(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for New York Red Bulls)
With a perfect 6-0 prediction record last week, I have invited this column’s first guest prognosticator, Joe G, to entreat some friendly MLS punditry and competition. More on this at the bottom of the article.
This week, the West hits the road while the East fortifies the castle. But we don’t care about that right now.
David Beckham is back! And Landon Donovan is mad at him!
Say what you want about this. I did. But, despite who you support in the saga, one question has yet to be answered:
Since when did the Galaxy become a playoff contender without these guys?
For the Game of Week 18, the Los Angeles Galaxy (24 pts/17 GP) square off against the New York Red Bulls (10 pts/19 GP) at Giants Stadium. A mostly predictable fixture, the Galaxy gets the nod this week because they will be the team to watch for the remainder of the season.
Not just because of David Beckham’s return. Not just because of the “Landy-Becks” saga.
But because the Galaxy figured out how to win without their squabbling stars.
Just outside the playoff picture on goal differential, Los Angeles has posted three impressive shutout wins against Houston (before the Gold Cup took their starting roster), New England, and Chivas USA. The Galaxy also posted only three losses for the season, tied for the best in MLS. To what do they owe this sudden improvement in form?
Surprisingly enough, defense. This is a team that nixed their indomitable attack force of Becks, Landon, and Edson Buddle by letting in an astronomical league-worst 62 goals in last season, eleven more than the second-worst (D.C. United’s 51 GA).
But after the first 17 games of the 2009 season, the Galaxy have only shipped away 18 goals, tied for fourth in MLS. Couple this defensive improvement with one of the most dangerous attacking duos in MLS history (Beckham and Donovan), and the Galaxy may make their first playoffs since 2005.
That said, rookie centerback Omar Gonzalez and Gregg Berhalter should have their hands full with the Red Bulls’ always-dangerous Juan Pablo Angel, but unfortunately the ex-Villa striker has been the only bright star in this abysmal squad. Ten points, fewest in the league, out of 19 fixtures pretty much speaks for itself.
Should Angel get some service from ex-Zaragoza man Alberto Celades and great-winger-from-last-year Dane Richards, they may threaten the Galaxy’s goal. But, as Juan Carlos Osorio just can’t seem to put anything inspiring together on attack or defense, the Red Bulls are most likely going through the motions and getting ready for next year.
Result: Galaxy 2-0 Red Bulls (Joe says Galaxy, 3-1). The Red Bulls will sell out Giants Stadium, but everyone will be there to cheer on David Beckham, kicking the home team while they’re down. Becks scores, Landon scores, and the press has a field-day recapping the “drama.”
As for the rest of this week’s games:
1 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete