Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. A
native of England, he began writing about soccer in
the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat
in the stands for one in
the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home
Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas
USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.Galaxy Post-Game
First, lets break down the half time personnel moves by Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit that changed the nature of this game.
Gullit inserted new Galaxy signing Joey Franchino - a player he had seen only on video - into the middle of the park in place of the ineffective Alan Gordon. Josh Tudela also came out, with left back Mike Randolph slotting into left midfield and Sean Franklin moving over into his position. Abel Xavier came in for Franklin in central defense.
"I had to have a little bit more power in midfield," Gullit said, adding that Franchino was valuable because of his left foot.
"We didn't have control of midfield (in the first half)," Gullit added. "There were too many gaps."
Goalkeeper Steve Cronin also credited Franchino for restoring order - and perhaps intimidating the Dynamo a little, too.
"He's a presence there," Cronin said. "He's a hard-nosed guy."
David Beckham lamented the lack of "fight" and "urgency" the Galaxy demonstrated in the opening 45 minutes.
"A few words were spoken at half time by players and management," he said.
But Beckham rejected the notion he and Donovan had essentially played the role of white knights for the Galaxy.
"It's more about the fight that went on before it," he said. "That's what got us back into the game."
Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear conceded that on the balance of play the draw constituted a "fair result," considering how the momentum "came and went" for his team after outplaying the Galaxy in the opening 45 minutes.
"We just couldn't hold onto the ball as well as we did in the first half and it hurt us a little bit," he said.
But just in case the importance (over reliance?) of Donovan for the Galaxy needed emphasizing, it's worth pointing out he now has five goals in four games and has scored all but one of the Galaxy's goals so far in this young season (Becks has the other).
Game details here.
Comments
Excellent post game wrap up, Nick! I was wondering what the players and coaches were saying or thinking prior to going out for the second half. Certainly, a game of two halves. Thanks.
Posted by: Frank | April 20, 2008 1:07 AM
Thanks for the write up.
The second half was quite impressive play by the G's.
Now they only need to get rid of the slow Xavier and Vanney (two liabilities).
Franchino "turned" the game.
Hey Ruud, watch more Videos ;-)
Posted by: Ben | April 20, 2008 4:20 AM