Galaxy 2-2 Houston. Is Franchino the Missing Link?
By: Laurie | April 19th, 2008So is Joey Franchino the missing link?
(Read that however you want.)
You know how I’ve said that previously I just wasn’t convinced by our central midfield? I’m thinking there’s a possibility that this could be the answer. Maybe Alexi was right in bringing Franchino in and I was wrong. Imagine.
The first half was almost unwatchable. It wasn’t just the missed connections. It was the fact that the Galaxy weren’t winning any fifty-fifty balls. And they were randomly passing to the orange jerseys. And balls that should have been fifty-fifty were actually 100% Houston, because no Galaxy player was even making the attempt.
And then Abel Xavier and Franchino came on second half, and something caught fire. And when Ianni took Landon Donovan out, it fanned the flames. And suddenly there was passion on the field.
Where does that kind of passion come from? Was it Xavier? Was it Franchino? Was it Gullit’s halftime speech? Whatever it is, they’re going to need to bottle it up so they can pull it out for the rest of the season.
Funny thing was that I really didn’t think that Xavier and Greg Vanney could play together, since they have the same strengths and weaknesses. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe it’s just that they needed more support from the midfield, and the Pires-McDonald combination didn’t do it? Or was it just luck?
Landon had an amazing second half. And Mike Randolph was so much better at midfield than at leftback. He didn’t have what it took to take on Mullen first half, and Sean Franklin didn’t seem to have the same problem. (Honestly, I didn’t even notice Mullen second half. So I’m assuming that Franklin handled him just fine. At least second half.)
Houston was a whole lot stronger than Toronto last week, and in the first half we let them prove it.
In the second half though?
Gullit just might be onto something.
P.S. Landon Donovan + David Beckham = the potential to be amazing.
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Tags: 2008 Season, Abel Xavier, Beckham, Donovan, Greg Vanney, Houston Dynamo, Joey Franchino, LA Galaxy, Mike Randolph, Player News, Ruud Gullit, Sean FranklinSubscribe
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Comments
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Why is Cronin still playing? That first goal was completely his fault.
Posted from
United States
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“Landon Donovan + David Beckham = the potential to be amazing”.
This could be a great year for Donovan scoring goals. He already has 5 goals in 4 games and his total goals for the 2007 season was 8.
Posted from
United States -
Well.
That didn’t suck.
I have to say that even with the horridness of the first half, the team looked so much better than against TFC that I didn’t have that vaugely frustrated feeling I had all of 2007.
Frankly, even though we gave up two points at home and we played not so very very well in the first half, I left the game feeling very entertained.
Totally agree on Becks+Landon. Becks has 3 assists, Donovan has 5 goals (Becks has the other). This could be a Golden Boot year for LA.
Very very scared about world cup qualifying though. No Landon, no Becks = no goals.
Also the ref was almost but not quite complete crap. Needs a re-training or to spend a season in USL.
Posted from
United States -
I’ve just come back from tonight’s game against Houston. I’m from London England, a big West Ham fan, and I’m here on vacation so I had to come out and see the Galaxy and Becks. Here’s what I saw. It was virtually pointless watching the first half. Dull. The only LA player on the pitch who actually looked like they wanted the ball was Becks - and I promise you if he had played badly I’d say it so no English bias here. What I couldn’t believe was how badly the LA players closed down their opposition. They gave them too much time on the ball. Their passing was was poor and their possession was, well it looked like they just didn’t want the ball. Too much amateurish tackling - we get taught not to dive in when we are about 10 years old - looked like most of the LA players have never been taught that. I felt Becks was sitting too deep in his own half, in fact the LA midfield were and when they broke the forwards were not supported by the midfield. Lastly, Randolph was just out of sorts and out classed at left back.
Second half the immediate difference was Franchino - so I think Laurie is right, at least for tonight. The guy looked like he wanted the ball more than anyone on the pitch. He tackled aggressively and closed down quickly. Becks also played further up the pitch, I thought he was able to partly because Franchino was strengthening defence by playing a good holding mid-field role in front of the back 4. Randolph was much better in midfield.
I think the reason LA didn’t win was because defensively they were pretty poor. Both LA goals were quality moves. But that draw was down to 2 things. First, just a lack of defensive quality. Second, generally just an unacceptable level of effort from most of the LA players certainly in the first half in trying to win the ball and closing players down quickly. Watch Becks, he sprints from opposing player to player, they know he’s there or he’s coming and that gives them no time to think. Sometimes I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, players just watching waiting for something to happen.
