Previously posted about the expectations of the clubs I follow.
Where are we now?
QPR: "At the low end for QPR is the practical goal of AVOIDING relegation. Given their financial limits due to FFP fines, they aren't going to be bringing in pricey players or even non-pricy players. They will need to make do with their in-house talent of which there are some promising young ones. So if they stay up in the Championship, the season would have to be called a success!
If the young players bloom, the high end of the expectations would be to finish in the upper half of the bottom half. There are 24 teams in the Championship so the bottom half is 13-24 and the upper half of that is 13-18. If they get to 18, they should throw a parade around Loftus Road!"
They are currently in 10th place! Can they keep it up?!
LFC: "Man City is still the biggest fish among the big six and remains the favorite to win the Premier League. Thus, a lively race for the title (win or lose) would be wonderful for the long disappointed Liverpool fans. Winning a title of any kind would be nice as well (League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League, or Premier League). The only cup that would be considered a disappointment would be Europa League Cup because that would mean the team crashed out of the group stage in Champions League!"
LFC has crashed out of the League Cup. They are in group stage of Champions League looking solid. Currently, #2 in the Premier league. Can they keep going strong? Hope so!
Falkenberg: "they are one the brink of pulling off automatic promotion back to the top league! They have 11 games to go and eight points ahead of third place Eskilstuna that would qualify for the promotion playoff. Promotion or bust!"
#2 and in automatic promotion place six points ahead of Eskilstuna with two games to go! They should do it! GO FFF!
Elfsborg: "13 games to go and they are in 13th place. 14th place leaves them in relegation playoffs and 15/16th place is automatic relegation. In summer business, they did extend some people (Frick, Kaib, Ronning, Dresevic) but they did sell on (Jebali, Horn) and added (Obasi, Holst). Their defense isn't bad as there are plenty of teams that give up more goals but their offense is anemic with a paltry 15 goals, second worst in the league."
11th place nine points above the relegation playoff spot with two games to go. So they will not be relegated!
LAFC: "They are solidly in the playoffs (3rd place in the west) and are aiming for seeding. Winning the west is not impossible but second is within reach. Aiming very high would be a MLS Cup final appearance. More likely is an appearance in the western conference finals."
They finished third. Will see how far they can go!
LAG: "Their near term goal is to stay afloat. Currently 4th in the west, they need to hang on while the DPs recover. Six teams make the playoffs per conference so finishing 6th is the goal. Hopefully, the DPs come back late in the season and they can get back into form and pull of a surprise and reach the western conference semi-finals."
They nose dived out of the playoff range and made a push at the end and had the #6 spot in their hands with a 2-0 lead over Houston. But they surrendered the lead and eventually lost to finish seventh out of the playoffs.
Dodgers 2018 and 2019 - contracts and plans
Hats off to the Red Sox on winning the 2018 World Series.
In the final analysis, they won on each front: starting pitching, relief pitching, and hitting.
And thanks for the memories to LA Dodgers 2018. It was a rough season of injuries but they managed to pull together enough pieces to make a run all the way to the World Series.
What is 2019 looking like?
Starting pitching:
Buehler – the new #1
Hill – solid competitor, veteran presence, the number 2 starter
Kershaw – he can opt-out but am thinking Dodgers will extend him a couple of years at reduced cost, but clearly his health issues will need to be looked at carefully and he may need to adjust his pitching style. Perhaps, needs to pick up a fourth pitch? He is now the #3 starter
Ryu – how much effort to make to re-sign him for a couple more years?
Urias – he might be ready to start next year?
Stripling – did he run out of gas but could he return to starting next year or train to be a set-up guy? Maeda – might be time to move him? Long contract might make it hard to move him though.
Wood – might be time to move him?
Relief pitching
Jansen – remains the closer but will be watched more closely regarding work load
Baez – closer in training
Ferguson – will he move to starting? Or train to be a set-up guy?
The rest of the relief corp is a mixed bag. Don't think anyone is a "must keep." Clearly, Dodger relief was outmatched by the Red Sox. This area may require a little more resourcing.
Position players
Barnes (C) – keep, is Ruiz ready from the minors?
Grandal (C) – time to let go, too much of a lightening rod, is Ruiz ready from the minors?
Freese (1B) – keep, need veteran presence and still productive
Muncy (1B) - keep
Dozier (2B) – keep? he played injured, could he be more productive if recovered?
Turner (3B) keep
Machado (SS) – clearly a rental - he will get big $ somewhere else
Seager (SS) – hope he will be fully recovered
Bellinger (1B, OF) - keep!
Hernandez (OF, 2B, SS) - keep?
Kemp (OF) – his contract is big so maybe deal him to AL so he can DH and occasionally play OF? However, the contract might be too big to move? Is Verdugo ready to move up from the minor leagues?
Pederson (OF) - keep?
Puig (OF) - keep, he came through big on a few occasions, is his contract up for renewal?
Taylor (OF, SS, 2B) – keep?
The 25?
In the final analysis, they won on each front: starting pitching, relief pitching, and hitting.
And thanks for the memories to LA Dodgers 2018. It was a rough season of injuries but they managed to pull together enough pieces to make a run all the way to the World Series.
What is 2019 looking like?
Starting pitching:
Buehler – the new #1
Hill – solid competitor, veteran presence, the number 2 starter
Kershaw – he can opt-out but am thinking Dodgers will extend him a couple of years at reduced cost, but clearly his health issues will need to be looked at carefully and he may need to adjust his pitching style. Perhaps, needs to pick up a fourth pitch? He is now the #3 starter
Ryu – how much effort to make to re-sign him for a couple more years?
Urias – he might be ready to start next year?
Stripling – did he run out of gas but could he return to starting next year or train to be a set-up guy? Maeda – might be time to move him? Long contract might make it hard to move him though.
Wood – might be time to move him?
Relief pitching
Jansen – remains the closer but will be watched more closely regarding work load
Baez – closer in training
Ferguson – will he move to starting? Or train to be a set-up guy?
The rest of the relief corp is a mixed bag. Don't think anyone is a "must keep." Clearly, Dodger relief was outmatched by the Red Sox. This area may require a little more resourcing.
Position players
Barnes (C) – keep, is Ruiz ready from the minors?
Grandal (C) – time to let go, too much of a lightening rod, is Ruiz ready from the minors?
Freese (1B) – keep, need veteran presence and still productive
Muncy (1B) - keep
Dozier (2B) – keep? he played injured, could he be more productive if recovered?
Turner (3B) keep
Machado (SS) – clearly a rental - he will get big $ somewhere else
Seager (SS) – hope he will be fully recovered
Bellinger (1B, OF) - keep!
Hernandez (OF, 2B, SS) - keep?
Kemp (OF) – his contract is big so maybe deal him to AL so he can DH and occasionally play OF? However, the contract might be too big to move? Is Verdugo ready to move up from the minor leagues?
Pederson (OF) - keep?
Puig (OF) - keep, he came through big on a few occasions, is his contract up for renewal?
Taylor (OF, SS, 2B) – keep?
The 25?
- Barnes (C)
- Ruiz or other minor league prospect (C)
- Freese (1B)
- Muncy (1B)
- Dozier (2B)
- Turner (3B)
- Seager (SS)
- Bellinger (OF, 1B)
- Hernandez (OF, IF)
- Pederson (OF)
- Puig (OF)
- Taylor (OF, IF)
- Verdugo (OF)
- Buehler (SP)
- Hill (SP)
- Kershaw (SP)
- Ryu (SP)
- Urias (SP)
- Stripling (SP)
- Jansen (RP)
- Baez (RP)
- Ferguson (RP)
- TBD (RP)
- TBD (RP)
- TBD (RP)
UPDATE:
Additional thoughts - what if the front office decides to "blow up the team" and try to move some of the players out?
Certainly, I don't think any of the relief corp is "safe" beside Jansen, Baez, and Ferguson. Some might be harder to move due to contract issues but I suspect the rest are on the table.
For the starting pitchers, I think Wood and Maeda showed that down the stretch they ran out of gas and might be moved out. If Ryu fetches a high price in the open market, I think the Dodgers won't match it and will let him go. Dodgers might need to get a top level starter to be part of a new 1-2 punch along with Buehler. Hill and Kershaw would be the wily veterans as the #3/4 starters. Urias would be the #5. Everyone else would be on the table to be moved.
Of the platoon players:
Left handed bat: Bellinger, Pederson, Muncy
Right handed bat: Hernandez, Kemp, Puig, Taylor
Who do you keep?
My feeling of this group Bellinger is probably the only "untouchable" since he is the one with the biggest up-side as a Rookie of the Year in 2017 and finding his way in 2018. He is only going to get better in 2019.
If you want to keep a defensive specialist with versatility, keep one or the other of Taylor and Hernandez. The rest would be on the table to be moved.
Of course putting somebody on the table to be moved doesn't mean they will get moved. You don't "give" players away in bad trades. Don't know if any are up for arbitration or free agency. In the case of free agents, I think Puig is in that category. How much do you want to pay to keep him?
Right handed bat: Hernandez, Kemp, Puig, Taylor
Who do you keep?
My feeling of this group Bellinger is probably the only "untouchable" since he is the one with the biggest up-side as a Rookie of the Year in 2017 and finding his way in 2018. He is only going to get better in 2019.
If you want to keep a defensive specialist with versatility, keep one or the other of Taylor and Hernandez. The rest would be on the table to be moved.
Of course putting somebody on the table to be moved doesn't mean they will get moved. You don't "give" players away in bad trades. Don't know if any are up for arbitration or free agency. In the case of free agents, I think Puig is in that category. How much do you want to pay to keep him?
