A tale of four teams: Galaxy v Timbers preview

Today’s match-up between the Galaxy and the expansion Portland Timbers is a tale of four teams and the question is which two are going to show up.

On the one hand we have an expansion franchise (though not completely new – the Timbers have played quality futbol as part of the old USL-1 and other domestic leagues for years) which got a point out of its first four games and then exploded at home for six points and seven gols. The first games were on the road and the team was hampered by injuries to key performers and missing players who have now been signed, including their new designated player. Then at home they pulled it together and embarrassed a good FC Dallas team and then ran circles around a Chicago Fire teams that the Galaxy then also took to the woodshed.

On the other hand, we’ve got a Galaxy team that has had its own injury issues to key performers (notalby Omar Gonzalez – back now – and Gregg Berhalter – still out) and a first team that had distinct troubles putting the ball in the back of the net. But with the first choice midfield sidelined by cards and injuries, the second string showed its quality by playing a more energetic and tactically smarter game than the mostly full-strength Fire. At Bridgeview.

So the question is which of these teams are going to show up at the Home Depot Center? Will it be a Portland team that is experiencing a surge in production from Kenny Cooper and brilliant orchestration from midfield engine Kalif Alhassan? Will it be the team that is stretching defense with Jorge Perlaza and getting both bite and offense from Jack Jewsbury? Or will it be the team that has given up 4 gols in the final 10 minutes of its home matches due to a generally average backline and golkeeper?

And what about the Galaxy? With a hole to fill in the backline due to Leonardo’s season-ending knee injury (I’m betting on AJ Delagarza getting the call) but with the entire first choice midfield back on call can the team live up to the performace the second team put together and score more than one gol in the game? Or will we see a return to frustration the exemplified the games in DC and Toronto?

For Portland I’m putting my money on the more dangerous team showing up. Not only can Timbers’ coach John Spencer call on players like Alhassan, he’s got Sal Zizzo rounding back into form, Darlington Nagby getting fitter, Diego Chara available to play his first game for the team as the DP, and quality role players like Adam Moffat overcoming injuries. It may be an expansion team, but it has talent, a core of players that know each other from their last seaons in USSF D-2, and a coach they love to play for. 2005 Chivas USA this isn’t.

For Los Angeles, I’m less sure. Getting Juninho and David Beckham back will be a boon to the midfield and to the ability to control the tempo of the game, but through the first 5 games or so (and granted weather conditions were often awful) that hasn’t translated into much of an offensive threat. Frankly the team looked a lot more dangerous with Paolo Cardozo in the line-up but I don’t see him getting the start over any of Mike Magee, Chris Birchall, Becks, and Juninho. I am hopeful, however, about the strikers. Miguel Lopez is starting to really get a feel for his teammates and his relentless cutting and dodging perfectly compliements the games of both Juan Pablo Angel and Chad Barrett (he gets his real name back based on last game’s performance). If Lopez can connect with Becks and Juninho, then I suspect those gols from the striker position will finally start coming.

So for the Galaxy to win they need to do these three things:

**Shake off the pressure from Jack Jewsbury and contain Alhassan, Perlaza and Cooper (the battle between him and Gonzalez should be fun to watch).

**Use the vision and control of Becks along with the offensive orientation of Juninho to put pressure on the Timbers’ suspect backline by finding Lopez who should be able to disorient the defense.

**Give Angel the service he deserves so he can punish the Timbers’ defense.

Player who needs to step-up: Mike Magee. Magee’s been having himself a fine run of form and he needs to continue that. I expect he gets the start over Landon Donovan because Landon is match fit yet and Magee needs to capitalize. When he’s on, the team is noticably more dangerous and he can exploit the attention that Lopez, JPA, Barrett and Juninho will draw from defenders to make that perfect cross or take that unexpect shot.

Predicted starting line-up:

Angel – Lopez
Magee – Becks – Juninho – Birchall
Dunivant – AJ Delagarza – Gonzalez – Franklin
Ricketts

I think that the home field and the return of starters give the edge to the Galaxy in what should be quite an exciting game. I think that the defense bends but doesn’t break in front of its own changes and the explosive Portland offense. Galaxy 2-1.

What about you guys? What do you see as the starting line up? Who do you WANT to see start? What will it take to win? Who’s your key player? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: Pre-Game Preview