The GaLAxy in 2002

[WHOLMAN2]

Earlier this year, I posted a poll pertaining to the possible performance of the Dudes in 2002. After watching MLS completely dismantle the GaLAxy and seeing the team get the shaft (again) following the Luis Hernandez debacle, I wondered how the Dudes would perform in 2002.

Many thought the team would again contend for the MLS Cup, but be eliminated in the playoffs. My thought was that it would be a rebuilding year (much like DC United is doing this year) and the team would only become competitive again in 2003.
I was wrong.


Originally posted by NICDT Coach

As of tonight the race for the Shield is as follows:

Josers 42 points +16 GD (@COL, @DC, vCLB, @LA, vLA)

Good Guys 39 points +6 GD (@DAL, vMET, @CHI, vSJ, @SJ)

However, if being wrong means the GaLAxy wins, I will work on being wrong more often. ;)
It's amazing: the Dudes have mixed their young talent with the vets and are in the hunt for the Shield! Like it or not, the coach gets some credit. People will have their negative opinion about Sigi, but the results speak for themselves. Los Angeles is on track for the Double!

As NICDT Coach points out, both teams in the race for the shield have three of their final five on the road, but the schedule favors the Flakes. Dallas and Chicago will be tough places to earn points, compared to Colorado and DC.

The Dudes need to stay at least within three points of the Flakes by September 14th. With three points in Pasadena and a draw in San Jose, the shield will be in Los Angeles.

The Dudes are doin' the Double! Go Dudes!

[PZ]

Originally posted by WHOLMAN2
The Dudes are doin' the Double! Go Dudes!

MLS Cup
Open Cup
Supporters Shield

Sounds more like a Treble to me buddy. :)

I have to admit that I've been more that surprised by the performances of 'Lexi and Fish this season. I thought that Fish would at best take time to get going and find his legs here...Thank God he hit the ground running. 'Lexi? You've got to love the guy. I figured he'd be a part timer at best and we'd be in major trouble after the loss of Vanney.

Say what you want about Sigi....but there is one thing you can't deny, results.

Ya gotta love it.

[westcoast ape]

Hey hey, lets not go crazy on treble speculation! Remember what happened last year when we all hoped for that.

[NICDT Coach]

But now you must ask yourself have you double jinxed it, thus nullifying the original jinx? And have I just put a triple jinx on it, thus replacing the orginal jinx?

That being said I must appologise once again for putting "celebration" in the pre/post game thread for MLS Cup last year.

My head hurts.

Ape just how the hell are ya?

[WHOLMAN2]

Originally posted by PZ


MLS Cup
Open Cup
Supporters Shield

Sounds more like a Treble to me buddy. :)


Thanks.

I was thinking cups (without saucers, thank you), and didn't associate the Supporter's Shield with a cup. The GaLAxy being on the treble road is duly noted, PZ. :)

[kyledane]

Originally posted by WHOLMAN2
Like it or not, the coach gets some credit. People will have their negative opinion about Sigi, but the results speak for themselves. Los Angeles is on track for the Double!
I don't know that we're "on track" for the Double (or Treble), but we're withing striking distance of three titles.

And yes, the results speaking for themselves is a point I keep pounding home around here. Sigi Schmid gets results. He doesn't win everything, but he wins most of the time and ALWAYS puts his teams in position to win. This is a matter of record, and it is one that only two MLS coaches can match - Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley.

The Galaxy have yet to put together a dominant squad during Sigi's reign and fans here are unhappy about that. But I say give Sigi more control of player personnel and he may be able to do that, too.

[The Cadaver]

Originally posted by kyledane


The Galaxy have yet to put together a dominant squad during Sigi's reign and fans here are unhappy about that. But I say give Sigi more control of player personnel and he may be able to do that, too.

Kyle: what is your understanding about how much player say Sigi does have. After the Luis fiasco, it was my understanding that Sigi became the soccer supremo, ran the draft, trades, etc. Do you have some reason to think he does not already have player control (to the extent any team in a single entity league controls its own roster)?

BTW: I am prety much in agreement with your views of Sigi, and don't raise this issue to bash him by implication. I am really curious as to what the extent of his player roster authority is.

[kyledane]

Originally posted by The Cadaver
Kyle: what is your understanding about how much player say Sigi does have. After the Luis fiasco, it was my understanding that Sigi became the soccer supremo, ran the draft, trades, etc. Do you have some reason to think he does not already have player control (to the extent any team in a single entity league controls its own roster)?
You've said it all there in your parantheses. Sigi is still handcuffed by the silly rules of the Single Entity and its tendency to meddle in the issues of individual teams.