California Electricity - what does 100% renewable mean?
Skinny version: 100% renewable sources for electrical generation is a good goal but there are some practical challenges to making it happen because of the variable nature of solar and wind production of electricity. In order to make it work, other more consistent renewable sources have to be developed, battery storage capacity dramatically increased, and as a final backstop traditional forms of electrical generation will probably have to be retained at some level. Below, an attempt to look at the numbers.
The California Independent System Operator's (ISO) mission as described on their web page: The ISO manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California’s and a small part of Nevada’s grid. The nonprofit public benefit corporation keeps power moving to homes and communities.
One would figure this source would offer a realistic view of the California electrical system and how we are doing in terms of renewable sources of power and what the future might need to look like to get to 100% renewable by 2045.
Today's electrical demand isn't all that high due to relatively mild temperatures throughout the major metro areas in California. See the screen capture below:
The lowest demand for power was at 4AM this morning with 21,340 MW. The peak demand hasn't occurred though it is projected to occur in the early evening at 19:45 where demand may reach 32,700. In the screen capture, it reports the highest electrical demand ever occurred on July 24, 2006 when demand reached 50,270 MW during an epic heat wave.
The state is on track to hit the 50% goal by 2030 if today's grid performance is typical. In the screen capture below, it says the grid was receiving 44.4% of its electricity from renewable sources.
Solar is the main source of renewable power (79.1%) in this snapshot.
What do these graphs tell us?
Since I haven't followed the issue, here are the things that strike me:
#1 The high amount of solar power is a pleasant surprise. With so much sunshine in California, it isn't surprising that solar would be an option but I hadn't realized that it represents such a large portion of the electrical supply.
#2 The low amount of wind power is a disappointment. With all the hype about wind and solar, I would have thought the balance between the two would have been closer. As you can see solar has a 16-fold edge over wind at this snapshot. It varies from day-to-day and hour-to-hour but clearly solar far exceeds wind in California.
#3 The supply graph confirms what I have heard, wind power does vary considerably. It peaked at 3011 MW (1:05AM) and fell to 630 MW (12:35). I looked back at a few other days to see if this is pretty typical. Some days wind can get almost to 4000 MW (July 18) and got as low as 412 MW on that same date.
#4 The other incredibly obvious feature of the supply graph is that solar varies from 0 in the dark to 10,000+ MW during the day time and it can stay at that level for a handful of hours during peak sunshine.
#5 On today's screen capture graph, the "imports" reached 16.4% (4473MW). Looking at a few random days in previous months that is not unusual. On some days the imports can reach up to 10,000MW. This highlights one of the major challenges of electrical management: matching supply with demand. From a random look at some other days in the last few months, it seems California is routinely importing some amount of electricity. I wonder if this is a consequence of our reliance on solar? Unlike a natural gas plant or a nuclear plant that you ramp up and down to the amount you want, you can only take an educated guess at how much solar you might get from the various solar farms throughout the state. I would guess the Cal ISO would then try to make up the shortfall by spinning up gas/nuclear plants and if still short, they buy power from suppliers outside of California possibly at higher prices?
#6 There is a small item in the "current renewables" box called "Batteries (charging)." I would imagine on some occasions they can bleed off excess production into battery charging. One wonders how much battery capacity there is in the system right now? In the Today's Supply Outlook page further down (not shown in my screen captures) there is a box describing storage. Periodically power is drawn from storage (positive value) and charging into storage (negative value). A random look at a few days here and there from the past months show those values rarely exceed 100 MW.
UPDATE: According to EIA report "US Batter Storage Market Trends May 2018" Cal ISO has 130 MW of battery storage capacity (p. 5). They project that by 2050, in the USA there will be about ~ 40,000 MW of battery storage (p. 19) with ~ 708 MW as of 2017 (p. 1). They mention in California AB 2514 sets a goal of 1325 MW of storage (p. 19) by 2024.
How do we get to 100% renewable by 2045?
Between electrical efficiency and population growth, will demand for electricity rise in the next few decades?
In the supply screen capture above it says available capacity is 43,055 MW. However, in practice, some percentage of capacity is probably off-line for maintenance and shut-off since expectations of demand might not require that capacity to even be on stand-by.
If today's current demand 28,000 MW is typical (it will get higher later in the day), let's figure by 2045, a typical mid-day demand rises to 42,000 MW, a 50% increase.
UPDATE: Went ahead and did a web search for information about projected growth in electricity usage. According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA) press release "Annual Energy Outlook 2018" on page 17, depending on economic growth rate assumptions, electricity use will rise somewhere between 0.5 to 1.5% per year. If we take the 1.5% per year and project out to 2045, we get to 41,854 MW.
Let's say we have a mix of sources that is 100% renewable as follows during peak daylight hours
80% solar = 33,600 MW
5% wind = 2100 MW
15% everything else = 6300 MW
Today, we have 10,000 MW of solar. Thus, we need three times more solar.
Today, wind is contributing 630 MW so that would require a three-fold increase in wind farms.
Today, we get about 2000 MW from everything else; thus, we need three times more from those sources.
Of course, on a broiling summer day when everyone has their air conditioners running, the demand will be much higher so these three fold estimates are on the low end of what is needed. Cal ISO will want some spare capacity for those high demand situations.
But what about night time?
If the lowest demand at night is 28,000 MW (two-third of daylight), what is the supply mix?
solar = 0 MW
wind = 10,000 MW (if we assume we can get 5x more wind power at night versus the day time?)
everything else = 6300 MW (all the other forms of renewable are fairly steady producers)
deficit = 11,700 MW
Additionally, there is a "shoulder" period of about 1-2 hours in the morning after sunrise and 1-2 hours before sunset when solar power hasn't reached 100% capability.
In the end, there will still need to be 10,000 to 20,000 MW of capacity that can be turned on/off quickly to make up for troughs in solar and wind electrical production.
Battery storage is one way but that is currently at only 100 MW. There will need to be a 100-fold increase just to get to the low end of what is needed.
Thus, will natural gas and nuclear plants be helping pick up the shortfall?
UPDATE: Let's take the lower end assumption of 0.5% growth in electricity per year that yields a demand of 32,036 MW by 2045.
80% solar = 25629 MW
5% wind = 1602 MW
15% everything else = 4805 MW
Need 2.5X more solar, wind, and other sources to match demand with supply.
Night low demand = 21,357 MW (assume 2/3 of day demand)
solar = 0 MW
wind = 8010 MW (if 5x more wind power at night than daytime)
everything else = 4805 MW
deficit = 8542 MW
In the end, there will still need to be 8000 to 16,000 MW of capacity that can be turned on/off quickly to make up for dips in solar and wind electrical production.
The California Independent System Operator's (ISO) mission as described on their web page: The ISO manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California’s and a small part of Nevada’s grid. The nonprofit public benefit corporation keeps power moving to homes and communities.
One would figure this source would offer a realistic view of the California electrical system and how we are doing in terms of renewable sources of power and what the future might need to look like to get to 100% renewable by 2045.
Today's electrical demand isn't all that high due to relatively mild temperatures throughout the major metro areas in California. See the screen capture below:
The lowest demand for power was at 4AM this morning with 21,340 MW. The peak demand hasn't occurred though it is projected to occur in the early evening at 19:45 where demand may reach 32,700. In the screen capture, it reports the highest electrical demand ever occurred on July 24, 2006 when demand reached 50,270 MW during an epic heat wave.
The state is on track to hit the 50% goal by 2030 if today's grid performance is typical. In the screen capture below, it says the grid was receiving 44.4% of its electricity from renewable sources.
Solar is the main source of renewable power (79.1%) in this snapshot.
What do these graphs tell us?
Since I haven't followed the issue, here are the things that strike me:
#1 The high amount of solar power is a pleasant surprise. With so much sunshine in California, it isn't surprising that solar would be an option but I hadn't realized that it represents such a large portion of the electrical supply.
#2 The low amount of wind power is a disappointment. With all the hype about wind and solar, I would have thought the balance between the two would have been closer. As you can see solar has a 16-fold edge over wind at this snapshot. It varies from day-to-day and hour-to-hour but clearly solar far exceeds wind in California.
#3 The supply graph confirms what I have heard, wind power does vary considerably. It peaked at 3011 MW (1:05AM) and fell to 630 MW (12:35). I looked back at a few other days to see if this is pretty typical. Some days wind can get almost to 4000 MW (July 18) and got as low as 412 MW on that same date.
#4 The other incredibly obvious feature of the supply graph is that solar varies from 0 in the dark to 10,000+ MW during the day time and it can stay at that level for a handful of hours during peak sunshine.
#5 On today's screen capture graph, the "imports" reached 16.4% (4473MW). Looking at a few random days in previous months that is not unusual. On some days the imports can reach up to 10,000MW. This highlights one of the major challenges of electrical management: matching supply with demand. From a random look at some other days in the last few months, it seems California is routinely importing some amount of electricity. I wonder if this is a consequence of our reliance on solar? Unlike a natural gas plant or a nuclear plant that you ramp up and down to the amount you want, you can only take an educated guess at how much solar you might get from the various solar farms throughout the state. I would guess the Cal ISO would then try to make up the shortfall by spinning up gas/nuclear plants and if still short, they buy power from suppliers outside of California possibly at higher prices?
