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- 08/05/2009, 01:28PM ET
The LAG will win the MLS Cup.
kennybabs said 08/05, 04:09 PM
why the LAG will take it all this year:
1. LD: enough said. He maybe a washout in europe, but not in the MLS. he has three MLS titles to his name, the most surprising being in 2005 with the fledgling LAG. After coming back from Germany, he practically carried a .500 LAG team on his back and to the title. Not to mention his post-season play is 2nd to none.
Most importantly, this is LD's last season in the MLS, he is motivated to win it all one last time before he gives europe another shot. A stellar performance will also raise his stock to potential pursuers. LD finally is taking soccer seriously, rather than coasting on his talent. Evidence by his current confidence and form (see Confed Cup). Arguably the best player in MLS already, the LAG captain wil bring it home.
2. Golden Balls: great field of vision and set-play meastro. A large percentage of goals in the MLS, (or all of soccer) are scored on set plays. What better then to have the world's best set play artist on your team. has much to prove to LAG fas, mls, and as ambassador for soccer. beckham experiment is his muse. confronting fans shows he cares. barcelona stunner is beginning.
more to come...
PootieTang: The King said 08/05, 04:45 PM
Full disclosure, I'm a LAG fan and homer, but I'm bored, so I'll play devil's advocate:
Reasons why LAG WON'T win MLS Cup:
1) Golden Balls: I've watched every LAG game this year, and their style of play was far superior w/o him. They moved the ball quickly and with purpose and controlled posession rather than firing 40 yard balls to Alan "Snowshoe" Gordon or Edson Buddle which typically richocet another 40 yards after a poor first touch.
Their two best scorers-LD and Eskandarian are not aerial threats which nullifies GB's worth to a large extent. In the meantime, whenever he steps on the field, he dominates the ball and changes the entire approach of the team. Let's also not forget that he's played nearly 18 straight months now with only about a 6 week break. He's due for an injury and all of the drama that comes along with it.
2) Bruce Arena: Bruce insisted on moving LD back up top against Barca. Apparently Bruce missed the Confed Cup and early season LAG and doesn't get that LD is most effective on the wing in space. Bruce also INSISTS on playing his aging former USMNT along the back line. Sanneh is terrible and Berhalter is a red card or PK waiting to happen
kennybabs said 08/05, 05:34 PM
3. Arena: a proven MLS winning coach (2 titles), what coach knows donovan better. USMNT coach for LD since teens. tactics for barca doesn't define rest of season.
4. 12th man: LAG attendance is tops inMLS, and once they start winning w/becks, should turn into cheers and be a big boost. home field advantage is huge! ask any sport.
5. Defense: if there D is so bad, then why do they have 5 shutouts, and given up only one goal 9x this year. one of the lower goals against in the league. defense wins championships.
with only 3 losses (tied tops in MLS) they can compete in the playoffs, won;t have to fight back in aggregate. you only need to win 3 games in the playoffs to win it all.
6. Opposition: DC, Houston, Fire have tourney play in CL and Open Cup, if there are going to be injuries, it's to these teams. Besides, it's the MLS, anyone can win. Ask NYRB in there run to the finals. only 2 teams from the East have ever won the Cup, so odds in LAG favor.
7. C'mon, it's the MLS: only 2 of 8 reg. season champs (last 8 years) have gone on to win it all. best team doesn't mean it's in the bag. performance in the playoffs are where it count, and LD makes it happen
PootieTang: The King said 08/05, 06:09 PM
Sorry kenny, but LAG fans don't provide much of an advantage. All teams play better at home due to the comfort factor, but you're giving LAG fans more credit than they deserve.
As for the defense, I'm not saying they're terrible, but a BIG part of the GAA is their style of play. This goes back to my concern over GB's impact on the style they play. They play an extremely conservative, posession heavy style without him. It takes a ton of pressure off their backline because most of the play remains in the middle or offensive 1/3. The downfall of the team last year was that the longball approach gives the ball back to the opposition right away. LAG doesn't have many "ball winners" in the midfield, so they need to maintain posession, which does not suit GB's game.
Let's talk outside competitions. That affects LAG more than any other team b/c they are so reliant on LD to both create and score. Unfortunately, MLS refuses to respect FIFA schedules . There are 3 conflicts in critical games: 8/15 v. Seattle 3 days after @ Mex; 9/12 v. Dal 3 days after @ T&T; 10/18 v. Hou 4 days after Costa R.
Sea and Hou are likely playoff foes, Dallas is a must win
Tired LD = No playoffs
kennybabs said 08/05, 06:44 PM
i think Arena will get GB to play within the team's philosphy; possession-style, while becks can offer short to long field passes to help spread the field and change things up. that way the defense can still maintain their 1 goal/game avg. LD has proven he can finish (20 goals last year) and with a re-invigorated Becks to put away free kicks, they should be hard to beat. Arena is known for building tough teams with stingy defenses(DC United/ USMNT). He has molded the LAG into this. He won't abandon it simply for GB.
outside comp.- mexico game is next door, CR is in the usa. plenty of time to recover with little travel. LAG has shown resiliency w/out LD during the Confed Cup run.
