mbar, it's true that it was a fortunate result, and Rogers was beaten on more than one occasion, but I think your overstating it a bit. The game was really very even - I think the stats will probably bear that out. I don't think it's fair to say we were dominated. And Rogers is hardly a finished product at LB defensively and if he was the flat out defensive liability you state it probably would have resulted in a goal. 1v1 is clearly one of the areas that takes the most experience, but his strength and recovery speed and stamina are really very good. There were plenty of challenges that he came out on top.
Rogers Whosored ratings disagree with you. I thought he had a great game. http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/91...gue-Soccer-2015-LA-Galaxy-Seattle-Sounders-FC I agree with you on the entire back line. Also I really liked Gordon today and thought Garcia had an excellant game in the middle.
What did everyone else think on Rogers? He was at fault time and time again that I saw. How does who scored ratings work by the way? Is it one person assigning ratings? A poll? A mathematical equation based on stats? Honest question.
Definitely agree on Garcia. Played strong without stupid fouls. Made some key defensive plays. Collected the ball and moved it quickly. I'd be curious to see what his stats were.
Rogers had a solid match and they really could not do much on his side. It looks like he also has figured out that offsides thing. He was very strong going forward. 4 shots and 2 on goal. The rings were pretty cool. Penedo was my man of the match. I also though Garcia had an extremly strong showing in the middle. I thought Zardes was pretty quiet. Gordon really was a great off season grab.
So glad I went to this game. Thanks, Stubhub.com! Penedo: 'Nuff said. I totally forgot about Rafael Garcia. People were silent or mumbled something during the line-up call & response. Pleasantly surprised with his play. The rings are nice! Metallic! I was expecting cheap plastic of some sort. I thought Rogers did okay, had some defensive lapses but got some offense going. Omar & AJ in the central. Can we keep that? Bacon-wrapped hot dogs. Tailgating! For real! Didn't partake of it, just saw people out with their grills and drinks. @Berks, so you did watch the game!
Agree Penedo MOTM and Garcia had his best outing in LAG colors. That can only help going forward. Other positives Two really good food trucks on the south concourse. $5 lap dances from the Star Squad (certain sections of the stadium only.)
What was that again, Sounders fans? The inferiority complex is crazy. It's almost creepy. 586994552583532545 is not a valid tweet id This video always makes me think of the Flounders...they try so hard to be the Galaxy and it never works out for them. The first guy represents the Galaxy and the second guy...well, I think you guys can figure it out. 577616113065918464 is not a valid tweet id
Having missed this game, I have a less-than-thrilled child on this one. Anyone have an extra ring they'd be willing to part with??? Haven't looked online yet for any resellers....
Eskandarian? Look if he wasn't injured in that Milan friendly LA might have gone on to win MLS Cup in 2009, but the guy played 3 games for LA. He might not even make a Galaxy trivia question let alone the lofty title of "lieutenant"
Kinda think we were better without Keane... As for the Flounders, Oba was the only dangerous player the entire match. They were toothless for the most part. Garcia I did not notice at all, could be a good thing. Juninho was pretty solid as well. Penedo was a perfect 10 in my book
Really great atmosphere at the game. A legit sellout at 4 p.m. on a Sunday, color me suprised. Nother really more to add to what has already been said. Penedo was Galaxy and league MOTM this weekend. I thought Garcia was very tidy in the middle and played within his limits and gave us basically his best game. And Gordon has really improved at his hold-up play since he was last a G. And at this point I'll take the 3 points and not complain...
