I would not want to build a team around Dos Santos . The team really needed him to show up today and he was absent.
You're correct in the fact that he should not be the sole center piece. However when you play him along side Zardes and hopefully two DPs that actually contribute he's one the best in MLS at pulling a rabbit out of the hat. Unfortunately, the majority of the season was subtraction by addition when Keane played with Gio.
I was trying to be tough. I spent the next hour after the pks gardening and accepting the result haha
I think a lot of us underrate Rowe. Rowe led the league in save percentage among starting keepers this year and by a decent margin at that. Though that's hardly the end all be all of how to rate a goalkeeper, but it's a decent indication. 76.4% save percentage is stellar, which beats out 2nd place Howard's 74%. His play, though he occasionally makes errors, has been nothing short of huge for us. We didn't have the money nor the scouting department to find a replacement if both Kennedy and Rowe sucked and Rowe stepped up and filled in very well. He's not the athletic reaction monster that Hartman or Ricketts were, so he doesn't make a ton of highlight reel saves, but he does his job well.
Agree in general. And he's a lot better than this Johansen guy for NYCFC. He's managing to make Saunders look like Petr Cech.
Lets take nothing away from how well Howard did on those penalties. Not only did Howard dive the right way every single time, he also managed to make a couple of really quality saves. Cole went with placement and Howard got it. Lawrentowicz penalty was actually very good. It would've hit side netting, but again Howard guessed right and had a firm hand. I am not mad at the penalty takers because honestly penalties are always a toss up. I am mad how we essentially make no attempt to score in the 2nd half and all of extra time.
Definitely! I don't understand the timing nor the players coming in. We needed the goal and Bruce didn't go for it. Taking Gordon off was shocking. Subbing LD off so early was frustrating to see. I haven't had much expectations these last several games but I'm still mad at this season
Effort: Rogers Steres Van Damme and Cole. My hat is off to these four. They kept this team competitive in these playoffs and gave the team a chance with 125 minutes of great effort at altitude today.
God, this was kind of embarrassing. We played for PKs, then missed 3 of them? Horrible. Say what you want about Gerrard, he sank his PK. Key word for next season? Youth. Youth. Youth. Could Galaxy II have looked any worse out there today?
I agree with you on this one. Its been like this for the last several games. This back line is very very solid. And there is a very strong back up in AJD who can readily play all positions on the back line well. Hopefully Cole wants to play another year near the beach but if not the team is in good hands with Rogers and AJD on the back line with Van Damme and Steres. It was pretty obvious this team ran out of gas in the second half. Subs are supposed to bring in energy but instead were a bummer. One has to think what could have happened if Mendiola or Garcia had been available to bring in some energy. Dos Santos left for National team duty before this game. The biggest error of all was taking off Gordon. What a help he could have been towards the end when the Galaxy managed a few set plays. A big powerful energetic presence in front of the goal What more can you ask for?
Considering this might have been Landon's last ever MLS match, I am really confused why he was subbed off at half. I could understand 60ish minutes in, but 45 minutes makes me think something else.
Really pathetic play, we haven't looked like a solid attacking team at all this season. Van Damme was man of the season. I would like to see us go for some younger DPs and give our youth more of a chance next season (doubtful under Bruce though). Would like to see: ----------------------Target Forward DP------------------------ --Boateng/Donovan---Dos Santos---------------Zardes----- ------------------Lletget--------CDM DP------------------------ Cole--------Van Damme--------new CB-------------Rogers -----------------------------Rowe------------------------------ Could also pair Donovan with Dos Santos up top and invest in a fast attacking winger DP, Hazard-esque but obviously we couldn't get a Hazard. depending on how much Cole cost us I wouldn't mind changing him either. AJDLG to me is the odd man out and he should be tried as a CDM, he has the attributes for it and to me he was never a great fullback and too small to be a CB yet he is very smart
I'm not sure but I thought the announcers said something about him "tightening up." If Landon wasn't subbed off because of physical problems then I'm sorry but Bruce is an idiot.
Totally. He gave us a target for long balls. Once he went off our only choice was try to work it through the midfield which is little difficult when your team can't seem to find any energy to run any more. And by 'little difficult" I mean impossible.
I didn't realize that Howard had saved Larentowicz's penalty until I saw a replay a few minutes ago. Fantastic save. Cole's shot on the other hand was telegraphed and timidly hit.
I knew I forgot someone. And absolutely a keeper. I also forgot Magee who unfortunately is likely in the time to go category. Too expensive.
Those photos bum me out. But we are competitors and I fully expect Bruce to learn and put together a better 2017. This might have been needed for a full shake up. Can't wait for Zardes to come back fully healthy.
Took the words out of my mouth and actually said it better than I would have. Despite all the praise I see for him on this thread, I actually thought his decision-making was below par for him and kind of strange, even in the first half. He seemed to hold the ball too long and getting caught on the ball too much. Then his decision to finally release wasn't the best one. But still overall, his effort could not be denied and he did make some critical plays on defense. Gio - another reason you don't build the team around this guy. He just does not exert himself or stand out in critical games and can't take the team on his back for even a moment. He just can't. And yes, we sorely missed Boateng - and oh, how I wish Zardes could have made it back - and too bad LD got injured in first half. We really needed his brains and skill out there.