Monday, May 5, 2008

Week 6 Spotlight

Here's our look back at Week 6.

GK: Brad Guzan, Chivas USA
D: Facundo Erpen, Colorado
D: Chad Marshall, Columbus
D: Bakary Soumare, Chicago
M: Christian Gomez, Colorado
M: Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake
M: Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago
M: John Thorington, Chicago
M: David Beckham, Los Angeles
F: Fabian Espindola, Real Salt Lake
F: Robbie Rogers, Columbus

Coach: Sigi Schmid: Four consecutive wins and 15 points from six games is nothing short of amazing. Hands down the best team in the league, Schmid has the Crew playing masterful soccer.

Denis Hamlett - I wouldn't expect the team with off-field-drama to pull together so well on the field - Hamlett keeps his team focused.

Goal: David Beckham's free kick was a thing of beauty. Can't get tired of watching those kinds of world-class set pieces.

I liked Beckham's first goal better - unexpected and yet so well done.

Save: Brad Guzan took a shot off his face late in Saturday's match against Houston to preserve the road point.

Rimando's save on Donovan's header was the grab of the weekend for me.

Top match: Galaxy-Salt Lake. These days, Galaxy games are exciting even without Donovan's goals and taunts.

Top attack: Chicago. Cuauhtemoc Blanco did not get credit for an assist but he started two of the three plays that ended up in goals. This may be the Fire team we can expect to show up if their players can finish regularly.

Top defense: Chicago. Yes, New England is missing Taylor Twellman but Chicago's early-season defensive run is no fluke. The Fire picked up its fourth shutout in six games with another standout defensive effort.

LOWLIGHTS

Galaxy defense. Yes, Beckham and Donovan can score goals but the Galaxy's defense is showing little improvement this season. What will happen when the goals dry up, as they are bound to at some point?

Kei Kamara. He's got the weight of San Jose on his shoulders, and he's collapsing under it. His finishing is atrocious but he's been San Jose's best option up front. Perhaps that will change now that Jean Phillipe Peguero has arrived.

Roger Espinoza.Some red cards, such as Claudio Suarez's against Houston, are necessary. But Espinoza's red card against the Crew was not. In fact, it was just plain dirty. And dumb, for it left Kansas City shorthanded for more than 50 minutes while down by two.

DC United - Everything about their performance in Colorado was poor.

Crew fans - So few around to enjoy the team's best start in years.

New England - They don't fold like this in the playoffs, but when did the Revs make losing to the Fire by multiple goals a habit?

3 comments:

nothingtoseehere said...

We only have to wait till the end of May and the first week of June to see how the Galaxy will hold up. I'm sad because two our games during that time are Colorado FC. I was hoping for a triad inspired smackdown but it looks like it won't be happening.

Joseph D'Hippolito said...

What will happen when the goals dry up, as they are bound to at some point?

Then even the most blinkered Galaxy fan will know how pathetic the defense is. Not even the American Claude Makelele, Joe Franchino, will be able to help.

BTW, a.c., I think you're wrong about Beckham's affect. I think 95 percent of the Galaxy's "improvement" has to do with him being healthy and being able to connect with Donovan effectively.

Anonymous said...

They're piling up goals without Ruiz. You'd think they'll be even more dangerous with Ruiz and LD up front but we'll see how everyone meshes with each other upon his return.

I can't see them staying with this defensive unit the entire season. Whether they get another defender or bring in a veteran GK they'll need to do something if they want go make a run at a title.