Media anticipates Galaxy match
By Jay Hipps · March 31, 2008
As might be expected, the media is full of speculation following the Galaxy’s 4-0 loss to Colorado on Saturday night. Some are putting the poor performance down to the difficulty of playing at altitude, or the fact that both David Beckham and Landon Donovan played mid-week games in Europe. Almost all the pundits are ready to hit the panic button, though.
Take Yahoo’s Martin Rogers, for example. He writes:
Now, in the lead-up to Thursday night’s first home game against expansion outfit San Jose Earthquakes, (Galaxy coach Ruud) Gullit must go back to the drawing board – literally.
Does he stick with his preferred complex system which involves a three-man front line with another attacker in the hole behind the central striker? Or does he scrub that plan after only one game and revert to something more basic like a standard 4-4-2 format?
Great to see that the media has such faith in the strategies selected by the man who is supposed to bring sexy soccer to MLS.
As you might expect, the British press is also chuckling over the one-sided defeat of Team Beckham. The fact that they were outdone by another former ManUnited winger, Terry Cooke, only adds to their joy:
David Beckham was the former Manchester United player expected to dominate the headlines when LA Galaxy opened their Major League Soccer season at Colorado Rapids. But Terry Cooke, a less well known product of Old Trafford’s youth system, stole the limelight as Beckham’s campaign got off to miserable start.
Cooke, who shared digs with Beckham and made his United debut alongside him in 1995, scored the first goal and had a role in two others in the Rapids’ 4-0 win. He played only eight times for United before leaving in 1999, his hopes of making the grade there not helped by a knee injury.
What may be more surprising, though, is that Beckham’s star status may be starting to fade in Los Angeles. Martin Samuel of The Times of London notes that Galaxy ticket sales are lagging, too:
The Los Angeles Galaxy lost their opening match of the season 4-0 on the same day it was reported that season-ticket sales are down 15 per cent (the biggest fall in Major League Soccer). On Friday it was possible to buy ten together for the first home match, against the San Jose Earthquakes. The move could flatline if the Galaxy’s poor start continues and, professionally, playing for his country is the one bright spot on Beckham’s horizon. To those who still believe English football needs him, it could equally be said not as half as much as he needs us.
So, is the cause of this problem that the denizens of Los Angeles have suddenly lost interest in star quality and fame? Or is it more likely that fans want less circus and more soccer?
| Date | Opponent | Time | Location |
| Friday, April 4 | at Los Angeles Galaxy | 10:00 a.m. | Home Depot Center |
| Sunday, April 20 | at Colorado Rapids | 10:00 a.m. | Dick’s Sporting Goods Park |
| Sunday, May 4 | FC Dallas | 10:00 a.m. | Santa Clara University |
| Friday, May 23 | Houston Dynamo | 10:00 a.m. | Santa Clara University |
| Sunday, June 1 | at Real Salt Lake | 10:00 a.m. | Quinn’s Junction |
| Sunday, July 6 | at Chivas USA | 10:00 a.m. | Home Depot Center |
| Saturday, July 12 | Colorado Rapids | 3:30 p.m. | Santa Clara University |
| Sunday, Aug. 3 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 2:30 p.m. | McAfee Coliseum, Oakland |
| Sunday, Sept. 21 | at Houston Dynamo | 10:00 a.m. | Carl Lewis Field |
| Sunday, Sept. 28 | Real Salt Lake | 10:00 a.m. | Santa Clara University |
| Friday, Oct. 3 | at FC Dallas | 10:00 a.m. | Pizza Hut Park |
| Sunday, Oct. 12 | Chivas USA | 10:00 a.m. | Santa Clara University |
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[…] news, there isn’t too much going on today. Jay Hipps over at Center Line Soccer has a little media round-up reactions to Saturday’s Gals game and Champions Soccer Radio is looking for fans to cover the Quakes. I […]
Jay,
The reserve games are free to watch, right?
I am reading that LA has no defense. Not a difficult assumption to make when losing 4-0 in an opening match. Thursday will be interesting. Beckham could be in for a very long season if they keep losing.
There’s been free admission to the reserve games in the past. I don’t know for sure whether that’s true this year as well but would guess that it is. I’ll look into it and post an answer here.
Ruud is trying play a 4-3-3 Dutch style that requires very quick wingers and mids who can deliver the crosses over long distances. And, the tactic requires that numbers attack the goal once the wingers penetrate and cross the ball. This of course assumes good defenders who can stifle a counter attack. Their best chance is a 4-4-2 possession style game where the defenders get support from the midfield. This is the approach that the Earthquakes have been playing. It is difficult ot score on tries to take advantage of the opponents miscues. Ruud came here with a pre determined style without regard to the material had has to work with. Tailors design the suit based on the body before them. Remember, you cannot make orange juice with lemons.
I should add that most MLS teams use the 4-4-2 possession approach. It may be a long season for the Gals if they insist on the Dutch approach.
Pedro, I agree — the 4-4-2 is going to be the most familiar formation for the young Americans in that squad, and adjusting to the 4-3-3 is going to take some time — possibly time that Gullit and the Galaxy don’t have. It will be interesting to see how they come out on Thursday.
[…] Jay Hipps wrote an interesting post today on Media anticipates Galaxy matchHere’s a quick excerptDavid Beckham was the former Manchester United player expected to dominate the headlines when LA Galaxy opened their Major League Soccer season at Colorado Rapids. But Terry Cooke, a less well known product of Old Trafford’s youth … […]