Tyler Dunne’s MLS Opening Weekend Blog
As I start my first official blog for MLS Aces, I wanted to introduce myself to my new audience and say welcome back to those who have read me before. I wanted to do something different for the 25th season of MLS. Everyone nowadays has a podcast(I work on a few), but the art of writing a good story or providing my observations seemed to me a more efficient way to tell a story and get my creative juices flowing again. I want to be straightforward and let you know, I don’t support any team in MLS. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and let’s be honest the Fire haven’t really been good, to get to their stadium from my house round trip was 180 miles, and lastly since I was kid growing up they’ve been the Cleveland Browns of MLS. To wrap up this wonderful introduction, I’m excited to deliver this kind of rhetoric throughout the MLS season and hopefully in the process win everyone some money on gambling tips.
The most important news from the first weekend of MLS, is the news of Josef Martinez suffering a horrific ACL injury which will most likely rule him out for the duration of MLS regular season. Josef Martinez has earned the moniker, King for being arguably the best striker in MLS history. Since joining the league in 2017 from Torino, King Josef has scored in MLS play 77 times in 84 appearances. Josef has an amazing list of accomplishments since joining MLS, including MLS Cup MVP and league MVP in 2018. Atlanta fans don’t worry you still have an incredible team and potentially a sneaky good short term replacement in Adam Jahn who signed this past winter from USL heavyweight Phoenix Rising. Jahn had his most prolific professional season in 2019, bagging 17 goals for Phoenix as they marched to a first place finish in the Western Conference. I think United will go out and make a signing, who that player could be only time will tell. Darren Eales is one of the best executives in MLS and I don’t see a world where Atlanta doesn’t resupply themselves and get the needed ammunition to compete for MLS supremacy.
Let’s chat about the Chicago Fire and this unique rebrand. Let’s start with the positives because it’s shorter than the negatives. I love the fact that the team has finally moved back to the city of Chicago and is playing at Soldier Field. I have seen many soccer games at Soldier Field including the 2011 Gold Cup Final, it’s a great stadium for soccer and easy to get to via public transportation. I love the acquisition of former FC Basel head coach Raphael Wicky. Evident in their first match, Chicago has left the doom and gloom of passive and uninspiring soccer played under former manager Veliko Paunovic, for a more progessive and skillful brand under new man Raphael Wicky. Chicago went to CenturyLink Field this past weekend and arguably outplayed the champions and had two goals in the first half ruled out via offside. They scored early in the second half through Robert Beric but Jordan Morris and the Sounders showed why they’re the champions roaring back to a 2-1 victory as Seattle celebrated their second MLS Cup title with a victory over Chicago.
MLS has added another two teams for this upcoming season with Nashville and Miami joining the league. If you were expecting an Atlanta United start for either teams you were really drinking the Kool-Aid or you’re delusional. Both teams were handed two excellent opponents for their debut matches in the league. Nashville hosted Atlanta which in the process broke the attendance record for a soccer match in the state of Tennessee with 59,069 fans viewing the match breaking the old record from 2017 which featured a friendly between Man City and Tottheham Hotspurs. The huge crowd in Nashville embraced their new team and USMNT player Walker Zimmerman formerly of LAFC scored the clubs first ever goal from a set piece. If Nashville adopts to soccer like it did for hockey this will be an excellent addition to the league. David Beckham’s Inter Miami were handed defending Supporters’ Shield winner LAFC. Inter Miami looks like a team more likely to be a Minnesota United than a transcending Atlanta United. Luis Robles had to stand on his head during the first half making save after save until birthday boy and reigning league MVP Carlos Vela scored an impressive chip minutes before half time. Miami will have their work cut out for them, as of right now, I have them as the second best team in Florida.
As I finish my first blog of the season, I want to incorporate some gambling tips for my homies that like to win some MONEY. First of all, I like to let everyone know, I love a good parlay. My best bet of all time, which I brag about every time included Barcelona scoring three goals in the last ten minutes of a match, hitting an under in the Danish first division match,and Manchester United under Jose Mourinho hitting the over( probably the only time as well). I love board and especially early in the season you can hit these sites for some good money before they get wise. This is my bet of the weekend, three game parlay all on Saturday too, 25 dollars is what I’m waging. I got NYRB money line over Real Salt Lake, NYCFC and TFC over 3 goals, and lastly to add to parlay and get a little extra money, I got Atlanta money line over Cincinnati. If I win this bad boy, I get a 175 dollar return. I won’t win every week but I’m going to help us win some cash.
