Pregame musings
Get ready to rumble in Week 3, and those of us not in the West need to be prepared to stay up late tonight, because the big game's a late one. Who needs to be awake for Easter Mass anyway? Yep, I'm talkin' 'bout the Súper Clásico in la Ciudad de Los Angeles, and now one's more surprised than me that this is the big game of the day. A year ago, I would have passed this game by just to avoid that sense of embarassment you get when you're going to witness someone going down in a hail of shame. You know, that same feeling you'd get about 20 minutes into an episode of Fraiser, whenever you realized that Fraiser and Niles had just taken a left turn into utter you-deserve-it-because-you're-pompous ineptness. But this year, well, if there's a walk of shame, it'll be well-deserved, no matter which team takes it.
In Week 3, Chivas is tied for second in the West with Houston and Colorado, whereas last year's Cup Champions the Galaxy is standing in fifth. For Chivas, this isn't saying so very much yet. Chivas whaled on Real Salt Lake in a 3-0 victory, then lost to DC last week 2-0. Admittedly, some attribute that loss last week to some bad luck and bad calls for Chivas, but that aside, they played well. For the Galaxy, however, their standing speaks volumes. They lost against the Revs 1-0 and then tied 1-1 last week with the Fire, who also is sitting in fifth in the East. The Galaxy have not played well, their opponents have cut through their defenses and kept superstar Landon Donovan a marked man. This kind of play has frustrated Donovan to the point of public venting.
I'm about to repeat what I said about a month ago about the USMNT, all I've got to do is replace USMNT with Chivas -- and isn't that an interesting exchange ... Anyway, Chivas doesn't necessarily have to win, all it has to do is play well and come up with a decent score. If it draws with the Galaxy, it's a win. If it beats the Galaxy, it's a conquest. It's quite possible that Chivas will completely self-destruct, like the USMNT did against Germany, and get snuffed and thrown to the bottom of the standings well, where they will either spend the rest of the season either crawling out or wallowing in. All Chivas has to do is fight hard and play like they belong in the big leagues. The same applies to the Galaxy, only the theme of that win won't be Underdog Prevails, but rather The King Isn't Yet Dethroned. Sure, if they play well but draw, they'll salvage their honor some, but a true win, without technicalities, is needed to restore their glory.
So there's a lot riding for both teams, which means a lot of pressure. In this case, I think the drive for respectability is going to be a better motivator than the instinct for survival. However, that will bring the teams dead equal. In the game of Chivas vs. Galaxy, it's a draw.
Colombus vs. Chicago -- Oh, how I wish that I could go for the Crew on this game. No one will be happier than I will be if Colombus pulls it out and gets a win. But Chicago has been a scrappy bunch, fighting each game like a pack of dogs over an thrown out BigMac. Barring a miracle, I think it's Chicago.
DC vs. Houston -- This is going to be a good game. DC is tied for second with New England in the East and is coming off a 2-0 victory against the Goats. Houston is coming off a squeaker of a loss to the Wizards. The Dynamo, the Earthquakes in Orange and Humidity, will give a hard fight, but I think DC has found its footing and will prove it. DC will be the winner.
Wizards vs. Revs -- Oooh, I don't know. I just don't know! Quite honestly, the Revs should have killed the Galaxy in Week 1 and snuffed the CarbonatedPixieStix in Week 2. So they're not doing nearly as well as I would have thought. The Wizards narrowly beat Houston last week and killed the Crew in Week 1, so they're sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern standings. But have they really been tested? Today's the day for both teams. I'm going to go with sentiment on this, since the Wizards are my regional favorite. The neon baby blue hat on the hatrack over there says Wizards win.
Rapids vs. FC Dallas -- Yeah the Rapids beat the Crew last week. Ho hum. FC Dallas, however, opened the season with a good give-and-take game against the Fire and then knocked Real. The Rapids are up-and-coming, but Dallas is already there. It's Dallas.
Salt Lake vs. New York -- This is an easy one, two ties by New York trumps two losses. New York wins, easy.
In Week 3, Chivas is tied for second in the West with Houston and Colorado, whereas last year's Cup Champions the Galaxy is standing in fifth. For Chivas, this isn't saying so very much yet. Chivas whaled on Real Salt Lake in a 3-0 victory, then lost to DC last week 2-0. Admittedly, some attribute that loss last week to some bad luck and bad calls for Chivas, but that aside, they played well. For the Galaxy, however, their standing speaks volumes. They lost against the Revs 1-0 and then tied 1-1 last week with the Fire, who also is sitting in fifth in the East. The Galaxy have not played well, their opponents have cut through their defenses and kept superstar Landon Donovan a marked man. This kind of play has frustrated Donovan to the point of public venting.
I'm about to repeat what I said about a month ago about the USMNT, all I've got to do is replace USMNT with Chivas -- and isn't that an interesting exchange ... Anyway, Chivas doesn't necessarily have to win, all it has to do is play well and come up with a decent score. If it draws with the Galaxy, it's a win. If it beats the Galaxy, it's a conquest. It's quite possible that Chivas will completely self-destruct, like the USMNT did against Germany, and get snuffed and thrown to the bottom of the standings well, where they will either spend the rest of the season either crawling out or wallowing in. All Chivas has to do is fight hard and play like they belong in the big leagues. The same applies to the Galaxy, only the theme of that win won't be Underdog Prevails, but rather The King Isn't Yet Dethroned. Sure, if they play well but draw, they'll salvage their honor some, but a true win, without technicalities, is needed to restore their glory.
So there's a lot riding for both teams, which means a lot of pressure. In this case, I think the drive for respectability is going to be a better motivator than the instinct for survival. However, that will bring the teams dead equal. In the game of Chivas vs. Galaxy, it's a draw.
Colombus vs. Chicago -- Oh, how I wish that I could go for the Crew on this game. No one will be happier than I will be if Colombus pulls it out and gets a win. But Chicago has been a scrappy bunch, fighting each game like a pack of dogs over an thrown out BigMac. Barring a miracle, I think it's Chicago.
DC vs. Houston -- This is going to be a good game. DC is tied for second with New England in the East and is coming off a 2-0 victory against the Goats. Houston is coming off a squeaker of a loss to the Wizards. The Dynamo, the Earthquakes in Orange and Humidity, will give a hard fight, but I think DC has found its footing and will prove it. DC will be the winner.
Wizards vs. Revs -- Oooh, I don't know. I just don't know! Quite honestly, the Revs should have killed the Galaxy in Week 1 and snuffed the CarbonatedPixieStix in Week 2. So they're not doing nearly as well as I would have thought. The Wizards narrowly beat Houston last week and killed the Crew in Week 1, so they're sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern standings. But have they really been tested? Today's the day for both teams. I'm going to go with sentiment on this, since the Wizards are my regional favorite. The neon baby blue hat on the hatrack over there says Wizards win.
Rapids vs. FC Dallas -- Yeah the Rapids beat the Crew last week. Ho hum. FC Dallas, however, opened the season with a good give-and-take game against the Fire and then knocked Real. The Rapids are up-and-coming, but Dallas is already there. It's Dallas.
Salt Lake vs. New York -- This is an easy one, two ties by New York trumps two losses. New York wins, easy.
posted by MLS Fangirl @ 7:06 AM
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