Sunday, April 13, 2008

Ruud's take

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

at least Ruud saw part of the reason we lost, despite his sunglasses

not converting chances...

(+ Vanney in defense)

Thanks for always providing us with the headcoachs view. appreciated a lot.

Ben

Joseph D'Hippolito said...

I was at the press conference and, by saying that he was pressing for the victory early, Ruud essentially admitted that he got out-coached (though he didn't say so directly).

John Carver, Toronto's coach, had a far better game plan: Lay back and play defensively in the heat, then bring on faster players in the final 25 minutes. While Toronto still had its energy reserves, the Galaxy was out of gas.

I won't use ignorance of the conditions as an excuse. Carver came from Britain, where it doesn't get as hot as it does here, yet found a way to use the heat to his advantage.

That's what you get when you make a "sexy" hire for your coach...

A.C. said...

I'm pretty sure that Ruud's move would have seemed genius if the Galaxy had been able to finish off even half of their chances.

Joseph D'Hippolito said...

a.c., you're right given the propensity for hindsight among the human race. But even if the Galaxy finished the chances it failed to convert in the first half, who is to say that Toronto would not have rallied against what can charitably called the Galaxy's mediocre defense and gotten at least one point?

This is the inherent problem with a team putting all its eggs into the offensive basket, as the Galaxy has done. If the offense fails to convert, then the defense must step up. If the defense can't, then the team is doomed, whether its the Galaxy or any other club.

Joseph D'Hippolito said...

Besides, a.c., Greg Sutton made two good saves on Donovan breakaways (as your own article stated).