24May/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo: Analysis, Reaction and More
The 2012 Major League Soccer season has not been the kindest of years for Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy. With a dismal record of 3-7-2 (11 points), they have lost their touch when it comes down to applying the simple fundamentals in playing the game the right way. Still, there is plenty of time for them to turn the ship around and contend for an MLS Cup Playoffs spot, but they have to hurry. Saturday’s tilt with the Houston Dynamo could be the starting point for a comeback of significant proportions. As for the Dynamo, head coach Dominic Kinnear will aim to right the ship for his ball club, who are 3-3-4 (13 points) and currently sit seventh in the MLS Eastern Conference. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. PT/2:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by NBC Sports. Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2012 MLS season and all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com24May/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo: 10 Bold Predictions
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy sport the worst record in the MLS Western Conference at 3-7-2 (11 points). It doesn't seem that there could be any letting up in terms of maintaining their cold streak when they face the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.Or is there not?It has not been a pleasant May for Los Angeles, who have yet to win this month. This is their last chance to salvage something this month in league play. Houston currently sports a 3-3-4 record (13 points), and are similarly struggling to get points in the MLS Eastern Conference.Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (EST) and will be televised by NBC Sports.Here are 10 bold predictions for Saturday's afternoon tilt in H-Town.Begin Slideshow24May/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Rating David Beckham’s Performance
The media is still begging, and begging, and begging Team Great Britain manager Stuart Pearce to let David Beckham into the team. I said previously that Beckham does not have the talent, only the hype.On Wednesday, that hype led to yet another crushing defeat for the Los Angeles Galaxy, 3-2, to the San Jose Earthquakes at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.Surely, his leadership could have inspired the Galaxy to not be hesitant on giving up the goal to the likes of Alan Gordon, a forward that has had a hot streak of scoring against Los Angeles.Tell the players; "get back, here comes Gordon straight ahead." Instead, they hesitate, and what could have been a point split ends up becoming the culmination of 20 gong show football minutes.To Beckham's credit, he did break up play and had a passable effort defensively. However, he also committed a handball that led him to receiving a yellow card and Khari Stephenson equalizing for the Earthquakes.Of course, that isn't all from Becks. From Scott French of ESPN.com... “Unfortunately, we had someone in control of the game tonight that, every time we've had him, he wants to be the star, and that's what happens when you ...24May/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Rating the Galaxy Players
Quite frankly, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are finding really creative ways to lose matches. Watch your back, Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union, the Galaxy are on a cold streak too and have no signs of letting up. This won't determine the SuperDraft race, but it does make things interesting. On Wednesday, the Galaxy surrendered three goals in about 20 minutes to Frank Yallop's San Jose Earthquakes, capped off by L.A.'s answer to Mike Magee in Alan Gordon, in their 3-2 defeat at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Well, every loss adds up, and once again, the player ratings are impacted. Let's take a look at this. Brian Perk: 1 Now, someone explain to me why Brian Perk is even starting as Los Angeles' goalkeeper? He can't stop penalties, he can't stop good set pieces and he gets beaten on a one-on-one by Alan Gordon. This is not a primetime goalkeeper. Maybe the Los Angeles Blues can use this player between the pipes. Arena should have started Bill Gaudette after Perk stunk it up in similar fashion against Chivas USA.Oh Josh Saunders...where are thou? (Courtesy of the LA Times's Kevin Baxter) Sean Franklin: 4 Did well to break up ...24May/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: 6 Things We Learned
