Fire-Galaxy Post-Game

Bruce Arena

Photos by Scott Varley

Watched and blogging my fourth game in 24 hours or so.

Stand back and no one will get hurt.

This was one of those nights when the press conference was more interesting than the actual game.

We had a local lad having a great night, a new famous coach at his first game and Brian McBride back in MLS.

Here's Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena on his first game in charge against the Fire:

"I think they're one of the better teams in the league and I thought they came out well and put us under a lot of pressure early. It took us about 20 minutes to get settled."

On the Galaxy and what the team needs:

"The effort for 90 minutes was good. The organization of the team was improved, but certainly not good enough. We're missing a few players at the attacking end of the field to help make us a little bit better and that was pretty obvious."

On the goal:

"We lost the ball in a bad spot on the field and did not react well as a group. Give Thorrington credit, It was a very good finish."

Arena on the Carlos Ruiz transfer:

"My preference would be to have Carlos here as well as Eddie Lewis. ... Some moves had to be made. We talked to a number of teams not only on Carlos, but some other players. But in order to to be able to sign Eddie Lewis - who is a player I think this teams needs and will help us make better - we had to make a roster move. And there were certain financial implications involved with it. The other part of that equation is you need to look at that as not only a short term move, but a move that allows you more flexibility in the off-season as you try to improve this roster."

On Eddie Lewis, who Arena had observed earlier was out indefinitely after the World Cup qualifying lunge he suffered in Guatemala until he had some tests:

"He'll need some tests to make sure there aren't any issues so we need to wait and see," he said. "We want to take the right precautions to make sure they're aren't any issues you can't tell by touching, feeling. I think he's got to have a scan."

Brian McBride on Bruce Arena: "He's a great coach. If you look at his record everywhere he's went he's made a team better. When given time he's done some amazing things. So I expect him to succeed greatly. I have the utmost respect for him as a coach, as a person and I wish him the best."

Goalkeeper Steve Cronin on the goal:

"Some goals are saveable, (Yes, he said that) some aren't. I felt I did everything I could on that one. I saw it fine and everything. It's disappointing to give up a goal that started with a bad pass in midfield and a guy comes 30 yards down the field and finishes it and nobody steps to him."

The Palos Verdes Peninsula's John Thorrington played a starring role in the game before South Bay family and friends.

Here's Thorrington on how his career has turned around after getting waived by the Fire and having tryouts with the Galaxy and Chivas USA:

"I had some time away from the game last year when I wanted to come back and play at home and it didn't work out," he said, adding Coach Dennis Hamlett gave him another chance toward the end of last season. "As soon as Dennis got the job he was very clear with me with what he expected and put some faith in me and I think we've got a team where I can play a role that suits me. ... It's a nice phase in my career right now."

On how the Fire play without Blanco: "We're obviously a bit younger when he's not on the field (laughter all around the press conference). We do miss his playmaking ability and his ability to make passes out of nowhere. We become so reliant on him because he is so good so I think it's a good exercise for us."

Game story.

Highlights: