Same Old Galaxy...

I want you to hold up one finger, it doesn't matter which one, it could be your thumb or index finger or heck even your middle would work in this situation. Now take a good hard look at that one finger and realize that is how many redeeming things you can take away from the Galaxy loss to Colorado on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center. Rookie center back Omar Gonzalez scored his first MLS goal that levelled the score at one going in to the break. Once again the Galaxy started slow, really, really slow as renowned Galaxy killer Connor Casey score a tap in off a soft cross that should have been played by keeper Josh Saunders just 17 seconds (yes 17 seconds) in to the game. It was a play that made Galaxy fans long for the days of Steve Cronin in goal and Chris Klein at right back. That should have been taken as an omen by the 17,000 or so in attendance( man is it dropping faster that the Dow).

What started as the worst opening to a match in LA Galaxy history ended up being the absolute worst defensive and goal keeping performances the squad has put together under Bruce Arena. Tony Sanneh made one mistake after another all night, and he is supposed to be the leader of the defense, Sean Franklin gave away the ball on what led to the game winning goal and Eddie Lewis didn't even go the full 90. The saddest part of all is that the Colorado Rapids tend to be a defensive minded team that will not allow many shots and hope to win one or two to nil off counter attacks. The defensive stout Rapids only allowed two shots on goal, and lucky for the Galaxy Preston Burpo sucked enough that both scored. Although to be fair he had no chance on the Gonzalez goal. The second Galaxy goal came off a beautiful 25 yard run up the right side by Franklin, and as he cut towards the middle he found Landon Donovan who then laid it gift wrapped to Alan Gordon (that is the only way he would ever be able to finish). That goal gave the team and fans a sense of hope, for two freakin minutes. TWO minutes, I mean can I get just a little defense. I am not asking them to be Italy in the World Cup or anything, but come on how about at least marking your man Tony Sanneh so he doesn't get a break away. I don't think that is too much to ask, and if you can't do it that it is time to be retired, again! Both the tying and winning goals for the Rapids were scored when Connor Casey made suspected offsides runs in one on one with the hapless and saveless Saunders (again not a typo, the half wit keeper made ZERO freakin saves tonight). A few other mistakes in coming off his line in timid fashion led to a couple of Rapids firing shots wide of goal. Because obviously if the were on goal they would have scored and the score would not have been so close.

Now for the ghosts of Lalas past. Ugo Ihemelu played his 100th MLS game Saturday in the place were it all began for him, as he played his first 54 games as the heart of the Galaxy defensive center. Ty Harden played a little tonight, but back in 2007 he was the Galaxy defender of the year. And last year when the Galaxy was sitting atop the allocation list and Corey Gibbs name became available they passed on him. Give Alexi Lalas and the poor referee Michael Kennedy (he gave Dema Kovalenko a strait red card on a one footed hard challenge that maybe warranted a yellow) an assist on the Rapids win Saturday. Minor props to Landon Donovan for getting his 70th and 71st career assists. The two side play again in Open Cup play on Tuesday, but don't expect either side to field there A teams.

The Nats and Colorado

The USMNT lost an opportunity to put a strangle hold on the hexagonal round of world cup qualifying. In what most pundits have referred to as a sub-par outing, the Nats were forced to claw their way to a tie with undoubtedly the worst team remaining in the CONCACAF region. With no Tim Howard in goal or Oguchi Onyewa in the central defense the team allowed two goals before finally realizing they were in a World Cup qualifier. Two goals in the final 13 minutes saved what could have been and still may be the biggest embarrassment of the Bob Bradley era as National team manager. The team looked completely unprepared as the Salvadorian wingers exploited the clearly out of form U.S. midfield. Bradley’s choice to start Brian Ching, Demarcus Beasly and Sacha Kjlestian smells of old club and country team loyalties as opposed to proper coaching decisions. It was not until the insertion of J.F. Torres and Jozy Altidore that the offense took off and scored twice as the match came to a close. It makes one wonder what would happen if Bradley would field a team based on who was playing well at the time of the match.

Maybe it is time to look at how National teams are selected in other sports. With the exception of soccer most teams are run with the same model as a professional franchise, meaning there is a coach who coaches (novel concept) and a management team that decides who will be on the team. This has worked well for other sports in international competitions such as ice hockey and the Olympics. Seven years ago Wayne Gretzky was charged with putting together a team that was coached by Pat Quin that led Canada back to the top of the ice hockey world. It has also worked for Basketball as we have recently seen similar results with team USA following the model to win the gold in Beijing. Perhaps if we made coaches coach and left player selection up to a national team GM we could eliminate or at the very least cut down on foolish loyalties that weaken the team. And perhaps that would not only bring out the best in the player knowing that they must impress more than one man to remain on the team, but also bring out the best in the head coach knowing that he must produce because he has the best his nation has to offer.

On Saturday the Galaxy host Colorado in the first of three meetings between the two sides in April, and the first of two matches in four days as they also play in Open Cup competition on Tuesday the 7th. The Rapids are led out of the back with a strong combo at central defense of Corey Gibbs and former Galaxy stud who was traded by the idiot Lalas, Ugo Ihemelu. The midfield is solid with former National team player Pablo Mastroeni and free kick specialist Terry Cooke. Omar Cummings leads the strike force with two goals, one in each match this season. The Galaxy are still without left back Todd Dunivant, and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is questionable as are Eddie Lewis and Edson Buddle. Basically the entire left side of the field for the Galaxy will once again be a huge question mark. And once again as goes Landon Donovan so will go the fate of the Galaxy, should he be able to out pace the defense and put a few quality shots on Matt Pickens the home side will celebrate it’s first victory of the new campaign. But remember he will be coming off two tough World Cup qualifiers. My take is that I just hope Gordon doesn’t suck!!!!!