P/I/P: #19 - L.A. Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers; 7/14/12; 8:00 P.M. PDT

I think I'm going to try to make it to this game... only a three-hour drive.

 

RiceBubble, Perfect start to a Game Thread!!! i give Galaxy the win 2-1 with Beckham back and Magee rested and maybe Gonzalez sarting! oh and Juninho is Suspended for this game !

 

Your optimism is contagious!

I think Juni is suspended for this game, so he definitely sits.

I'm still leery of giving Omar to much playing time, but he looked pretty good in his first 45 back, so maybe we will see what he can do. I'm looking forward to this game!

 

True. Juni not available because of yellow card accumulation. Judging from today's line-up we will see Stephens again, our new Passback Mike.

 

I think Omar will start this game. Chicago was a good sit, because of the quick turnaround between matches, plus the speedy forwards of Chicago. Portland has speed but not really up-top. Omar can shut down Kris Boyd even if it's for the first 60 minutes before sitting. Plus we'll have a couple more days a training before this game. I will very surprised if Omar doesn't start this game, but not disappointed.

 

Hi Bubble, I took Calculus many years ago but I was wondering what AP Calculus means.

 

AP (Advanced Placement) courses are classes you would take in high school, but they're technically college-level. In May, you would take the AP exam for the AP courses you enrolled in (or you can self-study), and then you get a score 1-5. 3 and above is passing. Many colleges even give you credits if you do well on the AP exams.

 

Portland at home is tough nut to crack, especially when they are really up for it (see match vs. Seattle a few weeks ago) and teams really get up for a visit from the LA Galaxy. They blew us out of the water in this fixture last year. Should be a great game. Nice to have some fresh legs in Landon, Magee, Beckham and Omar (hopefully) to throw out there.

 

I thought Portland was going toe-to-toe with RSL on Saturday; they have some nice quick passing sequences and creative players. Unfortunately for them they fell apart at the end.

I love how Portland's average attendance (per Bubble) is higher than their maximum attendance. That is a great fan group, and I hope they stay strong while we beat them again.

 

I'm sorry for that - I really think they should stick with him for another year at least. They are doing quite well for an expansion team.

 

I don't know if Omar should start or play. Isn't the field in Portland grass or turf? If it's turf, I'd leave him out. It's still too soon. If it's grass (real grass not that fake grass that they call grass) I think a half would be ok.

 

It's artificial turf. It's better than the old stuff and has received the highest rating synthetic turf can get from FIFA, but it's still turf. Bruce even mentioned the turf field problem when discussing why he got Omar time at home against Philly rather than waiting another week or two.

 

Sounds hunky-dory

 

Vancouver is artificial turf as well. I think if Omar plays in one or the other it will be this one due to the smaller field dimensions.

 

No kidding. Here we are (in the NW) in some of the most lush temperate climate in the continental US, and we cant even maintain a decent grass pitch! It pisses me off!!!

 

For Seattle it is a byproduct of NFL football (All those hoping for the mythical Farmers' Field please take note).

Portland? Who knows? Jel-Wend is a remodeled facility as I understand it and maybe FieldCrap was in place already?

 

Isn't it because it rains too much there? They need to have artificial turf to avoid playing soccer in muck and mud or in badly damaged grass when it is dry. It's probably the same reason there are artificial turf fields in a place like Costa Rica.