#6 There is a small item in the "current renewables" box called "Batteries (charging)." I would imagine on some occasions they can bleed off excess production into battery charging. One wonders how much battery capacity there is in the system right now? In the Today's Supply Outlook page further down (not shown in my screen captures) there is a box describing storage. Periodically power is drawn from storage (positive value) and charging into storage (negative value). A random look at a few days here and there from the past months show those values rarely exceed 100 MW.
UPDATE: According to EIA report "US Batter Storage Market Trends May 2018" Cal ISO has 130 MW of battery storage capacity (p. 5). They project that by 2050, in the USA there will be about ~ 40,000 MW of battery storage (p. 19) with ~ 708 MW as of 2017 (p. 1). They mention in California AB 2514 sets a goal of 1325 MW of storage (p. 19) by 2024.
How do we get to 100% renewable by 2045?
Between electrical efficiency and population growth, will demand for electricity rise in the next few decades?
In the supply screen capture above it says available capacity is 43,055 MW. However, in practice, some percentage of capacity is probably off-line for maintenance and shut-off since expectations of demand might not require that capacity to even be on stand-by.
If today's current demand 28,000 MW is typical (it will get higher later in the day), let's figure by 2045, a typical mid-day demand rises to 42,000 MW, a 50% increase.
UPDATE: Went ahead and did a web search for information about projected growth in electricity usage. According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA) press release "Annual Energy Outlook 2018" on page 17, depending on economic growth rate assumptions, electricity use will rise somewhere between 0.5 to 1.5% per year. If we take the 1.5% per year and project out to 2045, we get to 41,854 MW.
Let's say we have a mix of sources that is 100% renewable as follows during peak daylight hours
80% solar = 33,600 MW
5% wind = 2100 MW
15% everything else = 6300 MW
Today, we have 10,000 MW of solar. Thus, we need three times more solar.
Today, wind is contributing 630 MW so that would require a three-fold increase in wind farms.
Today, we get about 2000 MW from everything else; thus, we need three times more from those sources.
Of course, on a broiling summer day when everyone has their air conditioners running, the demand will be much higher so these three fold estimates are on the low end of what is needed. Cal ISO will want some spare capacity for those high demand situations.
But what about night time?
If the lowest demand at night is 28,000 MW (two-third of daylight), what is the supply mix?
solar = 0 MW
wind = 10,000 MW (if we assume we can get 5x more wind power at night versus the day time?)
everything else = 6300 MW (all the other forms of renewable are fairly steady producers)
deficit = 11,700 MW
Additionally, there is a "shoulder" period of about 1-2 hours in the morning after sunrise and 1-2 hours before sunset when solar power hasn't reached 100% capability.
In the end, there will still need to be 10,000 to 20,000 MW of capacity that can be turned on/off quickly to make up for troughs in solar and wind electrical production.
Battery storage is one way but that is currently at only 100 MW. There will need to be a 100-fold increase just to get to the low end of what is needed.
Thus, will natural gas and nuclear plants be helping pick up the shortfall?
UPDATE: Let's take the lower end assumption of 0.5% growth in electricity per year that yields a demand of 32,036 MW by 2045.
80% solar = 25629 MW
5% wind = 1602 MW
15% everything else = 4805 MW
Need 2.5X more solar, wind, and other sources to match demand with supply.
Night low demand = 21,357 MW (assume 2/3 of day demand)
solar = 0 MW
wind = 8010 MW (if 5x more wind power at night than daytime)
everything else = 4805 MW
deficit = 8542 MW
In the end, there will still need to be 8000 to 16,000 MW of capacity that can be turned on/off quickly to make up for dips in solar and wind electrical production.
Expectations: FFF, Elfsborg, Liverpool FC, QPR, LA Galaxy, LAFC
Time for the expectations round up!
Starting up their seasons are QPR and Liverpool FC.
At the low end for QPR is the practical goal of AVOIDING relegation. Given their financial limits due to FFP fines, they aren't going to be bringing in pricey players or even non-pricy players. They will need to make do with their in-house talent of which there are some promising young ones. So if they stay up in the Championship, the season would have to be called a success!
If the young players bloom, the high end of the expectations would be to finish in the upper half of the bottom half. There are 24 teams in the Championship so the bottom half is 13-24 and the upper half of that is 13-18. If they get to 18, they should throw a parade around Loftus Road!
As for Liverpool FC, after all the big spending, the low end is closing in on the high end of expectations. Man City is still the biggest fish among the big six and remains the favorite to win the Premier League. Thus, a lively race for the title (win or lose) would be wonderful for the long disappointed Liverpool fans. Winning a title of any kind would be nice as well (League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League, or Premier League). The only cup that would be considered a disappointment would be Europa League Cup because that would mean the team crashed out of the group stage in Champions League!
For teams nearing the end of the season that I follow:
Falkenberg - they are one the brink of pulling off automatic promotion back to the top league! They have 11 games to go and eight points ahead of third place Eskilstuna that would qualify for the promotion playoff. Promotion or bust!
Elfsborg is in trouble. 13 games to go and they are in 13th place. 14th place leaves them in relegation playoffs and 15/16th place is automatic relegation. In summer business, they did extend some people (Frick, Kaib, Ronning, Dresevic) but they did sell on (Jebali, Horn) and added (Obasi, Holst). Their defense isn't bad as there are plenty of teams that give up more goals but their offense is anemic with a paltry 15 goals, second worst in the league.
LAFC is an expansion club with a high ceiling and they are living up to it! They are solidly in the playoffs (3rd place in the west) and are aiming for seeding. Winning the west is not impossible but second is within reach. Aiming very high would be a MLS Cup final appearance. More likely is an appearance in the western conference finals.
LA Galaxy has been playing better but have been hit with the injury bug (all three DPs are out!) and are a question mark. Their near term goal is to stay afloat. Currently 4th in the west, they need to hang on while the DPs recover. Six teams make the playoffs per conference so finishing 6th is the goal. Hopefully, the DPs come back late in the season and they can get back into form and pull of a surprise and reach the western conference semi-finals.
LAFC 2 LAG 2 in match #2 of El Trafico
MLS put out this video to recap the drama leading to the first match and highlights from the match itself.
MLS | El Trafico - Chapter 01 from EVO Films USA on Vimeo.
Here is the highlight package from last night's match.
LAG managed to "steal" a draw.
Down 2-0, they removed Cole, a defender, and added Pontius, an attacker. They also took out Kitchen, the defensive midfielder, and put in Lleget a more offensive minded midfielder. LAG went all in to equalize.
The Galaxy brain trust has a lot to think about. In both matches, LAG was over-run in the first half. They spent lots of money for defense and against fast teams like LAFC they can't keep up. In the end, LAG has go into offense mode and open things up and hope to outscore the opponent. Against weaker opposition that works. But against the top tier that will probably not end well. LAFC is still a work in progress and eventually they will get to the point where the 2-0 lead will be enough and they will make LAG pay when they go all in to equalize.
So what does LAG do going forward?
For some teams, they could afford to play the slightly more defensive minded 3-5-2 version they started with against LAFC. However, what do they do against a team that might carve up the LAG backline? Do they go with the more offense minded 3-5-2 of the second half against LAFC?
MLS | El Trafico - Chapter 01 from EVO Films USA on Vimeo.
Here is the highlight package from last night's match.
LAG managed to "steal" a draw.
Down 2-0, they removed Cole, a defender, and added Pontius, an attacker. They also took out Kitchen, the defensive midfielder, and put in Lleget a more offensive minded midfielder. LAG went all in to equalize.
The Galaxy brain trust has a lot to think about. In both matches, LAG was over-run in the first half. They spent lots of money for defense and against fast teams like LAFC they can't keep up. In the end, LAG has go into offense mode and open things up and hope to outscore the opponent. Against weaker opposition that works. But against the top tier that will probably not end well. LAFC is still a work in progress and eventually they will get to the point where the 2-0 lead will be enough and they will make LAG pay when they go all in to equalize.
So what does LAG do going forward?
For some teams, they could afford to play the slightly more defensive minded 3-5-2 version they started with against LAFC. However, what do they do against a team that might carve up the LAG backline? Do they go with the more offense minded 3-5-2 of the second half against LAFC?
QPR - what next?
Breaking news: QPR Financial Fair Play (FFP) settlement reached.
Brief background:
The English Championship season is done with the exception of promotion playoffs.
Wolverhampton and Cardiff City have won promotion.
Barnsley, Burton Albion, and Sunderland have been relegated.
Fulham has defeated Derby County to advance to the promotion finals.
Aston Villa plays Middlesbrough tomorrow to determine the other finalist.
Meanwhile, QPR finished 16th.
With the FFP penalties that have been hanging over their heads (now official as of July 27, 2018), they are constrained financially. Thus, the club's realistic aspirations at this point in their life-cycle is mid-table with hopes of being at the higher end of the mid-table. However, that didn't happen this year with a mix of injuries hampering team cohesion. There weren't too many matches where they were kicked from one end to the other but with 20 losses to 15 wins, they were a sub "0.500" team a sign of modest talents and consistency. The team simply didn't have the level of quality and consistency to make a serious push. Most revealing was how the team frequently would fall behind and scramble to make a game of it. In a handful of occasions, they would make the comeback to steal a win or squeeze out a draw. On that score, I'd give them high mark for team spirit and a willingness to keep at it!
The above is a screen capture of the 23 players who got the most minutes in the just concluded season. How many will be around for the next season?
Will try to keep a running tab of player news in the summer.
