MLS Cup Final: Galaxy v Dynamo - Gamethread
by Dave Clark on Nov 20, 2011 5:02 PM PST
in Major League Soccer: News & Analysis
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Sunday night's capper on a fairly amazing 2011 Major League Soccer season will see one of the Los Angeles Galaxy or Houston Dynamo set a little bit of history. Each coach can claim the most MLS Cups, Landon Donovan and Brian Ching are making their 4th appearance in the Cup Final and there's that possibility that the Galaxy become the team with most regulation wins in a single MLS season. Still, for a Sounders fan there are a few other reasons to watch the game. Kinnear and Ching both have Seattle ties. There's a strong likelihood that if the Galaxy win Seattle goes straight to the CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage for the 2012-13 competition.
There's also that little thing about see if the David Beckham saga ends on a high note. Before he heads out to France, as seems so strongly rumored this days, will he get the MLS Cup? For the Dynamo this is their chance to reacquire a title they've already held twice, to open a new stadium with even more glory and get that final push for a local owner that cares.
This is the League's showcase event and I'll be watching while rooting for quality soccer and leaning towards a Dynamo win.
Sunday, 6 PM Pacific on ESPN, ESPN3.com, Galavision and Canadian TV as well.
Do you have a favorite? Do you care about this last game of the 2011 season, or are you more concerned about preparations for 2012 which hit the news furiously tomorrow?
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Injury Remainder
Galaxy are without Chad Barrett
Dynamo are without Brad Davis
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I desperately want preseason to start NOW
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by Dave Clark on Nov 20, 2011 5:29 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed.
I was just thinking about how glad I am that we have only 3 months off between seasons.
Can’t wait for 2012.
Can't wait until preseason matches
Need to start getting to some of those Academy matches at Starfire too, really interested, and at least there’s Club World Cup, UEFA CL, BPL, J League, and Serie A review shows on FSC to follow.
go galaxy
i want galaxy to win so we can go to the group stage
by alexyepz on Nov 20, 2011 5:34 PM PST via mobile reply actions
If there's anything we've learned today
It’s that MLS and USSF don’t necessarily do things in ways that make sense
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Not sure if this is 100 % reliable
But seems that the editor-in-chief of mlssoccer.com confirmed that the Sounders would get the group stage berth if LA wins the MLS Cup. See: http://www.bigsoccer.com/soccer/usafan12/2011/11/18/ccl-2012-13-qualifiers-quarters-semis-and-a-final/
I'm doubtful because it wasn't confirmed and USSF didn't meet about it until today
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Me too
But there could be a written rule that makes it obvious and therefore no need to meet about it.
Okay, that may be unlikely.
Rain stopped
I want to see a good attacking type game and rain makes it trickier.
Nos audietis in somniis, Nos audietis in altum: You will hear us!
by chrisso on Nov 20, 2011 5:37 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Also making it tricky:
the Dynamo and Galaxy are playing.
by Aaron Campeau on Nov 20, 2011 5:46 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Dead ball team v dead ball team without its specialist?
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Sounder At Heart
Galaxy Lineup
Saunders, Franklin, Gonzalez, DeLaGarza, Dunivant, Donovan, Beckham, Juninho, Magee, Cristman, Keane
Their CB pairing is one of the oddest in soccer
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Dynamo LIneup
Hall; Hainault, Boswell, Cameron, Taylor; Cruz, Camargo, Moffat, Ashe; Ching, Carr
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Sounder At Heart
History will tell us that Houston will win.
The last two victors have come from the Western conference and cruised to the finals in the East. Houston made the switch before the season even started knowing it would increase their chances. :)
Unofficial Sounder Fan Club President - New Mexico Division
by Brian23 on Nov 20, 2011 6:03 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Pregame warm up done.
Good atmosphere here.
Nos audietis in somniis, Nos audietis in altum: You will hear us!
by chrisso on Nov 20, 2011 6:05 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
This pregame show makes me think
We won’t be missing ESPN that much after all.
Writer: CougCenter Twitterer: @Grady_WSU
You won't be missing ESPN
because they still have the games next year?
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Wait, who am I supposed to root for?
My head says an LA win would be the best for the Sounders, but I don’t know if I can stoop that low.
Got to love the ESPN theory that all of MLS’s growth is due to David Beckham…
by magistermilitum on Nov 20, 2011 6:11 PM PST reply actions
Anybody else thinking Houston is going to play pretty cynically?
by magistermilitum on Nov 20, 2011 6:12 PM PST up reply actions
To me it seemed like they were saying the opposite...
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 6:12 PM PST up reply actions
he may get too much credit, but...
He certainly deserves a good bit. His presence has vastly widened awareness of MLS elsewhere, forced MLS’s hand re DP and it’s expansion, and has gone a long way toward making it “OK” for players elsewhere to talk about playing and to actually do it. We still have a long way to go…but Beckham has, on balance, been a very good thing for the MLS.
