Will Houston Dynamo win a third consecutive MLS title?

With back-to-back MLS Cups, it’s hard to bet against them. While they are likely to struggle in the attacking third, Brian Ching is among the league’s best snipers and 21-year-old Argentinean import Franco Caraccio will be expected to approach double-digits as well. The defense is solid with the likes of captain Wade Barrett, United States international Eddie Robinson, and recently acquired Bobby Boswell. And in Dwayne De Rosario, Dynamo have one of the most talismanic players in Major League Soccer.

Having said that, a third title on the bounce will be a bridge too far for Houston. Make no mistake, they will be in the mix. Another trip to the Western Conference Final is probably in the cards. But the likes of DC United, Kansas City Wizards, and Chivas USA have significantly bolstered their squads. Don’t be surprised if neither of last year’s finalists are present when the championship is contested at the Home Depot Center on November 23.

Chivas USA, on the other hand, should be tipped to qualify for their first MLS Cup Final. After finishing the 2007 campaign with the best record in the Western Conference, the Goats were bounced from the playoffs by Kansas City in the opening round. Nevertheless, their first-place finish in the West maintained a steady, three-year improvement. Brad Guzan was named the Goalkeeper of the Year; and Preki was assessed to have been the best coach in the league.

If Chivas are to take the next step in 2008, the striking tandem of Ante Razov and Maykel Galindo will have to at least equal last season’s combined total of 23-goals. Alecko Eskandarian will provide depth behind the pair; and Switzerland international Raphael Wicky will be the supplier from midfield. Jonathan Bornstein, the 2006 Rookie of the Year and member of last term’s MLS Best XI, is the stalwart of the defense.

In the East, expect DC United and Kansas City Wizards to be a part of the final four. United, however, should be favored to win the conference. Brazilian striker Luciano Emelio paced the league in 2007 with 20-goals and has formed an outstanding partnership with 34-year-old Bolivia international Jaime Moreno. Their effectiveness will only be boosted by the arrival of former River Plate midfielder and Argentina international Marcelo Gallardo.
At an annual salary of $1.3-million, the 32-year-old becomes the sixth designated player in Major League Soccer. He has also enjoyed stints at Monaco and Paris St. Germain and is poised to become one of the premier playmakers in North American football.

Kansas City, meanwhile, provided last season’s playoff upset when they dumped Chivas USA from the Conference Semifinals. And although they proceeded to bow out of the postseason at the hands of the eventual champions, they made several winter moves which look to stand them in good stead going forward.

The addition of Claudio Lopez is the most notable. The 33-year-old Argentinean enjoyed several, prolific seasons in Europe with Lazio and Valencia and scored 10-goals for his country in 58 international appearances. Arriving via free transfer from Racing de Avellaneda, he has been assigned a designated player allocation.

Joining Lopez in head coach Curt Onalfo’s attacking 3-5-2 formation is Ivan Trujillo. The 25-year-old played his entire professional career in Columbia before switching to Major League Soccer. He scored in his debut against DC United last weekend.

In all likelihood, the winner of the 2008 MLS Cup will come from these three sides. Houston remain a contender – no question. But they are the fourth-best of the four contending sides.

How do you see the title race in La Liga shaking down?

With eight rounds remaining, Real Madrid would have to suffer a total meltdown in order to relinquish their lead. Atop La Liga by six points, neither Villarreal nor Barcelona have been able to make ground on the 2006-2007 champions. And they have had chances aplenty. But whenever the Meringues take a tumble, it seems that their chasers follow suit.

For example, when Madrid lost 1-0 to Deportivo la Coruna three weeks ago, Barcelona could only muster a 2-2 draw with Almeria. In any other, major European league, Madrid’s current stretch of five wins from nine matches would have them plummeting down the table. But the Catalans have been unable to take advantage. They, also, have won only five games over the same period.

As it stands, Madrid will cruise to a second successive title and their 31st overall. Barcelona should come second; although Villarreal appear the team of the moment. Still, a third-place finish would be a resounding success at El Madrigal. Sevilla can be expected to make a serious push for fourth-place. Currently five points back of both Racing Santander and Atletico Madrid and level on points with Espanyol, it will be an uphill battle. Expect Atletico to just nick the final Champions’ League place.

Why was the Juventus-Parma match cancelled last weekend?

When the Serie A contest between Juventus and Parma was aborted on Saturday, the Italian authorities made a feeble attempt to spin the cancellation as “a mark of respect for the accident involving the Parma fan who was traveling to the stadium in Turin.” In reality, the Lega Calcio office was petrified of the likelihood that Matteo Bagnaresi’s death would spark insurrections similar to those which halted domestic fixtures for a week in November.

They had good reason to be concerned. After a Lazio supporter was shot and killed by police following a skirmish with a Juventus firm outside Arrezzo in November, rioting broke out around the country. AC Milan’s match against Atalanta was ditched when local ultras dismantled the barricades surrounding the pitch; and the game between AS Roma and Cagliari was similarly canceled after a police station and the headquarters of the Italian National Olympic Committee were attacked by the rioters.

As a means to curb the escalating problem of violence within Italian football, the Lega Calcio is planning to monitor the movement of traveling supporters.

“The security plan for the transit of supporters on the motorway network… will be enhanced,” read a league statement. What that means, exactly, is anyone’s guess. For example, traveling contingencies could be subjected to case-by-case reviews of their mobility. A supporter’s identification card is also in works. Such technology would allow the police to easily filter the hooligan’s from the stadiums. It would not, however, prevent roadside incidents such as that which occurred last weekend.

More than likely, the Italian authorities will do nothing. Bagnaresi was the third, high-profile fatality to mar Serie A in less than a year. The Italians appear completely uninterested in cleaning-up the violence and scandal which is becoming more and more associated with their football. And until a body such as UEFA or FIFA intervenes, nothing will change anytime soon.

Have a question about football? Email your query to jerradpeters@gmail.com.

Jerrad Peters is a football journalist based in Winnipeg, Canada and a correspondent for Soccer365.com. His weekly column for the Winnipeg Free Press is the largest of its kind in the country. A regular contributor to ESPN Soccernet, his work has also appeared on TheMirror.co.uk, Canadian-soccer.com, Footy247.co.uk, Foot2ball.com, and Squadinfo.com.