Wow, it's been along time since I've posted here on the website. I still see some of the old names around, and hopefully I'll be able to spend time in other areas of the forum as well. My hope is that since I'm now a season seat ticket holder for the Galaxy I can report on a weekly basis (at least) on how they are doing (or not!) as well as touching on a bit of MLS news..... Not too much to speak of at the time, they continue to ready themselves for the opening game of the season with the possibility of one or two more roster changes...

Good to have you around.

Thank you, I appreciate that. Maybe we can get a good discussion about the 6/29 and 9/20 games against DC when the time approaches. Again, thanks for your welcome........

Galaxy have one last preseason game against FC Dallas on Saturday and then open the season in Colorado against the Rapids.......

I have setup an MLS forum game to gather some interest among the other users here. There's one spot left, but unfortunately for you, it's the Kansas City Wizards. Feel free to join if you'd like. Click here

Welcome back mate!

Thank you!

On my way to the stadium (Saturday morning) where the public will be able to watch the Galaxy train, followed by Ruud Gullitt speaking to the fans and then Alexi Lalas will address the season ticket holders in attendance (myself) on what to expect, from the direction of the team to what clubs may come over to play in the Summer (which may be tough with Euro '08 going on)....... More to come.....

The Galaxy had an open scrimmage where they played a semi-pro team for about 60 minutes. The first half consisted of mainly the first team, Beckham, Donovan, Ruiz, Abel and so on and the Galaxy got 3 goals. The second half was basically the 'B' team with the addition of Beckham and the other side scored the only goal. Gullitt was very active in shouting out instructions. Lalas followed with a meeting with only the season ticket holders in attendance, spoke on the team, past mistakes, current situation and where they are headed. That was followed with an introduction of Gullitt and all the team members minus Donovan who had already left to hop a plane for Poland for Wednesdays friendly. It was a very interesting day. LA's season opener is at Colorado on Saturday and the home opener is next Thursday at the HDC against San Jose.......

You know, I hate Alexi Lalas with a passion. I can't stand listening to the guy talk about football. Almost as annoying as Eric Wynalda.

Tell me, why is that?

Mr. WynalDUH is still the king.

Eric is very opinionated, he shoots from the hip and sometimes misses the mark. I do him him credit for criticizing (hit the bulls-eye) Bruce Arena during the WC when nobody else would as we watched the US revert back to there prior years of playing style. Still waiting for the explanation on Mr. Lalas...........

I think Lalas speaks/talks way over his head at times. Some of the things he says are just complete rubbish. And he does it quite often when it comes to the MLS. I understand he's trying to raise the interest of the MLS (globally), but he's a bit of an embarrassment at times with the things that he says.

As for Wynalda. He swears he knows it all and acts like he's the best footballer around and he never makes the wrong pass/cross during his playing days. I hated it when he would be commentating on a game on ESPN2 (thank God he got fired). He would always use his little pen and draw out where the cross or the free kick should go and when it doesn't go there, all that comes from his mouth is negativity. Or when a player doesn't make a run, he's the first to start bashing. Him being a former player should know damn well that it's not that easy on the pitch and it's much easier to nitpick about things from a box above the pitch and after the play has finished.

Well, you cleared that up, we now know how you feel......

As far as Lalas goes, he does make some comments that are a bit over the top, I can agree there..... But, I will also say there is nobody else pushing the envelope as far as the MLS goes, and it's a shame that he seems to be the only one 'out there' promoting it. Some of these other GM's need to be talking about what the MLS has to offer....

As I said, I will be eternally grateful for Wynalda's comments on Arena's botched coaching in the WC, but with that said he too is very opinionated as are most 'color commentators', and I'll just mention Tommy Smyth of ESPN for an example, who does not come close to carrying the credentials that Eric does, but to hear him speak you'd think he wrote the book on the game......

Anyhow, just my opinion, I need to stop before I sound like I'm a know it all, which I'm far from!

I fully agree here. But there is a right way and a wrong way of doing it. Sometimes with his comments, he makes the league look like more of a joke than everyone already thinks (if that makes any sense). Mainly due to what he says and not for the league itself.

For instance. Most people around the world already believe that the MLS is an 'amature' league (which in essence is compared to the bigger leagues around the world). And when he comes out and says ...

"The fact that a segment of the world worships an inferior product in the Premiership is their business,'' Lalas said in an interview with The Guardian published Tuesday.

"In England, our league is considered second class, but I honestly believe if you took a helicopter and grabbed a bunch of MLS players and took them to the perceived best league in the world they wouldn't miss a beat and the fans wouldn't notice any drop in quality.''

is complete blasphemy and embarrassing to himself and the MLS. Granted that statement now (this season) could hold a bit more merit due to many new signings by the designator player spot. But people around the world would read that and think it's a complete joke (which it is), and will probably look even further down on the league itself.

But out of all the clubs in the MLS currently and their squads, I only see a few that could possibly play in the EPL and they would be in the relegation zone at best, while the rest are Championship material (if that for a couple clubs).

I do believe Mr. Garber has made comments somewhat close to what Lalas has said, and don't get me wrong, I have already said he makes statements over the top, but I firmly believe he's trying to promote a league that as you said already is looked down on, so kudo's to him for even trying. Call him ignorant or whatever, I also believe he's not blowing smoke, that he firmly believes his statements to be true. As I said before, someone needs to be the spokesperson for the MLS, nobody else seems to want to be the voice, and if nobody is interested in doing so this league could find itself in trouble down the road.

