LA Galaxy VS D.C. United MLS Regular Season March 18, 2012 7:00pm EDT The Home Depot Center Galavision Feel free to add baby animals or naked DCU players. I'd prefer the baby animals! I think we have a shot at this one. Gals should be tired from 4 games in 12 days.
The phrase "Gotta Keep on ********in' that Chicken!" doesn't exist for nuthin'!!! -OR- What the Pluck?!?!?! Dammit, I hate LA. If ever a whole team of people should be locked into a basement so they could all die in a fire together, this is the group. If the NJ team could be used for kindling even better, but that's a rant for a future week or three LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA Sucks Ass There, I feel a bit better.
Our best hope for points might involve having Toronto take the CCL match tonight to extra time and penalties. LA really ran out of steam Saturday against Salt Lake, but they'll have an extra day's rest for us. We have three DPs and they have three DPs. If DeRo can play at Donovan's level, if Salihi can match Robbie Keane, and if Bosko can be as effective as Beckham, we can get a good result. If not, this could get ugly.
Minnie Riperton approves. Didn't DC United's decline begin when Cobi Jones was given an award by Kevin Payne at RFK? The Galaxy pus probably infected the field.
Yes, LA's 4 competitive matches in 12 days could/should catch up with them and affect them (ideally, more so than the 2 competitive matches that DC will have played in that same window.) Technically, DeRo doesn't actually use up a DP slot, as his big contract is paid down by allocation money. (not that it's all that important for this discussion, but it is something to remember for any/every discussion of this DC team in 2012 that currently only uses up 2 DP slots and doesn't pay the luxury tax.) LA also benefits from some very strong play (from time to time) from the other 8 guys on the field. DC (in theory) could win this game with goals from Najar and Pontius. (but yes, the offensive contributions of DPs and DeRo will be a significant factor, one would imagine.)
of note, both Hamid and Kitchen are in Nashville for the Olympic qualifier camp, so United is missing 2 starters for this DC match at LAG. LA will be without bench/role player Michael Stephens (who played the final 20 minutes in their league opener v RSL, and the final 26 minutes in CCL QF Leg 1 at TFC). Don't think either club is missing anyone else for international duty on 3/18, but that info might be confirmed, along with injury news later this week at http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-03-18-la-v-dc/preview (once the league writes that content activates that link).
I will be there. This is a very beatable team (LA). I am just not sure by Dc. That match vs KFC was painful to watch.
Is that cobi jones getting ready to mount Victoria Beckham? You know that sounds hot in theory until you see it for real.
i'd like us to give up the ol' "leave one post uncovered and don't mark the guy moving into the six yard box on a corner" tactic this week
LA looks bad defensively and not much in the attacking front. If DCU doesn't at least look good against a team that's played 3 games in a week lost two (RSL and TFC both at home) and drew the other I'm going to be pissed.
This is as good a time to go play LA in Carson as any team will have all season. I hope DC makes the most of it.
Here are the facts before the court.. DC is coming off a dissapointing home loss in which they brainfart and give up the game-winning goal in stoppage time. DC spent most of the preceeding week building excuses in the media to a potential non-performance against Kansas, which is of course what we got. Los Angeles is the reigning MLS champs and a favorite to make the Champions League Final Everyone and their brother have picked LA to win the SS and win a second consecutive MLS Cup They strengthened their offense by bringing back Edson Buddle (who scored 17 goals in 2010 before departing for Europe) So, LA starts the season with a draw and two consecutive losses at home (LA hadn't lost at home since November of 2010) while giving up 8 goals in the process, highlighting the fact that they are desparately missing their best defender in Omar Gonzalez LA is currently in the middle of a 4 game in 12 day stretch which will finish with Sunday's match against United. The "Big 4" (Donovan, Buddle, Keane and Becks) have all gone 90 minutes in those 3 matches and it will seem almost inhuman of Bruce Arena to expect them to go another 90 considering the mini-tailspin the team is currently in. Throw in the fact that they got dumped out of the Champions League by a piss-poor TFC team and the despair meter continues to rise for the defending Champions. Naturally, LA will win 2-0..
Here's an example of the Gals fans are saying.. To add another draining tie or loss onto our current fixture list would be horrible. Confidence killer. Stick out the B team, regroup, and we have another 12 days to get our act together before our next game. Not a lot of confidence in their team right now......too bad it sounds very familiar!
I think we might see at least one of Donovan and Buddle starting, if not both (Buddle I think). Arena will plan on bringing both out once the result is close at hand-- either way. I think Keane and Beckham will get the full rest. If we surprise everyone and act like we're winning, he may even dust off those two old guys and give them a spare few minutes to eek out a draw, which I am sure they would be thrilled with, all things considering. As would we. Draw. Written. All. Over. It.
This is how I feel. We need to knock out LA when they are down. LA's players will be fatigued from playing 3 games in 1 week and morale is down from losing the CCL quarters vs TFC. If LA puts out a "B" squad we need to take full advantage. I am not talking a draw - I want the full 3 points. Yes, we will be without Hamid and Kitchen but I think if the rest of our squad can step it up from last week's disgrace, we will do well. Pontius always seems to shine when he is in Cali.
