San Jose - Los Angeles (Saturday, 10/25) pregame thread

I mentioned this in this weekend's post game thread. But I think I should put it here.

Get your boos ready! Any and every time Deigo Serna (if he plays) touches the ball we must boo him. It bothers really him. So get ready to boo!

 

Anyone heard what the expected attendance for this one's gonna be? Last year's final regular season match against the Gals sold out. We're not playing for anything this year, and I don't have expectations that we'll repeat that feat.

Oh, and the Serna boos are mandatory.

 

I predict it will be a sellout just like the one at HDC on Saturday.

For those of you who went there, there were a TON of empty seats. Musta been comp tickets or something.


And, yes, those boos are mandatory. Anyone who doesn't boo will have to face my wrath. And I'm real mean.

 

Huge game.

In our last six games (not including Chivas), we are 2-3-1. We have not scored a goal in October. This is a huge game. We need to have some momentum going into the playoffs. Also, we need to put doubt into LAs minds as far as winning on the road.

If LA wins on October 25th, we will lose in the first round like last year.

So, I predict that we will win 3-1 and go into LA with some Big Mo!

Did I mention this is a huge game?

 

Yeah. With the pressure off having choked away the Supporter's Shield once again, I think the Quakes will step up to the challenge and take the most meaningless regular season match of the season.

(The Flaming clinched the Shield, because even if SJ wins on 10/25 and they lose to the Yellowbellies next Sunday, we'll be tied at 53 pts and they won the season series...thanks to our beautiful 4-1 home loss on national TV and two 0-0 ties.)

 

I wish I had your optimism. But with our defense all beat up or otherwise unavailable. I can't see how the Galaxy is not going to take advantage of that again.

 

Great! Beerking Booze and Serna Boos.

 

Yee haw! I keep forgeting about the keg! I'm only having two as I promised Beerking though! I tried three this weekend and I wasn't doing too well!

 

In SJ Earthquakes Weekly Announcement:

"The Earthquakes are currently suffering through the longest scoring drought in team history. Following the Quakes five goal explosion against the Dallas Burn on Sept. 27, the Quakes have not scored a goal in MLS play in 322 minutes, a span that includes losses to the MetroStars (Oct. 5) and Galaxy (Oct. 18) and a tie with Colorado (Oct. 10). "

If I'm LA, I pack it in and counterattack to frustrate the Quakes. I expect an ugly game this weekend...

 

Oh yeah it'll be ugly! I just hope that there are no serious injuries or any stupid fouls commited...

 

And would you believe that was Waibel's FIRST red card? I was surprised when I read that.

 

I made the effort to get on the bus and make the trip down to LA for the (pretty much annual) "debacle in da hood", but will be in Fresno this weekend and thus will miss the rematch. Therefore, (in the spirit of Goodsport), since I won't be there:


Quakes WIN!!!!!!

 

The frosty cold keg will be at the tailgate early so come thirsty. I just hope BevMo doesn't screw up my order and get the wrong beer or worse yet, forget to order one for me. This game is part two of the doodly-squat pre-playoff series, it means nothing in the standings but a win would go a long way in sending a message to the galaxative scum that they're in for a serious fight.BEEEEER!!!!!!!!!

 

YES!!!!!!! Now there's something to be optimistic about! Please make sure I stop at two. Seriously, I'm a lighweight! Three did me in last weekend.

 

I look for the Quakes to come out and play well. I think that's what they're looking to do. From post-game comments, plus the looks on their faces on the sidelines, etc., they just don't seem worried to me. They seem relaxed. They keep mentioning that they put too much into the last two games last year and it left them flat for the playoffs, so I think their outlook is better this time.

Still, I do hope for a Quakes victory...actually 3 in a row against LA.

 

Some thoughts:

- Although I like Donovan in the midfield too, I just dont think our back 4 can survive without two midfielders that have a tendency to sit back deep in the center of the pitch. Ekelund and Mulrooney in the midfield.

- I liked Russel at left midfield, not because he was terribly dynamic but because I thought we just played a smarter offensive game without Corrales or Lagos in there in the first half than we had in a while.

- If Donovan goes back up front, we need to chose between either Faria or DeRosario. I go with Faria, if only because DeRosario drives me insane. I just dont like his game, and thinks he detracts more than he adds.

- I hope ERob and Dayak are back soon.

- We better win this game, and certainly have to at least score a goal. Backing into the playoffs is bad, but collapsing like a cheap house of cards before them is even worse (duh!).

 

Good point. This is what I've been wondering about. FWIW, I feel that even though Frank says the team has to maintain its intensity, he also doesn't want to burn them up in a couple of meaningless games. He has to find a middle ground between burn up and staying sharp. With the exception of not getting the Supporter's Shield, these last two games against the Galacterholes mean about as much as the exhibition against Chivas.

 

I wondered what it was that made you that way. He drives me nuts, too, especially when he and Donovan score hat tricks and a couple of goals in a game.

 

But, seriously, I understand what you mean Lurko. I think, though, that Dwayne does well when he's got confidence in who he's working with up front. They seemed to be doing quite well several matches ago, teaming up well on the ball. That was not the DeRosario of two years ago.

 

Re: Re: San Jose - Los Angeles (Saturday, 10/25) pregame thread

Except you can't just turn it off and on. This team should know that from last year when they ended the season and went into the playoffs very flat.

Other than giving the Galaxy a HUGE confidence boost and psychological edge after they have struggled all year.

 

what's eddie robinson's status .... will he get a chance this weekend or in the playoffs?

 

I heard from someone close to the team that Eddie was a few weeks out. This was just a few days before we left for the LA road trip. Based on that I would guess he won't play this weekend and he MIGHT be back for the playoffs. But, really, with the state of our defenders, who knows when Eddie will be back.

 

Re: Re: Re: San Jose - Los Angeles (Saturday, 10/25) pregame thread

Yes, but as I said in my earlier post, Yallop said they went into the playoffs flat BECAUSE they expended too much emotion in the final two games. I don't think it's a matter of turning it off and on; they are happy with how they are playing and aren't that worried about the final score in the last two games.

 

I hope you are right, StillKickin.
My concern is their lack of attack in their last 3 games. They haven't been outshot too badly 38 to 32. But, they have only put 8 shots on frame in the last 3 games, an anemic 25%. On the other hand, the opposition has put 53% on goal (20 out of 38 shots).
Last year they went into the post season having lost 4 out of their last 5 games, being outscored 6 to 12 in the 5 games. They scored 4 of these 6 goals in their only win AND still had to go to OT to win it. They were shutout in 3 of the 4 losses.

This year and last, their offense and defense have both gone south at the same time. End of the season is not the time for it.