2008 was a disappointing season for sure. But I don't think it was as bad as Luciano Emilio says here in this quote from after United's last match of 2008, a 4-2 loss to Marathon at RFK in October. [I just read the article today...]

"We wanted to put on a good performance and finish the season on a good note, but as always, we had a bad result.

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Over at Deadspin, there is a post about some Fire fans in attendance at Chicago's second leg, 3-0 (3-0 on aggregate) drubbing of New England. Funny pictures.
In the comments, DC United supporters got a shout-out, so I thought I'd let you know about it.

Those guys in Section 8 are crazy.

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I consider it symbolic of the season that I can't watch the last match. It's one of those that's not available nationally, and even the pirate streams aren't working for me. (Stupid US betting laws mean that Bet sites have no interest in showing the game to US residents.)

So I'm following the game on MatchTracker, and I'm seeing that we took the lead on an Edson Buddle goal in the 15th, only to see that lead evaporate on goals by Drew Moor (34) and Victor Sikora (39).

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The final DCU match of the regular season, just like FREE BEER advertised at Hunan Number One Chinese restaurant in Clarendon, is TOMORROW. DC United needs a stone cold victory tomorrow to grab the last playoff spot.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. D.C. UNITED
COLUMBUS CREW STADIUM, Columbus, Ohio
Oct. Click to continue reading...

Despite how busy we've been too write, it would really be poor form to not comment on the week that we just finished, and the final week of the regular season. Watching the team come from a goal down to score twice in the second half, reminded me of what kind of football we expect them to play, and how little of it we saw this season. Click to continue reading...

Tonight the Galaxy tries to keep its flickering post-season hopes alive in a must-win showdown in Bridgeview, IL against the Chicago Fire. Chicago has been struggling of late, losing the last two games by a combined score of 6-1, but the legendarily leaky Galaxy defense might be just what they need to get back on their game.

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I stole this image from a Flikr stream created by "thisguyprints". I hope he doesn't sue me.

A few weeks ago I took out my frustration with the 2008 season on the Galaxy front office, sending a lengthy e-mail to my season ticket rep and laying out my conditions for renewal. I turned that e-mail into this post from September 10th.

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The Galaxy enter today's home game (8:00 pm PDT - FSC) in the grip of a club-record 12 game winless streak, taking just six points from the 36 on offer. They sit at the bottom of the Western Conference on 26 points, four points out of the last Western playoff spot. It's been over 100 days since the team's last win and it is the first time since mid-July that both Landon Donovan and David Beckham will be playing together in front of the Home Depot Center crowd.

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Put a fork in them. They are done.

With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Galaxy went to Kansas City to visit the other worst team in the league. This time they were a full strength, facing a squad that has the most anemic attack. Boasting a somewhat improved defense and a new focus on basics since the arrival of King Bruce, this game really should have been a competitive victory for the Galaxy.

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The Galaxy has recently reorganized their customer service teams to create a new team dedicated just to serving season ticket holders, of which I am one. My new rep has taken the time to introduce himself to me and this got me thinking about whether or not I'd be willing to shell out a serious (for me) amount of cash for next year, given the recent history of this team.

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Today the Galaxy takes on Real Salt Lake at the Home Depot Center at 7:30 PDT. You can follow the action via the Direct Kick package or on MLSLive.tv.

After last week's much improved performance I should be looking forward to this game. It's at home, it's again a team that can't buy a point on the road, and they happen to be conference rivals.

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The Galaxy looked sharper than they had in weeks last Saturday against the Revolution, which bodes well for the run they will have to make in order to get into the playoffs. However, this Saturday MLS has, in its infinite wisdom, decided to schedule league matches concurrently with a FIFA World Cup qualifier date.

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I just watched the game via the archived stream on MLSNet. This team looks completely different from the team that lost to Chicago just a week earlier. At home.

Probably because it basically is a completely different team when you put in Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Eddie Lewis all at the same time.

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I don't have much on short notice except that Eddie Lewis is expected to play.  (I love this picture of Lewis and his family.  Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.)  The game can be seen on HDNet and FSN-PT at 7:30 EST so leave work early and head to the sports bar!

I'm excited to see the line-up and find out if Arena took my offensive line up from the Eddie Lewis Is Ours comments.

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I'm still sort of recovering from last nights match. Hopefully someone will put up a post-mortem, but not likely not me; I'm still too raw from it all.

The day before yesterday, well the night really, I couldn't sleep, I was thinking that this is the kind of Corporate Hood think that really really makes my guts clench (From the LA Times Grahame Jones piece):

"Tim Leiweke, chief executive of AEG, which owns the Galaxy, said Monday's developments cleared the way for the Galaxy to "straighten the ship out" and regain some forward momentum.

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Like Nathan and Jen, I'm helping Laurie phatten-up our fair blog's sandbox. I just wanted to introduce myself before you get to read my first post. What a time to arrive, in the middle of the Shakeup of 2008 and the aftermath of last night's hard fought...draw. I'm not getting much sleep, are you?

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Now that we're in the middle of August, the playoff race will heat up. With the everchanging rules for who gets to play in the post season, its hard to keep track. I think this year the format is the 3 teams above the Tropic of Capricorn from each conference, then the next 2 teams with an English player. Click to continue reading...

Now that it is The Day After, I have a few thoughts on what just happened.