"Tired LD=no playoffs." that's latter is the key to LAG championship; making the playoffs. in a parity-rich league like MLS, any team can raise the cup. LAG may not be the 'best' team in MLS, but they don't have to be. get to the playoffs and make noise there. just one goal can be the difference between winning or going home. with LAG track record of GA, they will only need 1, at most 2. Donovan=14 career playoff goals, GB free kicks, solid D, winning Coach
8. Allen Ramsey said so
PootieTang: The King said 08/05, 07:21 PM
Mexico may be next door, but it at altitude in Azteca. No one will or should walk out of that game with an ounce of energy left. In addition, it's sandwiched in to a brutal stretch where 6 of 8 games are on the road.
What's more, one of your reasons why they will win is the home field advantage. Do you realize they're worse at home? 13pts in 9 matches compared with 15 pts in 10 matches on the road. And they can't score at home: 9 GS and 9 GC vs. 14 GS and 11 GC on the road. You don't go far if you can't hold home field.
Arena hasn't won anything of note in a decade, and did a terrible job with NYRB.
Here's my biggest problem with your pick. You're hanging the team's chances on two guys. One is constantly breaking down (GB) with the next one in the near future (Miss. Cleo told me so) and the other isn't the type of player who will take over a game by himself.
My pick-Houston. Here's a team that has proven their ability to win it all (2 out of the last 3 MLS Cups), has the highest point total and goal differential in the league currently, the lowest # of GA, and did all this with only 1 win in their 1st 5 games this year. They're the best team top to bottom.
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Comments (65) Add A Comment
uh, no
mrkujayhawk
Topeka , KS
Total Comments (1795)
Hurry up and make you're argument so I can challenge you.
Here's my counter...
"But who will care?"
thefuzzy1
Total Comments (336)
Why click on the topic? Just to berate someone else's sports-fan proclivities? Oh, wow, you're a big man now! Been on the site a whole six days and think you're some kind of expert into the likes and dislikes of FanNation members. You come with some stupid argument like that, I'll come with an entire army of soccer fans to bury your record so far into the red that you'll never see .500 again. Why don't you stick to observation alone right now, because commenting constructively is obviously out of your realm?
Bigalke
Springfield, OR
Total Comments (22702)
i say EVERTON!!!
Skoorb~BASEball…
Total Comments (2744)
lol
All Game
Total Comments (22)
SNAP!
He just futbol-burned your ass.
pingzing
Amherst, MA
Total Comments (7435)
Kennybabs, you may be right, but the Beck-lash factor is going to work heavily against you in this TD.
PootieTang: The King
Total Comments (4202)
My first reaction was no f--king way will Galaxy win it. But I wouldn't put it past Fredo Garber to try to set-up LAG and Goldenbollocks to win MLS Cup this season. It would just be another excuse for the non-soccer media to lead off with a story about their favorite tabloid boy.
For my money, I think Chicago will play Houston in the final. But I'm holding out hope for Sounders to play for the title in their home stadium.
TLVG
Las Vegas , NV
Total Comments (5182)
Well to anyone who actually wants to TD... I have an idea if there is any takers.
I will TD that London Fletcher is a better MLB than Antonio Pierce.
I'd be willing to start it, just let me know if you are intrested.
If you'd like challenge me either way is fine.
Rawkstar
Waldorf, MD
Total Comments (1141)
Very well said
hoopsterguy
Total Comments (11)
Kennybabs, get off Mozilla Firefox and use IE or Google Chrome. Firefox adds 15 characters to your argument and that might be the reason you haven't posted an argument.
Big Phil (1)
Atlanta, GA
Total Comments (1909)
Or perhaps he's just having a tough time summarizing the 73 (approximate) reasons why LAG WILL win MLS Cup in a mere 1200 words.
PootieTang: The King
Total Comments (4202)
Allow me to give you the Top 10 Reasons Why LAG Will Win MLS Cup
1) LD
2) LD
3) LD
4) Ricketts
5) Eskandarian
6) Omar Gonzalez
7) LD
8) LD
9) Bryan Jordan
10) LD
PootieTang: The King
Total Comments (4202)
Landan Donovanis overrated
he would SUCK d!(k in any europe league
that is why he hasnt gotten and will never get a shot in europe
Skoorb~BASEball…
Total Comments (2744)
easy enough for you to say... he would run circles around you and his paycheck as a soccer player in america would probably make have wet dreams untill you are 67.
Rawkstar
Waldorf, MD
Total Comments (1141)
No Becks...He has at least edge out of Donovan for the #10 spot...he wants to prove everyone wrong...
Big Phil (1)
Atlanta, GA
Total Comments (1909)
Perhaps if he strains his uterus and misses the rest of the season... Frankly, I don't like the way they play with him on the pitch. Too many longballs, too direct, not enough posession.
PootieTang: The King
Total Comments (4202)
Really? He sucks? The guy that Pep Guardiola just said could be effective in ANY league in Europe? The guy that was one of the top wings at the Confed Cup? The guy who Livorno in Serie A wants but can't afford because MLS and Garber is holding him hostage? That guy?
PootieTang: The King
Total Comments (4202)
This is the same guy who got destroyed by hooligan because he didn't have coherent arguments and doesn't seem to know much about soccer other than Everton, the USNMT, and the Italian NT. I wouldn't put too much stock into his statements...
Big Phil (1)
Atlanta, GA
Total Comments (1909)
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