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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.