To say the LA Galaxy need a win, is probably an understatement. But as the Galaxy stare their 10th league match of the season in the face, they have the opportunity to finish the first third of the year in the top half of the Western Conference table. With a couple of other results going their way, and three-points for LA on Saturday, the Galaxy would be up to third in the West and suddenly the road ahead does not look so bad.
Certainly it will take a better collective effort from the team for this "Texas mirage" to appear. But if the heat was one possible reason for the lazy performance last week at home in Southern California, the squad might want to start searching for something creative to come up with for the Texas climate.
Kenny Cooper has not scored for more than a month for FC Dallas and I find myself wondering if that is a good thing? The guy has had some of the best games of his career when matching up against LA. I would not be surprised to see him test Donovan Ricketts from distance once or twice, but based on the Jamaican's play so far, LA's goalkeeper should be up to the challenge. I like Cooper. He is one of the great young talents in this league, and when he learns to play along side another "top notch" striker, he will be that much more dangerous. At that point, the U.S. National team will have to give him a look.
Fans sometimes get on me for giving extra love to the goalkeepers from time to time. But seriously, has the Galaxy had a better acquisition in the last few years? Donovan Ricketts is everything we thought he might be, and more. This guy is dominant in the area, makes HUGE saves in crucial parts of the match, and has proven he can play with a knock or two. Don't know if you caught it, but Ricketts almost stopped the Barros Schelotto gift goal, even as the Argentine had a wide open net to shoot for. His play alone is responsible for at least 3-4 points in the table thus far.
Andre Rocha seems to be another player that is not only hot of late, but also someone the Galaxy midfield will have to pay special attention. Rocha can be difficult to deal with individually based on his tall and lanky stature. He has the soccer IQ to put himself in dangerous positions, but so far this season the service to those areas has been hit and miss.
This might be the game where we see the best from Dema Kovalenko. This is the type of game where Dema might be able to have more of a 1v1 match-up and frustrate Rocha. That would allow Miglioranzi to spark the transition into the attack going forward more than he has been able to in the past. If Dallas again play with a four-man diamond un the midfield, this might be the chance for the Galaxy midfield to dictate the tempo, and in the process gain some added confidence going forward.
Speaking of going forward. After putting together a great sequence to score through the head of Alan Gordon in Seattle, the Galaxy completely abandoned the idea of serving the ball into the penalty area in the game against the Crew.
I really thought we would see Gordon and Chad Marshall battle for some crosses in the area, and even some tempers flaring from the physicality of the battles... but there was none of it! But there also was not many times that Landon Donovan had open space to run into, and specifically to run down a through ball.
Both of these are areas that might lead the Galaxy to more attacking opportunities in Texas. What I'll be looking for is for the Galaxy to show some variation and the way they attack. That means crossing more balls into the penalty area for a big target like Gordo, as well as looking to spring the counter attack when Dallas pushes forward into the Galaxy half. Try to find Landon's feet in a wide position when Dallas is forward to create a chance of their own. Sounds simple, and it sometimes is... but there was none of it this past week.
If you read any of the preview articles going into the first meeting of the season with the Hoops, you may hear comments about the 14 goals in three games between the two teams last season. Don't count on seeing any of that on Saturday. You will see exciting and attacking soccer, but both sides have made significant upgrades in the defensive picture, as well as had time to understand the philosophy and style of their head coach.
LA and Dallas both made changes to the head coaching position during the 2008 MLS season and while both coaches have outstanding records at the college level, their resumes are different on the professional level. Arena still might have to pull his best coaching job with this Galaxy club, but Hyndman clearly has his work cut out for him at Pizza Hut Park.
Both teams have just one victory this season, and a second, particularly against a conference opponent could be a defining moment for either of these teams. For LA, all of a sudden these draws have stacked up, but it wouldn't be such a bad thing to add to that list on Saturday.
For Dallas, continuing to build on the draw that stopped their three-game skid last week would be looked at as a positive. But while either team would be content with a draw, each of these teams in reality needs the maximum points. For the Galaxy' faithful, another draw might have them pulling out what little hair they have left, but I think that Bruce and the boys have a chance to come home with three extra points in the bag.