To finish on a high note, I thought the kids playing at half time were great, some good skills and just loads of effort. The only down side was when two of the kids clashed and the one who kept the ball got boo-ed by the crowd - come on people, that’s ridiculous, boo-ing a 12 year old kid??! Its a contact sport, even for 12 year olds.Posted from
United States -
Hey the kids are there every week and I have not heard them booed once you could have been mistaken for the reason they were booing but then again it was one of those nights. I also disagree about the players not wanting the ball. Donovan and Klein were both running there asses off, Buddle was walking around though and Gordon oh man does he piss me off. Franklin got beat for the first time this year but still a great guy to have out there. Oh mister Franchino I like him and I have a feeling he will be playing LM instead of Allen he is what we needed a left footed player we still need a couple more though, this is the biggest reason Becks is not getting the ball enough, not enough lefty’s. He is a stocky guy though lol. Tell me you guys saw Abel chase DeRo down in the second half though looked a little quicker tonight.
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United States -
Hopefully, the second half of tonight’s game is a sign of things to come and was not just an anomaly. Interesting to note that Ruud picked Franchino over Vagenas as a sub. I think Franchino makes Vagenas expendable and we can use his dumped salary, if that is the case, to sign a decent central defender or trade Pete for one. We are a couple of tweaks and player additions away from having a decent team and season.
Posted from
United States -
Besides those two coming in I think Gordon coming out
was a big help. I sit midfeild and am so tired of watching him walking up and down the field. Becks and Donavan were awesome together and it was nice to see Landon get into someones facethe crowd went crazy. For a second there I thought Becks was going to throw the ball at the ref.Posted from
United States -
I really would like to kick MLS in the balls right now.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u201/thegreasyminute/beckhammls.jpgPosted from
Canada -
Hey sam it was magic that we came back to get the tie, they also never said Beckham scored so…
Posted from
United States -
hi all..i didn’t watch the game. so can anyone please tell me whether Buddle’s ball was actually cross the line or not? were we suppose to win the match actually?
anyway..good on Galaxy for getting the draw. they should do this in the last game as well. we should get 5 points by now. oh well..4 points is still good points for 4 games.
Posted from
Malaysia -
Well my alarm clock cheated on me…and I woke up on 70th minute of the game. Didn’t see much. Hope somebody will post torrent.
From what I saw we keep ball good,which is always a good sign of progress. Wow becks move on second gaol was so “MU days” din’t see that from him for years!
I was scared about this new-old man that we signed two days ago (you all were so pessimistic)…well,people,he is better than Vegenas and can stop the first wave of opposite attack. Can I ask more?
LD goes for “pichihi” this year!
And this pic goes for our season poster
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/07sF91J2rz9ZB/340x.jpgPosted from
Israel -
From what I saw last night on my tivo, it looked like Buddle’s ball crossed the line at the end. Another blown call by the MLS’s finest..
Posted from
United States -
Yeah, the replay really did make it looke like the ball crossed the line. Anybody for goalline technology to take away the human error aspect of the game?
Posted from
United States -
Aren’t they doing goal line tech elsewhere in the world, because that was a goal. we need it in MLS now with these crappy refs that seem to be the case nowadays! so far this young season the refs have been really poor!
Posted from
United States -
Rudd, I think we have a new lineup :p
Posted from
United States -
Smart ball technology:
http://www.theoffside.com/tournaments/club-world-cup/the-smart-ball-is-back-yipee.html
Posted from
United States -
Buddle was useless last night. He was dragging and, for most of the game, completely disengaged. Its not that he just didn’t contribute, but his lethargy in marking defenders and refusal to aggressively go up top made him a liability to the team. Awful!! he should have been pulled in the first 15 minutes.
On the flip side,, from my seats, I had a good view of Franklin in both halves and he was something else. He has great sense and fantastic technique. He can defend, pass and carry the ball and this was his 3rd MLS game!! I had to laugh when it seemed like Vanney was giving him directions..Franklin knew what he was doing at all times!! A real star, and he covered well for Randolph’s inability to complete any cross. Surprisingly good left foot too.Posted from
United States -
Oh yeah…and the only thing worse than Cronin in goal is Cronin with a groin injury in goal. BRING IN WICKS!!
Posted from
United States -
Hey Steve the Second half when Cronin was on GA side we can hear him talking to the guys throughout the game and that second goal not his fault. Dont get me wrong I think Wicks is more vocal but I was at the reserve game today and Wicks makes plenty of mistakes himself. So either way we are going to let up some goals. The main thing is keeping the team chemistry.
Posted from
United States -
Goal line technology: FIFA ruled against it last week in favor of POSSIBLY employing 2 more officials (do I remember that they might be positioned at either end? maybe).
Posted from
United States
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