Seattle Sounders at New York Red Bulls -Gamethread The weather expects to be clear and dry in Harrison, New Jersey with temps in the upper 40s as East Coast DP (aka Red Bulls) open their season at home, and hopefully to a near sell-out crowd. Seattle still needs to figure out their wave of injuries and defection of Nkufo. This likely means they play a more technical than speed game with the fast players available being even more limited than normal. We may get a little bonus today with Mauro Rosales (#TheTrialist) seeing some time.Today’s game is on KONG 6/16/106 for TV, and 97.3 FM for radio.Build-up to Match Day: Lineup Card | Scouting Report | Welcome Rosales|Kirsten’s Preview At SBN SeattleOpposing Looks: News and Notes | 3 questions | 10 ways to improve on 2010Keys to GameBreak up the counterForce Red Bulls to use JuanAgudeloStrongsecondary runsScore on set-playMatchupsOsvaldo Alonso v Joel LindpereDane Richards v Leo GonzalezFredy Montero v Greg SuttonThis is your gamethreadBeer: Guiness Draught CansScarf: Nos Audietis (to buy one Email Jeremiah)Kit: Army TWhere I’m Watching: HomeNos Audietis In Somniis | Nos Audietis In AltumYou Will Hear Us In Your Sleep | You Will Hear Us From The DeepsSeattle Lineup – Guess on Formation, because we haven’t seen thisWhiteFribergMonteroFerandezAlonsoGonzalezCarrascoRileyHurtadoParkeKeller Onion Bag Weekend: Milan Derby Could Decide Serie A Title AC Milan vs. Inter Milan [2:45pm Sat, FSC] The Milan Derby is one of soccers distinguished derbies. This is their most important meeting since the 2003 Champions buy soccer shoes League semifinals. Milan dropped seven points from three March matches, allowing a surging Inter to narrow the gap to two points. Both teams are front-loaded and underwhelming defensively. A result one way or the other may decide

the Serie A title. Napoli vs. Lazio [6:30am Sun, FSC+] Set the DVR for this one. Napoli, just one point behind Inter, are still in the title race. Lazio are fighting for the final Champions League place, two points behind fourth place Udinese. The three points are vital for both. For some added spice, the two clubs chairmen may have gotten into a fistfight earlier this week.West Ham vs. Manchester United [7:45am Sat, ESPN2] These teams are at opposite ends of the table, but both need the points. Big matches enliven West Ham. They beat United 4-0 at home in the Carling Cup earlier this season. Man U have won just four out of 15 away from Old Trafford. They have also been on a good run. ESPNs stat gnomes give Man U a soccer cleats sale 74.9 percent chance of winning the EPL and give West Ham a 45.3 percent chance of being relegated.Villarreal vs. Barcelona [4:00pm Sat, GolTV] Lockouts are illegal in Spain. This match will go on as planned. Villarreal is Barcas toughest remaining fixture outside the derby. The royally inclined will be praying they drop points. It will also be a chance to watch Jersey Boy Giuseppe Rossi and pine over what might have been between us.New York Red Bulls vs. Houston Dynamo [7:30pm Sat, MSG] The Red Bulls have done the impossible. They assembled a collection of compelling players to watch in MLS. Their first choice XI now features U.S. National Team starlets Juan Agudelo and Tim Ream and former Barcelona stars Rafa Marquez and Thierry Henry, who will be healthy. The Red Bulls have also added longtime MLS star Dwayne DeRosario.If you’re in the mood for something soccer-related to read, check out Grant

Wahl’s reflection on his FIFA presidential candidacy for SI. Onion Bag: Can I Have That Arsenal Prediction Back I have thought about creating a stock Arsenal column, leaving spaces to fill in the opponents and miscreants. The song remains the same. Arsenal have endured Adidas F30.8 i TRX FG five seasons without a trophy and wasted no time showing why you should bet against them for a sixth during their 1-1 draw with Liverpool. Shoddy goalkeeping, possession without a purpose, an untimely brain fart and an opportunity wasted. The opportunities add up.Manuel Almunia was a clown in goal. He was poorly positioned and hesitant. His nervousness was palpable. Every cross and set pieces was its own adventure, teeming with peril. On more than one occasion, he was left flapping aimlessly. Unfortunately for the Gunners, he is the stable one.Arsenal debuted their new signings with mixed results. Laurent Koscielny looked solid, a sober yin to Vermaelens yang. He was reserved, intelligent and deceptively strong despite his slender build. Chamakh was a disappointment. Liverpool defenders were in his face and stifled him. A purported aerial presence, he failed to win a single header. Every pass sent the ball backward. He was too preoccupied with the physical battle most often to notice the ball whiz by his head.The Gunners fielded a weakened squad, but it was still a talented and definitively first-team one. Teams that win things beat anyone when they have a man advantage for more than a half. Arsenal still cannot break down a team that defends with two banks of four, even if the opponent has only ten men.Liverpool were not brilliant. Joe Cole needs some time to gel. His suspension wont help. Gerrard had an uncharacteristically disciplined game, paired with

Mascherano in the Xabi Alonso role. The question is whether he is willing to play that sober role more consistently. If they had another striker, they would be favorites for the top four.Top Four Fighters: Manchester Citys 0-0 draw was riveting for Arsenal fans. Spurs overran City for much of the match, marauding downfield with ease. They marauded, however, straight into the manimal that is Joe Hart. (Really, this guy was behind Robert Green AND David James in South Africa) Cue Harry Redknapp whining about how he needs more money to throw at Tottenhams troubles.Spurs should come right. City should be far more worried. Despite astronomical spending, they still do not have a ball playing midfielder. Despite playing three holding midfielders, they still could not solidify their defense. Theres no discernible method behind the mad spending. Their captain is Carlos Tevez, who doesnt speak English.The Entertainer: Diego Maradona threw his name into the hat for the vacant Aston Villa managerial position. The Aston Villa brass threw it right back out again. Diego claims to be talking with a number of clubs in Europe. Im going to take a risk and say none of those clubs are Italian.A Tangerine Dream: Blackpool may be the biggest underdog in team sports history. Their payroll this year is $3.1 million. Manchester City* is $237.1 million. Odds on them winning the league were 1 million to one. The carnage is coming, but the Seasiders had a moment to celebrate, crushing Wigan in their opening fixture 4-0.Mustache: Newcastle were promoted back to the Premier League after a year in the abyss. The nefarious Joey Barton returned with a mustache to suit his character.[Photo via Getty]Goal of the Weekend: Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan)

vs. Juventus