Galaxy vs. Earthquakes Preview
By: jen | April 18th, 2009
*rubbing my temples* I am sensing a win. Why? Because it’s about damn time!
No, no, that’s not the only reason.
The bad news? The Earthquakes have a very good midfield. Bobby Convey, Simon Elliot (effective when with the Galaxy), Arturo Alvarez, and Darren Huckerby (scary assists leader).
The good news? Their defense is a sieve. They have allowed 8 goals in 4 games this season.
Even better news — their offense is easy to mark.
Once again, the game will be won or lost in the midfield. With Gregg Berhalter out serving a red card suspension, Tony Sanneh will have to use his positioning and experience flawlessly. Omar Gonzalez will have the height and speed advantage in the back against the ‘Quakes offense. But our midfield MUST slow down their offensive creativity and keep them out of our final third. That’s good soccer playing for any game, but especially vital for this game.
The injury list for tonight’s game — we could finally see Dunivant:
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
OUT: DF Leonard Griffin (sports hernia surgery); QUESTIONABLE: FW Edson Buddle (R quadriceps strain); PROBABLE: DF Todd Dunivant (R ankle post-surgery); MF Mike Magee (R foot bruise); GK Donovan Ricketts (R groin strain)
Gordon and Berhalter sitting out to serve red card suspensions. I like how Gordon is cited for “lack of respect for the game.” It’s more like “lack of respect for the moron who kept baiting me and stomped on my foot.”
Gregg Berhalter
Los Angeles Galaxy
Suspension/Fine: 4/18/09 vs. SJ, $250
Reason: Red Card — Denies Goal by FoulAlan Gordon
Los Angeles Galaxy
Suspension/Fine: 4/18/09 vs. SJ, $250
Reason: Red Card — 2nd Caution (Lack of Respect for the Game)
That’s all for now. I’ll see you in the comments tonight. Check out the Galaxy’s video preview of tonight’s game if you have a chance. It’s nice to see and hear Donovan Ricketts. I have so much confidence in that man!
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Comments
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I’m hearing that Darren Huckerby will not play – thigh injury in training and hasn’t trained since Tuesday.
Also, Bobby Convey has been very poor in midfield so far this year, although apparently Frank had him for awhile at left back last and he was much better. I look for him to play at left mid this week – with Huckerby not available – and since that’s where he’s played most of his life, he should probably be more effective. Still, I’ve never been that impressed with him, ever.
I sure wish we had Berhalter available and even Alan Gordon – Kirovski is just a waste of space. I’m actually kind of hoping Mike Magee gets the start instead…or Bryan Jordan. And I hear also that Edson Buddle didn’t even make the trip up North. Man, it takes him a long time to get over injuries.
This one is going to be a nail-biter, I’m afraid. But we need a win real bad.
Posted from
United States
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I think this is going to be a fairly ugly game with no offensive punch from either side. I would love to be proven wrong in the favor of the Galaxy, but if I’m wrong I’m sure it will in favor of San Jose due to the weak Galaxy backline.
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United States -
Any Galaxy fans give me an idea of how Kyle Patterson is doing please? Is he anywhere near becoming a regular? Cheers.
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United Kingdom -
Unrelated, mostly, but perhaps the grass is not always greener?
http://www.gantdaily.com/news/17/ARTICLE/49130/2009-04-17.htmlPosted from
United States -
I didn’t now you could stay match fit riding the bench.
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United States -
That was my thought, Bob. If he’d come back when he was supposed to, he’d be playing regularly now. (Excuse me while I enjoy this nasty little moment of schadenfreude.)
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United States -
Greg Vanney is commentating the Seattle game. Which is kind of weird.
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United States -
Wow. That was sloppy defending. Sanneh as center back in a 3-5-2 gives me indigestion.
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United States -
Oh, Jovan. That was your chance to shine and make us all love you.
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Still, attack and midfield passing look good. Midfield control that 3-5-2 is supposed to provide seems like a reality through 10 minutes.
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United States -
Oh, Landon. That was you. So you.
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United States -
Game settling down. Galaxy seem confident on defense right now despite giving up such a early goal. A few good looks. One wonders if Kirovski will show up agian in the game.
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And then the formation gets punctured.
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United States -
Ricketts looks really hurt on that amazing save.
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United States -
See how long he lasts. He looks really stung.
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OK. Hurt or not, that was spectacular.
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Looks like our games are going similarly.
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United States -
Other than the SJ goal and maybe 2 more scares, LA looked pretty solid. The 3-5-2 works well with this field and with Donovan as the playmaker.
This was probably the best midfield display I’ve seen all season. ON the other hand, the final third is a disaster. No real shots on goal, lots of bs at the top of the box, bad final passes, uncreative runs and just second tier play from Kirovski and Magee. Magee just needs to do better. He’s in the league for 8 years. He should have a sense of how to be dangerous in the final 25 yards.
Sanneh hasn’t been as bad as I feared and DeLaGarza is having a very solid game. Franklin has pretty much disappeared. He’s been moved around a lot this season so I don’t think he’s coomfortable yet, but his technique has been shaky outside of that.
Kovalenko has been very helpful in the midfield but has had one of his patented yellow-card challenges. Miglioranzi hasn’t done anything obivously stupid and had a couple of nice moves in the middle that ended attacks and cleared balls. Adds nothing on offense, but Kovlenko can attack in certain circumstances.
Have to see something better up top to take advantage of Lewis and Donovan being on the attack. If Franklin was just being solid on the right, the danger would be across the park and we might have more real chances up top. But Magee and Kirovski would really have to step up their game. It’s been kinda ugly in the last 25 yards.
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United States -
Oh and Ricketts has been superb. Saved our ass from being down by 3.
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United States -
What’s with all these long searching balls? We have 5 midfielders. Play through the middle. String together passes. Stop dumping over the top.
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United States -
So, of course I don’t see Jordan’s goal because the MLS internet stream stopped for 5 minutes around minute 75. Awesome.
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United States -
I heart Ricketts. That guy is amazing, he saved our butts! Last year we would have lost by 2-4 goals.
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After the FSN-West broadcast ended, they had a show called “Sports Science”, and I was shocked to see Edson Buddle was on it. They had him kick a guy in the face with a soccer ball (pretty sweet). It was determined that a soccer ball to the face is about 10 times stronger than blocking an American football punt with your hands.
Posted from
United States -
Missed the game but from reading some of the posts we had a good game and came away with a point on the road. we need Buddle back to help on top and I almost hate to say it but could have Gordon played better than Magee or Kirovski up top? I’m looking forward to getting back Berhalter for the next game. I looking forward to having a full strength squad on the field.
It seems also the confidence/heart has improved to come back from being down like we have in a couple matches.
Posted from
United States
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