Galaxy 1 – Revs 1

By: DAS | March 21st, 2011

Lord, what’s a cubit? I ask because about half way through last night’s game I was sure we were going to need to build an ark right there in the middle of HDC. My hat goes off to those brave souls who ventured into the elements for their free poncho. Discretion being the better part of valor, I opted for Chinese delivered to my door and Galavision.

It was an evening of many frustrations. You can’t see three goals pulled back without feeling that you have been robbed. Yet watching the replays, I can’t fault any of the decisions. MLS quite nicely put the called back goals online to see:

First (Juninho goalkeeper interference): http://latv.neulion.com/mlsvp/console.jsp?catid=1877&id=12918
Second (Magee offside): http://latv.neulion.com/mlsvp/console.jsp?catid=1877&id=12919
Third (Angel barely offsdie): http://latv.neulion.com/mlsvp/console.jsp?catid=1877&id=12929

The interference may be questionable, but the other two are clearly offside.

There was a lot to like in this game. The Galaxy are clearly playing much more of a possession game, trying to pass the ball around rather than just ramming it the long way up the field. Angel finally had his debut and was one early step away from scoring. The Galaxy seemed to dominate possession (though I can’t find a reliable stat), had 13 shots (6 on target) to NE’s 6 shots (only 1 on target). The defense did a better job containing NE, despite the early lapse that allowed Joseph to score. Playing in the slop the players had to deal with, I was encouraged.

There was, of course, also a lot not to like. The defense still made some very notable mistakes (we got a very lucky save from the post that prevented Joseph from doubling up when the defense almost comically flubbed the clearance). Hopefully when Gonzalez returns they’ll get a handle on that issue. Magee and Barrett up front remain unthreatening. Hopefully Angel is now back and that will change things. I’m also left wondering if it would have made more sense to move Landon up and put Stephens or Cardozo on the wing to start. Beckham still seems discombobulated. And yes, I want extra points for that word. You can see the talent, you can see he’s fit, you can see amazing passes and free kicks, but he still seems to give the ball away too much and fails to connect on too many passes. Again, I’m hoping a little time with the team works that one out.

At the end of last season, the Galaxy seemed like a jumble of talented players with no real coordination. They now seem more like an actual team, with some rough spots to work out. So, I am cautiously optimistic. Let’s see what the next few games bring.

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Category: Player News

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tommyfun

too much rain, I don't think you can tell how good a team LA was. I think we got lucky. Our first goal was well deserved, LA defense shoulda been better. But the rest of the game, The Revs don't have the possession skills that LA does. Why we don't have a sponsor is beyond me, the revs are a second division team playing in the mls monopoly. I wish we had a team IN Boston. anyway, you should have a good season.
Sanchez

Cardozo is the real deal and JPA was ready...Hopefully these guys get the start from now on...
DAS

I didn't get a great sense of how Cardozo did. I read that Donovan commented on his start, saying that it was a bit rocky and that he needs some time to get used to playing at this level. Generally speaking, with JPA in it probably makes sense to keep Donovan on the wing and use Stephens or Cardozo only when he is unavailable (like this weekend).
Noggin72

Stephens is nice player....but he doesn't have half of the ability of Cardozo...Move LD to FWD!
Lee

I think the interference call was bad. The other two were correct.

We need help up top. Barrett shows some flashes and, at least, plays hard but Magee is a non-factor.

The conditions were just brutal, worse than they looked on TV (I looked at the three disallowed goals when I got home). Anything up in the air wasn't going to go where it was intended so I can't blame Becks for those unlike in Seattle where his *short* passes were coming up short.
ArenaFan

Flashes of his Chicago days when he had all the service in the world from Blanco and couldn't become any type of threat
Juster

Felt like a loss, given how the G's dominated the game so thoroughly outside of that one stupid early goal (which reminded me so much of last year in the bad way).

That aside, i was proud to see how many fans braved the weather for the game. It being LA, i mostly expected it to only be LARS, ACB and a few stragglers.

It was very, very wet. I think i'm still damp somehow.
Nathanhj

I agree with Matt on the goal interference call. It was light inadvertent contact and even Reis himself didn't seem to think he'd been interfered with. His body language said he thought he'd dropped the damn ball.

I, too, am waiting for Beckham to play like he's part of the team again. Great crosses, when they get there, otherwise we're seeing a lot of giveaways and blow passes, the little things you expect a professional like him to get right. Granted the weather sucked and there was wind, so I'm not going to get all huffy ferreals, but it's still clear he's suffering from not training with the team during the winter.

It's also clear that the team can score once it gets untracked and that despite the weather the first half possession game was really really dangerous. I'm excited for a full-strength JPA to deal with the underwhelming forwards we have now. And my pinched nerve should be healed in a week...
Matt

It was damn cold & wet at the Galaxy last night. As an English man it reminded me of many games I watched back in the north of England. Luckily my girlfriend had VIP tickets so we watched the game one of the boxes.

The NER goal was a surprise as was watching 3 disallowed Galaxy goals. I can not think the last time I saw so many goals disallowed by one team. It was hard to understand the refs decision in any of these denied goals while we were at the game. When I watched the recorded game later I could see some justification but I have seen far more obviously offside goals allowed to stand and the alleged goalie interference was just not there.

Anyway it was a fine Galaxy performance in the most difficult of conditions.

Cheers

Matt