MLS:
Some eye catching signings and player movements in MLS and we will discuss them in detail in the coming weeks, but it is more a watching brief through the opening two rounds. You don't get rich in MLS by betting too many road teams and regular season home wins ran at over 50% again last year, coming in at 55.61%, but there was a divide, with 58.82% in the Eastern Conference and 52.41% in the West and I spoke at some length last season about the shift in power to the East which is again, something we will return to in upcoming weeks.
But I can say a few words about the Houston Dynamo- Atlanta United game today.
United were a fantastic addition to MLS last season, both in terms of their style of football and huge crowds and whilst they came up short in the post season game with Columbus Crew, they did not have a lot of luck there and on reflection, I feel they simply ran out of steam and will still take a massive amount from their debut campaign ............
Atlanta are a new MLS expansion franchise team and have had a fantastic first season in the big league. A MLS record crowd of almost 72,000 saw the draw 2-2 with Toronto FC at the weekend, that number is expected to be beaten today and they have averaged attendances of over 48,000 all season. A win there would have given United second place and a bye week and they led twice and late, but TFC are the #1 ranked team in the MLS and the point gave them the record points total for a season, so had motivation of their own. It does feel like Atlanta were the second best team, they scored 9 more goals than anyone apart from TFC, their +30 goal difference was 16 better than any other team apart from Toronto, in addition to that offensive prowess, only three teams in MLS conceded fewer goals , despite which, all their starts averaged 3.24 per game.
I think it would be good for Atlanta and football in the US, for the hosts to win and I expect them to continue the MLS Cup trends and do so, scoring a few goals in the process. They have scored in all 17 home games, at least twice in the last eight and also in 13/15, three or more in ten ! That includes a 3-1 win over Crew in June and they followed that up with a two goal win in Columbus a month later.
They have opened the piggy bank and spent a MLS record $15m to sign Independiente teenager Ezequiel Barco and it will be super exciting to see him, but he has picked up an injury and will miss the opening month or so, but it remains, a massive statement of intent. In addition, they turned down reported bids of a combined $35m for Miguel Almiron and Josef Martinez either of which would have broken MLS records and all these dealings highlight how ambitious United are and that they are operating on an entirely different level to anything or anyone we have seen before in MLS. They also made the eye catching signing of U.S. international Darlington Nagbe (pictured) and I have spoken often about how key he was to Portland Timbers:"You want to be in the attack and have possession of the ball and control the game. "Atlanta did a great job with that last year, so as a player you want to be a part of something like that and hopefully I can add to that.“I’ve seen a team that’s organized, a team that plays together, loves to attack and keep possession of the ball and be in control of the game. "So that’s all the things that you’re looking forward to as a player. "You want to be a part of that.”
Houston feel like a team in transition, they have lost five senior players who made 24-37 appearances last season including Deric (keeper), Clark, V Sanchex, Alex and Torres (14 goals) which is a lot of experience, Tomas Martinez was going to be key in midfield, but is supended today. Elis and Manotas both scored 11 goals last season, but are young, not strikers and no guarantee they will match that tally in a second season, Torres was especially influential out of the blocks last season with six goals in his first four starts and given that and that Dynamo are usually a second half of the season team, I have some doubts about them today and early season.
This could be a pass and I will not bet many road teams in MLS, but I wanted to get some notes down on both teams and as I have done that.........
1.25 units Atlanta United level ball 2.12 asian line/Sportmarket.
Good Luck.
