I watched the game last night & read the thread. I liked Gavin's game a lot more than anyone here, especially considering you all hated him. Of course he made a ton of mistakes, but he was quick, fast, heads up on the dribble, made several nice passes, has a rocket of a left foot, covered well defensively, and really got forward well (better than Franklin). Since I'm alone, I must conclude that I don't know what I'm talking about. Maybe he's just cute. Anyway, he's most likely at least 3rd string. Allen reminded me of Jamie Watson, and I'm not sure he'll be any more effective. I thought Alvaro looked very skilled and could definitely contribute. The 2nd half sub forward from Portland didn't impress. Cronin + shaky = nervous time for fans. I believe he'll settle down. And Josh Wick looked like a very nice backup. Tudela was a disappointment & needs to do better next time. He was playing attacking mid for a lot of the game, and the ball went to him to die frequently. Roberts is such a problem. In the end I don't think I want him. He doesn't have great size, his positioning isn't that great, but most of all is he really that freaking slow? His 1st two steps look like molasses drying. We have already jettisonned so many players, and I usually like to keep our experienced ones, but I'll make an exception for him. Just not good enough. Or was Bare that much of a speedster? I don't know why we had to play so much long ball. Is this the plan for the year? If not, why practice it? Looking forward to the next game.
Wicks was the only bright spot for me. Looked very confident when he should have looked at least a little terrified. Cronin put himself in no man's land on one cross -- and that was just one play, but that's what kills you. I honestly don't ever want to see a keeper change his mind on a cross. Other than that, yes, it was a Z team to be sure. And it is pre-season. But if I can overreact for a moment: [overreaction] These people are paid to play the game. If the team isn't gelling or the runs are mistimed or roles are unclear -- I can understand that. Offside trap is for shit? To be expected. What is not to be expected is the inability to receive a pass or strike a ball properly or dribble the ball out of bounds. We had, what, 1 shot on goal? Watching some of those guys try to shoot, all I could think of was Bull Durham and Nuke LaLoosh beaning the mascot. That is un-f/cking-acceptable. As is passing to no one, and/or the opposition. As is giving up a five-yard carom when taking a cross-field ball off your chest. I could defend that shit. Yes the turf was fast, but as stated repeatedly, all four teams were on the same pitch. These are the basics of the game and those guys did not display basic technique. Gamba did. Through the whole match two dread, dread words kept echoing in my mind: pub team. [/overreaction]
Instead of the "it's ok, let's wait till the season start" threads - let's start picking last night apart. The first half was abysmal. The nerves should have been shaken off in the first ten minutes. The back line was worse than horrible. That type of defending will not get it done. I was sick to my stomach. Gamba, (who played without six starters), could have easily had five goals before the end of the first half. Cronin is just horrendous. Is it too late to bring back Joe Cannon? The second half was better, but honestly, how many times could Beckham place the long ball in the box on the laces of his forward players, only to have some knuckle head fail to put it away? Rudd had no choice but to play Becks the whole 90. Beckham placed ball after ball in the box, and not even Buddle could put one in. It was an atrocious display. All we have read about is conditioning. We have been led to believe that they they have trained like animals over the past two weeks, but all I saw was utter laziness and lethargic looking play. There was no fire, no passion. How about chasing a loose ball instead of watching a Gamba player pick it up and thread his way through the defense like they were drill flags. I won't no excuses. Huston crushed Sydney. They are a better squad. Let's face facts. What's the point of even having Beckham here in LA to deliver the ball if no one can put it away? We play like this on Saturday and we go home finishing last. Surround the man with some quality. The front office wants to blame the salary cap. For goodness sake, I can't say this enough, RAISE THE SALARY CAP!!! Stefan Los Angeles
Dreadful. Short on ideas. Kelly Gray's must have way over shot at least four or five different crosses. Couldn't hold possession of the ball for more then a few passes. Beckham looked tired in the 2nd half. We never really threatened on goal. Wicks is a decent back up. The stadium looked empty. All this and I only got to watch the second half. Oh well... hopefully they'll get it right by the time the season starts.
Get used to it. We aren't going to have anyone on the field who is up to Beckham's quality except for Donovan. Ruiz has his uses but he's not that good. The salary cap is a moot point for this year. It's useless to complain about it, and it's useless to complain about field turf, too. They are facts of life. Not picking on you, Stefan, but we'll be extremely lucky to have acceptable performances this year, especially from the backline & the goalkeeping position. Howlers are going to happen, no question about it. And if I hear the team complain about field turf any more, I'm screaming. It's NO EXCUSE. Adjust your game accordingly.
Don't tell us. Don't tell AEG (who fought hard to get the cap raised.) Go tell the Krafts and the Hunts, who are the ones responsible for keeping it down.