I look at the recent move to sign a Korean player as another example of how the Single Entity (not the individual coaches like Sigi) still holds the ultimate trump card in personnel issues. The league wants to sign one of these players in order to capitalize on what they see as a possible "ethnic angle." Would Sigi choose any of the players that are rumored to be signing with us? I doubt it, because he tends to like younger players with longer futures with the team. Ruiz, Elliott and Marshall are his type of signing. I'm sure there are some Koreans that fit this bill, but the league will balk at their prices. That should be the end of the discussion. But it probably won't be.

[WHOLMAN2]

Originally posted by kyledane

I don't know that we're "on track" for the Double (or Treble), but we're withing striking distance of three titles.


Update:

* US Open Cup
-----On track
* Supporter's Shield
-----On track
* MLS Cup final
-----On track

[WHOLMAN2]

Since dropping a match in San Jose to the Flakes on 7/7, the Dudes have lit up MLS.
After tonight's victory over Chicago, the Dudes have won:

2 of their last 3.
4 of their last 5.
6 of their last 8.

Including the draw (grrr...) with the Gizzards on 7/20, the Dudes have only lost 2 of their last ten matches.
Who's hot? GaLAxy, bay-bee!

Anything less than four points won't do: a win in Pasadena, followed by at least a draw in San Jose will clinch the Western Conference title and the top seed.

Two matches left to claim the first of potentially three pieces of hardware: the Supporter's Shield.

[rokstedy]

We're peaking right now and I hope it's a continual upward peak. We gotta rise to the top and win the Double at least.

My perception has changed since the beginning of the season. I was concerned about our defense, but Lalas has anchored it with Marshall being an unheralded contributer. And when Rojomania first came on this board spouting off the hype of El Pescadito, I was like "whatever, we'll see". Now I'm a believer! From early-round-exit theorist and now to possible-champions optimist? What a difference time makes.

[kyledane]

Originally posted by WHOLMAN2
Update:
US Open Cup
-----On track
Supporter's Shield
-----On track
MLS Cup final
-----On track
I think we're differing in our definition of the phrase "on track."

"On track" to me indicates that if current records are a suggestion of future success, the team will win these titles and only by a drop in our play or an unexpected increase in the play of our competitors will we lose them. (As in, all you have to do is stay on the track and you'll reach the station).

So, we'd have to be clearly ahead of all the other teams to be "on track" for the Supporters' Shield. And there's really no way to be "on track" for a tournament win. The best teams sometimes lose single games and in tournaments, that means you go home a loser.

[The Cadaver]

On the other hand, I do not think it is insignificant that LAG are the ONLY team which could, conceivably, win all three. There have been long arguments in the past about what is the best way to measure which team is the "best." If a team could win all three, that argument would be moot.

[WHOLMAN2]

Originally posted by kyledane

I think we're differing in our definition of the phrase "on track."


KD, your point is valid. I wanted to use the phrase, "in position," but some Flake fan would misconstrue it to no end.

So, I think we agree that the Dudes can conceivably win all three pieces of hardware.

BTW, it's my understanding that if the Dudes win on Saturday against the Flakes in Pasadena, the GaLAxy will be the only team to win three consecutive matches in the MLS season.

[kyledane]

Originally posted by WHOLMAN2
So, I think we agree that the Dudes can conceivably win all three pieces of hardware.

I'd say we have a very good chance of winning all three.

First step, beat SJ in the next two games.

[WHOLMAN2]

After 28 matches, the Dudes are the only team in MLS to win four straight.

Treble update:

R Supporter's Shield
Time to bring the TFC Champions Cup trophy back where it belongs. :D
* MLS Cup final
-----Five wins brings it home.
* US Open Cup
-----A repeat is just one win away.

[WHOLMAN2]

October belongs the the Dudes.

Treble update:

R Supporter's Shield
TFC, you've been warned.
* MLS Cup
-----Ninety minutes away.
* US Open Cup
-----Ninety minutes from a repeat.

[WHOLMAN2]

Sweet!

Treble update:

R Supporter's Shield
-----Champion's Cup, here we come.
R MLS Cup
-----MLS' winningest team are now the champions.
* US Open Cup
-----Ninety minutes from history.

[NICDT Coach]

Word!

[WHOLMAN2]

Final Treble report:

R Supporter's Shield
-----From July to September, LA was the hottest team in MLS, going from last to first in three months.

R MLS Cup
-----In the seven year history of MLS, no other team has been in the final more than LA.
N US Open Cup
-----It was ours last year, let Lamar's team have it this year.


How many MLS teams have ever had an opportunity to win the three significant trophies (Sorry, Giants Cup doesn't count.) available to MLS teams? I believe the answer is none.

As I said in the beginning of this thread, I really thought this would be a rebuilding year for Los Angeles. In short, I'm glad I was mistaken.

Enjoy the off-season everyone, and here's looking forward to starting the 2003 GaLAxy treble thread.