Craig provides feedback to the first round results.

After analyzing the results, he uses his view of the first round to give solid predictions for the beginning of round 2.

He then shifts to your Facebook and Twitter questions.

If you got questions, Craig will provide you the answers.

Please visit his fan page on Facebook or follow him on twitter Twitter!

It was a great morning, small sided games for those of us that did not get time yesterday followed by some sprints.

To be honest most of us didn’t even feel the sprints because at this time of year we are actually happy to be running them. There is no getting tired or feeling to sore to get through training when you are fortunate enough to still be playing right  now.

Ask any of the guys on the four remaining teams how they fell and you will get one answer…..”I feel great, when is the next game!”  Sports can be so cruel some times, but it is times like this that make us itch for just one more day to play.

AHHHHH the playoffs!  Who doesn’t love sports when everything is on the line?

Waibs

Things are getting crazy here in Houston for tomorrows must win match! We battle it out with the Seattle Sounders Sunday night!

Mayor Bill White has named tomorrow “Dynamo Day” and is encouraging everyone to go orange tomorrow!

Mayor BIll White is asking Houston to go Orange!

He said this in his official press release:

“Soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in Houston, so we really appreciate having a team of the caliber of our two-time MLS champions,” White said in a release. “Win this weekend; and let’s make this year championship number three!”

Even if you are not in Houston, please wear some orange tomorrow, and show your support for us in our must win game!!

Show us your support!

One more team will pack their shoes up and leave the locker room for the final time in 2009 tonight in Columbus.  I for one am holding strong and not giving in to the upset talks that have been all over the Internet this week.

I think Columbus is so good at home, and Real Salt Lake have struggled so much on the road that this one will end the way the seeding has it to finish.

I  pick Columbus to win this one by two goals in regulation as they did on July 18th when they beat Real Salt Lake 3-1 right there in Crew Stadium.

The only way I see Real Salt Lake getting it done tonight is by scoring at least two goals on the road, which they have done only twice this entire season(LA in June and Houston in September).

So what I am saying is that I am picking this one based mostly on statistics…..but lets be fair…..the best part about sports is that the stats can always be proven wrong on any given night!

Man I love elimination games!

waibs

It is comes as no surprise as Craig dives deeper into the pool of MLS playoff discussions. He reviews the first batch of playoffs and cannot allow himself to get over the concept of teams with lower ranking records to have home games during the playoffs.

He gets into your email, and dishes out some more playoff predictions. Stay tuned for more Pitch Pulse!

I have always found it so odd that the playoffs reward every team instead of those that performed the best throughout the year.  Why is it that teams that finish in fourth place or worse (RSL) in their respective conference get to host a game in the post season?

I am one of the many that believe the “AWAY” leg should be eliminated for the teams that did well all year.  If I am going to concede that playoffs should exist then can we please eliminate punishing the better teams with a road trip to open the post season.  If a single game is good enough for the semifinal and the MLS Cup then why is the quarterfinal a two game series?  I have been on both sides of this issue throughout my career and I have never understood it.

To be fair all of the away teams performed well enough.  Each of the four teams  produced good results that favor them at home this coming weekend.  So then why did we add more travel, an extra game, and a prized home field advantage to the teams that did not get it done through the 30 game schedule?  I would love to know all of the answers to these questions……and I am sure you would to!

With that said I have made some phone calls and I will be sharing some of that exact information with you on my next podcast.  Look for it a bit later in the day on Tuesday.  Have a good one!

Waibs

Craig discusses the first round results of the MLS Playoffs, discussing the importance of the Dynamo’s next meeting with the Seattle Sounders.It is going to be a massive match after the 0-0 draw in Seattle.

Craig also gives weekend predictions and how he sees the playoffs unfolding!

Craig gives you insider information and analysis on all the MLS matches.

The nitty gritty of the remaining MLS regular season, discussing New England, Kansas CIty, and then focusing more on teams on the cusp with 4 games remaining. Craig then dissects the 3 games he feels are most important heading into the weekend.

Craigs #1 game of the week analyzes Colorado facing a must win game at home vs New England. Craig explains how a Rapids win could extend the gap, and apply pressure around the league.

Craigs #2 game focuses on Seattle vs Columbus. He looks into the overall impact on the league Seattle is having this season. Seattle can play a massive spoiler role as they advance into the playoffs.

Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes, whom have 4 games to everyone else having 3, can be a major factor taking things down to the wire. Craig analyses the affects these teams can have, either as a spoiler or a playoff berth winner.

Pitch Pulse then finishes things up with more opinions on officiating and the Golden Goal synapsis.

Visit www.pitchpulse.com to get involved, and ask Craig a question!

Not until this past Sunday did the Columbus Crew become the first team in the league to clinch a playoff birth. That is crazy considering how much of a divide in recent years amongst the top and the bottom of the table.

This year is great for the MLS in that with such competition, and with 14-15 teams all in the hunt, it marks that the level of competition is on the raise league-wide, and this is only going to be good for growth of the domestic football product.

The Los Angeles Galaxy’s turnaround success story of a season might be undermined by the severity of David Beckham’s achilles injury.

Players like Kljestan might hold their head if they don't go through. (Credit: picapp.com)

Some teams have turned things around dramatically, while others have hit untimely slumps.

Either way, this last month will be cooking with excitement, and worth watching as the regular season close draws nearer.

Craig gives you insider information and analysis on all the MLS matches.

He gives you his picks, and justifies it with his on field experience against each team he breaks down.
Visit www.pitchpulse.com to get involved, and ask Craig a question!