Some Links for Your Reading Pleasure Before the Game

By: Laurie | May 2nd, 2008

All kinds of stuff we need to get through before the game tomorrow. (Tomorrow being Saturday, in case you’re reading this on the wrong day. Wouldn’t want to lead you astray and make you miss the game.)

First off, thanks to everybody who commented on my Abel Xavier post. I found your thoughts both knowledgeable and interesting. And it really made me appreciate the people who read this blog. We can disagree without getting nasty with each other. I really value that.

What I ended up thinking, after reading everybody’s reflections, is how our thoughts on any imperfect player (which is all of them) so often reflect what we ourselves value in the game, both the tangibles and intangibles. That’s what makes discussions like this so interesting. I’ve also decided that I am, for the moment and on balance, an Xavier fan.

Next, I’ve been meaning to link to this for ages. It’s an article on Mike Randolph coming back after being cut by the U-23s in Olympic qualifying. It causes me pain in my maternal area, but kudos to him for fighting back. (Now I am seriously maternally activated.) Thanks for the link, Justin.

Also, speaking of young players. A great article on Sean Franklin on MLSnet.

And injuries for tomorrow are Ely Allen and Alvaro Pires, as well as Ruiz, Jazic and Alamo. And Sideline Views is reporting also Abel Xavier. That turf allergy, y’know? I hear it gets worse with age.

That’s all I’m thinking of at the moment. Leave comments if I’m forgetting anything.

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: 2008 Season

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jd

wow...thats a bit condesending, i think we do know the game, I do think we all have different opinions on whats going on and just because we disagree on the positive and negative of each and every player is just that, our opinion. Sorry Laurie, I know everyone enjoys the friendly atmosphere of this site, but Ive never been so offended by a comment that "we need to learn the game" How elitist of you desc.!
Desconfiad

Wow you guys are really blind about the whole Abel Xavier situation. Do yourselves a favor and really learn the sport first. While it looks like Abel is causing all these goals you must look deeper to why they are happening. BAD GOALKEEPING! Cronin does absolutely nothing to organize the defence when Abel has to pull himself out of position to shutdown the opponent because his midfield didn't do the job. Whats worse is the Cronin cleans nothing up. All I needed to watch to tell he's an absolutely terrible goalkeeper, is when he comes out to close the angle when an opponent enters the box. He's usually got the angle cut down right but he does not make himself big. The second goal in the Chivas game show all you need to know. Opponent has the ball on the goaline, theres no threat for a goalie on the this angle especially with a defender closing down. Well he decides to come out. Ok fine lets see what he does. He slides out hands toward the goaline. NO CRONIN! FEET GO TO THE GOALINE, HANDS DEFEND THE CROSS! This guy has no presence, no anticipation, slow reflexes and most importantly no confidence. Playing him is not going to give him confidence when this team needs to make the playoffs and he continues to let every goal scored get in his head because he is scared to lose his starting job. I want to give this guy a chance but he seriously needs to be loaned to like a USL team and get some playing time. Where's Josh Wicks? That guy impressed me. He's got speed, he's got experience, he's got confidence and he looks confident with every decision he makes and no hesitations. In the preseason he showed me he can take control of his area and the defenders seemed to know they could rely on him.
jd

hmm so Xavier costs us goal after goal, and NOW he wont play on turf? I dont like working when it rains but, oh yeah its my job, thats what I get paid for?? Maybe he needs a primer on the concept of team work? WAIT JUST A MINUTE....what am I saying? Never mind, just remembered that means he wont be on the field...yipeee..hurray for turf!!
Werner

in all honesty and due respect, i can't be a fan of Abel. He is a key defender we need right now, especially if randolf is going to be in the midfield. And i my opionion he is wussying out to not play on a turf field, and selfishly hurting the team.

ps. the colorado game was more the whole teams fault, but a big part on him!
The Houston second Goal he did not mark the man that scored
And BOTH goals against Chivas were his fault!
Every game he has played in these season could have been a different story if it wasn't for him. We could have had a chance in colorado and won the houston game, and cronin could have had his 2nd shut out in the Chivas game.

There is gotta be another Sean Franklin kind out there that is sitting on somebody's bench! maybe Julius James in toronto!