I didn't see anything that looked better about our attack without Keane. Beyond set-pieces we weren't going to score any goals in that match. The one we scored came from shocking defending by Seattle, they left our two best set-piece threats (after Gonzo) free on the back post. Tactically the biggest differences I noticed was flooding the midfield with Juninho, Garcia, Zardes and somewhat Husidic (who drifts into the middle). Not a dominant possession match but that helped us win the battle overall. Not playing two strikers when you're being overrun was important, something Bruce failed to realize in Vancouver ironically Sigi made that error in this match (though they weren't being overrun). As for Keane, the fact is now that Donovan is gone Keane is the only player we have when the team is very blunt that could pull a goal out of nothing, just him on the ball 20-30 yards out and he can do something. Nobody else can do that, Zardes comes close but he would need to be in space and 1v1, or have his markers on the back foot. He hasn't been great but still take away his contribution and we're 2 points lighter this season. He'll go on a run in a bit. The biggest difference in that match was effort. Everyone worked harder, whether that's a result of Keane not being there we'll see as the season goes on. Still I think it's too simple just to blame the lack of effort on Keane, especially for guys like Husidic. If everyone played that hard with Keane (including himself) we'd look better. The Vancouver performance gave them a bit more motivation. One thing that we forget in our funk is that Seattle haven't looked much better. Acosta was sent off in the 18th minute for Dallas and they still couldn't score. So it's not like they're in stellar form. Still on another day Neagle could have had a hat-trick. He was through on goal many times and they were dangerous on a couple set pieces. Also while we were missing Keane they were without Dempsey and Pineda, we can't overlook that. Two key players, Dempsey pulled out late so they wouldn't have been prepared for it. Dempsey would probably have played in Neagle's spot, Pineda in the central midfield and Neagle on the right. That changes a lot because Pineda would make Juni and Garcia work more. Martins and Neagle got through against our defense a few times and if that was Dempsey that's a much bigger problem. Also Neagle playing the right against Rodgers and Husidic would have been difficult. I'm happy about the win and it was a hard fought match but it's really difficult to read too much into this result, for the reasons mentioned.
This is kind of my point when people start making predictions based on performances so early in the season. Ten days ago everyone was "unsure" about anything other than Dallas were clearly the best team and Colorado the worst. This year seems particularly susceptible to inconsistent performances in part because I think most players were expecting a strike for weeks leading up to the opening weekend.
Good game to be at, good atmosphere for a Sunday afternoon game. While Penedo was the obvious MOTM much kudos need to be directed Alan Gordon's way. He was a handful all game, holding up play, good passing, and generally keeping the CB's of Seattle very busy. And a goal. And I didn't see him tie his shoes once. So all around a complete performance. P.S. As others mentioned I thought Garcia played very well. Broke up a lot of plays, tidy passing, good to know he is ready when needed.
I don't know where this Alan Gordon came from, but I like him! And I don't just mean the goal. He had ball-handling skills and decision-making choices that I didn't know he had. Very good on controlling goal kicks. He was co-MOTM with Penedo. Zardes - please, for the love of God, work with a soccer ball, carry a soccer ball with you everywhere, 24/7, and IMPROVE THAT FIRST TOUCH! If he had a first touch, he would be so, so good. And sorry, there is no excuse not to have one; practice, practice, practice. I mean it. We played with spirit and determination. That's what I like. As I said, we're not afraid of Seattle - not then, not now, not ever. Shout out to Omar as well paired with AJ. That combination just works - keep it, Bruce. And Garcia - great job in the middle. And Dan the Man (love that guy!)
Garcia looks to be an excellent example of how important GII will be for our team (and the rest of the league as the others teams all field USL teams). Two years ago he was the 30th man on our roster of 30 and clearly not up to MLS standards. And last year, without GII, he would have sat on the bench and stayed at that level and then been cut and never seen on the Galaxy again. But last year we loaned him to GII, he spent a season playing competitive games on a regular basis and got the opportunity to work on his game, and it paid off big-time for us this weekend when injuries hit. He stepped up and delivered. I doubt we see yesterday from Garcia without the ability to loan him out to GII for a year....
Completely agree. I read a quote from a Dutch or Danish coach, one of the big names, who chastised English youth development for having their players focus on winning games. He went on to say at that level winning or losing isn’t important it’s learning the game. As disappointing as GII’s results have been thus far in 2015 it really doesn’t matter. Ideally it should be happening before players reach GII, but it’s still early days.
P.S. I think it’s kind of cool Becks still comes to games. Cynically I suppose you could say it’s a PR move to keep his Miami franchise semi-relevant, but he does seems to genuinely like the Galaxy organization.