LA Galaxy
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It should probably come as no surprise that the Galaxy have traded Donovan Ricketts to the Montreal Impact in exchange for allocation funds. Ricketts has statistically been the best keeper in the league. But when he went out with injury this season, Saunders took the starting role. Ricketts is older and costs more, so it isn’t such a stretch to understand why Arena would part with him rather than Saunders. And with perk as an able backup, it certainly wasn’t necessary to hold on to both.
Apparently negotiations over Juninho are still up in the air. So hopefully the reduction in salary cap room by shipping Ricketts off, combined with the allocation money, will give the Galaxy the space they need to lock Juninho in and work on keeping other elements of the squad intact.
Of course, we are all still awaiting the big decision David Beckham has yet to make. If rumors are to be believed, PSG has offered him a brickload of money to move to France. Frankly, having won the MLS Cup, I see him likely taking the payday and moving. He has done what he came here to do. PSG offers him a new venue to flash his stardom while making a huge payday in the process. The only reason I can see for him to stay here is that his family is comfortable. But Paris is an hour from his home in London and there is a definite benefit to being near family. Rumors of Drogba or Lampard replacing Becks seem a bit far fetched. Then again, Beckham coming to MLS seemed pretty far fetched too. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see….
Twitter: @dschnider
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Does it make me a guy that after the game was over all I wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep? Okay, I stayed for a little bit of cuddling and pillow talk, but when it was over I was done.
In the last few posts I’ve talked about manifest destiny and how this was our time. But all along the way I have been bracing myself for the possibility it might not happen. Sitting there, wet and cold, throwing my four year old in the air on Sunday night was like a giant release. I was finally able to exhale and enjoy the moment of bliss as our guys walked the stadium with a giant silver cup in their hands, crowning what has been a remarkable season.
With the exception of Cristman, I was happy with the whole team last night. I would have prefered Cardozo get the start and I think Cristman proved why. But the rest of the guys were impressive (mostly). I have seen the replays of Keane’s goal and I think he was on side. But I guess it doesn’t matter. The combination of Beckham passing up to Keane to slot to Donovan for the winning goal was poetic. A single goal but a hat trick of DPs.
We spent the last five years waiting for this. Let’s just enjoy the moment. In a few days we can start to worry about who is staying and who is going. But please please please, find a way to keep Juninho.
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There it is. For 5 years we have been yearning for it. For 5 years David Beckham has been reaching for it. This weekend, it is finally and definitively within our grasp. We have a very real chance of taking home the MLS Cup. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited.
The only really significant news I’ve heard in the lead up is the injury to Chad Barrett, which will keep him out of the cup. I feel bad for him, but not so much for the team. I don’t dislike him, but I’m never really satisfied with him and I think we can do better. I agree with J-Ro and the Gues-monkey over at the Galaxy Podcast (@Galaxypodcast) that Cardozo should get the start. But I also agree with them that it isn’t going to happen. We all know Arena is going to go with Cristman. He’s the more comparable player to Barrett. Which is exactly why I wouldn’t play him. Oh well, I don’t think Barrett’s replacement is going to decide the match in any event.
So, are you ready?
Twitter:@dschnider
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I can’t be the only one who still finds himself humming “This is LA….” every few minutes.
Sunday night was the most thrilling night I have ever spent at the HDC. I don’t think I have ever heard the crowd louder. My favorite fans, pictured above, cheered their brains out, as it seems did 20,000 other fans.
As I said in previous posts, I went in feeling that the Galaxy were a team in the ascendancy. You might say I felt it was our manifest destiny to capture the west. But it is one thing to feel it and another for the team to actually do it.
The game was far from perfect. RSL had a number of very dangerous opportunities. A combination of luck and Josh Saunders spared us from a crushing defeat. But the result was glorious.
I don’t want to dwell too long on individual performances. I remained unimpressed with Barrett. I thought Keane and Donovan were magic up front. Magee remains our hero and all of the doubters should grovel at his feet.
But what really struck me was the sense of inevitability. The feeling among the crowd (and hopefully among the players) that this was our turn.
Everyone I know is now searching for MLS Cup tickets. I’m told the game is sold out and the aftermarket is ridiculously expensive. But I’m going to be there and can’t wait. Our destiny awaits us.
Much as I hate the tag line, I have to say, I’m ready.
