2012-2013 CCL Quarterfinals [Multiple R]

I'm not saying they didn't, but Houston did have several opportunities to engineer more fluid moves, rather than knock up top from deep, play passes to ball boys down the wings from deep trying to connect with wingers, knocking diagonals to the wings rather than a short pass, which is why I said they play like Stoke.

When the quality gap is apparent that's not going to really work, the game plan pretty much revolves around catching Santos on the back foot with a quick counter which short of a couple moments wasn't really on. With a club who are putting an emphasis on being solid as you say, when you do go down, then what? Like I said I can't really hate on Santos because I thought they set up well but I don't think they were particularly impressive, functional, organized and solid.

Despite this I actually thought Houston could have played a bit better even with that approach misplaced a lot of passes not all of them being forced by the stout defense, I feel like they wasted possession and opportunities which they could have put together a better move, gave the ball away rather cheaply. Losing the ball more puts your back line under pressure which wasn't playing well.

Also Some of those set pieces they should have done better, because Santos was rather weak on them. Besides the defense which was obviously poor, Garcia and Moffat I don't think played that well, Moffat in particular was dispossessed a lot, more than you'd like to see from a player in that position.

To be quite honest I have a hard time seeing any MLS team really taking it to Monterrey or Santos away from home. Individual moments of brilliance can be the difference for Seattle or LA. Not too sure about the Obefemi Martins move but if he's as good as the last time I saw him he could be a difference maker. Houston is a solid team in the MLS but I don't think they have shy Clark an impact player like Keane or Donovan, and he's not in their class.

 

The Galaxy have scored at least 4 goals in all 3 home matches of the CCL.

 

Now that's what I call...

 

Same way Santos chewed your folks alive last year? We'll see...

 

He's from Houston. All you need to know, right there.

 

Make sure the cod is a boneless fillet from a cod caught through sustainable fishing practices while you're at it.

 

so, looks like the top 4 seeds made it through....

 

Northern Mexico vs. the West Coast of America. Now that's regional action for you.

 

BruceFace.

 

Taylor Negron from BioDome

 

All of those Mexican champions are laughing right now.

 

Yeah, the previous CCL format with groups of 4 didn't do so good in its 4 years, with 3 or 4 Mexican semifinalists in 3 out of 4 years; this new one with groups of 3 has finally achieved the optimal results they want in its first season.

 

Brian Dunseth was unbearable during that LA game... he calls the game like a drunk guy watching the game from his couch, screaming in certain terms about how every foul called on LA was bullshit and how every foul on Herediano should be a red card, his only actual game commentary limited to "energy" and "confidence". Its like John Harkes level analysis with an even more irritating biased homeboy flavor to it.

 

Oh I will play . . hmm . . . was the one team that played an actual "A" squad or was it the team that played a "B" under 25 team? Was it the team that played a minnow? Not sure. . . . . so hard. I will go with the only team with good competition in both legs.

 

Shit, then allow Tigres and Chivas to play in every CCL.

 

Yes, he did say that ONCE.

And he was right.

Hyperbole much?

 

How could Herediano be expected to put up a good fight?

The conditions were ridiculous

Herediano was expected to play on grass?

 

Maybe the only time he called a red card but on a few other occasions he was outraged over what he perceived to be horrible tackles, when they really weren't. He also started arguing about Robbie Keane potentially being pulled down in the box after the play had been dead for a few seconds due to offside... I like my commentators as neutral as possible, not looking for any chance to make the home side out to be the victims.

 

Guess you must love Shep then.

 

There are certainly worse local broadcasters out there, but no I'm not a fan. I like Cangiolosi as our play-by-play though.

 

Fair results last night. You can analyze the play from the games and all that, but the bottom line was that the better teams won. Santos was better than Houston, and L.A. was better than Herediano. And it wasn't close.

What are the chances that in a year or two the Galaxy will be starting their two home grown forwards, McBean and Villareal? Every time I've seen those two they've looked pretty good, and it seems like a pairing that would make sense: the big center forward in McBean and the finesse and technique guy in Villareal.

 

one thing I respect the most about Arena is that he seem to know just how much mins to give his youngsters to develop them. Michael Stephens I think is going to be a solid MLSer and Jack McBean is coming along nicely.

 

I thought he was doing a Sean Connery impression...

 

Agreed, it wasn't close in either game. Sets up two great semifinal pairing imho, at least for the MLS fan.

Villareal is quite the player. In a year or two he could easily be plying his wares abroad if everything goes right for him. I hope, however, he gives us here in MLS at least 2 or 3 more substantive years before he ventures elsewhere.

McBean is also quality, though doesn't have quite the natural skills. Great finisher though and holds the ball up well, especially for someone his age. Definitely has a bright future in front of him.

(That's not even to mentin their 3rd Academy starlet they brought up this year...who is he? Gardez or Vardez or something?....currently out injured. He's supposed to be just as good if not better than the other two. The rich get richer. Great signs for the MLS academy program in general however.)