TX Bill
Player Valuation: £80m
My boys would like to rep your post.
MLS Thread.
- Thread starter MLS is not quite EPL
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My boys would like to rep your post.
Hellerad
j'accuse!
I'll be in Dallas for their home game v. Colorado. Hopefully Cunningham will net MLS goal 134 and extend the streak to 19 unbeaten. A 2 loss season is a hell of an improvement over last year, but even if they beat Colorado at home they finish the season with 2 away games, including a season finale IN L.A.
If FC Dallas can go into the playoffs on a 21 game unbeaten streak, they could make a run for the trophy.
If FC Dallas can go into the playoffs on a 21 game unbeaten streak, they could make a run for the trophy.
Phil Neville Superstar
Player Valuation: £35m
How's Henry doing anyone?
Wratho
Player Valuation: £8m
This is off the top of my head without looking up any stats based on the games I have seen.
He has scored a few goals for NY in a Cup ( cannot rememebr ) and has scored for them in League Games. He has done allright. He has missed a few sitters. He is currently injured , slight muscle pull. I expect them to wait till the playoffs to play him.
He is working out his relationship with his other teamamtes. His quality runs and through balls show, he is lacking a little finishing that we would expect to see.
Overall has brought some attention to the NY team on ESPN which in the states is a good thing. They even had him come to be interviewed there for a show.
Someone such as TX or Spike will get you the 100% accurate details and stats and overview. That is just my two cents from the 3-4 games I have watched him play in.
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TX Bill
Player Valuation: £80m
As much as I detest Dallas (being a Dynamo supporter), I've got to give them credit for what they've accomplished this year and some of the signings they've made (Alexander has been a real surprise.)
I think that they're the real threat out of the West, not LA, and I'd make them and NY the favorites to win the MLS Cup this year.
K
Kay20
Guest
As much as I support LA, I've got to agree with you. I also think RSL are in the running. If I had to rank the top teams right now:
1. NYRB (if no one is injured)
2. FC Dallas
3. RSL
4. LA (if they can get the team clicking in the next three games, will reassess)
Seattle being the darkhorse to ruin everything. Crew is fading. Rapids can't contend. Earthquakes depend on 1 man.
Agree on the Henry assessment. Though he hasn't scored enough, he's still working off injuries. If he (and Rafael) is match fit for the playoffs, NY will take it all. He hasn't set the league on fire (other DPs have fared better), but there's a sense of impending success hovering around the man.
Seattle Sounders (who average 36,000 each week, the highest next club is 20,000) won the US Open Cup the other day, retaining the trophy they won last year.
It looks like LA will win the supporters shield, but traditionaly highest placed club fails to win the playoffs.
This will be LA's first trophy since Beckham arrived! In the 3-4 years before they had won virtually everything!
I used to have a lot of respect for Galaxy but now when I see someone in the UK with a Beckham Galaxy shirt I just want to glass them...
It looks like LA will win the supporters shield, but traditionaly highest placed club fails to win the playoffs.
This will be LA's first trophy since Beckham arrived! In the 3-4 years before they had won virtually everything!
I used to have a lot of respect for Galaxy but now when I see someone in the UK with a Beckham Galaxy shirt I just want to glass them...
K
Kay20
Guest
LA didn't look commanding enough in Philly to make me reassess my order, so sticking with it for now. Though with RSL's tie...hmmm...they are starting to look beatable too. Right now it's looking like a NYRB vs FC Dallas showdown.
We'll see what happens with LA if they come back swinging with 1.5 weeks rest. It'll help their stars, yes, even David Beckham. I'd like to see them win after all the turmoil they've been through (and to say a sweet goodbye to LD - who is (hopefully) going to the TOFFEES!).
We'll see what happens with LA if they come back swinging with 1.5 weeks rest. It'll help their stars, yes, even David Beckham. I'd like to see them win after all the turmoil they've been through (and to say a sweet goodbye to LD - who is (hopefully) going to the TOFFEES!).
ToxtethBlue
Player Valuation: £50m
I watched the first half of the LA-Philly game.
Beckham and Donovan barely touched the ball, and nothing seemed to stick with Buddle, who's first touch was poor. Although to be fair to him, the service was pretty shocking for the most part, lots of long balls.
Beckham strolled around the park doing very little, he only occasionly popped up for an attempted Hollywood pass or the usual freekicks/corners. Does he always play like that in the MLS? He seemed to be in a world of his own, static and not very interested in taking the ball.
Beckham and Donovan barely touched the ball, and nothing seemed to stick with Buddle, who's first touch was poor. Although to be fair to him, the service was pretty shocking for the most part, lots of long balls.
Beckham strolled around the park doing very little, he only occasionly popped up for an attempted Hollywood pass or the usual freekicks/corners. Does he always play like that in the MLS? He seemed to be in a world of his own, static and not very interested in taking the ball.
K
Kay20
Guest
Good observation Toxteth Blue - yes, that is the Galaxy's problem right now with Becks back - he needs to focus on his passing game, and not the hoofball. They need to figure out who they are - passers through the middle (through Juninho and Becks) or flanks (when Donovan played midfield) or hoofball. The hoofball is what they are at the moment through David, which is not the way to go. Since he's been back he's played an alarming amount of hoofballs towards the front which is impossible since most MLS players can't do anything with the hoofball that's played to them - even the ones that are more talented.
