View from the Booth: This is the week
Rogondino: Galaxy to take three points at Home Depot Center against Wizards
First off, Kansas City will be without Santiago Hirsig and Josh Wolff for the game, due to suspension. Both players are creative and bring plenty of impact to a game. Wolff particularly has been hot so far in 2009. He leads the Wizards in goals scored, and in fact is tied for the league lead in that category as well. So this is a plus for Los Angeles right from the first whistle. Players like Claudio Lopez and Abe Thompson are going to have to step up their game this Saturday at the HDC. A familiar face to Galaxy fans, Herculez Gomez will be returning to Carson, although more than likely in a different role for the Wizards. Gomez will play as an attacking midfield/underneath forward behind Lopez and Thompson. I certainly see Gomez as a player that likes to receive the ball in a wide or open space position rather than the player being counted on to beat a defender or two and deliver the initial pass to start the sequence. Watch to see if Herculez can operate in that role.
Defensively the Wizards rely on discipline and organization. They have one of the best in the league at the center back spot in Jimmy Conrad. He leads the squad in the back at both of the above-mentioned traits, and might just be one of the hardest working guys in the entire league, something I know first hand as he was my college teammate at San Diego State. Jack Jewsbury is almost a fifth defender for K.C. In the beginning of his MLS career he would line up at various spots in the back four and across the midfield, but he has developed his game and is now a bigger piece of the Wizards altogether. His athleticism and confidence on the ball, allow Jewsbury to step onto any loose balls at the top of the area, or even in the midfield. His initial pass form these spots in the field will be where the Wizards start their attack.
Of course there is also a certain goalkeeper that will also be returning to the HDC. A guy that not only dominated at the college level, and oh, he also won two MLS Cups with the LA Galaxy. Yes, Kevin Hartman will be in goal for the Wizards. Funny that not until this year have the Galaxy finally had a GK to replace Hartman. Certainly you cannot place blame alone on the GKs over the past few years, but I tell you none have done the job that Donovan Ricketts has done to keep the Galaxy in games, so there is an opportunity to earn a point. Back to Hartman, one of the greats this league has seen, still can come up with the "bonus save" from time to time, and is undoubtedly a leader in the locker room.
Looking at the Galaxy, some might say that I might never be satisfied. While that might be true, I feel like it is so close for this team. One week it's why are they just earning a point, the next asking where is the collective effort? Last week it was the question of scoring early in the game, and BOOM, Landon puts LA in front early. It was like they heard me from the broadcast booth! Then with a man advantage, the Galaxy did not finish off FC Dallas which almost begs the question, "Is there the killer instinct to put a team away?" More plainly, does this team have the bite, grit, motivation ... the desire, to be an elite team in this league? Now would be a great time to answer a few of those burning questions!
I know that I am splitting hairs here, but the Galaxy need Landon to play a bit more selfish. He is so good at creating space and setting other players up. The last few games it seems like that may have taken focus away from LD doing what he does best -- get around the goal and finish chances. Bruce Arena has said to me before that it is difficult to ask Landon to be the playmaker and the goalscorer at the same time. So if given the opportunity to choose, I want the goalscorer LD. If only it were that easy.
While I am getting the chance to choose what I want, I would like to see the Galaxy midfield perform like they did the first 20 minutes of the game in Dallas. The movement off the ball was opening up all sorts of space and runs. Consequently the Galaxy were finding chances left and right. Eddie Lewis was in attack mode on the left side and the balance between Kovalenko and Tudela was good. If LA can have this same rhythm for the majority of the minutes on Saturday, it will go a long way toward three points. Let me add this about the midfield as well, Mike Magee has found the fountain of youth. His game looks the best I have seen in years. His step is quick, and his vision is getting him chances every game. Magee had several nice chances this past week in Dallas, and I look for him to make an impact this week as well.
I have said it over the past few weeks, but it is worth pointing out again. These few games over the next three weeks will determine if the Galaxy are making progress and might have a shot at the postseason, or just a team that will putt along and watch the "second season" from home. I like to think that this year is different from the past three, and that there will indeed be a playoff game for LA come October. But then again, what do I know? I have told you the last several weeks that the Galaxy would turn the corner and earn the win, and again this week I say things are going to be different. Here we go again!
