The two contests between the Dynamo and the Galaxy this season were tense, tight affairs.

Back on June 28, the Dynamo visited Home Depot Center riding a club-record 11-game unbeaten streak, while the Galaxy were tied with the fewest wins in MLS with New York (seems an eon ago doesn't it?).

Click to continue reading...

And boy does he deserve it! The man is a miracle worker.

Good on ya, Bruce. Keep Klein in the line up for Friday and let's kick some Houston ass!

More on the story from Nick Green.

Click to continue reading...

Feel the passion!

Thanks to the dozens of you who entered the first ticket contest with prizes courtesy of the Galaxy.

The winners: Mike Crandall of Glendora and Kristinne Uy of Rosemead, who win a pair of tickets each to Sunday's big game.

They correctly answered the question: who is the only player to score for both the Galaxy and Chivas USA this season?

Click to continue reading...

SuperClasico Playoff Passion (AP Photo)

The game is tied at 2-2.

There will be a winner Sunday whether it's after 90 minutes, 120 minutes or penalty kicks.

And the Galaxy are giving away two pairs of tickets to the game to the person who correctly answers the trivia question: Which player has scored for BOTH Chivas USA and the Galaxy this season?

Click to continue reading...

How fun must it be to work on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? This show is like Seinfeld with the evil turned up to 11. Sometimes, the best comedy of manners is the one without any (also see Curb Your Enthusiasm)...#1 - A few local all-stars hook us up with the view heading into respective first round deciders:- Bernardo Fallas on HOU/SEA- Nick Green on LA/CHV- Shawn Mitchell on CLB/RSL#2 - Click to continue reading...

If the Galaxy wins tonight we will own first place in the Western Conference, regardless of the outcome of the Chivas vs. Houston match being played tomorrow. How awesome would that be?! I still can't believe the turnaround we've had this year. If only we can be in top form for the playoffs .

Click to continue reading...

The Los Angeles Galaxy takes on the Chicago Fire in a battle of second place teams on Friday, October 2 at 8PM. The game will be on ESPN2.

On paper this should be a tough, hard fought match between two teams that need to be peaking right now if they have hopes of going deep in the post-season.

Click to continue reading...

The tough are apparently getting going. Remember when the season started, and the Crew neglected to beat anyone until May? Remember when the Crew ran into a Mexican cement truck at the end of August, then made a starring role in Richie Williams' audition tape?
The Crew's September schedule consisted of the other three top MLS teams, Cruz Azul, and Saprissa. Click to continue reading...

Or at least that's the consensus after the Galaxy's whooping by Dallas last week, losing 6-3.

Most of the analysis of last week's game concludes that the loss is a wake up call to the Galaxy, who may have been getting too comfortable with their winning record.

So, on to hosting Toronto FC tonight.

Click to continue reading...

Filling in for Bruce today is Chrös; I did the honors when Brucio was gone at the MLS Cup last fall as well. Let's not try to kid anyone and pretend that you are here for my thoughts. I've compiled some basic reading about the big game today, and I'll be back this afternoon with an MLS roundup as well. Click to continue reading...

Nick Green stole my takes.
As always, by "stole," I mean, "wrote it down before I did."
Here's how good Green's analysis is. We've been reading all week about how the US will deal with the incredible, intolerable heat of the Mexican summer. Huge factor, we were told.
So what does Nick do? Click to continue reading...

With Bruce Arena approaching his anniversary of taking over as the Head Coach of the LA Galaxy, Nick Green of the LA Daily Breeze examines the team transformation from MLS doormat to playoff contender under Arena.
Exactly two weeks shy of the anniversary of Bruce Arena's first day on the job as Galaxy general manager and coach, this unequivocally is his team. Click to continue reading...

I knew I was nervous for a reason when Dan
Kennedy had surgery and has been unable to play....cause that leaves Lance Parker as back up,,,,and well...now Nick Green is reporting in his 100 percent soccer blog that Zach Thornton is out for 3-4 weeks after an injury suffered in the MLS all star game.

Click to continue reading...

