UUuugggghhh.. So where do we go from here?

Discussion in 'LA Galaxy' started by shirteesdotnet, Aug 30, 2007.

  1. shirteesdotnet

    Feb 13, 2007
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Lets say Yallop stays. Im guessing our expectations now dont include making the playoffs.

    Becks could be out for a while. Albright is still out. Jazic out... etc, etc.

    We dont have a whole lot going on or to look forward to at this point for the rest of the season. Almost half the season to go. Its gonna be a long couple months.

    What bright spots do we have? Randolph? Xavier?

    If Yallop or Lalas gets canned, it would give us some momentum to regroup. At this point, I dont see too much future for the remainder of the season.
     
  2. dashiel

    dashiel Member+

    Jul 15, 2000
    orange county
    firing the coach now is a crap-shoot. sigi was fired and there was no positive momentum from sampson's arrival.

    when yallop was brought in it took 4-5 games for his system to take effect (sad to say but lalas's biggest mistake was probably waiting two weeks too long to fire sampson).

    the play-offs are indeed done for us. i can't imagine a realistic scenario that gets us in to the post-season, but i came to that realization very early on in the season. bright spots: next season will absolutely rock; i am 100% sure of this.

    what we have to look forward to is next year:

    with albright back in the line-up all of a sudden our back-line goes from threadbare to a pretty decent and deep back four. we need one quality center back to add back there.

    mike randolph could be the best rookie signing we've made since clint mathis. i am extremely positive on this kid.

    amongst the horrible performances this year there have been brief flirtations with excellence. there have been spurts where this team has put together the best football ever played by the galaxy it's been far too limited and it's usually been balanced with some pretty bad football, but not the worst this club has seen. perhaps i'm being optimistic, but i believe these brief showings are indicative of what this team and frank are capable of when not faced with the crap schedule and injuries we've dealt with.

    very limited international and domestic schedule next season. there's no gold cup, no copa america, england without beckham ain't making euro 2008. we won't be in super liga, we won't be in any of the other internationals. i'm sure we'll have some stupid world series of football crap to deal with, but

    beckham will be here from day one.

    it appears that AEG might finally be getting some sense knocked in to it and we might be focusing on the football again. i'll reserve judgement.

    last bright spot: we've suffered a dismal and bleak 4-5 years. for this team it's been unacceptably bad, but in the last 4-5 years we have appeared in the mls cup twice, the us open cup three times and now the super liga final. we won three of the six finals we appeared in. i know it's hard to look at that in a positive considering how poor we've been, but i'd bet dollars to donuts that every single team in this league except maybe san jose/houston would trade their last 4-5 years for ours.

    new england: yeah they've been consistently very good; haven't won shit
    d.c. united: pretty good; one cup to show for it
    kansas city: up and down; one cup
    chicago: up and down; one cup
    new york: worse than us; no cups
    colorado: worse than us; no cups
    dallas: same as us; no cups
    chivas/rsl: hahaha
    columbus: same as us; no cups
    houston/san jose: better than us; three cups

    remember from 1996 to 2001 we were the best team in the league. most wins, fewest losses, most goals for, least goals against, most wins away from home. teams feared us no matter where we went, but we had absolutely nothing to show for it.
     
  3. KingsRule89

    KingsRule89 New Member

    Jun 20, 2007
    Write the season off...It's over, it was a waste of time and a HUGE disappointment, but hey I'm a Kings fan so I'm used to this kind of shite.

    In the off season, the following MUST go: Glinton, Gordon, Veris, Roberts, Kirk (i can't wait for this guy to be traded), and Vagenas.

    Willing to give one more season on a very short leesh/choke collar: Pavon, Buddle, Jazic, and Martino

    Guys I hope we keep: Beckham, Cannon, Xavier, Albright, Klein, Donovan

    Keep Yallop until the end of this miserable season, I mean shit or get off the pot time came and went a long time ago. And then replace him with someone who's got a pair and is willing to yell, scream, lynche
     
  4. ChrisWhyte

    ChrisWhyte Member

    Jan 11, 2007
    Quevas Kirk is 19 years old and has a load of potential. We most definiteltly should not trade away any more young talent.
     
  5. KingsRule89

    KingsRule89 New Member

    Jun 20, 2007
    Have you watched him play?

    Seriously...like at all? What potential are you talking about...this kid is and is going to continue to be such a bust I can't believe he doesn't have his own cup size.

    Remember a few weeks ago when he stutter stepped an easy shot and botched it then watched the ball roll out for a goal kick....ya...tons of potential. You want potential, look and Randolph and Sesay...not Kirk.
     
  6. shirteesdotnet

    Feb 13, 2007
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Judging by the standings here...

    https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/gunnerso/Soccer/2007MLS.htm

    We are all but finished. Mathematically we are not out of it yet... We could still come in last or second to last spots and squeak into the playoffs.

    Regardless of personnel changes that may or may not happen, whats our goal for the remainder of this season? We still have plenty of games to go yet. Is this gonna be a like a baseball team where we start playing all the rookies and let the develop? Do we push for those last two spots for the playoffs? We'd have to win (not tie) but win just about every game we have left.
     
  7. ChrisWhyte

    ChrisWhyte Member

    Jan 11, 2007

    This shows that you are indeed a first-year Galaxy fan (nothing wrong with that .... welcome). Quevas had quite a few fantastic games for the Galaxy last year (as an 18-year-old!!!). He is coming off of a long injury. He will eventually start getting his form back, and then improving a lot (as you would expect for a teenager). I just don't want to see him become a star for another team (which happens to a lot of young Galaxy talent that is let go).
     
  8. KingsRule89

    KingsRule89 New Member

    Jun 20, 2007
    Actually been a fan since 96'...was at the league opener too. But that's ok nothing wrong with someone who assumes on no basis of fact. I've watched him since his start with the Galaxy...he has talent to some extent but then again so does half the team, the fact he is 19 is irrelevant, talk to any coach in college (I play college ball too) and any player that is hesitant the way he has shown himself to be, is not to be relied on or even considered will be a force. Oh and smart guy, his name is QUAVAS, just thought you should know. Hesitation is weakness and I'm sorry regardless of age that's just not something I, as a coach or GM, would overlook. He's solid on D for his age, when he is thrown on that position, but stick him in the midfield and Cobi has to save his ass almost every time.

    I'd trade his lanky ass for a competent forward given half the chance.
     
  9. TOJAS

    TOJAS New Member

    Jul 19, 2007
    Canada
    There I have to disagree--you should never write a season off.
    For the Galaxy right now, whether or not they make the playoffs, there is still a chance for redemption.
    Still a chance to show the great talent and heart this team has.
    Still a chance to play like they did last night (2nd half) and make their fans proud of them.
    True competitors should never throw in the towel...at this point, I think there are other goals that are important, not only making the playoffs.
    Good Luck, Galaxy--hope you show everyone what you can do!!:)
     
  10. Regal

    Regal Member

    Aug 10, 2007
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I disagree with you. I hope Kirk will never be on the USMNT.
     
  11. sacris00

    sacris00 New Member

    Mar 30, 2007
    Burbank
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Disagree he has been playing with us about 3 years so far still at the same level.Young ones need to eventually graduate....:confused:
     
  12. dashiel

    dashiel Member+

    Jul 15, 2000
    orange county
    kirk while he's p40 or adidas generation or whatever the hell it's called is fine on this team. his salary doesn't count towards the cap so there's no real downside. once that $100,000 starts affecting our ability to sign players if he's not a reliable starter he's out the door.

    oh and he has been with the team for three years, his first year he was away most of the time with the u17 team and did not rejoin until late 2005. last year he had a broken leg. this year he's been injured a lot. he's a big guy for his age and players like that are injury prone as their bodies are still adjusting.

    p.s. our goal for the rest of the season should be playing as hard as we did last night. if we do that and lose every single game fair enough. if we roll over like we did against chivas and colorado frank should be gone. last night showed what we could do, now the players if they really are behind frank need to play like that every game.
     
  13. sacris00

    sacris00 New Member

    Mar 30, 2007
    Burbank
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Willing to give one more season on a very short leesh/choke collar: Pavon, Buddle, Jazic, and Martino


    =========
    Pavon=Slow,never take a ball away from anybody
    Buddle=Lazy, He thought he was walking along in Griffin Park last night,weak player.
    Jazic this guy puzzles me.He played for Canadien Nation team but he has no talent.When he gets the ball he always passes back to the senders or Cannon(same as Venagas)reason for that b/c he doesn't know what to do with it.
    Martino, when he first started he was good I liked him,now he sucks, he doesn't want to pass the ball to anybody,just keeps dribbling it until he loses it
    and then if he has a chance, he tries to create a foul and blames the opponents team.
    Let them go and find better players.
    Frank, these players make you look bad...Don't keep them for your own sake.
     
  14. desmodronic

    desmodronic Member

    Jun 26, 2007
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Last night was a great game despite the result and the ticket was worth every penny despite it not being offered in my STH package. That being said, I think the 2008 pre-season officially starts now.

    Despite Yallop's previous MLS success, injury bad luck and league scheduling shackle, I think it is fairly clear that he is not the right man for the present job. He has made far too many tactical errors for a coach at this level and doesn't seem to be able to consistantly motivate his players to play high level soccer. This team, even with the injuries, has had moments where it has played attractive aggressive attacking soccer. Last night is case in point but we have been consistantly inconsistant. We have ability even with a depleted squad but we need motivation.