Finding creative ways to lose games is an important facet of gong show football. It doesn't matter if you're leading or not or if you're playing a style contrary to gong show football; if you are on the losing end by the full-time whistle, you have mastered it.There are countless methods to displaying gong show football. On Wednesday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy discovered the ultra-rare "Surrender Three Goals In 20 Minutes While Up Two and Down One Player" method in their 3-2 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes in the first round of the California Clasico.Here are six things we learned from Wednesday's midweek encounter.Begin Slideshow24May/120
Chicago Fire Enjoys a 2-1 Win Versus FC Dallas in MLS Action
Chicago Fire midfielder Rafael Robayo wanted more playing time and he got his wish when he was inserted in the starting lineup. As a result, the Fire went on to defeat FC Dallas 2-1 while shaking off a somewhat lethargic first 25 minutes or so. A Sebastian Grazzini goal right before halftime tied the game at one apiece. A goal by FC Dallas’ Matt Hedge that got by goalkeeper Sean Johnson in the 41st minute of play did not damper the Fire’s spirits. Instead, it ignited them. In front of 11,947 fans the Fire came out in the second half with a ton of energy. Fire coach Frank Klopas credited that newly found energy to Grazzini’s goal. Coach Frank Klopas on the goal by Grazzini... “We gave up that goal in the 41st minute of the game, which is never a good time to give up the goal before going into the locker room. Sebastián scored a fantastic goal-a world class goal. Those are the type of goals that he can score with his ability. I felt that the group was positive and that the goal lifted us going into halftime. We talked more about strategy at the ...22May/120
David Beckham Gives Beethoven a Football Makeover in Phone Ad (Video)
Earlier this month, we saw what David Beckham is still capable of doing on the pitch for the Los Angeles Galaxy.Today, in B/R's Viral Video of the Day, we see Beckham doing something even more impressive:He makes Beethoven cool.What you're watching here is an advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy Note. (Hey! See how they did that with the Galaxy thing?) If you're not into technology, the Samsung Galaxy Note is a smart phone that allows you to do all sorts of newfangled stuff.Does that include playing Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" with nothing but your feet, a few footballs and a bunch of tuned drums?Apparently so.In truth, this is an impressive display from the 37-year-old Beckham, even if the feat probably needed hours upon hours of photographic wizardry to succeed. Playing classical music with footballs: Who would've thought?Anyway, it's been a busy period for Beckham, who recently flew the Olympic torch from Greece to Britain, where he was announced as "Sir David Beckham." Before that, he visited the White House, where he received a zinger or two from the American Commander Jokester in Chief.The Galaxy, meanwhile, are rooted to the bottom of Major League Soccer's Western Conference table.But that's ...22May/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes Live Blog: Play-by-Play Analysis
Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy look to snap out of their current funk when they host the San Jose Earrhquakes on Wednesday night at the Home Depot Center. The Galaxy are currently 3-6-2 and are in desperate need of a result to right the ship and salvage what has been a sorry May for the club.Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by KDOC and KWHY. The Live Blog will begin at approximately 5:45 p.m. PT/8:45 p.m. ET.Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2012 Major League Soccer season and all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com21May/120
Weekly MLS Power Rankings: Toronto FC Stays Winless
This was supposed to the be the year for Toronto FC. Change had come. Paul Mariner and Aron Winter had brought hope and flashes of progress last year. There was the CONCACAF Champions League win over Los Angeles. There was the revamped squad. And yet it's all gone so terribly wrong. While teams like the San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps have turned the corner, Toronto is lingering at the bottom, still winless.1. Real Salt Lake (8-3-2, 26 pts.) - Real Salt Lake got a much-needed week off. 2. Seattle Sounders (7-2-2, 23 pts.) - The Sounders went into Vancouver and got an important point.3. New York Red Bulls (8-3-1, 25 pts.) - New York continues to get results against all odds. Hans Backe is showing MLS what made him so successful in Denmark. 4. San Jose Earthquakes (7-2-3, 24 pts.) - Drawing with Columbus at home wasn't what was expected; it was not a good showing from the Quakes. 5. D.C. United (7-4-3, 24 pts.) - Two solid home wins pushes D.C. ahead of Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference. 6. Vancouver Whitecaps (5-3-3, 18 pts.) - The Canadian Cup is taking its toll on the Whitecaps, but ...21May/120