I was just waiting for someone to start a thread about this! I didn't know whether to laugh or shake my head...is it just me, or does it actually sound like Lalas is blaming Beckham for overplaying himself??? Ugh. Lalas is now a "big, tough GM, by golly" Poor Becks--I don't normally feel sorry for rich, talented athletes who live in mansions and have teeny-boppers pleading for their attention, but in this case I'll make a momentary exception. Becks fault if he plays injured...Becks fault if he doesn't play (obviously he's just "soft"...notice when people were making those comments, that Lalas didn't rush in to say that HE (or Yallop) were the only ones who would decide on Becks playing time)... Whole thing makes me sick. Forget firing Lalas...just will him into a coma with the force of our disgust...
The thing that makes me sick about that article is Lalas is STILL yapping about getting players who can "thrive in this type of environment," i.e., the "spotlight." HEY, ALEXI, PLEASE JUST LOOK FOR PLAYERS WHO HAVE TALENT AND THAT ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC WEAKNESSES ON OUR TEAM! Like a quality STRIKER and outsider midfielders and a solid defender, to start.
the main thing I got out of this article is that we're going to see a vastly new team next year. Hopefully he can get this done early so we don't have to worry about "gelling" in the middle of the year!
Exactly. This whole "need to find players who can thrive in the spotlight" thing is just total BS IMO. It's almost like an excuse for not getting the right players in the first place. "Oh, we don't know if they can thrive in the spotlight until we get them here and find out!" Alexi's little "see what kind of soccer player you are in LA!" experiment. As a Quakes fan, I hope he continues to think this way instead of just trying to get just good soccer players and building a stable roster. And so I hereby nominate Alexi Lalas - LA GM Forever!
Negatives: 1. Lalas will stay 2. Roster turnover will continue Positives: 1. Pavon will go 2. Galaxy will try to get another international star Questions: 1. What about Donovan?
I'm going to disagree with everyone else and say that I like this tone from Lalas. What I got out of this article was the F.O. admitting that they let Beckham and/or others call the shots and now they are going to take a tougher stance. Everyone railed on the club for letting him play hurt and succumbing to pressure from either the networks or Beckham (or both) to play him, and now Lalas is saying that we (i.e. the team) call the shots. I like that. As far as the "finding players who can thrive in this environment" quotes - whatever. It's just words as far as I'm concerned. Paul Bravo is now in charge of finding talent, not Lalas, so I'm hoping for a significant upgrade in the positions where we are struggling. Lalas can continue to be the mouth-piece and business leader, but I'm looking forward to seeing what Bravo does in our search to upgrade the roster.
Noooo shhhh!t Sherlock. Man, Lalas is the SMARTEST man in the world! Hire him for President! Gosh, what would we do without him??
If Lalas is really no longer responsible for roster decisions, and it's mostly in the hands of Bravo and Yallop you should be in good shape (dammit).
Beautiful. Sweet. So based on that I'd get rid of Pavon, Buddle, Gordon, Vagenas, Harden, Jazic. They MUST be talking about Landon. We have no one else who is a "front line performer".
Whoa there. The exchange is the saddle, what they add is a performer. Not saying they aren't going to do as you say. But that isn't between the lines there. I mean saddle us with higher prices... get us to commit early and whooops, there goes the incentive to keep anyone but 23. But don't expect them to give you bonafide hints. Not my opinion, but you folks are obviously missing a key spin stopper here. Please feel free to use it on your cancellation letters without credit, but attributions here are always nice... "We would like a GM that can handle the pressure without making panicked decisions. Those players you are calling out are just doing on the field what they see in the front office." I know what he would say... and I know what to say to that... if I were just being mean. Its just an argumentative gift, or curse.
