GAME THREAD: LA GALAXY v. NY RED BULLS, Analysis and More

By: Dave Martinez | October 18th, 2007

Since the last time went so damn well . . . . BRING IT!

WELCOME TO THE PREGAME FOR THE LIVE GAME THREAD!

What am I doing? Flipping channels, checking my DVR, just getting in from a long nights work.

And somehow? I am managing the energy to write up our season finale!

So enjoy!

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10:47 – I hate that damn Jennifer Lopez song/commercial, promoting online music. It stinks and I dont like it (thanks Jim Norton)

10:55 – SpikeTV – Samoa Joe v. Christian Cage. Not a huge TNA fan, but this is a great match.

10:58 – Senator Craig may have been in the chokehold that Samoa Joe just applied. Gayest thing Ive ever seen in wrestling.

11:01 – “There are no concrete plans to play or not to play Beckham” – ESPN

11:05 – I am going to miss Cobi if he isnt back next year.

11:14 – OUR LINEUP

============ANGEL======WOLY==============
ALTIDORE=====STAMMLER===VIDE========RICHARDS
DVB=======MENDES======PARKE=========FREEMAN
===============J. CONWAY==================

Stammler sends in a couple of beauties up front. Angel is always a danger, and always seems to be on the open receiving end. Thank god he is on our side . . . .

6:22 – 3rd corner attempt was flukey. Nice try though

8:37 – Second time this game, Dane Richards is schooling Randolph. If you want a model of progress, look no further than our tiny Jam Man.

11 – AGAIN! Dane Richards is SCHOOLING em. And he needed to make a nice foul on Jazic. just to prove a point – he’s small but fiesty

13 – I am liking the give and take between Richards and Freeman. Freeman sends in a nice attempt on a cross, Richards layed it off to the right corner for him. Great double threat.

14th – ROBERTS SCORES! In what has been a DOMINATING performance by RBNY, the DEFENDER moves up for a great header, beating Parke
15 – ALTIDORE SCORES!!! WHAT A FEED AND PUT IN ON THE HEADER! UNBELIEVABLE!!! Vandie gets a beautiful assist!
16 – Donovan miffs a Cobi pass. Wow. This game is awesome again. Even without dVb (Beckham of course)

22 – VAN DEN BERGH SENDS A BALL CENTRAL, INTO THE BOX, AND NEARLY COSTS US A GOAL! This is why he is in there . . . take care of those defensive kinks before the playoffs.

27 – ANGEL! Great shot, third of the game, right into the hands of Cannon. He is always in the right spot, even when the ball is bouncing about.

30 – Wynalda doesnt play around with Rob Stone, refusing to indulge on Angels “Most Sexiest Latin Man in America” status. Nice dead air.

34 – Good shot on goal, but Conway bats it away. Galaxy putting on pressure. Though the game is in an obvious lull, its had some great moments.

37 – Conway beats Donovan to the challenge at the top of the mouth. But honestly, he isnt exuding confidence out there.

40 – Angel settles a cross,beats Randolph, beats Jazic, and shoots slightly high. What can I say. Man amongst boys.

42 – Kyle Martino. What do you people see in this guy? Im all for Americans doing well, but so much hype around this kid and I dont get it . . . . maybe you guys can explain.

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HALFTIME

Well, first of all, I cant believe we have so many starters out there. But we are handling this game like we should be. This game clearly shows the strength of the Red Bulls. And Altidore has just such a beautiful touch. He is playing masterfully.

Angel always finds the open space. And Woly is running everything down.

OH AND DANE RICHARDS! OOF! He is on FIRE.

Excellent first half, great effort.

Hey, we have even stabilized the back, running Donovan into what . . . 4 . . .5 offsides?

Great game so far. Excellent team effort. We are attacking from both ends, and finding the open man in the middle constantly. This is the exciting soccer you want from a Playoff bound team!

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CHANGES AT THE HALF – LEITCH in for DVB. Vandie is sitting on the sidelines with an icepack to the calf.

46 – Martino takes a shot on goal, Conway with the stop.

48 – RICHARDS FEEDS ANGEL, ANGEL GETS ROBBED BY CANNON! We need this type of connection throughout the postseason. The on field coaching has worked, and Angel has modeled himself a winger.

53 – Beckham is stretching. Girls are squeeling. Wonderful.

53 – RICHARDS TAKES A BLAST! Where has THAT shot been all season?! He gets stuffed, but Cannon is unreal. What a shot!

54 – Kyle Martino gets a yellow. Again. This guy stinks.

56 – Martino gets pulled, Gavin Glinton comes in. Martino Stinks. And Glinton is really dangerous. The defense has to be on its toes. Especially if an 85% Becks comes in.

60 – ANGEL ON THE SET PIECE. BARELY MISSES THE NET! WOW! HOLY COW! I hate to sound like Rob Stone, but Angel has missed at least 22 goals tonite alone.

62 – Dane Richards with a yellow. Its ok. Even with Donovan on the set piece . . . . which Conway just gobbled up.

64 – Donovan, world class steal, runs up the field, tears through everyone, and feeds Pavon . . . but Carlito cant catch up. Story of his signing.

Buddle is in for Pavon, who has been horrendous.

64 – RICHARDS GETS ROBBED! CANNON GRABS HIS LEG IN THE BOX AND THE REF DOESNT CALL THE PK! Richards has been breaking them all night.

65 – CONWAY WITH A GREAT “GLOVE SAVE” ON VAGENAS 4 FEET IN FRONT! He looks much more composed.

67 – Hold on to your hats folks – Beckham is back. In for Pete Vagenas. This should be interesting.

69 – Sinisa is in for Wolyniec.

75 – CHRIS LEITCH! Why would you knock a ball out for no reason?! And cost us a corner with Beckham . . .

76 – Beckham to Tudela, and one hell of a shot! Conway gives it a push out of bounds! A 2nd corner, to the middle, and nothing. A third, the same.

78 – Wow, Beckham with a second weak corner, short to no one. The Galaxy are pushing from all angles, even still.

80 – Another beautiful touch by Altidore, he secures the ball and takes a blind shot that nearly dinks in from 15 yards out

88 – Its been all LA, but we are facing their attack down. Now we are returning the favor. Things are looking bleak in Hollywood.

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AND IT ENDS WITH A DUD

We look ready for the playoffs, and controlled the pitch the way a Championship team should against a weaker opponent.

Nevertheless. I do feel badly for the Galaxy. I know thats blasphemy to some, but come on. You have to also root for MLS right?

So we tie in convincing fashion, and shut LA down so hard, they couldnt establish anything even resembling an attack.

I expected more when Becks came in. But alas. Nothing.

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PLAYER OF THE GAME: DANE RICHARDS. I know Jozy scored, but Dane was a master, right up there with Jozy and Angel tonite.
PLAY OF THE GAME: I would say Conways glove save on Vagenas. That was their best chance of the second half.
GAME GOAT: Carlos Pavon. How can someone not get acclimated to MLS after two months? He is a shadow of what everyone remembers. Sad. But true.

My advise to the Galaxy moving forward? Sit Pavon, start Glinton and Donovan up top. Or Glinton / Buddle for size, and Donovan behind em.

What did you guys think? Besides the GALLINA who wants Angel back . . . I kid of course . . . .