That was ugly beautiful. Ugly soccer - at least the first half - but beautiful to see the Galaxy playing again. I love how Ruud is approaching these games. He's throwing the players out there to see who can do something. And there were some bright spots. We improved in the 2nd half. Which is what you're hoping for. Each half of soccer played through the preseason needs to be better than the previous half. The rookies/newbies are looking to impress and showed great effort, and a few had some shining moments. I liked what I saw in Valentin, Franklin and Allen (already showed so much more than Pavon EVER did) - and Gavin too, Geneva (you're not alone!). Plus Wicks looked good in goal, completely confident - I love how quickly he distributes the ball. He'll give Cronin a run for his money to be the No. 1 goalie. I also thought once Steve settled in, he did fine. I don't miss Cannon at all - because Cannon, when he first got here, looked EXTREMELY shaky and he's a veteran. Cronin is allowed to have a few jitters to start. I was real disappointed in Vanney, Roberts and Tudela. Vanney is just so ungodly slow. Valentin was a great improvement over him. Tudela - if you're running the show, you've just got to do better. You made me long for Pete! Oh, and Kelly Gray. But that's what I expected from him. I knew he was crap when he came over from Dynamo. And people comparing our effort to the Dynamo showing is comparing apples to oranges - since both teams went into their games with entirely different agendas. Houston started their starters, save Mullan and Davis, and you could argue that Holden is starting material anyway. They've already played at least 2 (played SJ twice that I know of) MLS-calibre teams, while the Galaxy have played 2 college scrimmages. Houston went to win; LA went to learn. Of course Houston could pass and work the ball like they did - how many years have all those guys played together? In the meantime, the Galaxy are still introducing themselves to each other. Ruud himself said he has not worked on tactical gameplay at all yet. All they've done is fitness training. In post-game interviews, he said we haven't even settled on how we're going to play, haven't even come up with a formation. That obviously showed. But I repeat, there was already improvement in the 2nd half. We're just getting started, folks. We're going to make the playoffs and contend for the title.
I feel like we're always bargain basement shopping for new players. I guess we have to for now, but do they have to be cheap and sucky? Roberts looked out of position all night-not tracking, not marking, just horrible. Valentin seemed much more confident and better skilled. Despite the confusion when Vanney was in, I didn't think he was the one losing his man. Klein looked pretty solid.
And he doesn't have the "playing out of position" excuse, either. He was wrong side of the ball on Bare's goal, and was flat on his posterior another time, although Gamba misfired. Valentin looks to get more minutes. Maybe he'll be this year's Harden. The defense actually looked a little more organized in the second hald when Valentin came in. .... So when does he get traded for allocation money and a hand full of magic beans?
Mrs. Cadaver and I were congratulating ourselves for NOT spending the time or money to travel to Honolulu. We throw out a bunch of untested college kids against seasoned pros and are in the least surprised that LAG looked anemic? Sure there is a good reason to see what the bench can do - that's why MLS teams scrimmage against each other. A showcase event, even a pseudo showcase like this, is not the time to do it. I pity anyone who paid a buck to watch Ruud test his kids and not make an effort to win.
"Balls coming in from Beckham are a lot different from a college team," said rookie Ely Allen, ..." http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=509855&root=mls&cc=5901
Seriously........ You guys are two weeks in training, with a new coach, new players, new training methods, new nutrition programm, just a lot of new new new. Did you really expect to see a solid performance from the Galaxy? I can see all the peeps trying hard to remember the new names, and you expect them to have instant chemistry on the field. So it was horrible, with some positives in the 2nd half. I wouldn't worry about this game, it was merely a try-out. The squad has been worked really hard and it showed. There's not even a favoured system in place and there hasn't been any tactical or purely technical training yet. All you need is patience, there's no telling what the team is able to do in a few months.
Hey! Here's something not directly related to the degree of Galactic suckage last night: Allen Hopkins made me long for Dave O'Brien. Did you know that David Beckham "puts the same foot forward" every time he takes a free kick? Swear to freaking Jeebus, it's true. >head explodes<
Save your pity, please. I got my ten bucks worth. The last time we got to see a pro match in Hawaii was when an over-the-hill Pele played here in 1976. Yes, LAG sucked last night, but Hawaiian soccer fans were happy to see pro-level play (if you stayed for the second game), and the celebrity hounds got a chance to stalk a real international superstar. Send us your worst mainland teams any day--it's more than what we get to watch in a decade!