Twitter: @dschnider
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Okay, so we didn’t have proton packs. But But Bobby Brown’s words otherwise ring true:
“So they packed up, regrouped, got a grip, camera quick.
Grabbed their proton packs on their backs and they split.”
Maybe Thierry Henry is no Vigo, but there is something about our boys traveling to NY in 45 degree weather on a snow soaked field and bringing home a W that actually makes me want to sing Bobby Brown songs.
It wasn’t the prettiest of games and there were quite a few heart attack inducing moments for me. Credit to Saunders for being a super hero between the pipes (and to Il Bruce for selecting him). Our Bradley Cooper stunt double tallied the hit, but for my money the MVP on the night had to be Colonel Saunders.
The end of the game was marred by an ugly fight. Marquez threw a hissy fit and hurled a ball at a Galaxy player. Cristman probably didn’t need to give him the body check in response. But Marquez’ whiffed punch and equally inaccurate attempt to head butt him in response was clearly red card worthy. Juninho apparently pulled out his Brazilian Jui Jitsu and managed to knock two NYRB players to the ground when he came running in. The red card for him seemed a bit harsh to me. But I guess on the home leg it’s a better swap for us, losing our samba master for their Mexican Marauder.
It wasn’t a beautiful win, but the Galaxy continue their forward momentum towards their destiny. This round is not in the bag, but I’m certainly feeling a lot more comfortable going into Thursday’s home leg. Still won’t stop me from having cardiac arrest, but at least I’ll have my fellow fans around me in the stands when it happens.
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It may not be much to look at. It may not be as meaningful as the cup. But once again, it is ours. With Seattle’s loss to San Jose the Galaxy have clinched the MLS Supporters Shield for the second year in a row. In simple terms, that means they won the league by securing more regular season points than any other team (with two games to spare!). In most European leagues that would make them champions. In MLS it is something to be proud of. It also ensures entry into the CONCACAF Champions League. So, congratulations to our boys. Thanks for the passion. And now on to MLS cup. Let’s make it happen this year. For David. For Landon. For all the fans. Let’s take back what is rightfully ours this year, the MLS Cup!
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I couldn’t watch the New York game, but honestly didn’t really care. Funny how when we played them at home early in the season it was one of the most anticipated games of the whole year. But times have changed. The Galaxy have already clinched a playoff berth and are a hair’s breadth away from the supporters shield. After a long hard run, they rested players for a game against a NY team that is barely even relevant anymore. The loss is no great surprise and really has no meaning for us.
I remain excited that the Galaxy seem a team in the ascendancy. At this critical juncture heading into the playoffs we have momentum. For the first time in years, I am more hopeful that we could win the cup than I am fearful we will be dumped out of the competition.
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There cannot be a true Galaxy fan alive today who does not love them some Brazilian. A Brazilian apparently named Vitor, specifically. Twice now I’ve seen game rosters with that name and tried to figure out if the Galaxy signed some new player. But when you see our magical little Brazilian elf on the field, there is no doubt it is Juninho. And work his magic he did last night, scoring the game winning goal in the 93rd minute to keep our CCL hopes alive.
I’ve picked up a new hashtag I’m using on twitter, #thingsilearnedatthegalaxygame. Feel free to use it. So here are some of the things I’ve picked up on:
* Barret can only score from inside the box and even then only when it isn’t very challenging.
* Cristman is a big man who can’t head the ball. Get him out of the starting lineup.
* Cardozo has been an okay midfielder, but he is far more threatening as a striker. Sure, he hasn’t scored. But he had five shots on goal his first game in that role and assisted two goals. He has an incredible touch and plays creatively. Yes, he is short. But pair him with Keane and the Galaxy feel electric.
* Dunivant is a great defender. Not so much a finisher.
* Omar Gonzalez is a stud and I can’t figure out why Klinsmann has yet to bring him into camp.
* AJ DLG isn’t perfect, but man does that kid hustle and play hard.
* Frankie makes me nervous sometimes, but with 98% pass completion last night, there is no doubt he’s still got it. Might prefer him as a bench player, but still glad to have him.
* Magee. I’m a Mageek. Shouldn’t he retire after this year because it can’t get any better?
You’ll note I’m not talking about Keane, Donovan, or Beckham. As New York is demonstrating, you have to expect your DPs to play well. But if only they play well, you don’t win. And even if they don’t play well, a strong team can still pull through without them. So what gets me excited right now is the skill I’m seeing from our non-DP players.