Alexi Lalas' firing was at least a year too late and was a laughably inept hire in the first place. Lalas was good at many things, like being a salesman extraordinaire, doing color commentary, creating funny ESPN Sportscenter promotional spots, even defending for the US MNT.

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Updates at bottom.

So the hammer comes down.

The Los Angeles Times, in a story by Grahame Jones, reports that AEG has axed BOTH Alexi Lalas and Ruud Gullit in a meeting held today.

Jones reports,

In a pair of sweeping changes brought about by a Major League Soccer season in meltdown, the Los Angeles Galaxy today removed Alexi Lalas as team president and general manager and Ruud Gullit as coach.

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Or so says Ives in this post.

I'm on record in the comments of my last SBI Supporter's View saying that I wouldn't have used the allocation for Cory Gibbs due to his injury history and cost against the salary cap (not like I actually know what that is, of course). But I am not the guy(s) in charge of personnel over at the HDC (that can only be a good thing) and I guess their calculus told them to pull the trigger.

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The match kicks off at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in a few hours. Rapids have only won once in their last five and twice in their last 10. They've been scoring goals, with only Columbus and Houston keeping them out of the net (incidentally both of those games were at home).

Toronto hasn't tasted victory in nearly 2 months.

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But not here. Well, not precisely.

What I mean is that my column over at Soccer By Ives is now up. So in a fit of self-pimping, I'm linking to it.

Read and comment, there or here.

Also, consider this an open thread for any and all Galaxy/MLS/futbol conversations.

What's up?

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Sam, commenting in this post, reprints portions of an SI.com article from Jonah Freedman, which goes in-depth on some of the goings-on in the wake of the recent miserable performance of the Los Angeles Galaxy on the field. I figured this kind of this deserves its own posting.

Here's how the article starts:

The soap opera that is the Los Angeles Galaxy just gets weirder and weirder.

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Before I get into the guts of this post, which will be short anyway, I just want to say that I do not consider myself to be a tactical or analytic genius when it comes to futbol. I expect much of what I say will be up for debate and that people will feel free to tell me when they think I'm a raging idiot in the comments.

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Match #13.17 -- Kansas City Wizards
Six Word Novel Preview:
Even on points, a six-point game.
Opponent:
Kansas City Wizards
TV: 2 August 2008, Comcast Sportsnet, DireckKick, MLSLive.tv
Radio: WFED 1050AM, SRN
Previous Meeting:
March 29, 2008 - KC 2 - United 0
The Stakes:

Both teams sit on 22 points in the Eastern Conference, so this game could provide a six-point swing in the standings if either team manages to win.

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I was on the fence about this post. It is silly, certainly. I thought I might discuss the horizontal symmetries of the two clubs' jersey sponsors.
See?
Or I might mention the fact that Greg Vanney is now a "Herbalife-sponsored player" (see: New Stars in the LA Galaxy) and has 10 appearances this season for the Galaxy after most recently playing for DC United. Click to continue reading...

Week 13 already?

Looks like we're doing well though.  Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle are #1 and #2 respectively on the MLS high-scoring list.  A Galaxy player has captured 6 of the last 12 MLS Player of the Week awards.  We lead the Western standings.  So far so good!

The Columbus Crew come to the HDC with a record of 7-4-1 versus our record of 6-4-2.

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I've been super busy with life in general and haven't the umph to write a preview of the game. Instead, I've got a link for you this time:

Goal.com has a good preview.

It's a quiet Friday in MLS Preview-land. Most of the other links are the same piece which includes comments from last week's game, which we have already hashed out.

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Last night's game against the Rapids had a little bit of everything in it. I'm not even sure where to begin.

After establishing a 3-0 lead, and after two red card sendoffs at the end of the second half (Gordon, LA, and Erpen, Colorado), the Galaxy lost its defensive pressure and possession allowing the Rapids to score two of their own by the 74th minute.

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This should be fun, after that 4-0 arse-whoopin' we got in March. We are certainly a better team than the one that showed up at Dick's that day.

The Rapids, with a record of 5-5-0, are leading the Western Conference standings. However, with their 15 points, the Rapids would only be tied for 4th in the Eastern Conference standings.

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What do you think Lalas has in store for us this time?

Will Ruud have any say?

Will Vagenas finally be traded?  (I say no, he has legacy just like Cobi did, but we'll see.)

Will we hang onto the young guys who are becoming good mid-level players?

Will Xavier go?

Is there any chance, any chance at all, of signing Bocanegra?

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Loved, loved, loved the captions for this week's photo. Laurie's made me cry-laugh so unexpected, and brilliant!

So here we go, on our way to play Toronto FC. Hey, I know it will be early for you West Coast folks, but maybe we can play a drinking game.

• One finger for any time streamers are thrown at the corner flag.

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Game highlights from MLS via youtube:

I cannot. stop. grinning. about Beckham's goal I'm filled to the brim with girlish glee. I'll be back with more comments. I just wanted to get the highlight reel up.

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Turns out the flu-like gunk is strep throat. Also, my internet connection on my laptop is cutting out and Mr. Techie (my husband) hasn't figured it out yet.

So, what I was going to do was link you to some game previews. Now I'm just going to tell you to check out Mark Rogodino's preview on the Galaxy's site.

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Just a few things of note to tide you over until the weekend match against Kansas City.

So unless you've been meditating in a soccerless vacuum, realizing that there's more to life than six pack abs, you likely already know the following:

* When Chris Klein starts this weekends game against K.

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