P/I/P: #26 - L.A. Galaxy vs. FC Dallas; 8/26/12; 4:00 P.M. PDT

Could you please not post this kind of insensitive picture. If a member of the Chivas USA FO stumbles on this, it might trigger their fear of crowds!

 

Bubble: Are you going to post the CCL games?.

 

I mentioned this in the power rankings thread but it is also worth noting here...

With FCD's recent form and health, this is now a 6 POINTER!!! conveniently sandwiched between our 2 MUST WIN CCL matches... suddenly the west is wide open again...

 

yea, its pretty vital we beat FCD. They have been surging recently. Plus with Vancouver stumbling we can secure top 4 with this and hopefully jump RSL and Seattle down the line. Hell I still have faith we can take 1st if we really get our butt in gear.

 

Hey, so anyone know what the deal with Leonardo is? It's been extraordinarily quiet on that front and he's basically headed for his 2nd lost season in a row with no real fanfare. Anyone have the inside scoop on what is up?

 

There was a piece a couple of days ago that basically said he’s at least a month away.

edit: here you go http://www.lagalaxy.com/blog/post/2012/08/21/leonardo-gradually-working-his-way-back-knee-injury

 

Yup, that's how I would roll. Keep it simple and keep riding the horses that have gotten us here. Stay compact because FCD is lightning fast and will hit us on the counter if we don't pay attention. Display some of that beautiful passing from yesterday and get the win. If we win our next 3 games we will be sitting pretty in the league and CCL. Hope we can continue to play well and get better.

Edit: Oh yea, and play the full 90 mins. Keep our heads in the game or we come out looking stupid like RSL last week.

 

Does donovan, coming off a sore hamstring play all 90 Sunday? Since keane is out for the next CCL match WED???
Anyone know when Buddle is due back?

 

If you think about it, finishing 4th is so much better then finishing 5th. You don't want to have to play the extra game but by finishing 4th you get to (assuming same schedule as last year) play the wild card game at home and then play the first game of the next round at home on short notice which could give you an advantage over the higher seed that has to travel. We'd likely stay in state by playing San Jose (presumed #1 seed) so travel would be minimal for us.

I like our chances of upsetting San Jose over two legs if that's what ends up happening. They've used up their entire year's supply of good fortune already with 1/3 of the season to go.

The playoff structure currently is nice in the sense that each position you achieve has an extra benefit:

#5 -make the playoffs vs. not making the playoffs
#4 host the wild card
#3 don't have to play wildcared
#2 don't have to play wildcard, host second leg of 1st round, possible home field advantage in conference finals, possibly in the mix to host MLS CUP
#1 don't have to play wildcard, host second leg of 1st round, possible home field advantage in conference finals, probably in the mix to host MLS CUP

So every position of finish matters.

 

And RSL continues to crash & burn!!!!

 

This pleases me.

 

Seconded.

 

I think it's going to be a gametime decision sounds like... Though if Bruce is "hopeful" probably means he plans - just don't know if he makes it 90.

 

Under normal circumstances you would be correct. But if you are in the Western Conference this year the best position is clearly #2 or #3. Why you ask? Well duh.... if you are #1 or #5 you are going to be knocked out of the tournament immediately. OTOH if you are #2 or #3 you have a chance to win a game or two before the LA Galaxy ends your season!

 

I think the top 3 spots are the same until after you win the conference. We will be playing home-and-away, so no home field advantage until MLS Cup. Ordinarily you'd think that the higher your seed, the easier your competition, but I really have no preference who we play, other than hoping we don't have to play Seattle and travel to their crappy pitch.

 

Even though you are playing one game at home and one away getting to play the second at home is an advantage, barring unusual travel issues. Playing the deciding game knowing exactly what you need to do to advance on your home field in front of your own fans is better than having to do it in the road. And if you happen to be tied on aggregate after 180 minutes you have the advantage of playing the deciding extra 30 minutes of overtime - and possible pk shootout - at home.

 

All true, but I think that there have been statistical analysis that, at least in this league, that advantage is nil or very,minimal at best.

 

If we beat Dallas and SEA loses we are set to take 2nd next week, every game of ours is a must win but this is a must win.

 

"A must win game" our slogan for this season, Let's just hope we get a good seed for he playoffs at this point I would be happy if we got in and took our chances in the playoffs let the dices' roll!