He also has a tendency to go searching for the ball - leaving his defense a little bare. To his credit, the game when he played 90 minutes a couple of games ago he was the best player on the pitch - not wandering aimlessly but dispossessing a lot. Since then he's gone back to hoofballing it. He seems committed - but he's not playing to MLS' strengths. Or Donovan's - his best teammate - strengths (he has never been great with hoofball - much better dealing with the pass and bursting up towards goal).
He needs to stick to passing with Juninho in central defensive mid - when he does it looks fantastic, and supplies Donovan and Buddle up top. And if you don't do that, you've essentially cut off your two forwards - which is what happened during the Philly game (and previous ones). The second half was better than the first, even with no scoring because Buddle and Donovan got a bit more service - Donovan was 1 v 1 against the keeper in the second half and couldn't bury it (very clearly tired legs).
LA moved Donovan up top with the return of Becks - and right now he just doesn't see the ball enough. If they can keep it on the ground they will be very unbeatable, but if not - very beatable (hence my rankings). You can't move Landon back to right midfield because the opposing team's defense just sits on the one forward up top - swarming Buddle. He needs Landon with him to stretch the defense, but that means Becks has to work at midfield.
Very interesting quandry! And you picked up on it in 45 minutes of play.
Nice comments.
ToxtethBlue
Player Valuation: £50m
Good observation Toxteth Blue - yes, that is the Galaxy's problem right now with Becks back - he needs to focus on his passing game, and not the hoofball. They need to figure out who they are - passers through the middle (through Juninho and Becks) or flanks (when Donovan played midfield) or hoofball. The hoofball is what they are at the moment through David, which is not the way to go. Since he's been back he's played an alarming amount of hoofballs towards the front which is impossible since most MLS players can't do anything with the hoofball that's played to them - even the ones that are more talented.
He also has a tendency to go searching for the ball - leaving his defense a little bare. To his credit, the game when he played 90 minutes a couple of games ago he was the best player on the pitch - not wandering aimlessly but dispossessing a lot. Since then he's gone back to hoofballing it. He seems committed - but he's not playing to MLS' strengths. Or Donovan's - his best teammate - strengths (he has never been great with hoofball - much better dealing with the pass and bursting up towards goal).
He needs to stick to passing with Juninho in central defensive mid - when he does it looks fantastic, and supplies Donovan and Buddle up top. And if you don't do that, you've essentially cut off your two forwards - which is what happened during the Philly game (and previous ones). The second half was better than the first, even with no scoring because Buddle and Donovan got a bit more service - Donovan was 1 v 1 against the keeper in the second half and couldn't bury it (very clearly tired legs).
LA moved Donovan up top with the return of Becks - and right now he just doesn't see the ball enough. If they can keep it on the ground they will be very unbeatable, but if not - very beatable (hence my rankings). You can't move Landon back to right midfield because the opposing team's defense just sits on the one forward up top - swarming Buddle. He needs Landon with him to stretch the defense, but that means Becks has to work at midfield.
Very interesting quandry! And you picked up on it in 45 minutes of play.
I agree with that, I think he needs a more demanding position in the team by the looks of it. He seemed to be drifting between wide right and right centre midfield positions during the 45 minutes I saw, but rarely picked up the ball in positions where he could create, open the game up or simply get involved for a longer period of time.
The present day Beckham is at his best passing from the centre of the pitch, and with Landon's pace and movement, he'd always have a target to aim for, someone who could create space and give him options. You probably use a bit in the final third, but Donovan can and will contribute in this area.
As for Donovan he seemed to have a free role during the 45 minutes I saw, probably closer to a second striker than anything else. He didn't see enough of the ball because LA Galaxy couldn't control possession. I never thought his best position was wide right, I think it was a role that restricted his game. I thought his most underrated performance was against Manchester Utd - where he started wide left and drifted inside, aswell as joining in with the forwards.
K
Kay20
Guest
You are absolutely right on Becks needing to aim for Landon, but Becks rarely played the ball to Landon - preferring to hoofball it upfield to the much taller Edson, who of course, didn't have the control for it. David needs to realize he's not playing for AC Milan and KEEP IT ON THE GROUND. Marquez is seeing success in NY in a similar role - Becks could learn from him. Juninho is a pretty decent player for his age (I think he's 21? 22?) - he really holds the ball up well, and plays some very decent passes through midfield. It amazes me that Juninho, Becks and Landon haven't found their groove yet, but they have a couple of games to go, and if they get snapping - *good* stuff. They are definitely heading up, rather than down - which makes me feel good about their playoff chances. If Bruce ever rests LD that is.
And you're right about LD's position - left and drifting inside is exactly what LD plays for the USMNT usually - it's his best role by far. And he started his career as a striker, so that's why he plays second striker often... (and why he's a two for one special for Everton).
K
Kay20
Guest
Two straight red cards?!?!?! Were they fair? And for the same or different incidents?
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