Comments on: Galaxy vs. Chivas Playoff Preview

By: David

David — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:54:58 +0000

I don’t think MLS will ever be up to EPL quality nor do I really think it should try. I am also skeptical of critics who say that attendance is down because game play has become less exciting.

To me, the main thing MLS does is create a career path for young soccer players in this country. Barely a decade ago, there were no more than a couple dozen Americans who could make a real career playing soccer in the world. Today, thanks to MLS, there are hundreds. That gives young athletes more of a reason to stick with soccer. That in turn means more talent in MLS. That means more Americans with a prospect of going abroad, a brighter future for the national team, and more exciting soccer here.

I don’t have a magic bullet to improve attendance for MLS. But I think as Americans stick with the sport and improve overall that will increase interest.

Contrary to the current strategy of making MLS like European leagues, that means trying to be more like the South American leagues that largely serve as feeders to Europe. Wouldn’t you come out to see the next Adu or Altidore before they head off to Europe?

By: David

David — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:46:48 +0000

As expected, Beckham will be with Milan until WC.

http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/story?storyId=693048&leagueTag=ITA.1&lang=EN

By: David

David — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:51:27 +0000

I was predicting Columbus and Seattle in the final with Columbus winning, but after last weekend maybe not.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:13:22 +0000

Off topic, we have a poll up over on our MLS page: Who will win the Cup?

http://mls.theoffside.com/major-league-soccer/poll-who-will-win-mls-cup-2009.html

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:42:24 +0000

At the end of the game on ESPN, Dellacamera says something like, “The players are exhausted. They left it all on the field.”

Harkes says, “Well…yeah. Maybe some of them.” As the camera was focused on Beckham.

By: Colin

Colin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:21:39 +0000

A friend of mine went with me to the game yesterday, and I think his statement pretty much summed up this series: “Chivas USA are happy that they didn’t LOSE. The Galaxy are upset that they didn’t WIN.”

I thought Beckham was out of sorts yesterday, especially with his passing. Their rhythm on offense was terrible, so hopefully that gets cleared up by next week. I’d be surprised if you saw as many defensive miscues from Omar this weekend. Early prediction: Galaxy 2-Chivas USA 0.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:29:34 +0000

David, keep in mind that my comment was written at the half, after several intense minutes where the Galaxy had played crisp pass after crisp pass. I got carried away.

By the end of the second half, reality had set in and I would definitely have agreed with you. I take it back. Except for the rare few minutes that happen occasionally and make my heart go zzzing.

Someday, though. Someday.

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:06:04 +0000

Laurie, those teams could certainly have given LFC a game on this weekend .

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:02:45 +0000

Speed. Have to keep possession, any playoff or Cup contender will know well by now how to exploit with pace. Ricketts exquisite of course.

What is A.J. DeLaGarza’s injury status? I can’t even remember what it was — hamstring?

By: David

David — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:49:43 +0000

What a game this was. More for the near heart attack inducing moments than for the beauty. Replay was a gift and a curse today. I watched over and over as the Chivas player knocked a beautiful through ball right to Donovan for the Galaxy’s second goal, wondering each time why he would do that. But the Galaxy had their own share of embarrassments. The revelatory OG especially, unfortunately. I still feel like this series is ours to lose, not theirs to win. I’m going to be out of the country and will miss the next match, but am sending my boys to yell their lungs out for me.