Anyone feel like going out on a limb on where we finish in the playoffs? I don't mean the emotional "We are going all the way baby!!" kind unless you really believe that in your heart. It's the MLS playoffs, ANYTHING can happen (and has, in the past) we have a team of great talent with a few injury issues, a LOT of cohesion issues, a leaky defense, a great offense, and a pretty much hard to predict playoff future. Anyone? I'll post mine when I've had an hour to think about it a little.
OK, OK, I'll get the ball rolling. My gut feeling is that we roll Vancouver relatively easily (although not without some nerves: one-off games are always nervy) and then have an epic series with San Jose, that we win in a squeaker. a 2-1 win at home, then a 1-1 draw to finish it off. Injuries ensue however, and the team is a bit beat up headed into the match-up with RSL, who somehow put away Seattle yet again...and we lose to them in a gritty match-up that features a Galaxy red card, pouring more fuel into that rivalry fire. Do I hope we do better than that? Oh yes! Do I think we could? Heck yes! Is there danger that we lose to SJ? Uhhh....unfortunately yes. Could we lose to Vancouver? It's a possibility, but it'd be a huge shocker. Which is to say, yes it could happen. But the above is what I honestly think will happen this year.
I love the fact that we play the first (or only) game of each round at home. If we take advantage of that and go to their field with a lead, they can't just bunker and hack their way to a standoff; they need to play us and we have the talent and depth that every team in this league should be afraid to play us. I will be rooting for RSL in their first round so we won't have to worry about playing on that embarrassment of a "pitch" in Seattle. I really like our odds. San Jose could only muster a tie against us in their house; that isn't going to be good enough. We have guys coming back just in time for the playoffs. If they really are healthy and ready to play, and if rust isn't an issue, the time off might turn in to a nice advantage playing a lot of games in a short time. Trying to be as unbiased as I can be, I think we are the favorites to get through.
I think we get past VAN pretty easily, 2-1 or 3-1. Then beat SJ. I can't get the World Series out of my mind...look at the SF Giants sweeping the "well-rested" Tigers. Maybe SJ gets a little rusty...it's only a week though. But I think we get past SJ 2-1 at home then 2-2 on the road. Seattle and RSL is a matchup that I really don't know about. It could go either way. I think RSL wins it though. But unfortunately, whoever we play in the Conference Finals...I feel like we're gonna lose. No particular reason...just a feeling that sorta was apparent last night (lots of opportunities but couldn't really convert them). EDIT: I just remembered that EJ picked up a knock last night. Therefore, I think RSL will beat the Sounders.
I'm with this. I want us to win the whole kit and kabdoodle of course, but this. And I'm not looking past Vancouver. Anything can happen.
I think we knock off Vancouver, then also knock off San Jose (their defense is frail like ours, and I think they've used about a decades worth of good luck up this year to come back from so many deficiets/score late timely goals) in a drop dead fight. I think we'll be tired from our 3 games in 8 days, then lose to RSL in the Conference final after they knock off Seattle (this is majorly dependent on Eddie Johnson's health).
Like others, I feel like we match up well with VanCaps and SJ... so I think there's a good chance we get past both teams. I think RSL and Seattle are a different kettle of fish. I think we can beat either team, but it's gonna be a tough series, and it's likely we don't make it through. If we do make it through, I think we can beat any team in the east, but KC has the best chance against us. They play a very physical style (like SJ), and if we have to play them in KC, they're going to be aloud to beat the crap out of our guys, and I think that gives them an edge. If we play any other team from the east, I think we have the edge.
We are LA Galaxy a championship is the only acceptable outcome to a season, I know we can't win all the time but our mentality has to be that, We win titles failure is not an option simple as that. Ride or Die LA all the way baby!
If we beat sj, we will go on and win the West and probably the cup if we can overcome home field advantage.
I would love for this to happen. I think LA will sneak into the conference final but probably lose there.
Ok, I'll wreck the consistency. Anyone who doesn't think San Jose is the most likely team to knock us out is nuts. They are easily the strongest opponent left in the series. Seattle is weak mentally, don't play as hard, and players like Montero are much easier to shut down than SJ's strikers. RSL doesn't have near the scoring threat. SKC is the toughest opponent from the East - they have athletes all over the field which should help then shine in the playoffs. They would be the 2nd most likely team to knock us out. The Red Bulls can score but are very vulnerable defensively. DC might be the cinderella team out West. If they have the fighting spirit Olsen had in his playing days they could be a challenge. Chicago, Houston, meh... If I am being objective, SJ is not only the most likely team to knock us out, they are a favorite to do so. They have it all. Multiple scoring weapons, a fantastic midfield, and a very solid defense and goalkeeper. They constantly pressure the ball and just plain work hard for 90 minutes, and as obnoxious as it is to hear about, they truly never give up. We are 0-2-1 against them and we had to fight our ass off to get the tie (as did they). Wondo only needs a sliver of an opportunity to strike and The Douche is a handful as well. And we know Gordon loves to punish us for whatever reason. Marvin Chavez is one of the top midfielders in MLS and isn't getting the credit he deserves. Bernardez is hard to beat. And they have the best bench in MLS, or maybe they and Seattle do. SJ didn't get a +29 goal differential by accident. They are clearly our toughest out. That being said we obviously have the tools to beat them and I hope we do. We just won't be a favorite to do so, unlike any other opponent we will face.
San Jose's defense has been anything but solid, it's leaked a ton of goals lately (and at home), and has been saved by their late game offensive heroics. San Jose has the 3rd worst defense (behind US and and New York), so they're basically the worst defense team we could face before the cup game.
You are 100% correct - I didn't realize they had leaked so many lately, giving up 2,1,3,1,2,1 goals in their last 6 games respectively for a total of 10 goals or 1.67 g/gm which is pretty bad for a playoff team. They compensated a bit by scoring a whopping 14 goals in that stretch or 2.33 g/gm. I believe the rest of my points stand though and I still think they are the best team we will have to face in the playoffs.
I think San Jose also has a massive home field advantage playing in that shoebox they call a stadium.
And yet we work/play our asses off against them. I actually fear RSL more because for whatever reason we don't stand up to them as much. When we play SJ all hell breaks loose. Each game we played with them this year that was the case. They were tight contested affairs with super passionate players. I didn't/don't see them as the favorite in any of those games which could have teetered either way. I am not going to say "I like our chances" versus SJ - they are a very good team for all the points you raise. I also agree that they are the best team we will face. But we tend to stand up to them and play toe to toe. So between the two what scares me more based on the order we have the teams? RSL. (Expecting them to go through if EJ is out). And to be fair, I don't expect us to win or lose the games against SJ, think it will be a crapshoot - just think we will play our asses off, which is the only thing I can ask for.
Assuming we get there, this is a very fair point. It especially negates Becks and LD's benefits. Means we really need to win at home before we get over there.
I might add that I think we'll see a red card or two in the SJ series. One for Lenhart and one for one of our guys (my gut tells me maybe Omar or Juni). Also, I EXPECT to see a yellow for Becks...
I assume you mean for the width? The more width SJE has had, generally the better they have played (SJE attacks from the wings, usually) HDC = 75 yds. x 120 yds. Buckshaw = 74 yds. x 115 yds.