2009 L.A. Galaxy: palpably underwhelming?

Galaxy to play friendly Nov 26th just after MLS Cup in Germany against Kaiserslautern.

 

Dynamo! Dynamo! Dynamo!

 

Today is the day Fitz my old friend. I'll be trying to find a place online to watch this huge encounter.

Though my loyalty to the Dynamo has been tested severely after recently finding out that Gifton Noel-Williams now represents the Austin Aztex. It's only the glory hunter in me that is keeping my allegiance to the orange and blue.

 

MLS is a very physical league. It's been interesting watching Beckham adjust to it. He still gets a little testy when the inevitable bashings happen, and if there is any sort of intentional physicality, he gets very demonstrative about it.

it's an interesting exchange, and his reactions were appropriate. The Houston player that started it was US International Ricardo Clark, who famously repeatedly kicked former Galaxy player Carlos Ruiz when he was with Dallas repeatedly when he went down during a game once.

US International Brian Ching rolled in to separate the two and ended up slapping both Beckham and Gregg Berhalter in the process. Ching was red carded for the slap on Berhalter but would have received the same yellow Beckham got if he hadn't touched Berhalter.

Final score is 0-0.

There is now a 3 way tie for the top spot in the league now. Chivas USA has 2 games in hand, while Houston and LA have just 1.

 

Lukey,
Your nasty Dynamo next play the far far far nastier Chivas USA in their last game of the season. I'm hoping for a draw as a result, with many of the Chivas players getting red cards and season ending if not career ending injuries.

 

Some quick analysis...
The best the G's can do is win the Western Conference, and come in 2nd in the overall table, where we are currently.

The worst the G's can do is 4th in the West, 5th overall.
Teams with q have qualified for the playoffs for sure, or 'clinched' as we say in American sporting terminology:

q-Columbus 49
q-Los Angeles 45
q-Houston Dynamo 45
q-Chivas USA 45
q-Seattle Sounders 44
-Chicago Fire 42


The G's have the better head to head record vs both Chivas and Houston, but not against Seattle, if we end up with the same amount of points.

If the G's win vs the well out of contention San Jose Earthquakes (aka the Smurfs, since they have purple uniforms) in our final game, the worst place the G's can end up is 3rd - depending on what the Goats do with their game in hand vs the Fire and then in the final game.

 

This result would please me no end. I didnt find a website to watch the game, however admittedly my search wasn't extensive.

I'm still relatively new to MLS and the Dynamo, but i'm trying. I like that we're a team that has been built for lasting success. I also think the uniform is pretty fantastic. Brian Ching has a name to die for and Ricardo Clark was a hero for me one drunken night when i took USA to glory in a fifa tournament with my friends.

 

"Thierry Henry ready to snub Manchester City and take New York Red Bulls by the horns"
It seems this rumor will never go away.. and i have to say i am very happy that phila is getting a team.. Have hading the misfourne of supporting them.. and going to some games.. a big money DP is not what they need.

 

I hope they will have learned some lessons form the galaxy on how to handle it better...Thierry Henry won't "fix" RBNY, but he could really help, particularly if they can keep JP Angel.

 

Donovan wins sixth Honda Award. Not really a suprise.. would have liked timmy to win it. but Donovan is our golden boy... no offense Fitz. Donovan 424, Timmy 267, Jozy 178

 

Tim Howard is great, but he just hasn't done well enough to merit it this year. Jozy shouldn't even have been considered this year, especially not in a year where Charlie Davies performed better.

 

Playoff Possibilities

Playoff Possibilities

 

Final regular season game of the year

Isaac's Preview

 

Isaac also made grades for the team this year. We in the US don't typically do player ratings, not sure why, but we don't. So he begins his grades with an apology for grading...cute!

 

This just in:
Chicago defeats Chivas USA after a Chivas defender scored an own goal. Final score 1-0.

Chicago is done for the year with the regular season, though they may qualify for playoffs depending on what happens elsewhere. Chivas plays just one more game against Houston Sunday. LA plays their last game of the season Saturday against last place San Jose.

LA, Chivas and Houston are all tied at 45 points atop the Western Conference, with LA owning the tie breaker against both teams.

Bottom line: If LA wins against San Jose, LA wins the West, no matter what happens in the Houston/Chivas game.

EDIT: The winner gets to be top of one of the halves of the season ending playoffs tournament bracket, playing a weaker team to start off...

 

You need to explain that one Fitz?!

 

San Jose's color is purple...as mentioned many times previously on this thread, their nickname is "The Smurfs".

 

im not sure what purple is over there, but neither the smurfs nor that kit could be called anything like it. that baby is a little primary colour we like to call 'blue'

 

But it is the same color as the Smurfs, which is the point.

 

Galaxy 2 - 0 San Jose
Landon scores two...the first gets credited as an own goal, but he scored another to make up.

Beckham had a couple nice passes, and was subbed out in the 83'.

The LA Riot Squad presented our Player of the Year award last night after the game:


He's a repeating recipient, and a very well deserving one. I am visible sandwiched between all the ladies (as usual) above Landon and to the right.

 

does this give you the conference title?

 

Yes it does!

We have first place in the west, and the rest of the layout of the table will be known as the Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA play later this evening.

I hope Chivas loses, which will put them at 4th place, effectively giving us two home games in the playoffs since they share our stadium.

 

Fantastic - a "congratulations" is in order then. Well done!

 

looks like i might indeed see you in seattle then

 

I hope so, but there are three games to win before then...

It's been so long since the Galaxy have made it to the playoffs, but as I understand it, the first round will be a home & home series. The second round is one game elimination, which gets you into the MLS Cup Final in Seattle.

 

Houston up 2-0 on Chivas USA at the half...

H E L L Y E S !!!!

 

Final
Houston 3 - 2 Chivas USA

I missed the first Chivas goal and the 3rd Houston goal, but a PK made it 3-2.

Final standings in the West:
LA 48 points (owns the tiebreaker with Houston)
Houston 48 points
Seattle 47 points
Chivas 45 points
Real Salt Lake qualified by being a better 5th place team than the 4th place team in the east, so they will compete in the East bracket's 4th place spot.

Away legs for the top seeds are played first so:
Galaxy "@" Chivas Sunday at 2pm,
Houston @ Seattle Thursday evening.

 

Good day all round then Fitzy!

Bring on the play-offs.

Dream. Scream. Believe. It's Play-Off Time.

Forever Orange.

 

The Houston/Seattle matchup looks quite good. Houston is in form now, so I'd probably give them the advantage.

It will be a tremendous disappointment as an MLS fan if the Galaxy lose either game to Chivas USA. We ought to win both if we are worth a damn. It should be Galaxy vs Houston in the West Conference Championship.

Your orange Ooompa Loompa looking goofballs are GOING DOWN!

 

Donovan has Josh Paige's Riot Squad hoodie in his locker.


Check out 0:23 in the video:
LA Galaxy Defeat San Jose 2-0 to Finish in First Place

Josh, who was infamously incited by Beckham to come down out of the stands to face him, gave it to Landon Donovan at the Season Ticket Holders event last week.

 

Isaac's preview of the playoff games against Chivas the revolting.

 

Probable Lineup & injury report

 

And here is the full playoff schedule: