Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) In an effort to help him get a goal, get your teammate kick-started. You know, team play and all that.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) I am REALLY enjoying having Blanco and Beckham in the league. Not to mention Angel, Schelotto, Lopez... yes, they may all be past their prime, but they are still coming here and busting their butts and they're obviously still at a very high level, especially for the current state of our league. What they have lost from their youth they are making up for with passion and desire. No retirement home here.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) BTW-I know some people care about this, ESPN led the 1AM est Sportscenter w/Beckham and the Galaxy-showed both goals.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) FWIW, this is an old Russian traditional/folk number called "Korobeiniki". Tetris's designer Alexey Pazhitnov is Russian. I agree but ... Yallop still has cap space available. He still chose to suck. The Quakes started off well enough but then totally became discombobulated. I think the Galz ran out of juice by the 70th minute. I didn't see the previous game but many thought they had the same effect at Denver. The chance ratio was something like 12:2 for the Galz and Gordon had half of the Galz chances. In any case, Gullit is showing MLS how to play. The Galaxy had excellent movement off the ball, read the running/passing gaps well and generally played like a quality League One outfit. Except Alan Gordon, who was generously "pub league" again.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Is there a reason why LA didn't use Edson Buddle today? Is he injured or something? Surely he could have done better than Alan Gordon. LA did well to get the win, but this isn't 2005 where they can get into to the playoffs by sweeping the expansion teams...They are going to need to step it up even more to make the playoffs (wow, it feels really good to finally be able to say that about the league, hallelujiah for 8 of 14!)...
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Here are some grim stats: Road teams have scored 2 goals while conceding 19 this year so far, for a -17 GD.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) I guess that means Chicago is heads and shoulders above most of the league and Chivas is right there.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Or maybe RSL and FC Dallas are way behind. No, it doesn't mean anything yet. It just means that we've had a smattering of results. Its going to take a few weeks before we can even start making sense of who has it this year, and who doesn't.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Won't it be a great day when MLS has enough money so that players like Ely Allen and Alan Gordon aren't in it? Ugh.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) The odd thing is that San Jose shouldn't be this bad. Guerrero and O'Brien SHOULD be an above average combination on the outside, Grabavoy is a solid advanced midfielder, Garcia is an above average CB in this league, Cochrane was a regular for your MLS Champion Dynamo last year due to injuries to starters, and Riley and Hernandez are pretty run of the mill outside defenders in a league that recycles players like Brandon Prideaux. They really lack two things: A solid defensive midfielder and a cultured striker. If Yallop really plans on using Corrales at DM all year this team is going to be awful. Grabavoy needs someone who can win possession and distribute behind him and to be honest Corrales is good at neither of those things. He should be starting at LB for this team. An injection of a Shalrie Joseph type of player into the midfield would make the Earthquakes an immediate playoff team IMO, but the gulf between Joseph and Corrales combined with the lack of ballwinners elsewhere in their midfielder is going to make them pitiful to watch all season. When the LAG, with three midfielders who would look more comfortable in the A-League, overrun you in midfield you KNOW it is going to be a rough year.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Gordon is awful. I've seen him in enough matches now to say that without hesitation. However (and maybe I'm the only one), I don't think Allen is completely worthless. He got in a few dangerous spots and seemed to play quickly (or try to) while changing the point of attack with a couple of nice cross-field switches.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Strange, but for the first time I actually thought Alan Gordon did some good things--some good runs, some good passes (two assists), kept possession in the offensive third, drew a foul or two in dangerous positions. Problem is, his finishing is awful. He could have had two or three goals. I can't say he's a quality forward, but I think he might be a better option than the guys sitting on the bench behind him. Great roster you've assembled there, Lalas.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Good post, and I think what you say about Corrales is true; however, least we forget, this is a San Jose team that last night played its first competitive game ever, and its first as a franchise since 2005. Still, the way in which Los Angeles was capable of running roughshod over the San Jose midfield was disconcerting to say the least. It's hard to blame Grabavoy for that when it's Ramiro's job to win the ball. Unless he turns his play around, this is going to be a long, long season.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Very true. In any case, we now know that LA will attack up the right (duh) with Klein overlapping sometimes to fool the defence. How long before MLS coaches counter this strategy. They really need a solid D-mid to sure up the middle. How many goals have Corrales' mistakes caused in his last two games (league and NT)?
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) Especially when, outside of Lando and Beckham, the Gals still looked pretty inept. But hey, it's Jamie Treck... I mean sfs.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) 2 minutes into their home opener, the galaxy allow a goal from san jose, or rather, the expansion team that's never played an MLS game. Everyone I was with started laughing hysterically. Too bad it was disallowed.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) He only had one, and that one's only going to be an assist in MLS. Gordon's one of a few players that always shows he's way out of his depth in this league.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) On the Alan Gordon front...interesting that Ruud chose to defend him in his post game quotes: "And I'm also very happy with the performance of Alan Gordon. Even though the crowd was a little against him in the second half because he had some changes, but his work rate and what he did for the team was extremely important. Goals are important, but if you saw what he did off the ball, he was one of our best players." http://www.mlsnet.com//news/team_ne...ent_id=147677&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106 He's a frustrating player, but then again so is Buddle when he gets his chances... I'm not getting carried away, since San Jose was very poor but it feels good to get that first win under our belts. The Galaxy are not a team that can afford to have endless questions hanging over their heads. It needs positive results and it needs them now so last night was a good start.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) I actually was somewhat impressed with Ely Allen for it being his, what, 2nd professional game? Thought he had some good moves and did a nice job on the left side. Certainly far from the worst player on the field last night.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) He's a left midfielder, pure and simple. In the first game he was lost because he was given responsibilities as a central forward. I like how Ruud simplified things for him and stuck him on the left. It allowed him to play his game more. He has potential.
Re: MLS Week 2 Continuous Thread (Multiple R) I for one would like to applaud ESPN’s presentation last night. Here are my highlights: -No Beckham / Blanco Cams. -No silly, over-the-top graphics like famous ‘hams or Whites. -The Beckham butt-kiss was not over the top (like last year). -No 30 in 30 interruptions. -No side-by-side commercials running during the game. -The announcers (for the most part) stayed on point, and were actually insightful at times. -They did not put a camera on the sideline reporters, instead just let them voice over the action. It even seemed that their comments were relevant. -Actual highlights on Sportscenter. Overall, it was the best job I had seen ESPN put forward for an MLS game(s). I hope this is the strategy they will use moving forward. Paul.