Wednesday, July 18, 2012

SATURDAY JULY 7th #2

MLS :

Overall, I  much prefer the Sunday MLS fixtures, when I definitely have two very strong bets and might well upgrade one of those to maximun bet status, depending on some team news, more of that in the early email tomorrow.

I was going to get involved in the FC Dallas - San Jose match up, I think that the Eartquakes are much better suited to playing three times in a week and you can forget their midweek loss to Portland, they were so focused on the Galaxay game last weekend, that there was always going to be a let down with such a quick turnaround. To be honest, I have been kicking myself ever since that game, that I didn't put up Timbers as a bet. Having said all that, the hosts do have a couple of key players coming back from long term injury and their need for  points is great, but the real reason to leave this one alone, are the still brutal conditions in Texas and even come the evening kick off, the temperature in Dallas will be 35 degrees + and feel even hotter. Even without the weather we might see a few players hot under the collar here, Dallas have an alarming disciplinary record this year and Earthquakes have a couple of players who get great enjoyment out of winding opponents up, so we are not sure to see 22 players on the pitch at the end. I can see a lot of ways San Jose win this and the quote is tempting, but the weather scares me, especially for a third game inside seven days, so I will pass.

REAL SALT LAKE- PORTLAND TIMBERS

TIme for RSL to get back to winning ways. I have been impressed by them at times this season, in particular a fairly recent 3-0 win at Chivas, that is the only game that their opponent has lost in ten starts and it came shortly after a couple of really solid performances from the hosts, whom you may recall, I had put up as a potential big improver ahead of their LAG derby game in late May. That was the only blip for Chivas since then , but to be honest, RSL could have won by five, they had a "good" goal disallowed with the score still 0-0 and it was 85 minutes before the hosts had an attempt on goal. Real have not won in four since then, they blew a 2-0 lead at home to Galaxy in the first and I think that really knocked their confidence. the next game they lost again to San Jose, a match they should have won easily, having 19 attempts on goal,including two headed off the line and two completely open goals missed.

They steadied the ship with a 0-0 draw with Seattle in midweek, when they introduced defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe and winger Kenny Mansally, again, they had chances enough to have won with ease and the goals are going to start to flow again shortly. They have a clean sheet to console themselves with and the overall performance was very solid. Sounders admitted they were outplayed and with the new additions , who will have had a little more training with the squad and they should have Tony Beltran back tonight, RSL are only going to get stronger. They are a whole host of post match interviews below and I have highlighted some of the more inportant comments in red type.

Portland are very poor travellers and although buoyed by the win over San Jose, they will have travelled Portland- Colorado-Portland- Salt Lake this week and whilst not huge distances by MLS standards it is still hour after hour in the air and transit and very little training ground prep for this match.I like the home win and the 3.25 for them to score three or more, as I think that when they get one this time, the others will flow, but will take 1.25 units Real salt Lake -1 ball 2.07 asian line. Real scored three in the reverse fixture back in March which they won by the odd goal in five, they had 17 attempts that day and were a little beat up and short of offensive options
going into the match.

Good Luck.

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