So LA goes to the MLS Cup after a night of pretty even soccer.
If you had told me that Landon Donovan and David Beckham would be controlled as well as they were I would have said the Dynamo would find a way to win this game.
* The Dynamo threatened on numerous occasions whether Brian Ching, Dominic Oduro, Brad Davis or Stuart Holden all had decent chances to clear chances yet could not finish. Goals have been hard to come by in the playoffs.
*How important has Donovan Ricketts been for LA……how many points has his goalkeeping been responsible for throughout the year for LA.
* The Andrew Hainault goal certainly looked good to me, yes I saw a slight push from Ricardo Clark but Ching had Greg Berhalter beaten and then he and DeLaGarza collided. For me rather soft in this day and age of players grabbing and clutching on set pieces.
A decision that easily could not have been made and then you are staring at defending for eight minute and stoppage time.
*Omar Gonzalez got up above Bobby Boswell in pretty spectacular fashion to head down and the Dynamo could not clear leading to the Berhalter goal.
*Dynamo bench and changes could not replace the quality of Brian Mullan and Brad Davis and Dominic Oduro on this night…..Think of the injury challenges both and Ashe and Eddie Robinson have had .
*Lights going out was sad for a game of this importance…………..
A pretty even game in my mind and even a few more chances for the Dynamo at the end of the night.
What are your thoughts on the game, the game broadcast and the entire evening? Will Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden stay?
What happens in the expansion draft and who does the team build around in the future?
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MLS lost its innocence last night. The league may not be the best in the world, but at least, it used to be honest. It’s displays of corruption like the one we saw last night that erode the credibility of the league. After what happened last night, no sophisticated soccer fan will take this league seriously ever again. A Beckham Final: Whoop-dee-do!
Oh yea, the broadcast. Well, it was nice to see the LA Galaxy tv feed last night. Though their cheerleading was ridiculous as the night went on.
Only wonder who was doing the commentating for the Dynamo. Were Charlie and Glenn doing the match on 11.2 and I just missed it?
Marco is correct. The credibility of the league took quite a hit last night. Even if the game was on the level and no fix was in, it had the appearance of gross incompetence at best and far more sinister effects at worse (for the league’s hope, let’s hope the conspiracy theories aren’t true). Anyone listening to the broadcast must have felt like someone watching a WWE wrestling match. Just difficult to listen to and get through. The sad part is that these guys will do most of the english language heavy lifting at the World Cup next summer when Adrian Healey and Shapa Hislop would be so much better.
I’m already looking forward to Univision, Pablo Ramirez, and Jesus Brocamontes more and more next summer. At least they bring dignity to their matches most of the time.
Glenn, am so glad you mentioned that goal that should have been but wasn’t. Think, 80th minute, knock the wind out their sails. Could Beckham have been a bigger baby and compained any more? What was the deal after the game? Is he a poor winner too? And, I know you may not agree, but we never heard of Donovan until he started flopping. Hard to tell when he’s playing on the national team because of camera shots, but he’s just another flopper. Honestly, it was a very even game, if you watched and did not listen to the commentary. Truly thought Houston would take it in overtime with better stamina or in pk’s. Any other thoughts? Disappointed in the league, is it all about protecting their prima donnas? Oduro had it right, think of LA and it’s 2 players, think of the Dynamo and it’s a team. Truly disappointed, the better team did not win. How can we get you call these games? Julie was the only one with credibility. Lalas needs to lose yet another job. Hope we do not lose Stewart or Rico. Surprised because I love Wade, but we were lacking Chewy! (And ditto Marco)
Marco, Noreen, do you watch games from other leagues?
No sophisticated soccer fan will take this league seriously ever again?
Lets forget the fact that the term “sophisticated soccer fan” doesn´t even exist; if you believe that no one will take MLS seriously ever again, then my friend, no one will take the EPL, La Liga, FMF, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, etc, etc, etc, seriously ever again.
I have seen worst calls in more than 20 leagues around the world in very important games.
Really, when did we become a bunch of cry babies?, Last night sucked big time, but I can´t remember another really bad call against us.
And the blackouts were a regional thing, let me remind many that something even worst happened to us against Pachuca, forget about 2 interruptions, we couldn´t even play that day, we had to play next day.
Woo hoo hoo, the league hates us, they want LA to win, only the teams they like win the cup, funny, in 4 years of existence, we have won 2 cups, were those 2 rigged?, Or when we win everything is kosher?
(Jerrambide)Rarely, only when nothing else is on. Not sure what you are trying to say. We should have been up by one goal in the 80th. I hate floppers. Those who take dives. Think Kamara was leaning that way and Oduro should be careful. Ching gets beat up every game but never takes a dive, and never gets a call.
Just one really, really bad call last night and that was the goal denied.
Noreen, let me quote Marco:
“The league may not be the best in the world, but at least, it used to be honest. It’s displays of corruption like the one we saw last night that erode the credibility of the league…………no sophisticated soccer fan will take this league seriously ever again………”
Let me quote you:
“And ditto Marco”
Marco said the MLS used to be honets, used to, talks about corruption, says the crediblity is gone, then says that no sophisticated fan will take MLS seriously ever again.
You said ditto, meaning that you agree with him.
I´m asking if you and him usually watch games from other leagues, that was a rhetoric question, I knew you 2 can´t be regular viewers of other leagues.
I´m asking that, because worst, a lot worst calls have been called in the most important leagues around the world.
refs make mistakes, lots of them.
If one bad call, which indeed was a very bad call, makes MLS noncredible in the eyes of “sophisticated fans”, then those “sophisticated fans” can´t watch any of the other leagues in the world, I have seen way worst calls in more than 2o leagues, most of them recognize leagues.
Okay, don’t really watch other leagues, will watch World Cup. Not in total agreement with Marco.
The goal Houston was denied changed the end result of the game. Period.
Disappointed in MLS, designated players (?) seem to be babies. While all have talent and skill, they are allowed to act like babies. Ljungberg, Blanco, Beckham…let’s see how many dives Blanco takes tonight and how much complaining he does. Takes away from the game, diminishes any talent.
Well, in Marco and Noreen’s defense, it may have been 1 bad call but, a) it was a call that pretty much ended a team’s season and b) it was a call that comes suspicious sense one of the studio’s presenters (Lalas) mentioned in an article that MLS and just about everyone outside of Houston wants the Galaxy in the final. So even though I’m not buying the conspiracy theories, it still looks really bad.
Now, MLS credibility in general. Jarrambide is exactly right about other leagues (it seems that Juventus gets bailed out of Serie A matches every week). Man United has been the beneficiary of lots of stoppage time in matches where they need a goal. So theres lots of curious officiating around the world. The difference between them and MLS is that MLS is still trying to establish credibility and respect amongst fans in other parts of the world. Most of us have respect and love for the leagues mentioned above.
But, other fans in other parts of the world don’t have that respect for the league here. How do we get that respect? By providing the best/most well run league we can. Last night, it looked like that did not happen.
Though, tonight, I have only seen a few minutes of it but Real Salt Lake/Chicago Fire seems to be very entertaining.
5th minute – first dive Blanco.
If such an incredible player, then why does he ‘go down’ so easily?
Anyone who thinks MLS or Garber wanted the stoppages due to power outage is idiotoic. Was the worst possible scenario for attracting a large viewer rating. By time second outage, the casual sports fan was long gone.Only true soccer fan stayed with it.
Agree Hainault goal was good. If ref’s called foul on all nudging, and players jockeying for position in the box, then there would never be a goal from free or corner kick.
Yes, as I said last week MLS wants Beckham in final. Was match fixed as so many there in Houston want to believe? NO
Houston had some open looks and could’nt connect. Holden had couple of shanks, and Landin has to be considered a DP disaster.
Power outages a nightmare. League needs to rethink start time of these games. Began watching pregame at 10 (Houston time), game ended at 1:30. Geez. Not saying any conspiracy, agree with nudging-no set pieces would result in goals. Question ‘handling’ of DPs, looking for the ‘real’ men?
What is even more idiotic, William, is to think that Garber, MLS, and AEG wouldn’t bend or break every rule possible to get Beckham and the Galaxy into the final.
You read minds now Marco?, If we don´t believe you can read minds, then we that is idiotic?
If AEG wants LA to get there, why was the Dynamo, which belongs to them, playing that well?
Why did it took them so many years then to put Becks in the championship game?
If they would bend every rule, why didn´t they?
Post right here all of the other questionable calls against us, show how this was a conspiracy, one bad call, one that has gone on our favor before, does not prove anything, so please, show us all the other calls.
You have not answer my original question about watching other leagues.
I agree with the conspiracy theory. Maybe not full scale let’s bury the dynamo plan, but definitely mls wanted to stop us. It’s a plus making Beckham win. Think of the schedule, having us play so many games in the last few weeks, blackouts, bad referees, red cards etc. I just cannot imagine how tired onstand davis mullan were playing at 2am ct. U cannot deny this was advantage to la.
What cures a broken heart ?
Now, now. AEG only owns half of the Dynamo.
Let’s get back to some real issues. The ONE bad, really bad call affected the game result. Period.
A bad call is a bad call especially when it affects the outcome of the game.
No conspiracy. LA won, but they were not the best team on the pitch. It’s soccer.
if it serves us as consolation, this game was shown on national tv, and everyone who watched around the country knows who REALLY won the game on the field. where it counts, the galaxy won the game in the business department, where the profit comes from, with that said, we had tons of chances to score and didn’t capitalize, it’s just how soccer is, it is vital for us to keep our core of players for next season, if Clark goes overseas, i’ll be happy for him, and i think we could move up Cameron up to holding mid, and we’ll just need to fill his spot in the back, which is easier said than done, as for Holden, i think he stays.
Hope Holden stays. Going back to last night, think we missed Chabala. Seemed no one trusted passing back to Barrett and it was a LONG time til he got any touches. Don’t want to see Clark go either.
Because the Galaxy’s success is infinitely more profitable for them than the Dynamo’s. The sleight of hand was plain for all to see. I don’t have to enumerate it. The power outages coincided with some of the Dynamo’s best sequences. The Hainault goal needs no explanation. That’s the most cynical, shameless, blatantly biased decision I’ve seen in any league. And all for the benefit of an overpaid opportunist who could care less about Major League Soccer.
That’s the most cynical, shameless, blatantly biased decision you have seen in any league?, Dude, just say you don´t watch other leagues, I have seen waaaaaay worst stuff in the EPL, La Liga, Bndesliga, Liegue 1.
You don´t have to enumerate or you can´t enumerate?, Prove me wrong, come on, enumerate them, you can´t, because there aren´t any.
When the first power outage happened, indeed we were playing a lot better, when the second power outage happened, LA was playing better dude, watch the game again if you have it on your DVR.
You are either blinded by your love of your team, or you are not the sharpest tool in the shed, either way, I don´t care, no need to keep discussing to people than live millions of miles from reality.
Well, you’re entitled to your opinion. No hard feelings.
No conspiracies, The Dynamo had plenty of looks, just couldn’t finish. Did MLS brass want LA in the finals? Of course. Does MLB want a Tampa in the World Series? Of course not. Just because marketing honchos want something, doesn’t mean that they “fix” it so it happens.
Yes the call was a bad one, but so many chances went unfinished. O wait. Maybe Garber paid Holden to shank that shot, and paid Ching to rattle the post. Maybe the world will end in 2012. MLS got it’s marquee match-up with LA vs Chica….wait….what?
I agree that the announcers last night and the presentation as a whole sucked. Perhaps I can improve my Spanish enough by next summer to have other viewing options!
Conspiracy[s] ? I think not. Thes folks in charge [MLS, AEG, etc.] can’t even get it together sufficiently to move a team from SJ to Houston and get them a soccer-specific stadium inside a 4-5 year period – I can’t imagine they’d have the wherewithal or machine in place to ‘fix’ a game of this caliber [and all that it would entail].
Re: Stu. It’s been good knowing ya, but you had 30+ games to step up and show us how a consistent, attacking midfielder should play, and last night I saw you hanging out with your back line way…too…much. And Rico, Italy’s calling….
I truely am heart broken at the result of this game. Here it is, Sunday morning and the game from Friday night is still lingering around in my head. I was sleeples wednesday and thursday in antcipation of that game. Sure, the better playing team doesn’t always win but I hate it when the better team on the pitch does everything right and a bad call by the ref totally destroys the beautiful game. At least Manny Pacquiao beat Cotto tonight. Guess all the match fixers are out partying from the money they won on the Galaxy to be concerned with boxing.
I would like to see home-away legs for all playoff games including mls cup.
Mls doesn\’t like the dynamo over la. They will never force la to play that late, 2am? R u serious? Also, they wanted us out by scheduling Seattle that Thursday after concacaf. Those things will never happen to la
Just like they don´t happen to Manchester United, they never happen to Real Madrid, they never happen to Boca Juniors.
We are not Manchester United, Real Madrid, Boca or the Galaxy, welcome to soccer, that is how it works all around the world, we are the Dynamo, we don´t get, we don´t want, we don´t need preferential treatment.
Well said Jarrambide(25). Lets leave the wining to Beckham and Ljunberg, you know the cranky old men in MLS.