UPDATED w/video: Galaxy vs. New England Revolution Tonight

Agree with Diane. (and eventually, Fan)

Oops, forgot to mention the current debate in these comments. (Plus I should modify thing in my Sullivan rant: SOME of his chatting related to what was going on on the pitch at the moment).

I don't think "Beckham fans" are being too sensitive to any criticism these days. I've been trying to be sensitive to Beckham critics for several weeks by trying to refrain -- here -- from debating or criticizing the contents of the Wahl book, or arguing with other Galaxy fans' about the basis for their anger (sometimes fury) at him.

I also don't like being defined narrowly as a Beckham fan because I admire him as a player and/or disagree with some of that criticism. It is as if anyone who followed European football (along with Beckham and all of the other talented and/or interesting players featured there over the years), before he came to the Galaxy, is dismissed either as a "Eurosnob" who disdains MLS, or someone with a mindless crush. (Creepy, writing that last bit, I'm old enough to be his mother!)

Anyway, I may or may not join Nathan's discussion about the Wahl book but, if I do, I would hope my comments were taken as the observations of just another football fan (and strenuous critic of big money's impact on sports and athletes, btw) who became fond of the Galaxy after discovering the team when Beckham announced his transfer there. That was one of the purposes of bringing him over, to attract football fans that didn't have the MLS on our radar yet?

Chris Sullivan may have been a good announcer for other games I've watched, but he really was terrible when doing Barcelona and Madrid, CONSTANT chatting about nothing related to what was going on on the field at the moment, to the point that he talked more about players that weren't even on the clubs anymore than he did about those currently playing. We knew he was excited about teams he (fairly) has so long admired, but for La Liga followers who were wanting a real pre-season look at particularly the younger unknown players coming up, it was incredibly annoying. Especially with Real Madrid, his stories about the personnel issues that caused the failure of old teams were not only distracting but would have been incomprehensible to the casual fan as he only mentioned players names and not why their transfers and/or positioning impacted those previous teams, or how it related to the one on the field -- which would only have been how RM were intending to avoid those mistakes again. Anyway, it didn't work and Ieven got bored during this story about his stories! ;-)

oops.... senstive = sensitive

Fan - Wow, you diehard Beckham fans are really angry and defensive these days. I agree with Hesse and NathanHJ!! You are just TOO senstive to any criticism that is directed at Beckham.

Oh..make no mistakes..I remember it well. I don't ignore the FO's crap, Alexi's shit at all..but I remember well that, perhaps not you Hesse, or Nathan, but other fans and the media blaming Becks for the team's failure for the last two seasons.

And I AM and WAS talking about the fans' reactions At LARGE..not just a bunch of fans, or understanding fans, like you guys.

"He didn't score goals at all..he didn't defend..he sucks..he cannot run anymore..how many assist did he get in the 2nd half of the season?..just how many goal he scored (this questions again and again)..he's mailing it in..he didn't give a shit..that's why Galaxy sucks on the field etc, etc.."

Oh I remember so well. Maybe you guys should go and look back for facts and fans' reactions all over sometimes. Don't just look in here..go and look back for them all over the place (at least in the internet).
Peace out.

Fan - Wrong!!! Everyone was blaming the front office for the failures on the field the past 2 seasons - NOT Beckham... get your facts straight. The Beckham fallout occurred THIS season because he handled the whole Milan fiasco poorly. You are entitled to your opinion but you are not entitled to make up your own facts.

I found it funny that when the team is winning and better like this, David Beckham doesn't matter at all to the team. He is just another guy playing in a better team, even though he DOES make the team BETTER. It is a team effort. Well..all of that is true. They ARE playing like a team NOW.

But what makes it really funny is that..when the team was SUCK during the last two years, especially in the last season..EVERYONE blaming Becks on the team's failure, even though he was one of their best players in a crappy team! NO ONE EVER mentioning about team effort AT ALL! Everyone forgot that this is a TEAM game, and that one player CANNOT contribute to the team's failure!

How does that not make you guys somewhat hypocrites?

Okay, it isn't all Becks. Clearly, it is a team. But all the stuff Bruce accomplished was true six weeks ago when they were losing and you were all winging. Only one thing changed. Well, Eski too, but he isn't the difference. There is now an unparalleled player in the midfield. His addition, coupled with the sense of control and structure imposed by Arena, creates an atmosphere of confidence and breeds success.

Is he hanging over your bed? Just wondering… SHOULD BE...

Is the Beckham poster hanging above your bed?

Don't forget to kiss that Beckham poster before you turn in for the night. Is he hanging over your bed? Just wondering...

I need to clarify something. Becks is the ONLY Reason Galaxy has won any game EVER! That's just it, no other debate is necessary, Becks has inspired the Galaxy for the greater part of a decade. Thank you and Goodnight!

All the players have contributed to the teams success. Becks has helped but he is not the primary reason the Galaxy hold second place in the West. This is a team effort... and don't forget that!!

C'mon, don't give Becks all the credit. Bruce has reconstructed the defense, the team was on a winning streak, and Landon is playing his best soccer ever. Becks came back to a better team and will make it even more tough.

Hammer,

It is true that American futbol channels have the worst announcers, but there are a couple who get regular work who are worth listening to.

Chief among them is Christopher Sullivan on FSC, though he is often paired with Mark Rogondino who, while not horrible, takes a traditional American approach and just talks the whole time. Sullivan's insights and preparation and depth of knowledge are top tier, though.

Good play by play guys are hard to come by, though.

The announcers for this game are clinically stupid. One guy obviously knows nothing about soccer(football), and the other, who is a former soccer player, can't form a coherent sentence. I ended the game with the volume really low, because otherwise I was going to break something. When are we(USA) ever going to get quality soccer announcers? Alexi and Harkes seem to be the only ones, but they can't be everywhere. Sorry for the rant, but I can't stand FSC and ESPN throwing some former Geography teacher into an announcers position. Soccer for dummies must be the required reading

Right on the noes David. Riot Squad can just shut up and like it.

Hmm. What has changed? Suddenly this team is winning and is exciting again. I know there is something different about that lineup. Something that wasn't there six weeks ago. Hmm. What was it?

sitting at 31 points now, if Seattle has a loss or a draw we'll move into 2nd place in the west standings

3 points, awesome :)

coming down to the wire, the Rev's are taking some shots.

so far so good at the 70th min mark :)

I had a stomach bug earlier this week... I hope you feel better soon, Jen.

Oh, and what a fabulous first half goal by LD