News:
Steve McClaren named the new manager (May 18, 2018)
Manager Holloway has been released (May 10, 2018)
Onuoha - departing (April 27, 2018)
Mackie - departing (April 6, 2018)
Perch - departing (April 6, 2018)
Awaiting news:
Bidwell
Freeman - viewed as player likely to draw interest (February 5, 2018)
Smithies - moved to EPL promoted Cardiff City (June 28, 2018)
Scowen
Luongo
Robinson - deal expired awaiting (April 14, 2018) has signed with Nottingham Forest (June 30, 2018)
Wszolek
Washington
Baptiste
Smith
Lynch
Furlong
Sylla
Cousins
Manning - Crystal Palace & Celtic rumored to be interested (April 17, 2018)
Eze
Smyth
Osayi-Samuel
Wheeler
Chair
Fixture schedule for 2018-2019 season (June 21, 2018)
The bookies don't have much expectations for QPR tabbed to finish 21st in the league just missing relegation! If "market value" is any indicator of potential, QPR is lower mid-table. This analysis also suggests that QPR has one of the younger squads in the Championship.
Initial publication date 5/21/2018
Update 7/25/2018
Update 7/27/2018
Brief background:
- QPR overspent in violation of FFP rules during its 2013-2014 season when they won promotion to the Premier League.
- QPR has been in a legal battle with the English Football League regarding the monetary fines for the FFP violation
- QPR has now agreed to a settlement that includes monetary fines and inability to make transfers in the 2019 January window.
The English Championship season is done with the exception of promotion playoffs.
Wolverhampton and Cardiff City have won promotion.
Barnsley, Burton Albion, and Sunderland have been relegated.
Fulham has defeated Derby County to advance to the promotion finals.
Aston Villa plays Middlesbrough tomorrow to determine the other finalist.
Meanwhile, QPR finished 16th.
With the FFP penalties that have been hanging over their heads (now official as of July 27, 2018), they are constrained financially. Thus, the club's realistic aspirations at this point in their life-cycle is mid-table with hopes of being at the higher end of the mid-table. However, that didn't happen this year with a mix of injuries hampering team cohesion. There weren't too many matches where they were kicked from one end to the other but with 20 losses to 15 wins, they were a sub "0.500" team a sign of modest talents and consistency. The team simply didn't have the level of quality and consistency to make a serious push. Most revealing was how the team frequently would fall behind and scramble to make a game of it. In a handful of occasions, they would make the comeback to steal a win or squeeze out a draw. On that score, I'd give them high mark for team spirit and a willingness to keep at it!
Will try to keep a running tab of player news in the summer.
News:
Steve McClaren named the new manager (May 18, 2018)
Manager Holloway has been released (May 10, 2018)
Onuoha - departing (April 27, 2018)
Mackie - departing (April 6, 2018)
Perch - departing (April 6, 2018)
Awaiting news:
Bidwell
Freeman - viewed as player likely to draw interest (February 5, 2018)
Smithies - moved to EPL promoted Cardiff City (June 28, 2018)
Scowen
Luongo
Robinson - deal expired awaiting (April 14, 2018) has signed with Nottingham Forest (June 30, 2018)
Wszolek
Washington
Baptiste
Smith
Lynch
Furlong
Sylla
Cousins
Manning - Crystal Palace & Celtic rumored to be interested (April 17, 2018)
Eze
Smyth
Osayi-Samuel
Wheeler
Chair
Fixture schedule for 2018-2019 season (June 21, 2018)
The bookies don't have much expectations for QPR tabbed to finish 21st in the league just missing relegation! If "market value" is any indicator of potential, QPR is lower mid-table. This analysis also suggests that QPR has one of the younger squads in the Championship.
Initial publication date 5/21/2018
Update 7/25/2018
Update 7/27/2018
World Cup 2018
Who is going to win?
Show me the numbers!
The stat heads over at 538 say Brazil, Spain, and Germany are the favorites.
The FIFA world rankings have Germany, Brazil, and Belgium as the top three.
If the Bovada odd's makers know anything, they have Brazil, Germany, and Spain listed 1-2-3.
If history is any guide:
2014 winner Germany (no one has defended a title since Brazil won 1958 and 1962)
2010 winner Spain (won 1 time so far)
2006 winner Italy (they didn't qualify this year)
2002 winner Brazil (won 5 times so far)
1998 winner France (won 1 time so far)
Looking further back into history, the only other nations to ever win a World Cup:
Argentina (1986, 1978)
England (1966)
Uruguay (1950, 1930)
From listening to sports people, Brazil, Spain, and Germany are the clear favorites. But in breaking news today, the manager of Spain has just been sacked.
Getting some mention are Belgium and France for having a collection of solid top level players.
Also mentioned are Portugal and Argentina since they respectively have a GOAT (greatest of all time) level player on their squads.
Am picking France, Brazil, Spain, and Germany in the final-four with Brazil winning the whole thing.
UPDATE: France won the whole thing! Germany didn't even get out of the group stage. Spain got booted on PK by Russia in the round of 16. Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarter finals.
Other quick observations:
Show me the numbers!
The stat heads over at 538 say Brazil, Spain, and Germany are the favorites.
The FIFA world rankings have Germany, Brazil, and Belgium as the top three.
If the Bovada odd's makers know anything, they have Brazil, Germany, and Spain listed 1-2-3.
If history is any guide:
2014 winner Germany (no one has defended a title since Brazil won 1958 and 1962)
2010 winner Spain (won 1 time so far)
2006 winner Italy (they didn't qualify this year)
2002 winner Brazil (won 5 times so far)
1998 winner France (won 1 time so far)
Looking further back into history, the only other nations to ever win a World Cup:
Argentina (1986, 1978)
England (1966)
Uruguay (1950, 1930)
From listening to sports people, Brazil, Spain, and Germany are the clear favorites. But in breaking news today, the manager of Spain has just been sacked.
Getting some mention are Belgium and France for having a collection of solid top level players.
Also mentioned are Portugal and Argentina since they respectively have a GOAT (greatest of all time) level player on their squads.
Am picking France, Brazil, Spain, and Germany in the final-four with Brazil winning the whole thing.
UPDATE: France won the whole thing! Germany didn't even get out of the group stage. Spain got booted on PK by Russia in the round of 16. Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarter finals.
Other quick observations:
- Could Uruguay have dealt with France in the quarterfinal if they didn't lose Cavani to injury Probably not but it would have been more interesting.
- Portugal and Argentina with one GOAT player each lost to teams with solid players across the starting XI. Yes, soccer is a team sport and a transcendent star needs some supporting cast members.
- Brazil's Neymar has become a bit of a joke with his flopping.
- Mexico's win over Germany was the highpoint but in the end they still couldn't get past the round of 16 and so the page will turn on their "golden generation" that carried their hopes of glory.
- Russia had a magic carpet ride as is often the case of the host country. They took down Spain in PK and took Croatia to PK but came up short in a match of high drama! Not the greatest soccer but certainly the most dramatic!
- Sweden showed what a group of modest talents can do when they play with a plan and play their game. If you had said they would get to the quarter finals before the competition started you would take it.
- Columbia with James Rodriguez might have beaten England.
- England to the semi-finals was a surprise. Unlike past England teams that wilted under the expectations and off-field/on-field controversy, this group went out there and had fun and played to their abilities. In the end, their youth and inexperience came up short against Croatia. Croatia had a few of those wily veterans who simply know how to win on their club that edged out the young lions of England.
- How far would team USA have gotten? Well, CONCACAF didn't do much in the tournament. Panama and Costa Rica went without a win. In qualifications the USA lost TWICE to Costa Rica and beat Panama once and drew once. So maybe NOT making the World Cup spared them an embarrassing showing?
California June 2018 Elections, part I: State Wide Elective Offices
In the California governor's race, it is shaping up to be a North vs. South race of the Democrats.
Newson, former SF mayor holds a slim lead in the polls over Villaraigosa, former LA mayor.
Not surprisingly, the SF Chronicle has endorsed Newson while the LA Times has endorsed Villaraigosa.
The two Republicans, Cox and Allen are behind in the Top Two primary system.
UPDATE (6/5): When I posted this originally (5/22), Cox and Allen were somewhat behind but Cox has picked up some ground and Villaraigosa has lost ground while Newson seems to be holding steady.
UPDATE (6/8): Newsom (D) 34% Cox (R) 26% Villaraigosa (D) 13%
The respective state parties did not offer any endorsements for governor.
For Lt. Governor, SF Chronicle has backed Jeff Bleich. I didn't see an endorsement in the LA Times as of yet. The California Democratic party did not endorse while the Cal GOP endorsed Cole Harris.
UPDATE (6/8): Kounalakis (D) 24% Hernandez (D) 21% Harris (R) 18%
In the Secretary of State race, the Democratic party and the SF Chronicle backs the current SofS, Alex Padilla. The California Republicans back Mark Meuser.
UPDATE (6/8): Padilla (D) 52% Meuser (R) 32%
In the Controller contest, the Republicans are supporting Konstantinos Roditis. The SF Chronicle and the Cal Democrats are endorsing current controller Betty Yee.
UPDATE (6/8): Yee (D) 61% Roditis (R) 35%
For Treasurer, the SF Chronicle backs Fiona Ma as does the California Democratic Party. The Cal GOP did not endorse.
UPDATE (6/8): Ma (D) 43% Conlon (R) 22% Guerrero (R) 20%
The Attorney General election includes the current office holder Xavier Becerra and is endorsed by the SF Chronicle. Interestingly, the Democratic state party did not make an endorsement. The Cal GOP supports Steven Bailey.
UPDATE (6/8): Becerra (D) 45% Bailey (R) 25%
Previous Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner received the endorsement of the SF Chronicle. The California Democrats back Ricardo Lara.
