Ok, we have now reached the actual "Must-Win" games of the season. I just looked at the standings. Barring collapses of epic proportions FCD, SKC, LAFC, and Portland are all in. All but Portland are ahead in points AND have games in hand. Portland is only one point back but have 4 games in hand... So realistically, that means RSL, Vancouver, Seattle and the Galaxy are the 4 teams fighting for the final 2 playoff spots. We play all three of those teams in the next 4 weeks - only RSL on the road. Those are all 6-point matches versus the teams we are fighting for the spot. These are our must-win games... Not only to get the points, but to keep those 3 teams from gaining any points....
The playoffs start early! Can we send your post to all the dorks who insist there are no "meaningful games" in MLS?
Gio and Romney trained on the side today for #LAGalaxy. Everyone else in the mix. Sigi is hopeful he’ll have close to a full squad for selection Saturday— Kevin Baxter 🇺🇦🏳️🌈 (@kbaxter11) August 28, 2018
X1000 ------oLA------zLAtan Cole-----Lletget---Alessandrini -------JDS----Carrasco Romney--Skjelvik--Feltscher -----------Bingham I would like to see this trotted out. With Boateng and Pontius as our subs. (I know that it's a fantasy of mine that Kitchen would be benched)
With the altitude and coming off an injury, I'd prefer Alessandrini coming off the bench. He's been a monster late in games when coming on as a sub.
I agree that bringing in Romaine and Ema at around the 70th minute could put a world of hurt on tiring RSL defenders.
JDS called to play with El Tri for the 7/11 friendly matches. I'll be interested to watch if he plays well saturday or he phones one in and then plays well for the Mex. Just saying.... it'll show me what's up with him.
Here in peace. You guys will be fine. By 70:00, we'll have run ourselves ragged trying to cover that new Swedish guy you've got. There might not even be a reason to bring in your subs, since we can't seem to figure out how to use our own bench before about 89:30. I'm hoping for an RSL win, but not expecting it. Anyway, good luck. It'll be an interesting game. Cheers
It's a trap!! Last time an opposing team's fan came in here and told us that we would give them a drubbing, we ended up tying lowly Minnesota at home. Let's not fall for it again!!!!
This is a make or break game for us. Winning will keep us in the playoff hunt, but a loss will see RSL pull away, and the other teams around us can make the playoff gap grow even further.
I'm not sure Alessandrini will play at all. I don't like the sound of lingering soreness and pain after a clean MRI. The worry is they missed something. http://cornerofthegalaxy.com/2018/0...al-wounded-warriors-and-steres-does-his-part/
Could be just a severe sprain/strain that still needs time to heal on Romain. I am sure their MRIs are better than most as it's for an athlete and done under load in a specialized MRI machine. This is a 6 point game and then some.Given the Hog's grim stats the playoffs for this bunch start saturday. No two ways about it. RSL may have swelled heads after the riot they pulled with the Crapids but that's result is deceiving. I saw the game and Colorado was holding their own for stretches even after one fool got goaded at a corner-scrum to throw a weak headbutt and... red card! Then their Boateng loses his damned mind and tries some sort of flying roundhouse kick to an oppnents knee and... red card! Point is after that the thing was a turkey shoot for poor old Timmy. I feel bad for Howard he has to end up with a team like that. plus, RSL has a ton of injuries. Anywho, that's the two cent comment. Playoffs, here, now, play like it.
Funny you should mention that Mr. Mouse. We have a guy here by name of Boateng. He can tell you stories about subs at 89:30 or warming up the entire second half never to be subbed in at all. On a lark of course. the coaches find it amusing.
Have we ever won in Rio Tinto*? Tough place to get a result and RSL for their other blemishes are good at home this season. *I think we did in...2012? On a brace from Donovan.
Didn’t we beat them once recently on a goal from like Charlie Rugg or something? EDIT: it was a 2-0 away victory in 2013 with goals from mike Magee and Charlie rugg
Not sure about Rio Tinto specifically, but according to MLS of the 17 meetings in Salt Lake LA has won 4 and drawn 7, which isn’t too shabby. I have this vague notion of RSL being a place where we draw/lose when we should win, and winning when a loss/tie seems likely – the aforementioned 2-0 win with Rugg and Magee being a prime example, the team was pretty threadbare. We beat them in Salt Lake last season too, they weren’t very good last season, but they were still way better than us. That said, not expecting much this weekend.