So if AEG is willing to consider it, then lets pretend they DO get another big contract player, MLS doesnt change the DP rule much and then tell me which front line performers might be traded away. Who? Pete Vagenas? Youre kidding yourself! Donovan has been on a proverbial trade block rumour talk since mid season at least. He is under performing. He is not playing to the level he once played for SJ... even that McCarty kid on FCD has more assists than... (insert godly voice here) "Landon Donovan" (end godly voice) Im not saying I want him to go... he brings fans, he usually plays with passion and excitement... He's cool, I admit. Im just trying to put 2+2 together from the article.
How about: "No More Gambling with Beckham's Health, says Galaxy" or "Roster Changes Almost Certain at Galaxy" or "Basic Housekeeping at Professional Sports Club Fodder for Crap-Journo Muckraking" I'd like to punch that headline writer in the face.
My own rumor I just wanted to relay this rumor I heard from this crackhead I talked to at the Chevron gas station on Avalon near the HDC. He told me That Alexi Lalas was pumping gas after sunday nights game, and this crackhead lets call him Jerome, was kicking it asking people for change. Well Jerome overheard this chick in Alexi's car, who he said was the cutest fat girl in the world. Get out an yell to Alexi who was going inside to pay for the gas, she said "Alexi, your cell phone is ringin' is says claudio reyna, do you want me to answer it?" Jerome said that Alexi turned to her and said "No.. Becks doesnt want to go to New York anymore." And then Jerome told me that When Alexi came back from paying inside he had a huge wad of cash he asked Alexi for some change, Alexi ignored him, than he jumped in prius... yelled out the window for him to get a job and flipped him the bird. Now I dont know about you... but I totally believe Jerome's story.
Re: My own rumor First of all I was on meth, not crack. Secondly she was the 2nd cutest fat chick in the world. Lastly, it was Posh who wanted to go to NY because the shopping is better.
That's not the way I read that quote. I read it as: AEG went out on a limb once to spend megabucks on a big performer, Beckham, which hasn't translated to the field yet. So some people might think they'd be a little reluctant to do it again. But they're saying if a similar situation presents itself, they'd be willing to do it again - big bucks for a big performer. In other words, they don't feel "burned" by their gamble on Beckham and thus would be willing to do it again. I don't read it as saying they'd go sign a big international name with a long-term megabuck contract "in exchange" for a front line performer. In other words, the "front line performer" is the long-term megabuck contract player. If you understand what I'm trying to say. That being said, though, they couldn't keep all three: Becks, new international star, Donovan. In fact, unless the DP rules change or they somehow get another DP slot, we can only keep one of the three. But I don't believe this quote is talking about a literal trade.
Maybe im just reading too much into it then.. Im taking it as the first "big" contract to be Beckham and could see themselves with another big contract and trade away a front-line performer. If thats the case, we dont really have any front line performers. Unless, of course we trade the front-line performer Pavon for Angel
I can see your interpretation of the quote, too, that it is a literal front-line player being traded - so Pavon for Angel it is! Or maybe Pavon for Schevchenko (sp).
Owners Anschutz Entertainment Group are not afraid of saddling themselves with another big contract in exchange for a front-line performer. To me it clearly reads that they would exchange another big contract (money) for a front line performer. Not a front line performer for a big contract.
I'm not taking this article too seriously. The writer is just rehashing a few Lalas quotes and than adding a lot of his own speculation.
Lalas said something like the above in his letter to season ticket holders. He basically promised that the core of the team would be returning (there was nothing about weeding out the others). Not that I believe a word he says, and also who knows if he'll even be around to implement his plans?
Preach it brother! Let's all say it together... a quality striker, outside midfielders and a solid center back. Lalas manages to talk sooo much without really saying anything. He's a drain on the organization and should go.
How do you know that is the dynamic now? I'd love to hear for real that Lalas is not involved in player personnel decisions because we seem to be taking a big leap of faith on assuming that only Bravo will be doing this. How do we know Bravo isn't a puppet on Lalas and Liewike's strings? Anyone seen any interviews from Bravo, what do we know about him or what he's thinking? And at this point, any article about our future that doesn't address our biggest nightmare, the Landon Donovan issue, is probably pretty worthless.