Around the League
Is anyone listening to Soccer Radio Theater 3000?
This is fantastic!
How do you log in though?
by magistermilitum on Nov 20, 2011 6:22 PM PST up reply actions
If you have a ustream account
Just type something and hit enter and a login window will pop up
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
I created an account
because its better than ESPN.
As much as I hate Harkes
I don’t think this is the game I’ll try those guys out for, and they’ll never touch Arlo.
I actually would like LA to win
Because it would be refreshing to see the best team in the league win the MLS Cup.
Or not
hooray proper replay angles
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
That was pretty deliberate
Think a red should’ve been considered as Keane would’ve been in on goal alone?
Reminder
Tally Hall is the 2nd best keeper to come out of Gig Harbor. Gaschk is the first, of course.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
That was a great series of buildup by LA
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
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It's a small thing
But it is surprising that the markings on the field are so faint.
Didn't think of it until you mentioned it
But it did rain earlier, so if they used easily removable paint it could’ve been partially removed.
The compression on my stream hides such details =)
Bit it is surprising that the field does not seem to be in a very good condition. Rain or no rain.
It must've rained a lot
Because we’re starting to see players slip, like the LA player on the top of the screen just now. You might be able to see the divots on the close up shots, and the rain is starting again.
Yeah, I actually see them in close-ups
Pretty shocking. A good field should not do that even if it has been raining.
A sustained attack by the Dynamo!
resulting in a lofted cross that Saunders easily grabs
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Ching in headgear bothers me
Logic says it’s the right idea.
Emotion though
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Beckham being all sporting
he could have chosen to keep pressuring. If there’s anything al-Sadd taught us it’s that in a Final you win.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
And for all the things you don't like about him
his vision and passing is still so good
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
When I cross the ball
I cross it to the keeper
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
You know, technically we're CSRN guys...
by Aaron Campeau on Nov 20, 2011 7:13 PM PST up reply actions
american soccer podcast or whatever
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 7:15 PM PST up reply actions
american soccer show
part of CSRN
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
all in good fun
or they’ll loes their #1 team pod
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
It was about the whole "Sounders invented " joke
Which IMO died halfway through this season when random facebook commenters were using it to discount Montero’s goals of the week.
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 7:16 PM PST up reply actions
I tell Seattle Invented jokes when I'm on with them
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
It wasn't an awful half
no signature moment yet, but some decent play by both sides.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
It's not like it's been all route one
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Bradley Cooper sighting there
put that ball way over the net though.
Recessionproof since 2009.
by 253Sounder on Nov 20, 2011 7:16 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I want Bradley Cooper up top
FTFY
Recessionproof since 2009.
by 253Sounder on Nov 20, 2011 7:32 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
David Beckham tries to kill someone
claims “I got ball”
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Cannot believe Beckham got away without a booking
Then again maybe I should not be surprised.
He's been booked quite a bit this year
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Keane screwed up there
that was bascially a free shot and he blew it
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I would be so happy to have Franklin, AJ or Omar on the Sounders
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
DeLaGarza has
he plays anywhere on the line. Franklin may be more CB than RB
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
The conditions are definitely having an effect on the match
And mainly in favor of Houston.
Oh Keane
great move to pick the pocket of a defender and then he pulls up?
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Sounder At Heart
This pitch just got a little more DP
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Ok, that highlight is going to be on a lot of promos
Beckham to Keane to Donovan
Garber must be ecstatic
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Sounder At Heart
Yellow for a tactical foul by Beckham
LA is gunning for this.
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Aaron's favorite player taken off
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If
the score remains the same how soon will we know who has the other group stage spot?
I don't want Beckham's time in MLS to end due to injury
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
if you could redraft
would you still take Zakuani with the first pick in 2009 or Gonzalez (who went 3rd)? Both players you could build a team around. Just curious what you guys think. Id still draft Zak but it’d be close.
Mostly boring game
glad it’s almost over so we can get this post season goin.
Recessionproof since 2009.
by 253Sounder on Nov 20, 2011 8:19 PM PST via mobile reply actions
blah
off season*
Recessionproof since 2009.
by 253Sounder on Nov 20, 2011 8:20 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Meh...
And get to find out who we lose in the expansion draft. :-(
by regnaD kciN on Nov 20, 2011 8:22 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
With the Galaxy champions yet again,
And his work on Earth done, Don Garber teleports back to his home planet of BLARGON-7
Writer: CougCenter Twitterer: @Grady_WSU
And
a joke of one with stuff being thrown at him by the houston fans
He was trying to take advantage of the situation
Of course the junk being thrown did not prevent him from starting play
the Beckham/Donovan hug will be the cover of Wahl's next book
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Houston fans popping smoke at the end was odd
Not a time to celebrate for the,
I want
to know whats up with them throwing stuff at LD.
