toughest arenas, which sets them up nicely to late-season visits to Kansas City, Chivas USA,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Seattle.
DC United at This Point Should Not Be Considered Playoff Contenders
Home Record: With the 3-3 result hosting Toronto, DC United has now fallen to 2-3-6 at home on the year, including seven straight MLS games without a win at home. When you consider the great fan support the team receives, such a record is completely unacceptable. To compound the problem, the draws and losses seem to happen in&nbsp;inexplicable&nbsp;ways: late comebacks by Houston and Philadelphia as well as dominating New England before allowing a late counter. No serious playoff team can play so poorly at home, and the ultimate test for DC’s playoff&nbsp;aspirations&nbsp;occurs this Saturday when Vancouver (winless on the road) visits RFK Stadium.
Defensive Liabilities: While the team has improved defensively from last season through trades both before and during this season, the back-five for the Black-and-Red are an impediment that could prevent this team from making the playoffs. While Bill Hamid is the future of the U.S. national team, he’s only 20 in his first full MLS season as a starter, and his red card on Saturday shows that he is still learning the position. Fellow starter Perry Kitchen is a rookie and 19 years old, while Dejan Jakovic is coming off a long-term injury. The backs also have a tendency towards maddening displays of carelessness; it was starter Brandon McDonald’s failure to corral the ball in the 7th minute that led to Hamid’s red.
Lack of Set Piece Performance: Credit to Chris Webb on the MLS Talk Podcast for bringing up this talking point about DC United, but the team struggles mightily on set pieces and corner kicks on both ends of the field. Until Saturday’s De Rosario goal (which was in no way defended well) the Black-and-Red had gone an insanely long number of games since its prior set pieces goal and in the past few seasons have struggled to score when awarded a free kick in the opponent’s territory. And when defending set pieces it’s even worse: witness the breakdowns in the games versus Houston and New England, among others. DC simply cannot defend corner kicks consistently to this point, a scary proposition in late games.
Whither the goals? We all know DeRo can score and can score a lot, but can he score enough? Charlie Davies has slowed down after his fast start, likely due to his continued physical rehabilitation and teams learning how to defend him. While Chris Pontius is dangerous, he can go through stretches where he tends to hit the post or drift too far inside to play effectively on the wing. The DC offense needs to be more consistent and a scorer needs to step up to take the current load off of DeRo. The players are there, they just need to take that next step.

Is DC United Truly a Playoff Contender? - World Soccer Talk

Is DC United Truly a Playoff Contender?

MLS fans were treated to four games last night instead of the usual one or two, as the schedule makers begin to crowd in a few more league games in anticipation of international friendlies and late-season CONCACAF Champions League matches. &nbsp;In a cool twist, all four had some playoff implications as the results had a definite impact on positioning for the playoffs and may prove critical down the stretch (although with ten teams making the playoffs that is an easy statement to make).
For those watching So You Think You Can Dance or enjoying an evening free of television, here is a recap of the action from last night.
Vancouver Whitecaps 0, Columbus Crew 1: The ‘Caps continued their miserable inaugural season with a case of what could have been, while Columbus continues to solidify a top three spot based on Jeff Cunningham’s milestone goal. &nbsp;The striker scored his 133rd MLS goal in the 90th minute to not only give his team the victory, but to tie him with Jamie Moreno for the all-time lead in MLS goals. &nbsp;The home team had plenty of chances in the first half, dominating possession but failing to convert, and had a great chance in the second half when Alain Rochat was dragged down in the box in the 72nd minute. &nbsp;However, Terry Dunfield’s penalty was easily saved and, when Shea Salinas was sent off with a red five minutes later, it was a matter of time before the Crew would score the game winner.

New York Red Bulls 5, Toronto FC 0: On their most recent road trip, New York had a record of 0 wins, 1 loss, and 3 draws. &nbsp;They took out their frustration at home against a hapless Toronto side. &nbsp;Thierry Henry scored his ninth goal of the season in the 33rd minute and it was all New York from that point forward. &nbsp;More coming soon from Daniel on this one.
Chivas USA 2, San Jose Earthquakes 0: This match could come back to haunt San Jose as the two teams will be battling for a wild card slot at the end of the season. &nbsp;It was Robin Fraser’s decision to insert Ben Zemanski in the 58th minute that turned the tide and gave the Rojiblancos an energy boost in midfield. &nbsp;His goal (seen above) in the 64th minute broke a scoreless tie and Nick LaBrocca’s strike in the 84th minute put this one out of reach for San Jose. &nbsp;Speaking of the ‘Quakes, they will have to face Philadelphia this weekend without Steven Lenhart, who will miss the game due to yellow card accumulation.
Sporting Kansas City 1, Colorado Rapids 1: Colorado is quickly approaching the Chicago Fire’s tie record and Kansas City extended their unbeaten streak to 9 as these two teams battled to a draw at Livestrong Park. &nbsp;Conor Casey did what he does best in scoring his goal in the 32nd minute: he used his strength to corral a long free kick and placed a shot just out of Jimmy Nielsen’s reach. &nbsp;Again, it was a good substitution by a manager that made the difference, as Peter Vermes brought on C.J. Sapong in the second half for Teal Bunbury and it was the rookie Sapong who scored the equalizer.

Cunningham Milestone Goal Highlights Intense Night of MLS Action - World Soccer Talk

Cunningham Milestone Goal Highlights Intense Night of MLS Action

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Leagues: MLS

While West Dominates, East Entertains

LA Galaxy

Galaxy Go After the Big Name, Sign Robbie Keane

DC United

Is DC United Truly a Playoff Contender?

Leagues: MLS

Cunningham Milestone Goal Highlights Intense Night of MLS Action