LA Galaxy vs. SJ Earthquakes (Saturday 9/14) Pregame Thread [R eventually] I can't believe Goodsport hasn't started this already. He'll have to add his traditional witty word-wrangling pregame text further down though, because I need to start talking about this game!
As you probably know our last two games this season are a dramatic home-and-home series with our archrivals and current co-leaders for points. It's a "movie finish" for this season. This will be our away game. I've done pretty well predicting our last two games (I said loss to DC and win or tie Columbus) so I'm going to risk a goal prediction on this one. I'm sad to say that I think it will be 2-0 or 3-1 for L.A. At least the silver cloud will be that our last game at home will be very, very exciting. Not only will we be looking for three points but we'll be concerned about goal differential as well. To win this game I think we would need Yves to touch his healing hand to Dayak's, um, injured area or Barrett to stick to Ruiz like, well, underwear. Yallop says the whole team needs to be involved in defense ... but will they finally start to demonstrate that again? The team needs to return to its possession game like last year. I'm not optimistic that is going to happen in this upcoming game.
I think that two things that are overdue will finally occur on Saturday: Ruiz receives two well-deserved cautions for his juvenile tantrums and is sent off and....Donovan is fouled in the penalty area and, miracle of miracles, is awarded a PK! Quakes 2 - (Ford) Galaxy 0
If we're going to lose the game in LA (and I think we will), then as long as we lose by two or fewer goals, we don't need to worry about goal difference -- we just need to get the win at home the following week. Here's the math: Right now: SJ, 45 points, +12 GD LA, 45 points, +9 GD If LA wins by two in the first game: LA, 48 points, +11 GD SJ, 45 points, +10 GD Then, if we win by one in the second game: SJ, 48 points, +11 GD LA, 48 points, +10 GD So even if we lose the first game by two, we can still win the division with a one-goal win at home. We only need to start worrying about goal difference if we lose by three or more. Then we have to start focusing on piling up the goals at home. Hopefully we can avoid that. I'm pretty sure we can get the win at home, but we probably can't name the score so if we need to win by two or three, we're probably hosed. I also agree with bsman's post, at least the Donovan part. Depending on the ref, of course, but if they review the tapes of the last game, there's no way they can ignore the blown call on Donovan at the end of the first half, so he might catch a break from the ref and actually get the call. My score prediction for the game in LA: LA 3, SJ 1. This will give them a false sense of confidence for the season finale, which we will win.
Ezra Hendrickson will be out for this game because of a red card. I think Alexi Lalas will be out because of yellow cards, but this isn't confirmed. No suspensions for the Quakes, but Graziani, Corrales, Conrad and Robinson are all at risk of being suspended for the next one.
LA Galaxy vs. SJ Earthquakes (Saturday 9/14) Pregame Thread [R eventually] Given the fact that Clakes are unbeaten in WUSA Doubleheaders , I'll say 1-1 . In all seriousness , put Mullrooney on defense , Donovan behind the forwards , and let's win this thing . Proposed lineup - Cannon, Corrales , Barrett , Conrad , Mullrooney , Lagos , Ekelund ,Donovan, , Russell , Graziani , Wynalda ( he lives in LA anyway ) , ok DeRo. Make sure that anyone who spots Lynn Metterparel with Dan Calichman at the game , will takes their photo , and later submits Lynn to Playgirl for the cover of the Sexiest Mustache in the Universe issue . WHO THE &&&*&Y*&^* IS ORLANDO ?
L.A. hasn't exactly been on a goal-scoring tear lately, save for one guy: Ruiz. Barrett or Robinson need to stick to him like glue and let Conrad and Goose worry about the others and we'll be fine. I'm guessing the goal differential thing isn't going to be a big issue. Ruiz is tricky, so containing him is easier said than done. But it's not insurmountable. And with Ezra being suspended, we don't have to worry about him coming out of nowhere like he's prone to. I think we can tie this one; or, if we're really in sync, surprise the Galaxitives and win it. Then back at Ft. Yallop the next week we can put a nail in their coffin. (Anyone else a little concerned about the Quakes-America mid-week game? IMHO, the timing couldn't be worse. I pray Frank plays the B team and rests our majors for the final L.A. showdown....)
