HexagonalBlog

FC Hollywood, USA

Yesterday the news had come down that Ruud Gullit and Alexi Lalas were on their way out of the LA Galaxy, but I didn't have the energy to write a post on it (Monday is my extended work day).  After reading around it's just the latest chapter in MLS' premier soap opera.

I'm not at all surprised that something like this happened at the Galaxy, especially after a very unsexy seven-match winless streak in a season where significant progress had to be shown.  Gullit, in contrast to Frank Yallop, was suited to handle the media glare on a team with soccer's most recognizable star and media sensation.  But he was unsuited to adapting to the pecularities of MLS and didn't seem to want to try, either.   (I do believe that some of his critiques of league scouting and the reserve league have some merit and should be addressed.)  In the end, though, I can feel some sympathy for Gullit.  I do not feel the same way about Alexi Lalas.  I am just amazed that he could manage to get the same kind of job in MLS after the previous two at San Jose and New York ended in failure.  His constant meddling with the squad and the signing off of that farcical lopsided schedule sabotaged Frank Yallop's tenure, and the only phrase of his that people will remember is "the jewel of MLS."  

Perhaps we should have seen this coming with the arrival of David Beckham.  In order for this deal to work, the LA Galaxy -- and by extension, MLS -- had to de-emphasize Beckham in a way.  It was possible to recognize that, by hiring the most recognizable face in world soccer, more attention would be placed on the league and there existed an opportunity to be exploited.  At the same time, it was imperative that the Galaxy be operated like a proper club and MLS be run like a proper league where Beckham is not the consuming focus.  On the latter, both entities have failed and run the risk of being taken even less seriously. 

There are three and a half more years for everyone to get this right.  In doing so, the owners at the Galaxy need to answer one question: are they a soccer club, or an entertainment company that happens to play soccer occasionally?

An apology to Crew fans

I was able to read more on what had happened in Columbus Sunday night -- from the Times of London (two articles -- thanks Jonathan), from BigSoccer (thanks Chuck), and from the Crew's official website.  I recommend reading the comments from the Times and BigSoccer; they're very illuminating.  Based on what I've been able to read, there was much less to the incidents than what was reported by the AP, and what happened is not any more serious than what happens at a typical match in the NFL or some other professional sports league in America.

So I'd like to express a heartfelt apology to Columbus Crew supporters for taking on face value a severely inaccurate news report and jumping to some very strong conclusions.

There's more I'd like to say about stadium security during soccer matches, but that's for another post.

I guess it can happen here after all

My first response when I read this was...Dude.

A halftime brawl between more than 100 fans marred an exhibition match Sunday between West Ham United of the English Premier League club and the MLS’ Columbus Crew.

The fights, which overshadowed West Ham United’s 3-1 win, began when a handful of West Ham supporters, some wearing the team’s claret and blue colors, entered the northeast corner of the stadium where the Crew’s most boisterous supporters typically gather.

Crew supporters began directing chants toward the rival fans, and fights quickly broke out between more than 100 Crew fans and at least 30 West Ham fans. Columbus police officers and Crew Stadium security staff eventually separated the groups.

I know that MLS doesn't have any jurisdiction over a friendly match (at least, I don't think they do), but either the League or the USSF need to come down very hard against the Crew and its supporters.  This is something that the sport in this country does not need. 

UPDATE:  Please read this post.

Ariel Ortega to FCD?

Argentine sports daily Olé is reporting that FC Dallas is making an offer to former Argentina World Cup midfielder (and current River Plate player) Ariel Ortega.  Olé links to this story on the Dallas Morning News website, but from reading the article it appears that Ortega is part of a group of players at River that John Ellinger will take a look at.   Ortega had fallen out of favor with Diego Simeone and the River Plate management, but relations are much better now and I doubt that they would let him go.  I would rate FCD's chances of signing him under 25 percent.

Even if they managed to get him, FC Dallas would be taking a gamble with Ariel Ortega, almost as big as the one they took when they signed Denilson.  Ortega has been one of the most gifted Argentine midfielders of his generation, and when he was at his best he was one of the best midfielders in the world, but his recurring problems with alcohol have started to take a toll on him.  Looking back, that fiasco of a transfer to Fenerbahce was the turning point of Ortega's career.  Dallas would serve as a change of scenery that could be beneficial to him, but the Hoops need to go into this decision with eyes wide open.

FC Dallas is also receiving offers from Steaua Bucharest for Juan Toja, and if he goes they would need to sign a midfielder and striker during the transfer period.

UPDATE: This article says that Ortega has ruled out a move.  And as I surmised yesterday, there's more to Ellinger's visit than just Ortega.

Revolutionary heroes

Tomorrow, the New England Revolution will play Chivas USA in a SuperLiga match.  But three members of the Revs staff have already distinguished themselves by subduing a disruptive passenger on their Boston-Los Angeles flight a few days ago.  I'm pretty sure that Mike Burns, Craig Tornberg, and Gwynne Williams don't necessarily see themselves as heroes but rather as people who did what needed to be done at the time.  And for that, the rest of us are grateful.