    Bring in Klinsman, give him the total control that he is rumored to want. I guarantee he can handle the "circus" and the pressure of the job. He came through the crucible of German football and nearly won the world cup. I was in Berlin for Germany vs. Argentina. It was truly amazing what he was able to accomplish with a "no name" squad of young inexperienced germans. I'd like to see Yallop try to coach with Beckenbauer as your boss, the perenially high expectations of the germans and the german media criticizing your every move. Give Klinnsman his carte blanche, I'm sure that we'll see improvement in tactics and offense. I trust the judgement of a former world class striker to know if our 3 stooges strike force of Pavon, Buddle and Gordon are salvagable or trade bait. After last nights performance, I'm convinced that Gordon has no idea what to do with the ball and he would be first on my trade list with Buddle a close second. I have to believe that IF Klinnsman has been offered the job, he has talked to a few german players about potentially coming on board and has a definite plan to return the Galaxy to glory.

    I wouldn't make too many changes with our defense. I think our defense will prove to be our strength next year. X is solid but realistically only has 2-3 years left. Randolph is one of the shining stars of this broken season and is the future at LB. Klein, especially after last night, has made a strong argument to back up Albright at RB or even start in the midfield. I'm still big on Harden especially during his rookie season and expect big things to come. The jury is out still on Jazic. Veris and Roberts have been shaky at best all year although Roberts took a step toward redemption last night. Nevertheless, I would package one or both for a backup CB. A defense of Albright, X, Harden or Jazic, and Randolph looks very formidable. With Albright and Randolph making runs down the sidelines, it also looks offensively dangerous.

    Donovan is an enigma. He has so much talent but is so frustratingly inconsistant. I would try to keep him but with the uncertainty around the DP rule next season, he may be gone. I can't help thinking that an offensively minded coach like Klinnsman would be very good for Donovan. Maybe it is time for Donovan to return to europe. I would hope the galaxy could benefit from this with money and/or player(s). This is where I would like Klinnsman to pull a few German striker/midfielder rabbits out of his hat.

    Finally, there is Beckham. Hopefully, this season has not permanently damaged any of his joints. I keep waiting for the news report stating that Beckham needs season ending surgery. Hopefully, his injuries are minor and he will now sit for 6-8 weeks. In the mean time, the midfield and the team can be built around him. You have arguably the best set piece taker in the game and a marksman with crosses. I have to believe that last nights result would have been different if Becks was taking those set pieces. I lost my voice at HDC yelling for him to take the PK's in his suit. Bottomline, he needs quality around him. Vagenas or Harmse aren't cutting it. He needs someone else that is confident holding the ball and can push the attack. Unfortunately, Cobi most fits that description right now and I really wish he would play another year. Klein may do well in the midfield but he lacks pace. Martino has shown flashes of talent but has been inconsistent. Jury is still out on him. Gray, I haven't seen enough. Of course, all those Beckham crosses are s**t without a finisher but at least Pavon has shown that great things are possible if you get on the end of one of them.
     
  15. dashiel

    dashiel Member+

    Jul 15, 2000
    orange county
    great post but for this part. have you seen beckham take a penalty. my god you'd think a guy who can swerve a ball around a 6 man wall from 30 yards out would be able to take a simple penalty, but no.

    i actually leaned over to another fan and said thank god he's not taking any of the PKs. his penalty kicking ability makes pete look like freaking zidane.
     
  16. mixtil36

    mixtil36 Member

    Sep 13, 2006
    Corona, CA
    Club:
    Club León
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    They need to start playing all the young players to give them experience. They need a new head coach and should start looking for one right now. Lalas should be given a little more time before he is let go. They need to let Becks heal completely. This is just my two cents.
     
  17. ssanchez

    ssanchez Member

    Oct 15, 2000
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think before we talk about Yallop or anything else changing Lalas has to go.
     
  18. jeff_adams

    jeff_adams Member+

    Dec 16, 1999
    Monterey, Ca
    NOOOOOOO.......please dump Yallop ASAP.

    Look, am I the only one who thinks that hiring Klinnsman while Lalas is the GM is a freaking joke? He would become the fourth national team coach to work for Lalas. In four seasons as GM, he's had the best of the best and his teams have sucked! It has to be the coach, right? I mean, look how much Dominic Kinnear has sucked since Lalas. That Bradley guy sure has been a bust.

    With out a doubt, Yallop will coach another team to a championship after getting fired by Lalas. Please let it be SJ God, please!

    Come on guys, bring the signs to the games "Yallop has to go" "Fire Frank Now!" "We want Klinnsman"

    Let AEG know you want yet another national team coach for Lalas to ruin.....
     
  19. Regal

    Regal Member

    Aug 10, 2007
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Regarding Gray, trust me you're not missing anything. He is in the same class as Buddle, Jazic, Gordon, Jaqua, Kirk. Do we even know how to spot talents?
     
