True...but the difference is that, unlike anyone else in the league, we've won two matches on the road. That's not bad no matter how questionable the opposition is, especially considering the Loons only won once on the road all last season (Orlando) and only three other times our first year (Chicago, Montreal, and, amazingly enough, Atlanta). So, yes, going from four road wins in the entire history of the club to six makes us...quietly optimistic.
This, plus it's Year 3 of Manny and Adiran's Three Year Plan (Patent Pending). They have to produce or they know their next place of employment is likely the Las Vegas Lights. Or Chelsea.
Mind you, we only squeaked out a win over a bottom feeder, and got completely shut down by a "decent" team. With Zlatan and especially Alessandrini is out, I have little hope.
I like seeing you so happy. I sort of wish Minnesota was in the East so that I could root for them more often.
Thanks! I wish we were too, if for no other reason than to have two shots at Chicago every year instead of one. I still haven't quite forgiven the front office yet for trading Christian Ramirez, though. Angelo Rodriguez has yet to prove he's anything more than Orange Traffic Cone 2.0. When you have a DP that can't earn a starting spot, it grates on you a bit.
To be fair GBS/DTK were dealt a bad hand. Through no fault of theirs our #2 goal scorer was traded away a week before the season opener. And then our #1 & #3 scorers were lost to injuries in the first two weeks. Losing over 70% of your offense before game three is going to hurt.
Truth of the matter is without our starters and our new guys not really contributing as expected we are just another weakling team for the Loons to have at it. I am really impressed so far with what Minnesota did which what I wanted Galaxy to do. Improve the back as to allow the rest of the team to focus more on going forward. To balance the team . Loons brought in a new keeper in this guy Mannone from Arsenal i heard. Alonso from Seattle. Opara from SKC. Metanire from France and Gregus from Denmark. They chose wisely and now have a very balanced team where the rest of the team and our friend Quintero can focus on the attack.
Not saying they weren't dealt a somewhat sketchy hand and haven't had a lot of time to change things, but are you sure GBS/DTK weren't responsible for the Ola transfer? If not, who is? Klein? Also, not sure who else to blame for injuries. Again, is it Klein? Or do we just chalk up another lost season to bad luck?
These two picked the new guys and so far, bupkus. So far. That's all I'm saying. Nothing a few wins can't fix but as of yet i cannot see the improvement and of course I realize we have yet to field a full, healthy team. Not frothing at the mouth yet tho I have developed this little eye twitch at game time. I am hoping now that the Loons are out of the muck and mire of mediocrity they come in here way too hyped and stumble on something Guillermo or the guys can whip up. They aren't used to winning, especially in the road.
Well, to be fair, Mannone was lost on the bench at "Who the *bleeping bleep* is Reading?" when we picked him up...a far cry from Arsenal.
I don't think any of us know the precise balance of reasons behind the Ola transfer. It was reported that he wanted to go for the big bucks and that AEG wanted to recoup some of the millions out of pocket cost needed to buy Gio out. I'm guessing it was a combination of those two things. I don't find it credible that given a choice GBS/DTK would have decided that they wanted to dump the reliable goal scorer Kamara so they could start the season with a single 37yo striker on the roster. And the injuries? Maybe over training. Maybe bad luck. Maybe not surprising given that Alessandrini has been injured both seasons before this and Ibra is 37. And the lost season is pure nonsense. Two seasons ago SEA won 2 of their first 11 games and still made it to the MLS Cup final.
I think the Ola situation is one where you just have to do right by the player. He is never going to get a chance to earn that much money again in his career and we received a very generous transfer offer. Plus he willingly played himself out of position last year and he was still behind Zlatan on the depth chart in that preferred position. Had to let him go even with it being right before the season.
South OC Galaxy Fans: 405 Freeway closes down at 11 p.m. - Fairview Rd.in Costa Mesa for overnight construction.
Short on attacking options, perhaps Schelotto contemplating Efrain Alvarez as a false #9 at some point during #LAvMIN. Although only 16 yrs., he is arguably @LAGalaxy most technical player, dangerous in front of goal and proved he is ready for @MLS. #LAvMIN @ #LAGalaxy #MNUFC— Christian Miles (@cmilessports) March 15, 2019
I hope you're not counting on us doing what Seattle did that season. And I'm not sure why GBS/DTK should get more time than the last few coaches to turn the ship around. One can only live off reputation for so long before showing real results. If we are more than a couple points out of the playoffs, should GBS/DTK be replaced (like Seattle did those 2 seasons ago) so we can expect a magical run to the final? Especially DTK. He has been around since the very start of the off-season, no? He MUST have had a significant say in the player changes we have made, including re-signing Zlatan. Or is he just a figure head?
The Galaxy have been fighting a dangerous tubercular VKK infection for at least two years now, and the the Pulmonary Klein nodules are still active. GBS and his team are the first-line anti-TB agents whose course will run for 6-12 months if you want to be sure of staying the damage and suppressing the sources of the active disease. It would be near suicidal to say :"hey, 6 months have passed and we are still fighting the infection. So let's stop the course of treatment and Embrace the Klein!". First, Klein must have no say whatsoever in any more football decisions. Second, GBS must be given this first full season to build a healthy team. Third, the emphasis must be on the long term quality of the team [can we be really good over many years?], as say with early Bruce Arena. Not with the short term results of this or next week [Why should we care about sustaining quality when my check depends on this week, baby?], as was done with late Bruce Arena and the Era of VKK.
Can't be at the game tonight because I'll be at the Pasadena International Film Festival being a film geek. But I hope we win and everyone has fun.
Why wouldn’t he re-sign Zlatan? The guy is coming off a 34 g+a season which iirc was the highest points per game production rate in the 23 year history of MLS. Also remember DTK was brought on in December, which is midseason for most leagues in the world. He had two plus months before preseason started to find players that a) want to come to the Galaxy on short notice, b) were affordable under our salary structure, and c) were really good players who either didn’t have a team or were willing to quit their team midseason. Polenta and Corona signings are examples of working around issue c). The only DTK decision I’ve disagreed with is Cuello and he cost us almost nothing.
I'll always take the time to point out that the record is still held by Cobi Jones' 1998 season, both in G+A/90 minutes, GA/games played and tied in total G+A.
He was a beast that year. Really one of the few to come out of the France fiasco smelling like roses.
And hats off to Cobi for that. But remember that in 1998 MLS was pretty much a defense optional league.