The It's Called Football - TFC blog recap the first half of the season from the Western Conference with (yours truly) Patrick Beatty on Real Salt Lake, Buzz Carrick on FC Dallas, Dave Clark on the Seattle Sounders and from LA, Nick Green on the Galaxy.
They also breakdown the Toronto v Columbus game and set up the Champions League match v the Puerto Rico Islanders. Click to continue reading...

Last night's match between Chelsea & Inter Milan was a pretty relaxed affair. Chelsea dominated the entire match, and seemed really relaxed as they did so. I'd say they were operating at about 65%. (Read match report here.) Inter Milan? I don't know what to make of them. They seemed resigned to their role: the team to be defeated by Chelsea. Click to continue reading...

I am talking tomorrow with Gustavo Arellano (KPFK 90.7/4:00pm) about David Beckham, one of my favorite subjects. Becks, of course, is much in the news for his reappearance on the LA Galaxy roster in an exhibition match against the other team in his life - AC Milan. (See Nick Green's match report.)
While watching the game on television this afternoon, I couldn't help noticing that the man seems happier. Click to continue reading...

It's true - Becks is back, and he's back in world of controversy (MLS style controversy, anyways...) as Grant Wahl's book, "The Beckham Experiment", is set to hit shelves this week after excerpts from it on SI.com turned heads all around the league.
According to Nick Green's soccer blog in LA, Goldenballs and Landycakes have kissed and made up, after Donovan questioned the England midfielder's committment to the Galaxy. Click to continue reading...

Little did you know, but Nathan and I are in The Loop! We will be receiving advance copies of Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment: How the World's Most Famous Athlete Tried to Conquer America. It looks to be a very interesting and possibly controversial book.

A few excerpts have been released in advance of the advance copy mailing, which is in advance of the book going on sale July 14th.

Click to continue reading...

And that word is: Punchless.

One shot on goal, seven shots overall, despite controlling the game for decent stretches over the course of the afternoon. Punchless. One shot on goal despite fielding an "offensive-minded" lineup designed to counter the improved San Jose Earthquake defense and attempt to victimize the leakiest defense in the league.

Click to continue reading...

And those words are: That was disappointing.

I admit that I was suckered by the recent 10 game non-losing streak into believing that the technical deficiencies of the team could be compensated for by heart and determination. Even as I wrote about the mediocrity of the midfield, the ability to gain points on the road and refuse to lose got me into the dangerous head space of thinking that the Galaxy could consistently compete with any team in the league.

Click to continue reading...

I've got two words for you in the aftermath of the Galaxy's second victory of the year, on the road in Toronto.

And those words are: Edson Buddle.

Two appearances in the last two games, both with less than 30 minutes to go in the match and two goals displaying heads-up play and clinical finishing.

Click to continue reading...

Never give up a point on the road.

Galaxy Coach and General Manager Bruce Arena can look at the statistics just like every other coach and fan in Major League Soccer and knows that success depends on scrapping for points on the road and stockpiling them at home. (Actually I'm pretty sure that this is the basic premise of every league in the world.

Click to continue reading...

Haven't we done this already?

For the third time since the start of the MLS season, the Galaxy will take on the Colorado Rapids. This will be the second MLS tilt with a US Open Cup match thrown in in the middle. So far the Galaxy is perfect. 0-2.

The first game, you will remember, was the horrific 3-2 beat down in which the Galaxy defense gifted Connor Casey a hat trick.

Click to continue reading...

Today is one of those rare days (of late) when it is warm and dry here in central Virginia. So I'm going to the park with my family and linking you to some previews instead.

If you are heading to the HDC tonight you'll be able to enjoy $1 hotdogs and $1 beer before kick off. One of each sounds good to me!

Click to continue reading...

Call him old, or slow, or old and slow, but his experience is much needed and he'll help the team.

The Galaxy have signed Gregg Berhalter.

From the official Galaxy site.

ESPN's article.

Nick Green from 100 Percent Soccer.

Luis Bueno's take on it before it was official.

Click to continue reading...

Well, kids, it looks like we are going from rumor to reality in the Becks-to-AC Milan sweepstakes. David Beckham has now said publicly that he wants to stay at AC Milan and has directed his lawyers to work out a deal between MLS and Milan. The good folks at MLS Rumors have the video.

Click to continue reading...