Incidentally, Mike Burns was a defender on the 1998 US World Cup team.

"Shouldn't you be in Austria?"

Nice touch, Barra Bravas.

News from Spain

Some news from Spain relevant to CONCACAF in general and MLS in particular:

• Welcome to La Liga, Giovani.  In the final match of the season against Getafe, Giovani dos Santos scored his first goals in the top flight in the best possible way -- a hat-trick.  His second and third goals were beautiful.  Barca won 5-3, and with Guardiola taking over from Rijkaard the next question is, "Does Giovani stay?"  If he goes, that could be an even bigger mistake than letting Ronaldinho go.  Giovani did have ankle surgery today and will wear a cast for four weeks.
• After navigating yet another Liga side into the Champions League, Javier Aguirre decides to fulfill the option on his contract with Atlético Madrid.  And now Mexico's federation will have to look elsewhere to fill that national team position.  Aguirre said that his future at the club was never in danger, which I doubt many people believe but begs a question: why was his job ever in danger?  El Mundo Deportivo has more. 
• And might Thierry Henry be in Seattle on MLS First Kick 2009?  MARCA is reporting (and quoting an Independent of London story) that the Sounders have offered close to US$5 million per year for Henry's services.  (The Independent is saying that the offer is for £5.2 million a year, and that's quite different.)  It would be tremendous for MLS -- Henry might be the second most recognizable soccer player in the USA next to Beckham -- but it probably won't happen right now.  Henry is on the downswing of his career but he has at least one more year in Europe, and Diario AS quotes him as saying that he'll stay in Barcelona. 

Perfect Edson Buddle

Congratulations to Edson Buddle for netting a perfect hat trick (left foot, right foot, header) in the LA Galaxy-FC Dallas match today.  Anyone know the last time a perfect hat trick was achieved in MLS?

Back to the Bay

Last weekend I was back in the Bay Area to meet with some friends from my alma mater, and I decided to go see the San Jose Earthquakes play the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.  The last time I saw the Quakes play the mood was a mixture of glumness and uncertainty, because of the team's elimination from the playoffs and the almost certain departure of the organization.  This time the mood was much happier.  I saw a lot of Quakes fans wearing hats saying "Back in 2008".  And the fan groups were as festive as I had remembered (the Ultras group make more of a visual show).

I had not been to Buck Shaw Stadium before, but I had known that it was used mostly for soccer by Santa Clara and baseball before that.  The Quakes have done a very good job of renovating and expanding the stadium, and the result is well worth the money they spent.  In my opinion, Buck Shaw is the best of the interim stadiums in MLS -- it's the best size for the fan base, the sightlines are good, the surrounding scenery is beautiful, and best of all, there are no gridiron lines.  I don't feel the same way about the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, but with Wolff's ownership of the A's and the Quakes playing there for big matches makes sense.

As for the game, the Quakes play like an expansion team.  It seemed that they had given up on playing the ball through midfield and decided to pump long balls from the goalkeeper or the back line to the strikers.  It would have been nice if the strikers were able to create a scoring opportunity, but that task seemed to be beyond them.  In the end, a set piece was the only way that San Jose was going to score.  Toronto FC last season showed how difficult it is for a new side without effective scorers, and San Jose is finding this out as well.

The Crew started slowly but took over the game once they were able to successfully link their midfield to their forward line.  Guillermo Barros Schelotto was drifting from one side of the field to another and made life difficult for the Quakes back line.  His corner kicks were also a threat with Ezra Hendrickson hitting the crossbar on one occasion (he was also a handful for the defense with his deep overlapping runs).  But the goals that Columbus scored occurred in the run of play.  Two well-weighted diagonal passes from Ekpo and Moreno found Robbie Rogers alone against Joe Cannon, and he finished clinically both times.  Schelotto sent through Brad Evans a couple of minutes later, and he finished high into the net.  San Jose got a goal back to make stoppage time interesting, but in the end the Crew had obtained a very good road win. 

I left Buck Shaw very impressed by the Crew's play.  If they can stay consistent (easier said than done in MLS), they have an excellent chance of being title contenders.  Robbie Rogers is a young striking talent the USA needs, and Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a player who can lead the side and demand consistent play.  I haven't seen Schelotto play in person since I went to a Boca Juniors game seven years ago, and I was able to get a smile out of him after the game when I chanted "Guille!  Guille!" as he was leaving the field.

Sorry I wasn't able to see my Quakes friends in the Casbah or Club Quake, but I had fun nonetheless.

And now I'm off

Well it's time for me to head off to the Bay Area for a function at my alma mater.  It just so happens that the San José Earthquakes are playing at home to Columbus on Saturday, so I'll try to get a ticket to see the reborn Quakes.  I have no idea what I'll be wearing, but I should be easy to spot.

When I come back on Sunday I do want to address some of the comments about my Champions League post -- I've had very little time this week due to work.