Final Four

Look for New England, buoyed by their terrific second half vs. the MetroStars, to pounce on Chicago early in their Eastern Conference Final match on Sunday. Though the Revs will be without Marshall Leonard and Khano Smith, Chicago will miss Chris Armas’ veteran leadership more. I see a 2-1 New England win, with Twellman and Noonan finding the net for the homestanding Revs, while Chris Rolfe will score for the Fire, earning him a serious look at Bruce Arena's first 2006 training camp.

Out West, look for Landon Donovan to lead LA back to the MLS Cup with a 1-0 OT win at Invesco over the Rapids. Colorado has big holes to fill with Alan Nkong’s suspension and Nat Borchers’ ankle sprain, and Jovan Kirovski is hardly the cure for the Rapids. Despite LA’s inability to win on the road this season, the Gals will have tons of confidence after their takedown of the Quakes in the first round. Joe Cannon will deny Herculez Gomez early and often, but Donovan will score in extra time to send LA to their first league championship match since 2002.

50/50
Love to fans of the Quakes who have really showed something this season despite uncertainty of the club’s future. Now AEG is saying there’s only a 50/50 shot of the club staying in the Bay Area next year. If the team does pick up sticks, it’ll be a crying shame that the fans weren’t able to give a proper goodbye to the two-time league champs and this season’s Supporters’ Shield Winner. It’s not a charity, here, folks, put perhaps it’s time for some of the big money floating around in Silicon Valley to step up and keep on of the league’s most successful franchises put. Big discussion going on at BigSoccer about it.

Soccer on the Tube
Here’s what’s on this weekend. All times ET. Enjoy.

Saturday, Nov. 5
7:30am: EPL: Aston Villa-Liverpool, FSC
10:00am: GER: Schalke-Duisberg, FSC
12noon: EPL: Portsmouth-Wigan, FSC
12noon: ESP: Real Sociedad, Osasuna, GOL
2:00pm: URU: Penarol-Danubio, GOL
2:30pm: ITA: Lazio-Inter, FSC
4:00pm: ESP: Villareal-Valencia, GOL
4:00pm: MEX: Toluca-Dorados, GALA
5:00pm: EPL: Newcastle-Birmingham, FSC
6:00pm: MEX: Monterrey-Veracruz, GALA
7:30pm: PER: Sporting Cristal-Universitario, GOL
9:00pm: MLS: Western final, Colorado-LA Galaxy, FSC, HDNet
9:30pm: ITA: Empoli-Reggina, GOL
10:00pm: MEX: Atlas-Chivas, TELE

Sunday, Nov. 6
9:00am: ITA: Cagliari-Treviso, FSC
9:00am: ITA: AC Milan-Udinese, GOL
11:00am: ESP: Sevilla-Atletico Madrid, GOL
1:00pm: EPL: Everton-Middlesbrough, FSC
1:00pm: ESP: Real Madrid-Real Zaragoza, GOL
1:00pm: MEX: Pumas-Atlante, UNI
3:00pm: MLS: Eastern final, New England-Chicago, ESPN2
3:00pm: ECU: Olmedo-Aucas, GOL
3:00pm: FRA: Paris St. Germain-Monaco, FSC
3:00pm: MEX: San Luis-Monterrey, GALA
5:00pm: COL: Nacional-Junior, GOL
5:00pm: ENG: FA Cup: Chasetown-Oldham, FSC
6:00pm: MEX: Club America-Cruz Azul, TELE
7:00pm: ELS: LA Firpo-FAS, GOL
9 :30pm: BRA:Corinthians-Santos, GOL
11:00pm: ARG: Newell’s Old Boys-Rosario Central, FSC