Galaxy vs. Rapids Pre-Game

What has happened to Xavuer? Last year he was solid, this year he is weak, going to groung too easily, not standing up forwards, I don't get it he is better than that. Hope Pete is not hurt, Galaxy looked like a totally differant team with him in the line up.

David Beckham tried so hard for our team - to drive our team - to spark our team players to dig in and score some more... to walk away from tonight with a score line of 4 - 0 or 5 - 1. But alas, there are members on our Galaxy team team that just don't get it! They don't have the same GRIT, HUNGER, EMOTION, COMPETITIVE FEVER like David or Alvaro, or Chris, or Joey... and, this is something that Head Coach Ruud, Alexi Lalas, and Tim Liweke must, must see, take notes, and be prepared to address, demand, and change. Because without making some necessary changes we (our LA Galaxy) is NOT... I repeat NOT going to get to MLS Cup 2008. So do what needs to be done... what has to be done... some players are just not cut out to be competitve, hungry, driven MLS Champions. Our LA Galaxy needs to be driven, hungry, tough, controlled, attacking, with every intention of winning and to keep it there!!!
Love this sport - GO GALAXY!!!

Our LA Galaxy team did such an amazing job in winning balls, tunr-overs, maintaining such awesome posession. Then you may be asking, how come the socre is 3 - 2. And, not 3 - 0. Yes, that's the question that I'm sure Ruud will have to keep harping on and breaking into the guys.
It's so good to have David Beckham back with us - YES!!! YES!!! David is such a talented, hard-working professional!!! He played his "darn behind" off today - and, fans - this coming back from National Team Duty!!! My hats off to him and hands and feet both are trying to clap!!! David, Chris, Alvaro, Sean, Abel, and Mikey worked very hard for us today. Hey, does anybody know if Mikey was injured or may have pulled something during training sessions this week... Mikey was too tired in the second half. This was one reason why Colorado was able to come back & score. The main reason was that Fernando Clavijo brought in Omar Cummings and Hercules Gomez is the 2nd Half... and, then the tides were starting to turn in the favor of Colorado. Their tenacity, their speed, their weaving around our slower midfielders and defenders... came back to bite our rumps!!! Plus, Steve seemed to have an off-night... Sorry, Steve like I said earlier - it takes at least... at least a full year-and-a-half before a STARTING GOAL-KEEPER gets his instincts, prowess, and timing down correctly.
Sorry to hear and see that Alan got a Red-Card tonight... but, we can thank our lucky stars that one of Colorado's got a Red-Card also!!! So, when it became a 10-on-10 game for us... guess what happened when Fernado Clavijo put in two very fast forwards. YEP - they began to find spaces, and get break-outs... plus Colorado did very well in applying some SERIOUS PRESSURE & HEAT in the second half after it became 10-v-10!
Once again, members of our team got caught up in the craziness and LOST FOCUS, SHARPNESS, DETERMINATION, DRIVE, & QUICKNESS! This is why we still keep getting dooped and scored on... Think about it - would our team stand a chance against much faster, speedier, grittier teams like New England and Chicago. Is it any reason why they're the leaders in the Conference?

Oops, just read my answer re Ruiz' speed in David's comment, and share the same hope.

Only caught the last 15 minutes of the match which gave me a different perspective than the match reports I read, along with comments -- elsewhere -- about the terrible defense etc etc. What stood out during the protect the lead scramble was that that the defense was actually getting to the ball. Fair enough to the critics, in a perfect world you don't "hang ten men from the cross bar" to protect your lead, and preferably stay as far from your own box as possible, where, obviously the ball is most dangerous. But in that perfect world you have enough players with the skill to maintain possession in the offensive end, and burn time with the hope of scoring again. That can be a stretch for teams at any level and it certainly looks like it would have been for the Galaxy last night. So yeah, there seemed to be a lot of clearance to no one up the field, but the guys did get to the ball in order to clear it, which is an improvement. It was fun in the end to see Becks and Ruiz make a few runs up for a little give and go. It told me more about how their experience, instincts, and competitive drive will match up than if they were doing it with more time and energy left.

Was I seeing Ruiz at full speed last night or is he still getting fit? If he's faster that will really make things interesting.

Just a couple of notes on the players:

Klein actually played good D tonight. Ruiz looked winded and missed opportunities he would have made before. I hope it is just lack of fitness and not something worse. Vagenas continues to do nothing for me.

What a bizarre night. I think there were at least 5 injury stoppages. That red card incident was insane. The ref goes in and cards Gordon for kicking the Col player (was it Erpen) in the face. They then showed the replay on the big screen. I swear to you the ref stopped and watched. That's when he saw that the Col player had started it by trying to kick Gordo (maybe in the junk), so he red cards the Col player! Instant replay in the MLS! Then a fan runs on the field, Klein kicks him and a security guard sits on him and it looked like he punched him. They ran the guy out past us and he actually looked pleased.

Lord, nothing like almost snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, eh? (Or is it the other way around? I always get those confused.) You wouldn't think that when you take a 3-0 lead you'd have to worry. But the Galaxy always figure out a way to keep us on the edge of our seats.

But still. Top of the west!

G'night Glen. Off to check on the kids and then get in bed.