Los Angeles - San Jose (Saturday, 9/14) thread       Will the reigning MLS Cup Champions leave the land of stolen water having quenched their thirst toward home-field playoff nirvana?       Will the SoCal smog-warriors, in their similiarly-colored home unis, prove the Rose Bowl an oasis against the rumble from the north?       The forces of Northern California good triumphing to keep alive hope for most of their playoff games to be where they can actually see the sky? The legions of Southern California evil getting one step closer to using their cavernous lair to home-field playoff advantage?       Discuss.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
      Oh shoot... I just noticed that a thread for the game was already started down below. Sorry about that.       Moderator, delete or merge at your discretion.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
LA Galaxy vs. SJ Earthquakes (Saturday 9/14) Pregame Thread [R eventually] Good point. I forgot about this. It will be an interesting two weeks, that's for sure. I might miss the last home game because of a wedding though. Starts at the same time and in Santa Maria......Maybe I can get LA tv feed from down there...
Re: Los Angeles - San Jose (Saturday, 9/14) thread       At least it wasn't the next person to taunt Sigi Schmid in person, lest he/she be eaten.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
Los Angeles - San Jose (Saturday, 9/14) thread You could rename it "The Official Sigi Schmid Exploding Coach" thread.
Any Bluemen coming to the RB...? I'd imagine there will be a sizeable contingent of Quake fans making the journey to the historic Rose Bowl for this game. Well, despite the rhetoric between the LA RIOT SQUAD and San Jose, I'd like to invite you to the tailgate where (of course), light-hearted smack will be batted around, the booze will flow mightily, and I'll be taking suggestions at the DJ Booth. Tommy "Yeah, the DJ gear will be representin" Mack www.lariotsquad.net
Merged bpc's thread with Goodsie's weekly game setup...this week I promise I'll add the [r] in a timely fashion...
Los Angeles - San Jose (Saturday, 9/14) thread I think that Goose and Dayak , should be rested for the last game , and if that one won't matter , playoffs . Robinson is too prone to error , as said before , I'd rather see Mullrooney on Ruiz , and Barrett on Elliott. Cienfuegos was invisible in Chicago . Lalas looked good , but methinks , he's out on yellows. 9/18 game really concerns me , since CA has plenty of hacks on the team , and Frankie's not the one to lay down. SF fans will not take Donovan's and Graz's absence lightly , so I'm sure they'll be placated . May be Frankie and Dom could suit up ? How'bout this lineup for CA : Conway; Ibsen, Yallop ,Robinson , Kinnear ; Roner ,Bower,Johnny Moore ; DeRo , Luchi, Barclay ; Beerking , Spejic, Goodsie and Lindsey on the bench ,Bsman on the Thesaurus .
Los Angeles - San Jose (Saturday, 9/14) thread Everyone's forgetting the Jinx. Remember the Jinx? No team has won three straight games the entire season! Last week both Columbus and NE could have done it and what did they do? They tied nil-nil! So the jinx is invincible. LA's on a two-game win streak. Therefore, they lose on Saturday. It's a done deal. Of course if San Jose wins in L.A. than _they'll_ be on a two-game win streak... but the power of Spartan Stadium is greater than any jinx: on 9/21 San Jose will be the first team to break the jinx all season! (And they'll set a new unbeaten record in the process. ;-) Yeah! Go Quakes! -- Marc
On the Quakes weekly update, Cowboy and Goose are listed on the injury update. But Scootie isn't. Has Scoot been taken off IR? Or is this just an oversight on the Quakes part?
Los Angeles - San Jose (Saturday, 9/14) thread Oooooooooooh kids, MLS is heating up in Cali. If this was an English game, what with the hype and stuff, it would be a rubbish game, 1-0 on an 82nd minute rubbish goal........but because its MLS I think it will be (to quote good ol' J.R.) a "barn-burner", or possibly a "slobber-knocker". At times, 2 guys could take Ruiz. As long as someone from midfield is playing deep to cover. Ronnie might have to track back. It might not be worth playing Troy or Goose if they are not 100%, they're gonna have to be on red alert for the full 90. Just dont play Ian Russel! He's in my bad-books at the minute. Him and Rodrigo Faria, but he's not important. Overall, Im confident. Tie away, win at home, its all good.
Re: Los Angeles - San Jose (Saturday, 9/14) thread Hey, maybe there will even be some H.L.A. (I don't know when you see Raw over there, H.L.A. was from last night's Raw here in the US.) That would work for me. I would be pretty ************ing pleased with that.
Re: Any Bluemen coming to the RB...? Tommy -- there will be a bus full of Quakes fans arriving at some point. I won't give out details, you know, for security reasons. I'm coming down earlier to help set things up for our tailgate, which is unfortunately going to be in Lot K, which is all the way on the other side of the stadium from you guys. I may come by your tailgate to say hi. How early do you guys get started?