  20. socluis90

    socluis90 Member+

    Aug 11, 2004
    So Cal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I would like to keep Becks, LD, Cannon, Randolph, Albright, Harden, and X.

    Anyone think Randolph would be a good LM?
    Gone for sure:Buddle, Vagina, Gordon, Roberts, Veris and Cosmo.
     
  21. LosAngeles

    LosAngeles Member

    Apr 10, 2007
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Randolph is good for speed in the backline and sending in crosses but you would want a player who's not scared to take people on down the wings. So far all of Randolph's one-on-ones have left a lot to be desired.
     
  22. dashiel

    dashiel Member+

    Jul 15, 2000
    orange county
    the worst that can be said about lalas is he has failed to make an impact on the teams he has been assigned to.

    san jose was good before he showed up, they were good when he left (fwiw, lalas was never around when kinnear was head coach any attempt to link them is specious)

    new york sucked when he showed up. bradley was a miserable failure in new york despite 3 years in charge and oodles of cash splashed out on players.

    ditto los angeles. we were crap when lalas showed up. we're still crap.

    if you want to claim lalas failed to improve the teams that's a fair point. trying to say he ruined any of them is just blatant revisionism.
     
  23. iride_mybike

    iride_mybike Member

    Mar 31, 2004
    DFW
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    An excellent assessment. I think one might argue that though were crap, we had some players in place to help us improve like Sturgis, Ugo, Hartman, Findley but just not given the chance to gel. I would love to see Ugo alongside X and Sturgis in Harmse' place with Hartman in the nets. I don't think we would be nearly as bad as we have been. I also don't believe Lalas acted alone in those trades though. I would bet good money that Yallop wanted those moves which is why I'd like to see him go before Lalas.

    ---------Hartman--------
    Albright---X---Ugo---Randolph
    ----------Sturgis------------
    Gomez-------------Martino
    ----------Becks----------
    Pavon-----------Donovan

    I know it's beating a dead horse because we can't reverse those trades but that lineup is a helluva lot better looking that what we are trotting out these days.
     
  24. jeff_adams

    jeff_adams Member+

    Dec 16, 1999
    Monterey, Ca
    Sorry, but you're wrong. Lalas took over in SJ at the start of the '04 season. Kinnear had just been hired by Johnny Moore to take over after Yallop left for Canada. Yallop never coached under Lalas until LA.


    Here are Yallop and Kinnear's career records with Lalas as their GM:

    Kinnear 10-12-14 W-L-T
    Yallop 12-17-10

    Advantage to Kinnear, but he certainly wasn't dominating. As a matter of fact, take away the last three league games so that they had each coached 36 games under Lalas and you'll see that only 3 points separate them.

    When Lalas left SJ in June of '05, the Quakes were next to last place in the west with 3 points in the first 4 games under Kinnear. We then went on the longest winning streak in club history and won our only Supporter's Shield with 62 points. We sucked under Lalas and Kinnear was the head coach the entire time he was in SJ.

    How about some simple math.

    How many MLS Cup rings does Bob Bradley have? 2 right? One as head coach and one assisting Arena. Yallop has 2 rings. Kinnear has 3 rings. Sampson has a ring, even Mo Johnston has one as a player in KC. 9 rings among the coaches and not 1 under Lalas.
     
  25. KennyWoo

    KennyWoo Member

    May 21, 2007
    Pasadena, California
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, some of these guys you need to keep for depth too.

    Becks, Cakes, Cannon, Albright, X-Man are all no brainer keepers. Though I wouldn't object to Cakes being traded for a few guys who can help right away, provided we get some strikers in here.

    Jazic, Harmse, Klein and Gray are serviceable squad players.

    Speaking of Klein: You know who would be awesome to have? Sturgis and Findley. [bangs head against desk]

    This may sound crazy, but I kind of like Veris, and he only makes $17,700.

    Cosmo: Definite keep, chicks love him.

    Harden, Randolph, Kirk have a lot of potential and have shown signs, and should therefore be kept as subs/backups/future starters.

    Vagenas, Roberts, all of our strikers, Martino have no place here. Martino had a couple of good games but has been very disappointing since like May 20th, and his nose for the red card is unacceptable.

    NEEDS, in this order:

    1. A DM destroyer who never gives the ball away. (Makelele type.) I think our biggest problem all year has been our inability to possess the ball. This puts us in all sorts of trouble defensively too. We never have the ball. Never. Central midfield has been poor.

    2. Strikers. Obviously.

    3. True wingers, especially on the left. I'd like the central midfield problem to be shored up first, and if it is, then I want Becks at right wing. We have no width.

    4. We probably need an upgrade at centerback to go w/ Xavier. I think Harden has potential to be a starter, but not necessarily next year, so we could use an upgrade here. But I would not be too upset if Harden ended up starting next season w/ X.
     

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