Galaxy vs. Fire Preview

By: NathanHJ | October 1st, 2009

57617473 The Los Angeles Galaxy takes on the Chicago Fire in a battle of second place teams on Friday, October 2 at 8PM. The game will be on ESPN2.

On paper this should be a tough, hard fought match between two teams that need to be peaking right now if they have hopes of going deep in the post-season. In fact, both teams are sputtering, though the Fire come in with a great road record and the Galaxy is playing at home in a season in which the Home Depot Center has felt much more like public beach than a forbidding fortress for opposing sides.

What the Galaxy need in this game is what they’ve been needing pretty much all season. Offense. That’s why there’s a picture of Edson Buddle on this posting. He needs to break free of the lockdown Columbus had him under last game and score some goals. Likewise, Landon Donovan needs to shake off the close marking he received last Saturday and make something happen. If reports from the Party Line and Nick Green are to be believed, then there’s a good chance that Landon will have some help from a healthy David Beckham. Well, Edson too for that matter.

This is important because the Fire bring in a fairly make-shift defense. Losing Bakary Soumare has had an impact and CJ Brown isn’t getting any younger. Wilman Conde certainly helps plug some gaps, but this probably isn’t the defense that Dennis Hamlett envisioned at the start of the season. And the midfield hasn’t been setting the world on fire either. Chris Rolfe has been having a subdued season, though his work rate is still high and he has learned to do a lot of dirty work. Justin Mapp is still having trouble living up to his potential and John Thorrington is injured. I love me some Logan Pause because he’s the kind of player I like to see do well in MLS. And because he went to my high school. But he’s not going to give you that offensive punch you’re looking for. And, if he plays, Cuauhtemoc Blanco won’t be at 100 percent. But you just can’t count the Fire out. They bring a solid core of players who know each other and play extremely well as a unit. And they’ve got Brian McBride back.

The Galaxy, despite a spate of injuries, is looking to field a more-or-less full strength roster on Friday. I expect to see something like this:

Ricketts
Dunivant – Berhalter – Gonzalez – Delagarza
Lewis – Birchall – Beckham – Franklin
Donovan – Buddle

I think I would prefer to see Sean Franklin at right back and Chris Klein at right mid, or even Franklin not starting at all with Klein at right mid. But I think the above is probably close to what Bruce Arena will put on the field.

I think the Donovan – Buddle combination will work pretty well, especially if Donovan is given free reign on the offense. Slashing runs in the final third will give Buddle a lot of room to operate, which he needs. And a free-range Donovan, aside from being healthier for you, will get you lots of chances.

This all depends on the Chris Birchall – David Beckham combo working well. And I think it should. Birchall has the grit to fill the middle and bust up plays and the vision to make the good pass once he has the ball. This has always been Stefani Miglioranzi’s biggest weakness, while Birchall adds some offense to the defensive midfield spot.

But, if the offense the Galaxy took to Ohio shows up at the HDC, if could be a long night.

I’m optimistic. Galaxy 2-1.

What about you all? Who do you want to see play? In what formation? Who do you think will win?