UPDATE (6/8): Poizner (NPP) 41% Lara (D) 40%
In the State School Superintendent race, the Cal Democrats are backing Tony Thurmond who has also received the endorsement of the LA Times. The SF Chronicle is supporting Marshall Tuck. Suffice to say this is a "non-partisan" race but there candidates are clearly marked and labeled in terms of who is backing them as described in this Sacramento Bee op-ed. Excerpt:
Finally, in the Senate race, current Senator Feinstein is leading in the polls. However, in a shocker, the California Democratic party made no endorsement revealing the strength of the faction growing dissatisfied with the establishment part of the party. The LA Times and the SF Chronicle have backed Feinstein.
UPDATE (6/8): Feinstein (D) 44% De Leon (D) 11%
Newson, former SF mayor holds a slim lead in the polls over Villaraigosa, former LA mayor.
Not surprisingly, the SF Chronicle has endorsed Newson while the LA Times has endorsed Villaraigosa.
The two Republicans, Cox and Allen are behind in the Top Two primary system.
UPDATE (6/5): When I posted this originally (5/22), Cox and Allen were somewhat behind but Cox has picked up some ground and Villaraigosa has lost ground while Newson seems to be holding steady.
UPDATE (6/8): Newsom (D) 34% Cox (R) 26% Villaraigosa (D) 13%
The respective state parties did not offer any endorsements for governor.
For Lt. Governor, SF Chronicle has backed Jeff Bleich. I didn't see an endorsement in the LA Times as of yet. The California Democratic party did not endorse while the Cal GOP endorsed Cole Harris.
UPDATE (6/8): Kounalakis (D) 24% Hernandez (D) 21% Harris (R) 18%
In the Secretary of State race, the Democratic party and the SF Chronicle backs the current SofS, Alex Padilla. The California Republicans back Mark Meuser.
UPDATE (6/8): Padilla (D) 52% Meuser (R) 32%
In the Controller contest, the Republicans are supporting Konstantinos Roditis. The SF Chronicle and the Cal Democrats are endorsing current controller Betty Yee.
UPDATE (6/8): Yee (D) 61% Roditis (R) 35%
For Treasurer, the SF Chronicle backs Fiona Ma as does the California Democratic Party. The Cal GOP did not endorse.
UPDATE (6/8): Ma (D) 43% Conlon (R) 22% Guerrero (R) 20%
The Attorney General election includes the current office holder Xavier Becerra and is endorsed by the SF Chronicle. Interestingly, the Democratic state party did not make an endorsement. The Cal GOP supports Steven Bailey.
UPDATE (6/8): Becerra (D) 45% Bailey (R) 25%
Previous Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner received the endorsement of the SF Chronicle. The California Democrats back Ricardo Lara.
UPDATE (6/8): Poizner (NPP) 41% Lara (D) 40%
In the State School Superintendent race, the Cal Democrats are backing Tony Thurmond who has also received the endorsement of the LA Times. The SF Chronicle is supporting Marshall Tuck. Suffice to say this is a "non-partisan" race but there candidates are clearly marked and labeled in terms of who is backing them as described in this Sacramento Bee op-ed. Excerpt:
Marshall Tuck, supported by the school reform crowd with such familiar names as Eli Broad among them, nonetheless says he’d put a sharp eye on charter schools and press to close those that aren’t performing. Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, the CTA’s candidate, says he would prohibit school districts from using the funding that’s specifically targeted for at-risk students on across-the-board teacher raises. Those aren’t the usual stances for those parties.UPDATE (6/8): Tuck 37% Thurmond 34%
Finally, in the Senate race, current Senator Feinstein is leading in the polls. However, in a shocker, the California Democratic party made no endorsement revealing the strength of the faction growing dissatisfied with the establishment part of the party. The LA Times and the SF Chronicle have backed Feinstein.
UPDATE (6/8): Feinstein (D) 44% De Leon (D) 11%
California June 2018 Elections, part II: Ballot Measures
Relatively sparse on the ballot measures this election.
Here is a chart of the positions taken by the two major parties (Republican and Democratic) and two of the better known minor parties (Greens and Libertarian) and two newspapers (Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle).
For a quick summary of the propositions see this item from Southern California Public Radio.
If you are curious, the latest party registration details can be found here.
In brief:
Democrats 44.58%
Republicans 25.27%
No Party Preference 25.11%
Libertarian 0.74%
Green 0.48%
It should be noted that "independents" or "no party preference" in this survey do lean Democratic (43%) compared to Republican (29%) while 28% claim no leaning either way.
UPDATE (6/8)
Prop 68 passing with 56%
Prop 69 passing with 80%
Prop 70 trailing with 36%
Prop 71 passing with 77%
Prop 72 passing with 83%
Here is a chart of the positions taken by the two major parties (Republican and Democratic) and two of the better known minor parties (Greens and Libertarian) and two newspapers (Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle).
For a quick summary of the propositions see this item from Southern California Public Radio.
If you are curious, the latest party registration details can be found here.
In brief:
Democrats 44.58%
Republicans 25.27%
No Party Preference 25.11%
Libertarian 0.74%
Green 0.48%
It should be noted that "independents" or "no party preference" in this survey do lean Democratic (43%) compared to Republican (29%) while 28% claim no leaning either way.
UPDATE (6/8)
Prop 68 passing with 56%
Prop 69 passing with 80%
Prop 70 trailing with 36%
Prop 71 passing with 77%
Prop 72 passing with 83%
California Elections June 2018, part III: local judges
Voting on the judges in the county is an unusual exercise in that there is relatively little advertising and news coverage compared to other positions. Unless you know people in the legal profession, it is hard to get any input on who to vote for.
One can go to the internet to find some sources and here are some I have checked: the Los Angeles Times (LAT), the LA County Bar Association (Bar), LA County Democratic Party (Dem), and Judge Voter Guide (VG). Suffice to say, each entity has its own approach so take it for whatever you will.
UPDATE (6/8): County Judge elections posted at LA County Registrar web page scroll down to find results.
Office No. 4:
Alfred A. Coletta (LAT, VG3star, Bar-Qualified) 42%
Veronica Sauceda (Dem, Bar-Well Qualified) 46%
Matthew Schondrun (Bar-Qualified) 12%
Office No. 16:
Sydne Jane Michel (LAT, VG4star, Bar-Qualified) 38%
Patricia “Patti” Hunter (Dem, Bar-Qualified) 39%
Hubert Yun (VG5star, Bar-Qualified) 23%
Office No. 20:
Wendy Segall (LAT, Dem, VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 53%
Mary Ann Escalante (VG4star, Bar-Well Qualified) 47%
Office No. 60:
Holly L. Hancock (LAT, Bar-Qualified) 37%
Tony J. Cho (Dem, VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 46%
Ben Colella (Bar-Not Qualified) 17%
Office No. 63:
Malcolm H. Mackey (LAT, Bar-Exceptionally Well Qualified) 77%
Anthony Lewis (Bar-Not Qualified) 23%
Office No. 67:
Maria L. Armendariz (LAT, Dem, Bar-Well Qualified) 59%
Dennis Vincent (VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 21%
Onica Valle Cole (Bar-Not Qualifed) 19%
Office No. 71:
David A. Berger (LAT, VG5star, Bar-Not Qualified) 47%
Danielle Gibbons (Bar-Well Qualified) 53%
Office No. 113:
Michael P. Ribons (LAT, Bar-Qualified) 33%
Javier Perez (Dem, Bar-Well Qualified) 41%
Steven Schreiner (VG4star, Bar-Well Qualified) 25%
Office No. 118:
David D. Diamond (LAT, Dem, Bar-Qualified) 41%
Troy David (VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 59%
Office No. 126:
Rene Caldwell Gilbertson (LAT, Dem, Bar-Qualified) 56%
Ken Fuller (VG3star, Bar-Qualified) 34%
Shlomo Frieman (Bar-Not Qualified) 10%
Office No. 146:
Emily T. Spear (LAT, VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 62%
Armando Duron (Dem, Bar-Qualified) 38%
One can go to the internet to find some sources and here are some I have checked: the Los Angeles Times (LAT), the LA County Bar Association (Bar), LA County Democratic Party (Dem), and Judge Voter Guide (VG). Suffice to say, each entity has its own approach so take it for whatever you will.
UPDATE (6/8): County Judge elections posted at LA County Registrar web page scroll down to find results.
Office No. 4:
Alfred A. Coletta (LAT, VG3star, Bar-Qualified) 42%
Veronica Sauceda (Dem, Bar-Well Qualified) 46%
Matthew Schondrun (Bar-Qualified) 12%
Office No. 16:
Sydne Jane Michel (LAT, VG4star, Bar-Qualified) 38%
Patricia “Patti” Hunter (Dem, Bar-Qualified) 39%
Hubert Yun (VG5star, Bar-Qualified) 23%
Office No. 20:
Wendy Segall (LAT, Dem, VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 53%
Mary Ann Escalante (VG4star, Bar-Well Qualified) 47%
Office No. 60:
Holly L. Hancock (LAT, Bar-Qualified) 37%
Tony J. Cho (Dem, VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 46%
Ben Colella (Bar-Not Qualified) 17%
Office No. 63:
Malcolm H. Mackey (LAT, Bar-Exceptionally Well Qualified) 77%
Anthony Lewis (Bar-Not Qualified) 23%
Office No. 67:
Maria L. Armendariz (LAT, Dem, Bar-Well Qualified) 59%
Dennis Vincent (VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 21%
Onica Valle Cole (Bar-Not Qualifed) 19%
Office No. 71:
David A. Berger (LAT, VG5star, Bar-Not Qualified) 47%
Danielle Gibbons (Bar-Well Qualified) 53%
Office No. 113:
Michael P. Ribons (LAT, Bar-Qualified) 33%
Javier Perez (Dem, Bar-Well Qualified) 41%
Steven Schreiner (VG4star, Bar-Well Qualified) 25%
Office No. 118:
David D. Diamond (LAT, Dem, Bar-Qualified) 41%
Troy David (VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 59%
Office No. 126:
Rene Caldwell Gilbertson (LAT, Dem, Bar-Qualified) 56%
Ken Fuller (VG3star, Bar-Qualified) 34%
Shlomo Frieman (Bar-Not Qualified) 10%
Office No. 146:
Emily T. Spear (LAT, VG2star, Bar-Qualified) 62%
Armando Duron (Dem, Bar-Qualified) 38%
LA Galaxy: How the mighty have fallen
Call me spoiled.
