So most MLS fans probably know LA is off to a great start and has the best record in MLS. But they may be off to the best start in MLS history. Are their any other MLS teams that have gone their first seven games without trailing? Hell, has an MLS team gone seven straight games at any point in the season and not trailed? The Galaxy have only allowed two goals. RSL scored in the 40th minute to tie the score at 1. Philly got a consolation goal late in a blowout. LA has also scored early in all but one of their games. With the exception of the KC game when they played to a scoreless draw, the Galaxy have scored in the first 27 minutes every game and 4 times they've gone ahead by the 12th minute. In total, they've been ahead 431 of 630 minutes this year - that's 68 percent of the season so far played with a lead and ZERO percent played trailing. Granted, they haven't scored a lot of goals - 11 so far for a fairly average 1.57 per game. So their margin of victory isn't eye-popping - three 1-goal wins and three 2-goal wins. But while it isn't spectacular dominance, it is certainly very efficient. And very impressive. And at times, they've played some pretty soccer. Not always but sometimes. That said, they have an annoying habit of not putting teams away when they have the chance. Several of their wins could have easily been draws if the opponents finished better, especially late. But despite that, it's still a great start and arguably the best start in leagye history through 7 games.
Probably the best start ever, true. They're on pace to break: most goals by a player,least goals given up, and most points. Donovan is slightly off pace for assists in a season. That being said, I don't think they'll break any of those and the only one they'll come close to is maybe Buddle breaking the goal mark. Yeah, I know it's bold to predict that the all time records won't be broken.
Probably only going to be Donovan. Buddle's going to miss for camp, I don't think he goes to SA though.
Well, here's a list of teams who were undefeated after 7 games: (as always, shootouts are counted as draws) Code: 1996 LA 7-0-0 2000 KC 6-0-1 1998 LA 6-0-1 2005 NE 6-0-1 1999 CHI 5-0-2 2000 LA 5-0-2 1997 DC 4-0-3 1999 COL 3-0-4 1999 DAL 3-0-4 2009 CHI 2-0-5 Here's how many minutes those teams played until they trailed: Code: 1996 LA 97 2000 KC 385 1998 LA 148 2005 NE 13 1999 CHI 32 2000 LA 215 1997 DC 616 1999 COL 14 1999 DAL 710 2009 CHI 9 So it looks like 1999 Dallas holds the record. They didn't trail until the 8th game, a 1:1 result at home against Colorado. Paul Bravo scored in the 80th minute (assist by Anders Limpar), though the Burn would level in the 88th through 1999 league MVP Jason Kreis. That team didn't have a regulation loss until their 13th match (6-0-6 record). Of course, due to the shootout (ugh), officially they were 7-5. If LA can get to the 81st minute of their next match without falling behind, they'll set a new record. Also, 2000 KC only trailed for 7 minutes in their first 11 games. And I'm not going to do all the other teams since there's no chance they have the record, but 2007 NY didn't trail for 474 minutes.
Great start. I think LD is having nightmares over that cross bar strike he hit last night. Someone needs to make a small image of LD doing the game over routine from a few years back. That was classic.
That won't help the Galaxy since MLS plays through camp but not through the group stage of the WC. If the U.S. advances Buddle will be back for that game then.
I am just enjoy every minute of it because when the World Cup comes around we will be without Buddle and Donovan!!
Maybe Allen Gordon got jealous of seeing Buddle get all the love and will actually play well from now on.
I will join this motion. Greatest example of overreaction on BS ever (and that is truly saying something).
It was an amazingly hilarious thread. Who was the jagoff who started it? I forget. Edit: Supercooper, of course. Knew it had to be him or someone like #1 Feilhaber and Adu or Ownyewued
Losing Donovan and possibly Buddle won't help, but of course you can't lose (or trail) if you don't get scored on.
What I think is impressive about all this is the Galaxy have been doing it with so little contribution from most of their more veteran players. Obviously Beckham is out but even healthy he wasn't gonna play till July. But Chris Klein, Eddie Lewis, Clint Mathis, Jovan Kirovski and Dema Kovalenko have all been dinged up and haven't played much. Klein has played one game, 15 minutes. Lewis has played one game 26 minutes. Mathis has played two games, 39 minutes. Kirovski has played three games, 56 minutes. Dema has played 2 games, 180 minutes. Also, Gregg Berhalter has started the last three games (and gone the distance) but he missed the first four. And Sean Franklin has been injured and missed the last three games after getting off to a great start. Most MLS teams have very little experience on their bench but LA will be able to have a lot of veteran guys to call on plus some youngers guys like Bryan Jordan, Mike Magee and Michael Stephens. I think this team will struggle to score with Donovan and Buddle gone. But I think most teams would struggle to score if you took away their best playmaker and overall player and their leading goal-scorer. LA may struggle during the WC but once everyone comes back (assuming Landon isn't sold, which is a real possibility), this is going to be a very deep team.
Klein is 34 Lewis is almost 36 Mathis is 33 Kirovski is 34 Dema is 32 Berhalter is 36 Injuries with a group that old are a feature, not a bug. Ill weigh in on the Galaxy's run in general. Most of the offensive heavy lifting has been done by Landon and a white hot Buddle, which I think has taken quite a bit of pressure off the younger members of the team. Defensively they have been incredible, but I think they've also been a bit fortunate in their opponents finishing (I'm looking at you Kei Kamara). Statistically speaking, Buddle is finishing 60% of his shots on goal, and over 25% of his shots overall, both absurdly high. Ricketts also has a save percentage of over 90%, which again, is way higher then can be sustained. Id expect both numbers to fall, and the Galaxy should come back to earth a bit, but at this point they have to be clear favorites for the supporters shield with the gigantic lead they have already built. Even if you restarted the standings today, Id expect them to finish amont the top 2 or 3 in the league. I dont think we will look back on this team as being as good as their start though. A very very good team, and possibly MLS champs, but not best ever territory.
I just want another cup. But let's be clear, any doubt I have that this will be one of the top 5 MLS teams of all time only comes from my concern over the World Cup, and what it will mean to lose possibly both Buddle and Donovan.
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The Galaxy went ahead in the 22nd minute against Seattle today and never trailed, meaning they've been ahead in 499 of 720 minutes played thus far. That means they've been ahead 69.3 percent of the season so far and haven't trailed. And, thanks to scaryice's excellent research, they've broken the MLS record for longest streak to start the season without trailing. Here are when they've taken the lead in each game. New England 1-0 6th (Buddle) Chivas USA 2-0 7th (Buddle) @Houston 2-0 27th (Buddle) Salt Lake 2-1 12th (Buddle) and 76th (Buddle) – RSL scored in the 41st @Kansas City 0-0 --- Philadelphia 3-1 1st minute (DeLaGarza) @Colorado 1-0 21st minute (Gordon) @Seattle 4-0 22nd minute (Kirovski)