The Mediocrity Bowl Post-Game Analysis: Galaxy Vs. Crew

By: NathanHJ | May 17th, 2009

Wow. Did that suck or what?

Here are the high points:

–The Galaxy is now unbeaten in seven games.

I’m sorry, I guess that just high “point”.

Let me put this another way. The season is now almost one third over (I know the pundits keep saying “at the quarter point”, but the G’s have played 9 games in a 30 game season. By my math that closer to 1/3 than 1/4.) and the team has picked up 10 points from those nine games. Multiply by three and you get 30, or not enough even in MLS to make the playoffs.

Or let me put this another another way: The team has played five games at home. Of those 15 points on offer, the team has taken six. The remaining four all came from road draws. Win at home, draw on the road, the classic recipe for success. The Galaxy is missing the “win” part.

All that is to set the stage for the game that was “played” on Sunday at the Home Depot Center. Let me say right at the top that it was hot out there. The field temp was probably in the low 90’s when you factor in the direct sunlight. Not ideal futbol weather, as you could see from the product on the field. The other part of the problem was injuries. Neither Edson Buddle nor Todd Dunivant made the final 18 for the game and Sean Franklin came out after 45 minutes. This left the Galaxy starting Mike Magee, Bryan Jordan and Alan Gordon. I’ve heard the players say this is an “attack-minded” line-up, but the reality is that the quality of the attack is wanting.

Case in point: Mike Magee practically disappeared from this match causing almost no problems until he recorded the Galaxy’s first shot on goal midway through the second half. A shot right at the keeper I might add. Bryan Jordan, who is such a live wire coming off the bench, still hasn’t adjusted to the speed of MLS, taking way too many touches before dishing the ball. I like that he runs at defenders, but I hate that his ball skill means its an automatic turnover. He didn’t add much to the right side of the field.

Okay, wait, here’s a thing about this “attack-minded” line-up: It’s not attack minded if the two front runners are Jordan and Gordon with Donovan stranded on the right wing. I know that a Landon Donovan on the right on the USMNT is a dangerous thing, but that’s when he’s surrounded by, you know, world-class futbollers. This is, let me repeat, MLS with a 24 person roster and a salary cap under $3 million. Putting Landon on the right guarantees that Gordon and Jordan won’t get anything worth putting on net. Witness: most of the first half. Arena finally regained his tactical sense when he put Donovan up top and pulled Jordan to the right wing. Much more dangerous, but that’s like calling a few cases of the flu in Mexico a “worldwide pandemic”. Great copy, but not so very much the mirror of actual reality. So, Bruce, stop being cute. Play the players where then make an impact, right?

So, after 45 minutes that could have been sold as the cure for insomnia (anyone with DVR, I see a real entrepreneurial opportunity staring you in the face), the Galaxy made another adjustment. Taking out their spry 2nd year right back and former Rookie of the Year Sean Franklin for not so spry and former retiree Tony Sanneh. Now, let’s be honest for a minute. I love that a guy like Sanneh is playing. He’s 37, almost the optimal age of 39, he sat out an entire year and he’s made a squad whose defense has let in fewer goals than 10 of the other teams in the league. On the other hand, oh my god the play in which Guillermo Schellotto completely and totally ate his lunch was nothing but the rookiest of rookie mistakes. Sean Franklin would not have made that mistake. On the other hand, Franklin probably tweaked his hammy again, so he’s out injured. I’m hoping that’s the same problem with Buddle and Dunivant.

The second half was actually better for the team, despite Sanneh’s howler. They actually felt inclined to attack and pressed the Crew defense pretty hard, winning 50-50 balls and stringing together passes, plus putting balls in dangerous places. Not dangerous enough to really test Grunenbaum, but compared to the first half it was like giving a 5-year old a sparkler soaked in kerosene.

Here’s how depleted the Galaxy is right now. They attacking option off the bench was Jovan Kirovski. Oh. Thank God. It’s… Kirovski…

Another note to Il Bruce: please just let Klein play 90 minutes. Neither Jordan nor Magee are really close to taking his job away. Seriously.

Anyway, look, I know we just salvaged a tie on a wonder strike from Eddie Lewis (and that was a beauty – on this birthday too!) to stay unbeaten for 7 games and that we didn’t lose at home and that for the 100 millionth time since 2007 the team came from behind to not lose, but umm, do you see a pattern here? “Not losing” is not the same thing as “winning”. “Winning” is when you score more goals than the other team. This is often accomplished by what is technically called “putting it in the ole onion bag first”. That’s what home matches are for fellas. You know. Home. Where the heart is. Where ever you hang your hat. That place that take a living space and makes it what you identify with. Where is makes sense to say things like “My rules.” and “Not in our house.”

OK, how should I put this? WIN SOME DAMN GAMES WHEN YOU PLAY IN THAT PLACE ON VICTORIA STREET! I’m tired of saying that “we’re finally playing for each other” and “we’re really showing heart.” Both are true. But the fact of the matter here is that this team can’t figure out what to do without Landon Donovan running the show. No one else is showing consistency or any kind of danger. Frankly, the attacking personnel isn’t really there. This team is looking more and more like last year’s San Jose Earthquakes.

Okay that’s enough rambling.

No wait. Donovan Ricketts. I love you man. Don’t ever change. Sorry about getting hung out to dry like that by Sanneh. Man of the Match. No, really. You deserve it. No one else does.

And Danny O’Rourke. Hey man, that second yellow… you got screwed. But chalk it up to the Galaxy Curse (how many opponents have been red carded in Galaxy matches now?). At least your absence didn’t really allow the G’s to dominate. On the other hand Lewis tied the score on the play that started from the free kick you were called for on that play. Oh well. Life’s a bitch and then you die.

What others are saying:

MLSNet Game Summary from Ivan Orozco
MLSNet Galaxy Prespective from Ivan Orozco
AP on ESPN
Grahame Jones at the LA Times

What did you guys think? Am I being too harsh? Was the tie justified? Could we have beaten the Crew today? Who did well? Who didn’t? Who was your Man of the Match? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.