First Third

The first third of the season is over now that everyone has played ten games, and then some, I have been busy at work and stuff.

Biggest surprise of the season, the Eastern Conference, the first place western conference team would only be in fifth place in the East. Team wise it has to be DC United at 3-7 DC has not lived upped to the hype and tradition that is DC United.
New England, Chicago and Columbus are 6-3-1 with 19 points tied for first place. For me New England and Columbus are a surprise to Vasco, Chicago was expected in some ways. New York is 4-3-3 fifth in the full table, about the same as normal except for the over 500 part. Kansas City was expected to be among the elite once again, but is 3-4-3 on the season one of the bottom feeders in the league after a fast start. Toronto has been a surprise after an awful start of 0-2; they looked bad against DC the second game of the season. They are 5-1-2 since and shaking off the expansion label.

Colorado tops the western conference with a 5-5 record. Still one of the biggest amazements in MLS, Colorado once again looks like world-beaters one week, and a rec team another week. LA and Chivas come in with 14 points, LA a surprise after the last two seasons, Chivas a surprise unless you were reading their injury list. FC Dallas started off fast too, and cratered since having fired their coach, winning the pools. Still looking to hire a coach as well, although SMU might be next in line. Houston started like a rec team, but has improved since to eleven points. RSL has stormed out of the gates, well like RSL twelfth in the league with 11 points too. Will we look back several years from now and compare them to Tampa Bay. San Jose is back in the league once again, and up to ten points in ten games. Playing like an expansion team.

Landon Donovan leads the league with nine goals; Jon Busch has been the best keeper in MLS the first third of the season. Looking like the goalie of old before the two torn ACL’s. Luciano Emilio the 2007 league MVP has looked anything but a defending 20-goal scorer and league MVP, much like DC United the two-time defending Supporter Shield winners.

Hope you are enjoying Euro 2008, Vasco is happy to not see England, and I am enjoying watching Portugal, Spain and Holland as they kick some butt. Thankfully Greece and their style of play are not being rewarded this time around. Yes even Vasco can enjoy some of Euro 2008, although being stranded in Virginia without a TV probably helped. Enjoy the US Open Cup renamed after Lamar Hunt. More on this later.