Frustration?
And many soccer fans do not like Donovan.
by AAAA on Nov 20, 2011 8:26 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
well they didn't really have a reason to use them earlier
and probably didn’t want to bring them back home
by Colin Johnson on Nov 20, 2011 8:24 PM PST up reply actions
Wow. What a great reason to pop smoke.
Looked like idiots to me.
Whatever.
There’s something to be said for supporting your team the very literal end.
by Aaron Campeau on Nov 20, 2011 8:27 PM PST up reply actions
So Sounders don't have to play the play-in for the champions league, right?
Writer: CougCenter Twitterer: @Grady_WSU
It is still to be confirmed
But hopefully that is going to happen.
Up for debate
We might get seeded to the group phase directly as the runner up to the Supporter’s Shield since LA won both the Cup and Shield spots, but USSF and MLS might do something stupid and give it to Houston.
umm
they can’t cause Houston is already in CCL via MLS cup runner ups.
With that same logic they could not give to us
Because we are already in CCL via USOC win
Seattle
is supporter shield runner up. So in theory we get group stage via then RSL gets the other prelimary round as 3rd place team.
I thought
that was the case but i was corrected regarding that over at bigsoccer.com
Why would you go to bigsoccer?
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
its better
than soundersfc.com messageboard.
To remind yourself to not go there anymore
I do it periodically.
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 8:35 PM PST up reply actions
No
All replacement teams from the USA are American teams from MLS
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Using that logic
Houston should get the automatic group stage birth.
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 8:33 PM PST up reply actions
Nah, Seattle should
They usually promote the next team for the Supporter’s Shield, as there’s a clear progression past 1 and 2, but we’ll see.
according
to MLS_insider via twitter
http://twitter.com/MLS_Insider/status/138474377820909568
that seattle is in group stage and RSL gets into prelimary round
Though if I were Chicago I'd be pissed
Effectively we, Seattle, slip into the Supporter’s Shield slot in the group phase, and there’s no representative from the LHUSOC.
well, that's why you do well during the season
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 8:41 PM PST up reply actions
That is not going to happen
It has already been confirmed that RSL will get a CCL berth based on finishing third in the regular season.
There are two precedents for a team getting two berths to the CCL like LA did this year. Both times the extra spot was handed down to the Supporters Shield runners-up. And as I said, it has been confirmed that this year too the spot is handed down based on regular season standings.
What has not happened before is the Supporters Shield runners-up already having qualified to CCL. The open question is whether LA’s group stage berth is handed down directly to RSL, or if it is handed down to the Sounders, who then hand down the preliminary round spot to RSL.
And we're already in the CCL prelims because of the LHUSOC
Houston gets the CCL prelims because of MLS Cup runner up.
Another ugly win for the Galaxy
like half their games this season. Oh well we gain a group stage birth in the CCL now!
Hopefully that will be the case...
But, you know what? Even with the outcome helping us and the fact that Houston are world-class thugs, I still couldn’t bring myself to be happy at a championship by the Yankees of the MLS. Blah!
by regnaD kciN on Nov 20, 2011 8:29 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Worth noting
For 2 years in a row now, the USOC final drew a bigger attendance than the MLS Cup final.
That is because it has been played in a stadium with functionally unlimited seating.
by Aaron Campeau on Nov 20, 2011 8:29 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
It hosted a football game yesterday
So no.
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 8:49 PM PST up reply actions
And the venue was decided before the season even began
So it is a moot point
You appear to have missed the word "functionally."
Not a surprise given your struggles with omitting words.
No worries though I’m sure if you just keep at it you’ll get there :)
by Aaron Campeau on Nov 20, 2011 9:47 PM PST up reply actions
Beckham to Keane to Donovan
Congrats to LA, you got what you paid for.
I actually mean that. They paid top dollar for elite talent and that talent delivered a Supporters Shield and a MLS Cup.
RSL seems to think that the Sounders get the group stage berth
But who know if their guy on twitter knows what they are talking about
http://twitter.com/#!/RealSaltLake/status/138473836508233728
MLS_Insider tweets that as well
http://twitter.com/#!/MLS_Insider/status/138474377820909568
I'm
looking to see if there is an exact article confirming this but haven’t found one yet.
MLS_Insider is close to being the official word on this though
“Tweeting for and about Major League Soccer from inside MLSHQ in New York City and beyond.”
CONCACAF doesn't send teams to CCL
USSF does.
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 20, 2011 9:52 PM PST up reply actions
I mean
on concacaf’s website. They will usually have an article on who qualifies for the CCL on their websites.
True
But CONCACAF usually has a story up when qualifiers are confirmed. Like they did the day when Sounders won the USOC and the day when LA confirmed their supporters shield victory.
Hopefully they will have an article up later today or tomorrow. But I assume they will have to clarify things with USSF/MLS first.
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