Started following the LA Galaxy in earnest after the 2010 World Cup when Donovan scored that last last gasp goal for team USA to advance past the group stage. So it was easy enough to follow him and the LA Galaxy when the World Cup ended and the MLS season continued to its conclusion.
2010: Lost in Conference Finals
2011: Won MLS Cup
2012: Won MLS Cup
2013: Lost in Conference Semi-Finals
2014: Won MLS Cup
Thus, in the first 5 years of my following the team regularly, they won THREE MLS Cups!
Under GM and Coach Bruce Arena, LA Galaxy were the mighty ones astride the MLS landscape.
However, with MLS salary rules and improvements across many clubs in the league, the final two years of Bruce Arena were more modest. Nonetheless, they made the playoffs.
2015: Lost in knockout round
2016: Lost in Conference Semi-Finals
The USMNT collapsed and Klinsmann was fired and Arena was hired to rescue the World Cup qualification campaign and thus, left the LA Galaxy. Ultimately, team USA, in a perfect storm, lost their last qualifier and two other CONCACAF teams won their matches leaving the US out of the World Cup.
With Arena away in the 2017 season, the LA Galaxy front office was juggled with existing people taking on bigger responsibilities, given a mandate to work in the younger players, and told to spend less money. Combine these three changes with the injuries that decimated the team, the result was LA finishing with the worst record in MLS.
2017: 11th in the West (last) and 22nd overall (last).
2018 started off with some optimism. Sigi Schmid and the front office released a large number of players and brought in new ones. On paper, it looked like the team should be competitive, perhaps not MLS Cup contenders, but at least able to make the playoffs.
A report card at this point: D.
An outright F would be given if they were last in the West and near the bottom overall. Currently, they are 8 out of 12 in the West and 15 of 23 in the Supporters Shield. I would give them a C if they were considered to have a shot at the playoffs (6 or 7th in the West) and showing some potential. They would get a B if they were solidly in playoff contention (4 or 5th place in the West) and an A if they were in the top three of the Western Conference.
Report cards on the new players brought in:
Goalkeeper Bingham: C+
Some of the goals given up are his errors but most of the time it is the defense in front of him that has left him with no chance.
D-Midfielder Kitchen: B-
He knows he should be defense first and he does that; however, he doesn't seem very good at helping move the ball forward in the transition from defense to offense.
Forward Ibrahimovic: incomplete
On one hand the guy has 5 goals and can single-handedly change the game (see 4-3 win over LAFC). On the other hand he maybe a disruptive presence in the locker room and causes the on-field Galaxy formation to be twisted into a pretzel.
Forward Kamara: A-
He also has 5 goals and has been a good soldier about being played out of position on the left wing in many games. There are no reports of him being a disruptive presence in the locker room.
D-Midfielder Carrasco: B
He was not brought in to be a game changer but a serviceable guy to fulfill a role and he has done that. Kitchen is more skilled overall and as such has gotten the lions share of the minutes. In fact, he may have played every minute so far? But in the expectations game, Kitchen has been a disappointment relative to expectations while I don't think that is the case with Carrasco.
Central defender Skjelvik: C+
Has shown moments of what was hoped for but at other times has looked lost. The grade would be higher if it weren't for the fact of the expectations that come with paying someone $900K! MLS thinking is more speed on the attack and Skjelvik when out of position isn't fast enough to recover.
Midfielder/Forward Pontius: B
Just like Carrasco, he was brought in as a role player and has given what would be expected.
Central defender Hilliard-Arce: B
Is he ready to start on a regular basis? No. But he was selected as a young player with a high ceiling and he has shown some ability. Expectations on THA aren't going to be (and shouldn't be) as high as for Skjelvik. If the Galaxy goes to three in the back going forward, I think THA might get the nod over Steres or Romney.
Right back defender Klimenta: B
Is he ready to start on a regular basis? No. But he was selected from USL who could help with squad rotation and injury fill in. Expectations on Emrah aren't going to be (and shouldn't be) as high as for Feltscher. With Feltscher out Klimenta should divide time with Romney at the RB position. Certainly, Steres should not be let anywhere near the RB position any more!
Right back defender Feltscher: B
After a slow start, he appeared to be shaping up to be a good addition at right back. Unfortunately, the LA Galaxy curse of injuries to right backs struck again as he got hurt in a freak fall in training. Will be hoping that when he returns from injury he will be able to contribute to the club. Speed however is a concern as with the entire defensive line.
Central defender Ciani: C+
He was brought in late last year in desperation to patch up the back line. This year he started with a fresh slate and full preseason workup. Has shown moments of what was hoped for but at other times has looked lost. The grade would be higher if it weren't for the fact of the expectations that come with paying someone $600K! At the moment, the Skjelvik-Ciani pairing is the best the Galaxy have. They should be playing the bulk of the minutes. As a fan, if they were getting paid half of what they are getting paid, the grade might rise to "B." We just expected more when you are paying well over a million dollars for these two guys.
In the end, this is a cautionary tale of the challenges of scouting in Europe. Skjelvik was a solid defender in a team that dominated in the Norwegian top league. How does that translate in comparison to the MLS? Ciani was at one time a solid defender in a mid-table team in the top French league. He aged out and lost his starting job. Where does that fit in the talent scale in moving to the MLS? Feltscher was a fringe first team player in an English Championship squad. How does that rate comparison to the MLS?
Returning player grades:
Midfielder Alessandrini: B-
I think the arrow is pointing upward but the grade would be for the season as a whole up to this point. Clearly, the hamstring injury hampered his play. When, he finally got back on the field he didn't have the stamina and speed and just seemed out of sorts. He seems to be getting back into form and hopefully he will reach the levels he got to last year.
Midfielder Boateng: B
He has settled into the role of a substitute after last year getting many minutes due to injury to other players. His speed is his asset giving LA some energy on offense and making defenders nervous. However, his crossing isn't consistent and his dribbling into traffic is a problem.
Defender Cole: B-
It is hard to be too critical of arguably the best left back ever to play the game. He has the heart of a fierce competitor and street smarts honed over many years at the top of his game. However, at age 37, can we dare say that he is a defensive liability sometimes? Will we see more 3-5-2 formations with Cole as a wingback?
Midfielder Jonathan dos Santos: C-
Hasn't been very impressive considering his resume. He is getting DP money but isn't making the kind of difference you would hope for. When I was at Stub Hub watching the match against San Jose, JDS lost the ball in midfield more than a few times.
Midfielder Giovani dos Santos: D
GDS is also getting DP money and at a higher amount than JDS! Thus, you want to see GDS making a very big difference and that simply hasn't been the case. Very disappointing.
Midfielder Lletget: B-
Good to see him back on the field after the terrible injury from last season. However, one wonders if the injury has left him a bit short of his previous heights? Don't know how much of it is simply getting more minutes on the field and regaining his touch and instinctive movement on and off the ball. Hope he can regain and surpass the promise he showed prior to his injury.
Defender Romney: C+
He wants to play center back but the reality is that on this current roster he is going to be plugged in at right or left back. One wonders how high his ceiling could be if he got more consistent minutes on the backline.
Defender Steres: C
For some reason, the coach has put him in at right back on a few occasions. Round peg into a square hole doesn't yield good results. In terms of center back per dollar spent probably a better value than Skjelvik-Ciani. However, in terms of raw capability, probably not ready to be a full-time starting center back in the MLS.
As you can see the grades for the individual players are not all bad. This appears to be a case where the whole is worse than the sum of the parts.
Started following the LA Galaxy in earnest after the 2010 World Cup when Donovan scored that last last gasp goal for team USA to advance past the group stage. So it was easy enough to follow him and the LA Galaxy when the World Cup ended and the MLS season continued to its conclusion.
2010: Lost in Conference Finals
2011: Won MLS Cup
2012: Won MLS Cup
2013: Lost in Conference Semi-Finals
2014: Won MLS Cup
Thus, in the first 5 years of my following the team regularly, they won THREE MLS Cups!
Under GM and Coach Bruce Arena, LA Galaxy were the mighty ones astride the MLS landscape.
However, with MLS salary rules and improvements across many clubs in the league, the final two years of Bruce Arena were more modest. Nonetheless, they made the playoffs.
2015: Lost in knockout round
2016: Lost in Conference Semi-Finals
The USMNT collapsed and Klinsmann was fired and Arena was hired to rescue the World Cup qualification campaign and thus, left the LA Galaxy. Ultimately, team USA, in a perfect storm, lost their last qualifier and two other CONCACAF teams won their matches leaving the US out of the World Cup.
