Players and coaches can't look too far down the road, but those of us who observe the games for a living certainly can. And the view of this next month is a pretty good one.
Four games - three of them at home - against contenders/rivals: Chicago, LA, Seattle and Chivas USA.
With three games in the books we're still not sure exactly what to make of the season; it's been a little odd. The lads played well against New England, dominating the game for most of the way, and lost 1-0. They played spurts of good soccer against Houston, finished three of their good chances, and won the game 3-2. I think we'll throw the Kansas City 2-0 rain/snow/wind/sleet misadventure in the waist basket and not analyze it too much.
No time to panic, but certainly there is a sense of urgency, says goalkeeper Joe Cannon, "For us to really make a mark on the season these games are critical."
Coach Frank Yallop says the Wizards game was disappointing, and that he is responsible for the team's preparation and they didn't seem to be prepared to play.
"This Chicago game, we will be ready to play," he said.
Ten percent of the season has been completed. To survive the long haul, Yallop says the coaches and players need to stay on an even keel.
"I've been in the game since I was 16 years old," he said. "I've won a few in a row and I've lost a few in a row. And I've always been the same. Don't get carried away either way. If you're losing, there's a next game you're going to win. Same thing if you're winning, don't expect to win every week."
"We have a good group of players who are going to play hard for this team and this city," Yallop said.
What's Shaking
Three weeks and the Seattle Sounders look like world beaters; three wins, seven goals scored and zero allowed... The Quakes get an early look at the Sounders, in Seattle April 25...Chivas USA is keeping pace with the Sounders, quietly piling up three wins in three weeks; maybe not with as much flair or attention as the Sounders, but you can't do better than nine points from three games...Cuauhtemoc Blanco says this will be his last season in Chicago. Blanco has been good for the league, despite the reservations many of us had about him. After all, there hasn't been much positive history of Mexican players in the league. [Disclaimer: Missael Espinosa, who spent only one season in San Jose, was one of the Mexican success stories in the league. He was professional, hard-working, and his one year, 1996, with the Clash got him a nice contract back in his home country.] Brian McBride, now 36 and playing in his hometown, may hang up the cleats after season as well...For you trivia freaks, McBride was the first ever Major League Soccer draft pick, out of St. Louis University in 1996. And for you non-trivia freaks, he was also the first draft pick...The Galaxy is here April 18, making the first of their two Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum appearances this season. While Landon Donovan is as dangerous as ever, LA doesn't appear to be much better defensively than they were last season, allowing five goals in two games. The Quakes have given up five goals in three games.
Say What?
Yallop on the Chicago game: "It's going to be a tough game. We proved against Houston, we're not afraid of anybody. We're going to take it to Chicago, see what they're all about, and hopefully get more goals than they do. They have quality all over the place, and Blanco is coming back from injury and getting himself in the lineup. It's going to be a tough one."
Cannon on Blanco: "All these guys on big money get analyzed critically, I think he's brought more people to the stands and he's made his team better. Any time you have those two things then it's a good deal. Blanco, (Juan Pablo) Angel (NY), Guillermo Barros Scheletto (Columbus) all three have come in and set a new precedent for foreigners. They have made the league more viable and more visible, especially in their markets."
