View from the Booth: LA eyes top spot
Galaxy face tough test in quest for first place in Western Conference
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Facing the San Jose Earthquakes you would think is the perfect set up for Bruce Arena's group to accomplish the task.
Think again.
This is the third time that LA will face their Northern California rivals this year, and LA is winless against them so far. It will be the first meeting at the HDC, with the first two matches played up in Oakland. Former Galaxy coach, Frank Yallop's team are already eliminated from the playoff hunt, but there is no question Yallop will relish the chance to play spoiler. Although San Jose has won just once away from home in league play, consider the fact that San Jose has been playing well in the last month, losing just once in their last seven league affairs. Since the Quakes returned to MLS last year, the series has been an even split between LA and San Jose, both sides have a 2-2-1 record.
Aside from Landon Donovan facing his former team and coach, there is a ton of cross over between the Quakes and Galaxy. San Jose feature Joe Cannon, Brandon MacDonald and Simon Elliott. While for the Galaxy, Todd Dunivant, Jovan Kirovski and Eddie Lewis have all worn the colors of the Quakes. For me, all of this familiarity makes the match up that much more entertaining and will make it that much more difficult for LA to earn the result they are looking for. In a sense, that is a good thing, because the Galaxy will have to grind that much more on Saturday to get the win. The playoff feeling that was in the air at Robertson stadium last Sunday should flow over in to the HDC this weekend.
Speaking of flow, I thought it was better in the second half last week against Houston, but the collective "flow" of the team has to be better this week. Translation: all eleven players being on the same page from the opening whistle, at both ends of the field. The Dynamo were dictating the pace of the game in the opening 45 minutes, and it wasn't until the second 45 that LA seemed to get a hold on the middle part of the field. The lack of cohesion in the middle of the field, led to more chances for Houston around LA's net (in particular on corners) and very few looks for the Galaxy at the offensive end. If the play is stronger in the midfield, and in particular at the wide positions, that should create some better looks in front of the goal for a player like Edson Buddle. Think about it, how often did you get to see Buddle attacking the ball going toward goal in the box in the last game? The majority of the time Edson saw service, it was coming into his body, with his back to goal and a defender on his back. Buddle is very skilled as a target, but he becomes that much more dangerous when he can run to the near post and mix it up with defenders challenging for a 50-50 ball in the air. In addition when defenders are worrying about the runs a player like Buddle or Alan Gordon are making in the are, that leaves gaps for Landon Donovan or David Beckham to follow up on. You can count on the two of them being "clinical" if given the time and space to finish a chance around the area.
Defensively the Galaxy are continuing to make it difficult for teams to score. Gregg Berhalter and Omar Gonzalez appear to have found the right mix of youth and experience to eliminate some of the mishaps that led to goals earlier in the year. Along with that duo, all three of the outside backs have performed well as of late, giving Arena a difficult choice of who to go with and who to sit between Dunivant, DeLaGarza and Franklin. Whichever two players Bruce Arena decides to start in the game on Saturday, you know the third is a great option to come off the bench and bring some fresh energy to the defense at any point of the game, depending upon how things are playing out.
And then there is the team's MVP in my opinion, Donovan Ricketts. What a difference a year makes in one position, well actually it has been three years. Kevin Hartman left following the 2006 season after helping to lead LA to a pair of MLS Cup titles and setting all of the club's goalkeeping records during his 10-years in goal for the club. Since that time there have been five goalkeepers that have started for LA, with Ricketts being the fifth in that timeline. I have said it many times on our broadcasts, Ricketts ability to make the "BIG" save to keep the team in the game, specifically early in the match, has been incredible and immeasurable. Need proof, watch the tape of last week's first half! Lets hear from you fans on Saturday, "MVP, MVP, MVP"
Bruce Arena said it was the goal of this team to make the playoff, and that has happened. Now finishing atop the Western Conference is a very real possibility with a win this Saturday. LA appears to be hitting their stride at the right time, and as I mentioned on this very page a few weeks back, could play their best soccer of the year over the next month. To accomplish that task, this team will have to do what it has done well all year long, earn results on the road. In addition though it will need the Galaxy must get a better grip on the one thing that has been up and down for them all year long, playing consistent, quality soccer at home. The game to close out the regular season against San Jose is the perfect stage to do exactly that.
