It’s not the job of the sports press to “big up” Major League Soccer’s Eastern and Western Conference finals, says Ian Plenderleith of USSoccerPlayers, “which is just as well, because I can’t think of much to recommend them.” Taking a look at the field, Plenderleith says that not a single one of the remaining four heads into those games looking to play attractive, attacking soccer.
Revolution coach Steve Nicol’s staid, no-mistakes approach to the playoffs is well documented, and while it might be “sensible coaching,” Plenderleith says it’s “nothing I’d pay to go see.” Meanwhile, Chicago, he says, is likely to sit back and soak up possession as the away team, looking for opportunities to counterattack — although there won’t be many if New England executes its game plan properly. Plenderleith also predicts a tough day at the office for Cuauhtemoc Blanco “because true soccer players aren’t molded to perform” on artificial field turf.
There should be more defensiveness from the Western final, too, he says, particularly from Kansas City, which successfully shut out Chivas USA in both of its first-round games. As Coach Curt Onalfo told the Kansas City Star, “We made a commitment about three months ago … that to be a championship-caliber team, we had to be able to win 1-0 and not give up goals.” Which means, Plenderleith laments, the only hope for fireworks comes from defending champ Houston, who against FC Dallas could only be bothered to attack once it was down 2-0, and had no other choice.