Major League Soccer

Tomorrow night, Robbie Keane gets first crack at Thierry Henry in MLS. Do you think Keane has forgotten the handball Henry used to eliminate Ireland from the World Cup? Believe me...he didn't.
Fredo's preview:

 

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At least he is figuring out not to try to fight Galaxy fans and has moved on to opposing team's coaches.

 

Fitz saw that NY beat Galaxy 2-0. They actually showed the goals over here on SKY Sports News Today, Henry seemed to take his goal well and then hit the post later on. The only Galaxy chance they showed was a Beckham free kick, surely there were more!

Managed to catch most of the 'Caps game at BC place. Yet again defensive frailties from them, this time the Swiss/Canadain DP defender. Interesting to see 'caps fans moaning about the price of tickets for the game, being out sung by the opposition, willing to drive their manager to the airport, wanting to get rid of the majority of the team and play youngsters and the fact that the 'Southsiders' (their Yellow army) were being told off for standing and swearing. Now where have I heard all that before!!!

 

Yeah, the Galaxy are 0-1-9 when Beckham is the Captain. Donovan, Keane, Magee, Franklin and Birchall were all out with either injuries or for national team duty. This game was basically half starters and half reserves for the Galaxy, but could easily have been 4-0. Both Rodgers and Henry put shots off the post that should have been goals struck 1 inch differently. Still, the good news was that by losing, the Galaxy eliminated both rivals Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes from the playoffs, and also somehow secured their spot in next year's CONCACAF Champions League.

As for the Caps, they are going to have to sack up and get their stuff together for next year. The good news is they have nowhere to go but up. The fans are loyal, but quiet, almost English style. That will not do in the Pacific North West.

Watch this to understand what I mean. It is the national anthem before the first home game of the season at PNW rivals Portland Timber's stadium. The bar is set very high... They even came to LA in sizable numbers which isn't easy given the distances.

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ESPN Magazine article on American born U17 World Cup Winner Richard Sanchez

 

Big game for Houston tonight. Visiting Portland. We're currently in the wild card zone for the play-offs.

 

Getting very close to having the whole field set for playoffs. Union are in thanks to not losing their last game. I see Houston got a win vs Portland, too.

Tonight, the Galaxy play Chivas USA. Hoping for a big match from the Galaxy who will be without Keane and possibly Donovan.

 

Turns out neither Donovan nor Keane we're needed after all.
Greg Berhalter captained the Gs at his last home match of his career and delivered a 1-0 win.

Galaxy are UNBEATEN at home, an MLS record. The last record to set would be to hit 70 Pts in a single season. The Galaxy have only one last match on the road at Dynamo...hopefully the 70 will be clinched there.

Omar Gonzalez gets Riot Squad player of the year and team defender of the year, and Donovan collects both team MVP and the Golden Boot.

 

Becks close to agreeing to LA deal
Two money quotes from Il Bruce, aka Galaxy GM and Coach Bruce Arena

QUOTE
“To me this is his first full year in the league,”

QUOTE
“If David wants to be back here he will be back here.”

 

I saw The G lost to the Dynamos today - what's the status of the league - the 70 points weren't made but a good season none the less?

 

Missed out on a league record number of points...

The only regular starter in the game vs Houston was AJ Delagarza. It was a tough game for the youngsters, but we were given the youngest Galaxy player ever to score last night, so that's something.

The coach Bruce Arena publicly stated three goals at the start of the season, much like every other coach at the beginning of every other season:
1) win the league and collect the Supporter's Shield
2) make it out of group stages in the CONCACAF Champions League
3) play in the MLS Cup Final

He made good on #1 & 2, and is gets to take a week off watching the wild card play in games on the way to #3.

All in all a very successful campaign by any definition.

I'd love to see this team in the Club World Championships and with an MLS Cup in the case at the Home Depot Center...

Donovan and Keane need to heal up fast though, because we can't win anything without them. Both have muscle strains that have kept them out of the lineup.

 

McBean can't be 16? The kid is a monster.