Jen, have a good night, it was fun.

they player well for 60-65 minutes controlling the game. it was entertaining for sure

What an enjoyable game. Well, except for the two goal comeback by Colorado.

so Allen, has the game winner, awesome for his confidence

Jen your right, it really hurt when Vagenas came out. he helped holding the ball in midfield

Whew. 3 points.

finally over, First Place! :)

last play

We missed that midfield possession when Vagenas came off.

30 sec's

just another minute

yea he is

Becks is tuckered.

x-man nice block

come on possession

klien saved that one.

Wow, Klein is faster than Xavier.

Now we need "c'mon 95th minute"

sounds like Klien was playing beckham's body guard, he does it all :)

I love you Klein!

come on 90 min :)

damn, this is crappy play. now it's a game again. I hope they can mentally get back into it again

come on guys, looking a little sloppy out there. another goal for the rapids and it's a game again.

still a lot of time left, need to focus a little again

I wanted a clean sheet, not tonight

damn, I think x-man went down a little quick

franklin has played well!

we need another goal! keep pushing

HELL YEA!! WE'RE WHOOPiN, THEiR ASS [[ iTS ONLY THE 60TH MiN. BUT iM OPTiMiSTiC =D ]]

franchino coming in for allen, great game for him tonight

looks like a great atmosphere at the HDC

ACB and LARS have got some good LA Galaxy chanting going!

conor is no beckham, thats for sure :)

Here comes Ruiz, 59th minute. :)

looks like ruiz is coming in

that could have been ugly!

that was a great save from cronin, finger tip save

oh Buddle, should have pulled the trigger

Xavier has good timing tonight.

awesome from allen, he was relaxed on his shot

Allen! Aha! Good for him!

Allen, GOAL!

I was thinking the same thing. There's usually someone who is bugging me with his play, but not tonight. Even Ely Allen. He's still got some poor touches, but boy is he scrappy!

everyone out there is playing well, usually someone is not playing well, but tonight everyone is, great to see :)

good 1st half for us

Franklin and Buddle -- they are playing SO well!

I think the game is going to get a little more physical

almost, great cross from beckham

not Gordon's night, we'll see if it opens up, damn hate see gordon getting sent off

Interesting. Thankfully we're still playing even. I think it will be interesting to see if the field opens up any more than it already is.

Erpen saw Gordon and "whoops" kept his leg high.

2 red cards

Ohhh, they need to be first to the ball in the box -- much less the 6 yard box.

nice shot from gordon

I like them using the wings much more tonight

missed call

Too bad that wasn't a call. I like Beckham switching it up though and crossing near post.

oh wow, that'll be a pleasure to watch. strongest offense no doubt

I can't wait to see Buddle, Ruiz, Donovan, and Becks together. Talk about lethal!

yea, gordon has to be a little sore right now after getting hit

X-man got the assist.

Wow, wow. Great placement, great pace, far post. Nice!

Goal! Buddle, awesome

Saweet finish by Buddle!!!!!!!!

I hear you on Gordon. His face has got to feel like a burning puff ball though.

we actually have a solid bench tonight!

That's a bit better. They need to get it to Becks more -- and get wide more.

so far gordon really isn't involved in the game, bring in Ruiz!

last few minutes rapids have picked up their game

Vagenas has a lot of experience for sure and can help hold in the middle

so far were looking good, but conor casey can get off a good shot at any time. we need couple more goals to put me at ease :)

I like having Vagenas in there -- he's providing some good connection in the midfield.

I think he will -- whether we are leading or trailing. I'm thinking 60th minute for Gordon, unless Buddle starts to fade.

I wonder if Ruiz will get some time tonight.

---------------Buddle---Gordon------------


Allen---------Pires------Vagenas-----Beckham

Randolph-----Franklin---Xavier------Klein

--------------------Cronin------------------

Subs: Wicks, Jazic, Roberts, Vanney, Franchino, McDonald, Ruiz.

hey Jen

1st goal for Alvaro Pires

Hey there Glen!

4' -- Score!!!

nice, already up a goal!

Too tired to live blog. But I'll be checking the comments here, so chime in when you'd like!

Hope to see a good hookup between Beckham/Ruiz/Buddle. Hopefully the guys come out wanting to prove something and make up for the last games poor performance. I think w/ Beckham back in the lineup (can't wait for Donovan to be back) he'll help control midfield and setup some nice passes in to Ruiz/Buddle and we'll see what happens, please let there be some finishing tonight :p

I hate to see anymore giveaway loses at home. Come on defense!

Charles, EXACTLY!

I may try my hand at live blogging tonight if I can stay awake long enough (I'm EST and am working all day). :)

Me too, Jen... I too want to see that classic, opportunistic, "weaselly" goal-poacher that Carlos Ruiz made his living by. He has the skill and the where-abouts to make it happen... but, everything depends on how often he is involved in the play with and without the ball near net. In several of this year's past games, his role was more of passer/facilitator. Not having Donovan in this match is going to be a "downer" for our Galaxy. Donovan's ability to break-out and assist is so essential and valuable and necessary for us to win games. This game against Colorado tomorrow is going to come down to the rest of the players NOT quitting, NOT getting frustrated, NOT losing their focus and shape!!! If our midfielders and forwards can manage all that - we can definitely walk away from tomorrow's game with a score-line of 2 - 0. Both Buddle & Gordon will have to work extra hard tomorrow... that's the only way Carlos is going to get the service he requires near net. I hope Coach Ruud and Coach Cobi was preparing the heck out of them this week.