I’ve noticed something about the MLS Cup. It seems that what really matters is not how teams have performed through the season, but their trajectory as they enter the playoffs. Last year the Galaxy won the supporters shield. But heading into the playoffs they were losing steam. Colorado was a mediocre team, but they were surging. What matters most in the playoffs is not how you’ve been doing but how you are doing right now, because once you’re in the season long record no longer matters.
Right now I’m hopeful. The Galaxy are not dominating games, but they are winning. We no longer have entire parts of the field where we are impotent. We have quality role players in every quadrant and they seem to be getting better, not slowing down.
I’m not looking at this team thinking we’ll need a lot of luck. I’m looking at this team thinking we can go the whole way if we keep playing well. Let’s hope they feel likewise.
@dschnider
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Remember Chinatown? It is a great movie about water rights, land development, and conspiracy, starring a young Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. There is an iconic, incest revealing scene in which Nicholson is trying to determine Dunaway’s relationship to this girl. He keeps slapping her and with each slap she switches from “my sister” to “my daughter.” I probably saw it 20 years ago and it still sticks with me today. These days, it makes me think of Landon Donovan. Well, not the incest part. Just the duality of the role.
A year ago, when I was merely a reader and commenter on this blog, I argued strongly against the Galaxy playing Donovan as a midfielder. I felt his absence up front diminished the team, leaving them less potent in the attack. I accepted Donovan’s own claim that he is not a true striker. But he remained enough of a scoring threat that he could either put it in the net or draw a couple of defenders away to allow someone else to finish. I mean, we are talking about the top scoring American player in national team history, right?
But I’ve noticed something this season. While Donovan is still a potent attacker, he really isn’t a true striker. When he plays up front he remains a threat, but not really of the Keane or even Angel variety. Yet when he plays in the midfield he brings something even more rare to an MLS pitch: control. Donovan is one of the few players in the league who has the ability to slow things down or hit the afterburners seemingly on a dime. He can hold when they need to build and burn when they need to pressure. It seems to me that when Donovan plays in the middle, the team overall is more composed and more lethal. When he plays up front, they have a good attacking option but don’t quite seem as skilled in building up to take advantage of that option.
So was I wrong last year? Honestly, I’m still not sure. And the situation is complicated by the other options available. Cristman is like Alan Gordon without the charm. Barrett mostly seems to earn the nickname Nathan gave him: barnmisser. Lopez has some amazing skills, but doesn’t seem to be able to follow through with the final touch yet. So what does that leave? Magee? Don’t get me wrong. I still consider myself a Mageek. But I came to that state as a result of his impressive midfield play. Coming from the wing, he adds a nice attacking flare and really helps to pressure the opposing D. But, of course, that’s the position I just got through saying seemed to suit Donovan.
With the introduction of Keane, the Galaxy finally have potent players at every position and I finally feel we are a team that could challenge for MLS cup. But the mix of quality we have continues to be a puzzle that doesn’t quite fit together. On last week’s Corner of the Galaxy podcast (http://nasn.tv/category/corner-of-the-galaxy/), Dave Denholme argued for pairing Donovan with Keane. While that’s a tempting option to me, I still think we are better off with Donovan in the mid. So what to do?
Here’s an option that’ll never happen: play a 4-2-3-1. Make Keane the lone striker with Donovan as an attacking mid. Put Beckham and Magee on the wings. Put Juninho back as a playmaking midfielder and Birchall back to “Kovalenko” anyone who tries to get through the line. Okay, Arena will never do it. But it just might be the solution…. Seems to work okay for Man City.
So what do you think? When you peer into Landon Donovan’s soul, what kind of player do you see? Striker? Midfielder? Striker? Midfielder? Where would you play him? And what formation would you use to solve the midfield puzzle?
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Fox news is reporting that Robbie Keane is leaving Tottenham to join the LA Galaxy!! The $8M move will require the Galaxy to transfer one of their 3 current DPs. I have it from a reliable source that our supposed angel who never fulfilled our wish will be shuffling off the Galaxy coil for our HDC neighbors. I am also told the local goats passed up Adu to get him. Bad choice if you ask me.
If true, this is great news for the Galaxy. Keane could be just the bit of offensive punch we’ve been missing. I know he’s a little old (31), but still a great player. Couple him with Landycakes and Becks and we are in good shape in the attack. Can’t wait for this to be confirmed! I’m on pins and needles.
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