My impressions: Played badly as expected: Roberts - sucked as he always has and always will (because he isn't particularly quick and is the opposite of nimble). His breakdowns alone probably accounted for 75% of Gambas dangerous shots on goal. Gray - soft and unaggressive like he always is. Played well as expected: Tudela - good work rate, plays positive soccer, not great, but good by current Galaxy standards. Becks - unbelievable passing ability, played several notches above everyone around him Played frustratingly as expected: Buddle - as always his athleticism muted by his lack of aggressiveness Good first impressions: Franklin showed he was both able and willing to actually pressure forwards, denying them space unlike Roberts and Jazic, who know better because they will get burned if they try. He wasn't flashy but appeared to be calm and reliable, something the LAG defense sorely needs. Wicks. What a pleasant and important surprise. For a first official game with the team he was confident, quick, vocal, and took charge of his box. I would put better than even money that he replaces Cronin as the first choice keeper this year. And even if he doesn't its a big relief that we have a good backup to Cronin. Buffalo - nice ball skills, can keep possession in a crowd, good at drawing fouls and embellishing them with his academy award acting skills. Not sure how fit he will be, and it won't be fun watching the flop-off between him and Ruiz, but we need players who don't turn the ball over if a flea distracts them. The "I don't know yet" mixed first impressions: Gavin. He was kind of all over the place in his play - don't know if he will end up being good or not. Vanney - need to see more of him as well. Seemed steady enough and at least he doesn't panic like Roberts. Allen - showed some skills in the box, but none of them lead to a dangerous shot. Its not clear yet if his "moves" will work in MLS - I have doubts about it. Not that athletic either. Valentin, McDonald, and Jordan - all showed some good stuff and some not-so-good stuff. Nice work in the box by McDonald, but mistakes in the back. Valentin seemed to make good decisions (as most WF alumni do) , have to see if he is athletic enough to compete at MLS level. Jordan worked hard, but didn't see a lot accomplished. Need to see more of all of them.
They also didn't start Waibel or Robinson. With the exception of Barrett being in and Robinson being out they played the exact same lineup against SJE (for 2/3 of the first game and all of the second). How can you call SJE an MLS caliber team right now? Given our current lineup we'll loose all of our games 2-0. The only consolation I see out of this is Donovan and Ruiz weren't in the lineup... I think you would have scored two with either of them up front. I would be very worried when National Team duty calls or if Ruiz, Donovan or Beckham get injured.
It would have cost me a lot more than 10 bucks to go. You got your 10 bucks worth because of the second game. But, I take your last point. If we all work at it and get our expectations low enough, we can get really excited about missing the playoffs....
RSL were considered MLS quality in their first season and your roster looks better than theirs, especially defensively.
2nd half made me feel a lot better. The players that came on in the 2nd half except McDonald showed promise. -Franklin looked better on the ball and did better defensively then Klien. -Valentien was awesome he is tough and smart. Looks like he could be better then Harden. I think he will be a starter this season -Jordan Showed to be in the right areas just needs to work on finishing Buddle is not cutting it. For being experienced I dont think he is that good. I would try to trade him. Beckham looked rejuvenated in the 2nd half. He started running which was good to see plus he went 90 min! Gaven looked better in the 2nd half glad he will be the 4th string Wicks was the man. He looked a lot more comfortable then Cronin. Knew where his box was and was not afraid to come out to it. Roberts sucks!
what does that even mean? it can't mean what i think it does, because that would be so obvious it isn't even worth saying...... not that the obvious doesn't get some occasional airtime... i remember one genius calling color commentary for an NFL game and, after a player got pushed out the sideline, I swear he actually said this: had he not been knocked out of bounds right there... he might of gone for more yardage! uh, yeah... he "might" have....
Wow, what a game, although we played bad Im not worrying about it seeing that our reserves and rookies were in there. A couple of guys to point out: Wicks-This guy is good and for his first sniff at the pros he impressed big time and played way better than Cronin. He just might take the #1 goalie spot. Valentin-Was it just me or did our defense look a lot more stable with him in the middle, you can tell with some more experiance he could maybe become something special Mcdonald- Didn't see much, but from what I did see he is like a (very) poor man's Michael Bradley, had some nice runs into the box and stopped some attacks on the other end, but damn work on your finishing. He could have had two maybe three easy goals. Allen- As everyone has said this kid is pretty good, but more than anything he is a worker. He does not let the defense rest because he is always active which is good but maybe not good enough come MLS season. And as for the rest, well the only one that played decent were Gavin and Franklin, Gavin more than anything showed his ability to make runs down the wing but I just don't think he can defend that well and as for Franklin, he should be a solid sub come season. Other than Beckham, no one impressed from our 1st team players, which was like what Buddle and Vanney ? Oh well, hopefully we can see how our 1st team is coming along in the 3rd place game.
Even though this was a preseason game, I was pumped for it cuz I finally get to see the Galaxy back in action. What a freaking letdown. Granted LA played a lot of noobs/newbs, but the vets disappointed. The whole game did. We should be glad we didn't get buried.