HOUSTON DYNAMO vs LA GALAXY BBVA COMPASS STADIUM, Houston, Texas May 26, 2012 (WEEK 12, MLS Game #112) 11:30 a.m. PST (NBC SN) Galaxy -- 3-7-2 11 pts First in Our Hearts But Last in the West Houston-- 3-3-4 13 pts 7th in the East, But Really Who Cares INJURY REPORT: HOUSTON DYNAMO -- OUT: DF Kofi Sarkodie (R foot sprain); GK Erich Marscheider (R shoulder sprain); PROBABLE: FW Brian Ownby (L elbow dislocation) LA GALAXY - OUT: DF Andrew Boyens (L sports hernia surgery); DF Omar Gonzalez (L knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: DF A.J.DeLaGarza (R heel bruise); DF Leonardo (R knee surgery) Ref: Silviu Petrescu Talking points: Can the guys shake off the disastrous final 20 minutes of Wednesday's night game and play like they did for the first 65 minutes? Does Arena rest anyone (i.e. Beckham) as we play our 3rd game in 8 days? Do we have yet another central pairing in the center of defense, or now that he's served his red-card suspension, do we give Lopes-AJDLG another try? Can we final play like defending champs, or maybe even a competent team, for an entire 90 minutes (plus stoppage)? I hope we win....
I'm excited because I actually have NBC SN, but no KDOC! Also, no Jimenez due to red card suspension, I'm assuming one game...
I'll be at this game cheering on my Galaxy! Tickets were so expensive seeing how this is only the 2nd game at the new BBVA stadium so come on Galaxy, GIVE ME A WIN! Good news is every single galaxy game I have ever attended, we have never lost and I have been to a lot of games!
Three rivals in a week. Houston's new stadium has grass right? We aren't going to be playing on cling film or painted wire wool like Seattle and Montreal are we? I have no idea what the line-up will be as we may be saving some players for the Railhawks. Is there anybody in the greater Los Angeles area we haven't tried at CB?
In a season with precious few good moments the Galaxy provided an hours worth of inspired soccer. All I want to see is them build on that. It's too bad Jimenez will be out, would have really loved to see him after that great game he played. Maybe though it's a mixed blessing, better to bring a young player like that slowly and this takes any call out of putting him back in the lineup out Bruce's hands.
Part of me would like to see Lopes/AJDLG on Saturday and then Gaul/Leonardo on Tuesday. Or vice-versa.... I can't tell anymore which games are most important...
I'm going to have to DVR the game as I'm going to be on the road while it's being played. Won't get to see it until Sunday night. Kills me I can't get over to Houston to see it live.
How long will it take me to drive over to your house.... I guess the real question is can I find a bar or pub in the West Valley for lunch tomorrow that will turn it on for me... Probably can do that.
------------------Buddle-------------------- ------------------Magee-------------------- -Noonan-Beckham-Juninho-Franklin- ---Dunivant--Lopes-Gaul--Delagarza-- -----------------Gaudette------------------- Bruin and Ching will be very physical so I think Lopes and Gaul should be played because they can handle their size. AJ is a little to0 weak in my opinion.
I don't see Beckham playing 3 games in 8 days, so I'd swap Magee and Noonan (for defensive balance) and replace Becks with Sarvas and then I think its a good lineup for an away game with big physical forwards...
He only played around 20 minutes last saturday. No way Bruce sits Becks for this. We are already missing Juninho and Sarvas. Plus this game is being nationally televised so expect to see Becks.
But wait. I thought the league always gives us whatever we want. We wanted him suspended for an additional game?
A smurf fan would argue that Beckham didn't get suspended for slapping the smurf, the punished Jimenez instead.