With Arena away in the 2017 season, the LA Galaxy front office was juggled with existing people taking on bigger responsibilities, given a mandate to work in the younger players, and told to spend less money. Combine these three changes with the injuries that decimated the team, the result was LA finishing with the worst record in MLS.
2017: 11th in the West (last) and 22nd overall (last).
2018 started off with some optimism. Sigi Schmid and the front office released a large number of players and brought in new ones. On paper, it looked like the team should be competitive, perhaps not MLS Cup contenders, but at least able to make the playoffs.
A report card at this point: D.
An outright F would be given if they were last in the West and near the bottom overall. Currently, they are 8 out of 12 in the West and 15 of 23 in the Supporters Shield. I would give them a C if they were considered to have a shot at the playoffs (6 or 7th in the West) and showing some potential. They would get a B if they were solidly in playoff contention (4 or 5th place in the West) and an A if they were in the top three of the Western Conference.
Report cards on the new players brought in:
Goalkeeper Bingham: C+
Some of the goals given up are his errors but most of the time it is the defense in front of him that has left him with no chance.
D-Midfielder Kitchen: B-
He knows he should be defense first and he does that; however, he doesn't seem very good at helping move the ball forward in the transition from defense to offense.
Forward Ibrahimovic: incomplete
On one hand the guy has 5 goals and can single-handedly change the game (see 4-3 win over LAFC). On the other hand he maybe a disruptive presence in the locker room and causes the on-field Galaxy formation to be twisted into a pretzel.
Forward Kamara: A-
He also has 5 goals and has been a good soldier about being played out of position on the left wing in many games. There are no reports of him being a disruptive presence in the locker room.
D-Midfielder Carrasco: B
He was not brought in to be a game changer but a serviceable guy to fulfill a role and he has done that. Kitchen is more skilled overall and as such has gotten the lions share of the minutes. In fact, he may have played every minute so far? But in the expectations game, Kitchen has been a disappointment relative to expectations while I don't think that is the case with Carrasco.
Central defender Skjelvik: C+
Has shown moments of what was hoped for but at other times has looked lost. The grade would be higher if it weren't for the fact of the expectations that come with paying someone $900K! MLS thinking is more speed on the attack and Skjelvik when out of position isn't fast enough to recover.
Midfielder/Forward Pontius: B
Just like Carrasco, he was brought in as a role player and has given what would be expected.
Central defender Hilliard-Arce: B
Is he ready to start on a regular basis? No. But he was selected as a young player with a high ceiling and he has shown some ability. Expectations on THA aren't going to be (and shouldn't be) as high as for Skjelvik. If the Galaxy goes to three in the back going forward, I think THA might get the nod over Steres or Romney.
Right back defender Klimenta: B
Is he ready to start on a regular basis? No. But he was selected from USL who could help with squad rotation and injury fill in. Expectations on Emrah aren't going to be (and shouldn't be) as high as for Feltscher. With Feltscher out Klimenta should divide time with Romney at the RB position. Certainly, Steres should not be let anywhere near the RB position any more!
Right back defender Feltscher: B
After a slow start, he appeared to be shaping up to be a good addition at right back. Unfortunately, the LA Galaxy curse of injuries to right backs struck again as he got hurt in a freak fall in training. Will be hoping that when he returns from injury he will be able to contribute to the club. Speed however is a concern as with the entire defensive line.
Central defender Ciani: C+
He was brought in late last year in desperation to patch up the back line. This year he started with a fresh slate and full preseason workup. Has shown moments of what was hoped for but at other times has looked lost. The grade would be higher if it weren't for the fact of the expectations that come with paying someone $600K! At the moment, the Skjelvik-Ciani pairing is the best the Galaxy have. They should be playing the bulk of the minutes. As a fan, if they were getting paid half of what they are getting paid, the grade might rise to "B." We just expected more when you are paying well over a million dollars for these two guys.
In the end, this is a cautionary tale of the challenges of scouting in Europe. Skjelvik was a solid defender in a team that dominated in the Norwegian top league. How does that translate in comparison to the MLS? Ciani was at one time a solid defender in a mid-table team in the top French league. He aged out and lost his starting job. Where does that fit in the talent scale in moving to the MLS? Feltscher was a fringe first team player in an English Championship squad. How does that rate comparison to the MLS?
Returning player grades:
Midfielder Alessandrini: B-
I think the arrow is pointing upward but the grade would be for the season as a whole up to this point. Clearly, the hamstring injury hampered his play. When, he finally got back on the field he didn't have the stamina and speed and just seemed out of sorts. He seems to be getting back into form and hopefully he will reach the levels he got to last year.
Midfielder Boateng: B
He has settled into the role of a substitute after last year getting many minutes due to injury to other players. His speed is his asset giving LA some energy on offense and making defenders nervous. However, his crossing isn't consistent and his dribbling into traffic is a problem.
Defender Cole: B-
It is hard to be too critical of arguably the best left back ever to play the game. He has the heart of a fierce competitor and street smarts honed over many years at the top of his game. However, at age 37, can we dare say that he is a defensive liability sometimes? Will we see more 3-5-2 formations with Cole as a wingback?
Midfielder Jonathan dos Santos: C-
Hasn't been very impressive considering his resume. He is getting DP money but isn't making the kind of difference you would hope for. When I was at Stub Hub watching the match against San Jose, JDS lost the ball in midfield more than a few times.
Midfielder Giovani dos Santos: D
GDS is also getting DP money and at a higher amount than JDS! Thus, you want to see GDS making a very big difference and that simply hasn't been the case. Very disappointing.
Midfielder Lletget: B-
Good to see him back on the field after the terrible injury from last season. However, one wonders if the injury has left him a bit short of his previous heights? Don't know how much of it is simply getting more minutes on the field and regaining his touch and instinctive movement on and off the ball. Hope he can regain and surpass the promise he showed prior to his injury.
Defender Romney: C+
He wants to play center back but the reality is that on this current roster he is going to be plugged in at right or left back. One wonders how high his ceiling could be if he got more consistent minutes on the backline.
Defender Steres: C
For some reason, the coach has put him in at right back on a few occasions. Round peg into a square hole doesn't yield good results. In terms of center back per dollar spent probably a better value than Skjelvik-Ciani. However, in terms of raw capability, probably not ready to be a full-time starting center back in the MLS.
As you can see the grades for the individual players are not all bad. This appears to be a case where the whole is worse than the sum of the parts.
Real Madrid 3 Liverpool 1
It was a good run for the Reds. My feeling was that Liverpool would only have a chance if they could smash and grab an early lead and hang on for dear life.
When Mo Salah went out in the middle of the first half, the air was out of the balloon. But the team hung tough and got to halftime 0-0. However, you just had the feeling that Real Madrid would eventually breakthrough.
Sadly, the break came off an error from Liverpool goalkeeper Karius. Yet, Liverpool had one last gasp left as they gamely got the equalizer. However, goal number two for Real Madrid was a top 10 all-time highlight goal from Bale. Goal number three was icing for Real Madrid and sadly came off another error from Karius.
As a Los Angeles Dodger fan, the 2017 World Series was lost for a variety of reasons but the most public face of the defeat was the pitching collapses of Darvish (game 3 and 7), Kershaw (game 5), and Jansen (game 2, 5). Pitchers get the outs or give up the runs and are easily defined as heroes or scapegoats. However, in looking up and down the roster, you can also point to the poor hitting by the Dodgers.
It would be too easy to blame Karius for the loss. In the end, the Liverpool mid-field was overmatched. Also, you have to look at the bench of Liverpool. When Salah had to come out, there really was a very steep drop off in capability. No one on that Liverpool bench would probably make the B-team of Real Madrid.
Some people say Klopp can't win the "big game." I think that is a somewhat an unfair charge. Real Madrid was playing for its third Champions League Cup. They had the talent on paper and the experience. I don't think anyone had Liverpool making the finals when the Champions League campaign began. I remember listening on internet radio the road game Liverpool played in Moscow in the group stage. It was 1-1 and people had serious doubts about what Liverpool was capable of.
Good season for the Reds! Hopefully, they can add a few more pieces in the summer and make a serious run at the Premier League title in 2018-2019 and another strong showing in the European Cup!
When Mo Salah went out in the middle of the first half, the air was out of the balloon. But the team hung tough and got to halftime 0-0. However, you just had the feeling that Real Madrid would eventually breakthrough.
Sadly, the break came off an error from Liverpool goalkeeper Karius. Yet, Liverpool had one last gasp left as they gamely got the equalizer. However, goal number two for Real Madrid was a top 10 all-time highlight goal from Bale. Goal number three was icing for Real Madrid and sadly came off another error from Karius.
As a Los Angeles Dodger fan, the 2017 World Series was lost for a variety of reasons but the most public face of the defeat was the pitching collapses of Darvish (game 3 and 7), Kershaw (game 5), and Jansen (game 2, 5). Pitchers get the outs or give up the runs and are easily defined as heroes or scapegoats. However, in looking up and down the roster, you can also point to the poor hitting by the Dodgers.
It would be too easy to blame Karius for the loss. In the end, the Liverpool mid-field was overmatched. Also, you have to look at the bench of Liverpool. When Salah had to come out, there really was a very steep drop off in capability. No one on that Liverpool bench would probably make the B-team of Real Madrid.