 

By the way, Vancouver lost away again and also at home for the second time in BC Place. Big changes are needed for next season at the 'caps, including a new staff set up and I am afraid Jay could well be on his way. Most important;y, they need to stop signing all these crap foreign players and sort out a regular starting XI.

 

I would prefer a shorter kid who can one time a ball. He has potential, I will give you that, but I'm not buying into the hype yet.

There just doesn't seem to be a plan there. Vancouver deserves better.

 

Vancouver pick it up a bit at the end of the season. At least they have one of if not the nicest stadium in MLS

 

The Cosmos are in trouble and they don't really even exist yet.
Very interesting point about the involvement of English blokes in the American soccer world. People should run and hide if they ever see Terry Byrne show up.

CLICK here for the linky-doo.

 

The Cosmos.. coming to a USL League near you

 

Dallas loses at home to NY in the first play-in match, so that means LA will meet the Red Bulls in a home & home starting Thursday next week.

The next play-in match will be Colorado vs Columbus, the winner to face KC.

 

How you feeling about play NY Fitz? I know they didn't put together during regular season, but they have the talent to just beat most teams

 

You hit the nail on the head...this is the game I didn't want the most.

No matter though. I would have liked to meet them in the MLS Cup here, but any way around we'd need to beat them so, why not now?

 

I'm worried for L.A. against NYRB. They have the players who can perform on the day and make some special happen. As wild cards go, they are pretty strong.

Fancy Houston to get past the Union. Nice afternoon of soccer lined up tomorrow.

 

LA getting it done so far! Great pass by Becks and a great finish by Magee. Looks like the snow did a right old number on the field!

 

Wow. Marquez confirms what we all knew - he's a ****. Great result for LA though. Very good win.

Houston currently leading 2-1 @ HT in Philly.

 

You said it, Luke. ****. Can't believe he got a Galaxy player red carded with him. I hope that gets reviewed and rescinded. I hate Luke Rodgers more than ever, but did you see Thierry Henry during the game? He's a little *****!

 

:dismay: I don't see us coming back in Houston

 

Great performance by Houston today. Brad Davies is just a monster from set pieces. With a bit more pace, he'd have been a really top player. Think you're right SOB, can't see Union getting the result they need in H-Town. I think we're coming into form at just the right time of the season and there is a good spirit about the team. Second half display was excellent, though we should have done better with the counter attacks late on.

Speaking of red cards, I don't know how Farfan didn't see red for his tackle on Cruz after about 3 minutes. Chest high tackle and managed to drive his knee into the head of Cruz. Horrible challenge.

 

Not sure what was up with Henry. He's always been one for a bit of a whine, but today he was acting pretty spiteful. As I said on FB though, I'd be pretty pissed off if I was Thierry Henry and my career had come down to partnering Luke Rodgers. I hate that guy with an absolute passion. Arrogant and typical whiny short man. ****.

 

Yea Farhan got away with one there. You were the better team out there today, and overall probably have more quality in your squad. It's going to take a massive
effort from us in Houston to advance. It would be a great time for Adu to play well again.

 

'The final pathetic image of Rafael Marquez in a Red Bulls uniform should be of the Mexican international holding his face and falling to the ground during a theatrical post-match dust up with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Marquez wasn’t touched mind you. He was simply reprising his role of both instigator and coward, an act United States soccer fans and players know all too well.' - Frank Isola, goal.com

 

Haha. Perfect summary. Hate the guy.

Any chance of the Juninho red being rescinded?

 

My guess is the G's front office has been working the deal all week, but frankly I would be surprised. I can see expansion of discipline though. Tainio for NY and Cristman for LA probably deserve something, too.

 

[video=youtube;pxeJM8l3q4g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxeJM8l3q4g[/video]

This may be the most entertaining fight. Juninho must have one hell of a hook, the force of it knocked Marquez right to the ground

 

Ridiculous, isn't it?

Bad blood...Thursday will be really interesting.

Sometimes, this playoff thing works out!

 

Tomorrow night should be fun.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15558051.stm

The cruel part of me hope he stays with LA just to see how Fitz reacts.