Also, please don't get the impression I cling on every word Alexis says, far from it. As a Galaxy supporter he has much to answer for, and he had some difficult questions to answer when he opened the microphone for questions at a season ticket holders meeting. He also said he has made mistakes, and will most likely make more (not an easy thing to do with season ticket holders who have spent a lot of $$$ looking at you. So, with that said, this season is huge for him, if they don't produce, my bet is that he goes and not Gullitt (unless Ruud walks out on his own). It's safe to say he is on the 'hot seat'.

I honestly respect and appreciate your comments and views, there is much legitimacy to what you say.....

As much as I would love to see the MLS be popular across the globe and have superstars playing on our shores; I feel that they need to concentrate on building a good reputation and fan base within our own borders (and Mexico/Canada) first is more important than globalizing an inferior product. I'm not an American so I'm not too concerned that the quality isn't to par with the larger leagues around the world, nor do I care if the MLS becomes the best league in the world or the worst league. I will always follow the EPL first before any other league. But living here in DC and only being able to attend MLS games on a regular basis, I would love to see larger crowds at games and more passionate fans of football. I know that the quality isn't up to par, but it's irrelevant to me. Most MLS clubs are competitive among themselves and that's all that truly matters.

Another thing that will hinder the MLS is their inability to follow suit with other leagues around the world. (I'll make a thread about it soon, since I don't want to go into a complete different topic from Beckham and the Galaxy.)

There is so much involved in getting them to secure a large fan base. Let's keep in mind that it took Beckham, a foreign player to come here to increase the crowds. At the risk of dating myself, I had season tickets to the old NASL, the LA Aztecs with Cruyff and Michels as coach, and watched Beckenbauer and the Cosmos come in and the crowds were pretty nice for those days. My point is, it will take years before the fan base grows to big numbers, if, as much as I hate to say it, it ever does. There is going to have to be a mix of players that fans can relate to, and it will most likely be from abroad and mixed in with US yop players then we'll see something happen.

My preference too is the EPL, and I was born here in the states. I will wait for your new thread and see what thats all about, for I also do not want to get off topic......

Wow..... Not much to say. I felt as if I was watching last season all over again. Very disappointing to say the least. LA's organization in the back was terrible. the had no 'attacking' midfield and played as if they were tired. Gullitt will need to get it right quickly, because the wheels definitely fell off on Saturday. The defense which was shaky last season appears the same. Abel Xavier is sometimes a liability, although he was unjustly called for a penalty that got him sent off because it was his second yellow. The conversion of the penalty made it 2-0 and Colorado rolled on to a 4-0 win. Beckham did what he is there for, that is distribute the ball from the wings and this he did as well as from the back. Gullitt played with Beckham on a wing, Donovan on the other wing and Guatemalan International Carlos Ruiz on top, thus he had no offensive threat in the midfield which allowed Colorado to win the battle there and put immense pressure on an already weak defense. Ruud is going to have to sort it out or there will be some very unhappy players, supporters and an owner.

Next Game: Thursday at the HDC against the San Jose Earthquakes (and former coach & keeper).....

I was waiting for your synopsis on the match.

I think the Galaxy have lots and lots and lots of problems all across the pitch. Other than the few stars, Beckham, Donovan, and Ruiz; the team is a complete joke. Even the new players they brought in don't mesh well (as of yet). I'm going to go with my biased/hatred of Alexi Lalas as the main issue with the franchise.

Since Lalas has joined the Galaxy in 2006, the team has gone even further downhill. In 2006, they could only manage 39 points; in 2007, 34 (with two less games than in 2006). Previous to his arrival, 43 in 2004 (30 games) and 45 in 2005 (32 games). Granted he did win a Supporters Shield with the Earthquakes in 2005. But I'm not even sure how much of that was his doing, because I do know he moved from the Earthquakes to the Metrostars to oversee the transition to Red Bull New York. But not sure exactly when that move happened. I don't think he's a good evaluator of talent.

As much as I don't like the Galaxy for obvious reasons (D.C United!!!). I would like to see them do well. With Beckham on their squad, they are the ones from the MLS that are getting global attention. And their quality as of late (beyond Beckham and maybe Donovan) is poor. So poor that I feel that it's making people outside of the US to turn their back and walk away even further from the MLS than they already are.


Oh yeah, even FC Seoul beat the Galaxy. Yes I follow FC Seoul, they are my K-league team that I've always followed (I'm half Korean). They are the sleeping giants of the K-league, but they are terrible, last year they couldn't score a goal to save their lives. haha.

Well in just the short time I have been back posting, it's obvious of your huge dislike Lalas, which is fine, it's your right to like and dislike whomever. He has made his mistakes (haven't we been over this before?) and probably will continue to do so. But, I'm not ready to say there is no blame on the players, these guys earn a paycheck and not being able to work a back line together, or a midfield that continues to make bad passes, or shots missed directly in front of the goal is not Lalas's fault, that would be way to easy for me to say, and honestly a bit naive as well (no offense meant here). Now with Ruiz out for 4-6 weeks with after knee surgery they are going to have to find a way to make things right. There is enough talent out there to compete, but time will only tell if they can get it together before they dig themselves in a hole like last season and are never able to get out. papa5murf, please let me know if you are ever here on the west coast, I'll warn Lalas to get himself a bullet proof vest.......

When in doubt, blame Lalas.

Thanks for clearing that up, and be honest enough to say that you'll hold him responsible even when you are not sure........

Ze Roberto of Bayern Munich has apparently been linked with the Galaxy. He has said he would like to play in the MLS as a defensive midfielder when he's 33/34 (he's 33 now).

More heartaches for the Galaxy. Carlos Ruiz out for 4-6 weeks.