Los Angeles - San Jose (Saturday, 10/18) pregame/during-game thread [R]

4 in a row.

I wouldn't worry about missing Game One of the season-ending series with the Gals. You'll have plenty of other opportunities...

From mlsnet.com:
The Galaxy (8-12-8, 32 points) have lost three matches in a row, and have only one win in their last six outings. The result guarantees a first-round pairing with the League-leading San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS Cup Quarterfinals. The `Quakes and Galaxy finish their 2003 regular seasons with a pair of home-and-home matches. The first match is at The Home Depot Center on October 18th at 10:00 pm ET.

So... 4 in a row.

I don't know if my lungs and vocal cords can take it.

 

Don't worry! I know I can!

 

Forget the rest of MLS - four in a row against the Gals from So Cal.

 

This is going to be fun. Playing the galaxatives four in a row with a chance to clinch the Supporters Shield and give a little payback for last year. It doesn't get any better than this, anybody who misses these games isn't a true fan. I might try to set up a viewing party at one of the Brits if there's enough interest.

 

The Quakes Office should set that up! They've done that in the past.

You out there Wee Man?

 

Anyone going to the 1st playoff game ?

 

I'll try to clear that weekend, too!

 

This game is totally meaningless. Hopefully no one will hack each other to an injury. I was going to come up from SD for this one but I'll make it for the playoff game instead and just save my money, which I haven't been doing much of lately.

It would be nice to regain a little momentum before the end of the year, especially against the team you're about to face in the playoffs. A hard one to know how to play, except to just play all out and stuff it to them, and hope the injury bug doesn't hit you. You can also rest a few players if they need to get healed.

 

These last two matter so much!

4 in a row against LA...this could put a big-time stamp on our past and future relationship with the galacto-scum and their supporters from the southland. One hopes, of course, that our division champion SJ Earthquakes walk great big bloody bootprints all up and down the hides of the 4th-place galacto-scum, in a figurative sense of course, while kicking their patooties all to hell-and-gone in each of the four games. It would be a season-ending hurt they'd never forget, and one of the sweetest things the team could do for the fans. But is it a realistic hope?

While Frank has brought the boys along to an amazing record so far, it must be noted that the injury factor which has been complicating his job all season hasn't gotten any easier to solve. The starters who aren't completely out are playing hurt. Of the last 4 games, we've had blinders against KC and Dallas, but struggled with Metros while playing Colorado fairly straight up. Considering the relative positions of those teams in the league, this is not that comforting; we can beat the worst, but not teams nearer the top.

Well, LA's one of those worse teams, so on that measure they should be a lot more nervous about facing the EQs for 4 matches than we are. And justifiably so- Sigi isn't getting results this year, and there's little reason to expect that to change. The one thing they might do is take a game from us before the playoffs, which throws the momentum going into the playoffs into an open challenge. We have to take these last two games of the season and crush them; then they'll be easy to handle in the playoffs.

What else is at stake? Well, Ruiz is now tied with Twellman for leading goal scorer. Shutting him out should happen naturally, but lets be sure to enjoy it all the more if Donovan finishes up with enough to surpass the little flopper.

Finally, while Chicago tied up the Supporter's Shield race with their win; both teams have 50 points on 28 games; they have to face Colorado and Columbus in their last two games. Frankly, I think LA twice is easier than Colorado once; Chicago will have their hands full with Colorado and may drop their chance for the Shield in that match.

Bring it on, LA. We're going to give you a season-end like you'll never forget, though you'll want to.

DougO

 

Re: These last two matter so much!

Cowboy will be back for this game. He hates that fishin' Fish like no one else! He'll shut him out just like he did in April!

 

When you give blood, your body makes more. Same with vitriol.

 

Re: Re: Re: These last two matter so much!

Exactly! I think I'm gonna go home and watch that tape to get worked up for this game!

 

Re: These last two matter so much!

I would say that Donovan and Ruiz are world-class divers in their own right, with Ruiz perfecting the "dive and tuck into a flopping ankle-clutch" and Donavan perfecting the "triple-gainer complete with airborne neck-snapping effect".

The G's will have the edge, however, with the Diving Duo of Ruiz and Serna, both of whom might just spontaneously crumple into a heap if indeed they are allowed into the Cupcake's penalty area at any point during the game.

Given our midfield's inability to deliver anything beyond the center line, possession anywhere near our opponent's penalty area seems unreal.

Hope you all get [English accent]The Rage[/English accent],

Topper

 

so bummed I can't go to the games because of my play *sigh* but I can come down and party with anyone who is in SoCal afterwards.

 

At least you can get to the parties. Or be close enough to do so.

 

Hello!!! Stand-In!!! Duh!!!

 

A few concerns....

1. The term "meaningless games", the only meaningless game was against Chivas.

2. The Galaxy can still win the Supporters Shield.......for Chicago.

3. Playing a team four in a row can only benefit the lesser team.......unfortunately, that would be the Galaxy.

4. The worse the Galaxy play in the next two games, the more I will worry come playoff time.

 

If I'm Frank, I'm reminding the players that we lost the Supporter's Shield on the last two games of the season last year against LA. It's time for redemption. If we lose players due to injuries (like Mulrooney last year), so be it. We can't go into "cruise mode" and expect to suddenly turn it on in the playoffs. Rotate guys around, but go for the throat in every game. Landon doesn't have much love for LA. There always seems to be a lot of trash talk between him and the scum, so let's hope that fires him up to another level of play....and Mullen also.

While Onstad needs to get game sharp, let's give Conway one more game in the nets. He's been pretty darn impressive against Colorado and Chivas and I'd like to see if that can continue. Maybe he's turned the corner mentally.

 

What is so impressive about Conways' play in the Chivas game?

 

Nothing. He can get horizontal though. He even came out to the 20 and kicked away a shot. This boys got brains.