Comments on: So What’s Wrong With the Galaxy? Here’s One Possibility

By: justjack

justjack — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 15:52:04 +0000

Intriguing formula, Laurie. I also agree with the apparent consensus that there are multiple layers to the Problem, and when so many are solvable through management, it’s a safe bet to let the buck stop at the top. I’ve never understood Yallop and he’s been losing here since he came to LA so I just don’t get how letting him stay isn’t like peeing petrol into a bonfire. Ultimately Lalas has to take the blows and deserves a serious pummeling. I can see how his pricey idea for a dream team sounded swell, but… well, just look at what we have in front of us.

Thanks to Doug especially for bringing up the Cannon-Hartman thing. I was a huge El Gato fan from the very beginning and I just don’t see anything all that stellar about Joe since he arrived. Everyone keeps saying he was MLS best of something or other and I haven’t seen that in his performance (I generally try to pretend KC doesn’t exist, always have). Ah hell, time for the anti-depressants.

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:40:02 +0000

It makes me a little nervous that Beckham might be in traction if the MEDICAL STAFF (where HAVE they been btw?) made the decision for him not to even travel.
A smaller irritant is the string of headlines saying Beckham Exhausted instead of Beckham injured. I feel like the little kid in the Emperor’s New Clothes…are there so few of us that noted a pretty big difference between tiredness and pain on Wednesday night?

By: Mirna

Mirna — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 04:06:52 +0000

I am with you Doug. I wish that Beckham didn’t have to do all that traveling. But he wasn’t the only one who did…in that case, the MLS schedule is at fault here. Whoever makes up the schedule at MLS needs a serious career change. What I am afraid of is that McClaren will call Beckham for the Euro games in September. What will we do then?

By: Doug

Doug — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 03:30:31 +0000

Mirna,

The same could be said about Steve McClaren. He made Beckham fly all the way to England *for a friendly*, knowing full well that Beckham was injured and had an important league game the next night. England have many options at that position yet he opted for Beckham.

By: jenl

jenl — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:31:50 +0000

In talking about DB missing Sunday’s game in Colorado, Lalas says it’s “regrettable that he will not get the opportunity to play in Colorado this season.” What that really means is that Lalas is sorry that ticket sales aren’t going to go through the roof in Colorado this Sunday.

I am so sick of this. Sure he’s marketable. Of course. Absolutely I want to see him play. But he, himself, is not the Galaxy OR the MLS. The poor guy. Let him rest and heal and stop seeing dollar signs in front of your eyes. The whole thing smacks of DB being used. Can’t we just get back to good, solid, soccer? That’s what I want to see anyway.

By: Clint

Clint — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:41:56 +0000

Beckham not playing Sunday at Colorado. THANKS A LOT YOU F’IN CHIVAS BASTIDS!!!! Why weren’t you on the field as Beckham’s personal bodyguard last night, Laurie??

By: Mirna

Mirna — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:32:17 +0000

Hmmm…Lalas or Yallop? Who should go? I am sorry to say that somebody has to. Lalas has made a mess out of our team and Yallop is just working with the team that Lalas gave him. The only thing that I have against Yallop right now is not knowing how to manage Beckham. Even if he wanted to play the full 90…it was dumb of him to allow him to. Two full 90’s in 48 hours…that’s not smart. David’s face at the end of that game makes me nervous and I can’t see him in uniform on Sunday but hey, he has said himself that he is stubborn so maybe.

All in all, I want Lalas out. What a disappointment. I used to be one of his biggest supporters but this is too much. Bye Alexi!!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:16:47 +0000

Nathan, according to an old Ives column, the Galaxy got “an undisclosed package of draft picks” for Hartman. I’m wondering if there’s more to this story?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:41:02 +0000

ooh, when you start breaking down all those trades/cuts, yeah, it’s really a gutted side. OK, then, if this is a “rebuilding year”, then for who? DB? There was all this hype created for his arrival, yet the main component seemed to be left out: a quality side for him to play with.

Boy, think about it: Marshall the veteran on defense, Ngwenya and Gomez shredding the defense to receive DB’s thru-balls, El Gato stil patrolling the back lines. I think Lalas’s ego got the best of him this year. Someone at AEG has to pull the trigger on either he or Yallop, na dright now I’d say the money’s on Lalas.

By: Mirna

Mirna — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:03:42 +0000

Laurie,

Great post. It definitely helps to visualize why and how we are in this mess. I completely agree that this a mess that Lalas created. He came in and took this team apart and made for a pretty uninspired team after all the injuries.

I do understand that there is nothing about the injuries. They happen and that’s that but the difference in salaries here is the problem.

I agree with Nathan with most of the assesment on the trades because the Galaxy has been doing this since the beginning of this league. Always trading players that go to other teams to become good, if not great, players. If we look at every roster in the MLS, you find players that used to wear the Galaxy uniform.

But back to our problem here, it is difficult to see how we are going to manage to make it into the playoffs. We have lost precious six points in the last week and if we can’t beat Colorado on Sunday, we have a tough road ahead.

Nathan…don’t know if you read my post but I taped the NY game last night. If you still want a copy, let me know.