Some people say Klopp can't win the "big game." I think that is a somewhat an unfair charge. Real Madrid was playing for its third Champions League Cup. They had the talent on paper and the experience. I don't think anyone had Liverpool making the finals when the Champions League campaign began. I remember listening on internet radio the road game Liverpool played in Moscow in the group stage. It was 1-1 and people had serious doubts about what Liverpool was capable of.
Good season for the Reds! Hopefully, they can add a few more pieces in the summer and make a serious run at the Premier League title in 2018-2019 and another strong showing in the European Cup!
Liverpool back in the Champions League
Today, Real Madrid v Liverpool, in the Champions League Final in Kiev!
Check out the wonderful promo video from Liverpool FC recapping the entire campaign through Europe.
Part of following sports is the scores and stats but its pleasure is the narrative. In this case, as a Los Angelino on the west coast of America, I'm rooting for the team from the northwest of England, a place I've never been and likely will never visit (it is a bucket list trip though!). Liverpool's story of past glories and mostly middling results in recent memory now trying to reach one of the high mountains of the soccer world is a compelling one. The team is composed of players who are almost exclusively outside the realm of the A-listers but a passionate and capable coach has helped them play as a team. Combined with the on field work with a fanatical home fan base and international following, this is the stuff of great screenwriting and novelistic storytelling. Win or lose it has been a great ride this season. Go REDS!
Check out the wonderful promo video from Liverpool FC recapping the entire campaign through Europe.
Part of following sports is the scores and stats but its pleasure is the narrative. In this case, as a Los Angelino on the west coast of America, I'm rooting for the team from the northwest of England, a place I've never been and likely will never visit (it is a bucket list trip though!). Liverpool's story of past glories and mostly middling results in recent memory now trying to reach one of the high mountains of the soccer world is a compelling one. The team is composed of players who are almost exclusively outside the realm of the A-listers but a passionate and capable coach has helped them play as a team. Combined with the on field work with a fanatical home fan base and international following, this is the stuff of great screenwriting and novelistic storytelling. Win or lose it has been a great ride this season. Go REDS!
LA Galaxy 1 SJ Earthquakes 0
Attended in person last night the Cali Classico. In years past, the two clubs were higher up in the table and the match would have more energy on the field and in the stands.
A few quick observations:
Chances were few and far between as both clubs didn't seem to be fully in sync. MLS match report put it this way: "Those were the only shots on goal in an energetic but largely incoherent clash between the California Clasico rivals."
LA won the possession stat (52.6 vs. 47.4) and the corner stat (7 vs. 3) confirming my overall impression that LA was slightly more on the front foot. However, it seemed on many occasions LA was kicking the ball sideways before attempting to move forward that then resulted in a Galaxy midfielder being dispossessed of the ball or sending to nowhere in particular.
The defense looked good as they tended to be in the right places when SJ was moving in attack. Bingham got a huge save late in the game to preserve the win by getting a finger on the ball to push it into the crossbar. Alessandrini got to the loose ball and cleared it just before the Earthquakes could pounce on it.
Alessandrini is starting to look more fit and lively and scored the game winner at 82 minutes. Last season his ability to dribble at people to create chances for himself and others was the one bright spot in a dismal year. This year he has seemed out of sorts perhaps due to the injury he had early in the season. Hopefully, this indicates he is returning toward the form he had last year.
Boateng got the assist and continues to show he is the "super-sub" who brings speed and energy in the second half helping create chances.
All-in-all, not a dominating performance, not a good performance, but it was enough and they got the win and with the Galaxy struggles this season, the fans and club will take it.
Here is the highlight package from last night.
A few quick observations:
Chances were few and far between as both clubs didn't seem to be fully in sync. MLS match report put it this way: "Those were the only shots on goal in an energetic but largely incoherent clash between the California Clasico rivals."
LA won the possession stat (52.6 vs. 47.4) and the corner stat (7 vs. 3) confirming my overall impression that LA was slightly more on the front foot. However, it seemed on many occasions LA was kicking the ball sideways before attempting to move forward that then resulted in a Galaxy midfielder being dispossessed of the ball or sending to nowhere in particular.
The defense looked good as they tended to be in the right places when SJ was moving in attack. Bingham got a huge save late in the game to preserve the win by getting a finger on the ball to push it into the crossbar. Alessandrini got to the loose ball and cleared it just before the Earthquakes could pounce on it.
Alessandrini is starting to look more fit and lively and scored the game winner at 82 minutes. Last season his ability to dribble at people to create chances for himself and others was the one bright spot in a dismal year. This year he has seemed out of sorts perhaps due to the injury he had early in the season. Hopefully, this indicates he is returning toward the form he had last year.
Boateng got the assist and continues to show he is the "super-sub" who brings speed and energy in the second half helping create chances.
All-in-all, not a dominating performance, not a good performance, but it was enough and they got the win and with the Galaxy struggles this season, the fans and club will take it.
Here is the highlight package from last night.
Montreal vs. LA Galaxy: line-up options and guesses
What is a team to do when everything seems to be going the wrong way.
In the first 7 games, LAG endured 3 shutouts, 2 where they scored one goal, 1 game where they scored 2 goals and the one crazy game against LAFC where they scored 4. In this stretch, the feeling was the defense makes mistakes but was tolerable but the offense wasn't in sync.
In the last 3 games, the offense is still out of sync but has gotten 2 goals per match. The problem, the defense has turned into Swiss cheese yielding 3 goals per match.
So what next for the guys drawing up the starting line up?
Do you go back to bunkering like they did in the 0-0 road trip to Vancouver with an eye to counter-attack to steal the win?
Or do you double down on the attacking line-up and hope the team defense improves?
Standard line-up (4-2-3-1)
Back 4: Skjelvik, Ciani, Steres, Romney
Defensive-mid: Jonathan dos Santos and Carrasco
Attacking-mid: Alessandrini, Lletget, Kamara
Forward: Ibrahimovic
Planned subs:
Boateng
Kitchen for defense if Galaxy gets the lead
Pontius for fresh attack if playing catch-up
Defensive minded (5-3-2)
Back 5: Skjelvik, Ciani, Hillard-Arce, Steres, Romney
Midfield 3: Alessandrini, Jonathan dos Santos, Lletget
Forward 2: Ibrahimovic, Kamara
Planned subs:
Boateng
Kitchen for defense if Galaxy gets the lead
Pontius for fresh attack if playing catch-up
In the first 7 games, LAG endured 3 shutouts, 2 where they scored one goal, 1 game where they scored 2 goals and the one crazy game against LAFC where they scored 4. In this stretch, the feeling was the defense makes mistakes but was tolerable but the offense wasn't in sync.
In the last 3 games, the offense is still out of sync but has gotten 2 goals per match. The problem, the defense has turned into Swiss cheese yielding 3 goals per match.
So what next for the guys drawing up the starting line up?
Do you go back to bunkering like they did in the 0-0 road trip to Vancouver with an eye to counter-attack to steal the win?
Or do you double down on the attacking line-up and hope the team defense improves?
Standard line-up (4-2-3-1)
Back 4: Skjelvik, Ciani, Steres, Romney
Defensive-mid: Jonathan dos Santos and Carrasco
Attacking-mid: Alessandrini, Lletget, Kamara
Forward: Ibrahimovic
Planned subs:
Boateng
Kitchen for defense if Galaxy gets the lead
Pontius for fresh attack if playing catch-up
Defensive minded (5-3-2)
Back 5: Skjelvik, Ciani, Hillard-Arce, Steres, Romney
Midfield 3: Alessandrini, Jonathan dos Santos, Lletget
Forward 2: Ibrahimovic, Kamara
Planned subs:
Boateng
Kitchen for defense if Galaxy gets the lead
Pontius for fresh attack if playing catch-up
Wide World of Soccer - weekend April 28-29
Liverpool FC 0 Stoke City 0. Nuff said.
High drama on Wednesday for leg 2 against Roma. 5-2 lead looks good but Barcelona collapsed to Roma and were eliminated so Roma is not to be underestimated.
QPR takes care of business with a 3-1 win over bottom of the table Birmingham City.
LA Galaxy woes continue coming out on the short end 2-3 to NY Red Bulls. A couple of questionable calls went against LA Galaxy that took a goal off the LA tally and added a PK that was the Red Bull's winner.
LA Galaxy got some more offense but unfortunately their defense cost them. One of the MLS analyst says that LA's 4-3-3 might be better for them. I speculated about that possibility back on April 13 though at that time I didn't anticipate Zlatan would start which he did.
LAFC in dramatic fashion defeat Seattle 1-0 with a stoppage time free kick!
Elfsborg falls 2-1 to Sundsvall.
Falkenberg plays on Tuesday on the road at Halmstad.
High drama on Wednesday for leg 2 against Roma. 5-2 lead looks good but Barcelona collapsed to Roma and were eliminated so Roma is not to be underestimated.
QPR takes care of business with a 3-1 win over bottom of the table Birmingham City.
LA Galaxy woes continue coming out on the short end 2-3 to NY Red Bulls. A couple of questionable calls went against LA Galaxy that took a goal off the LA tally and added a PK that was the Red Bull's winner.
LA Galaxy got some more offense but unfortunately their defense cost them. One of the MLS analyst says that LA's 4-3-3 might be better for them. I speculated about that possibility back on April 13 though at that time I didn't anticipate Zlatan would start which he did.
LAFC in dramatic fashion defeat Seattle 1-0 with a stoppage time free kick!
Elfsborg falls 2-1 to Sundsvall.
Falkenberg plays on Tuesday on the road at Halmstad.
Wide world of soccer: weekend of April 21/22 2018
Hats off to LAFC for rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Montreal on the road. If you had said that LAFC would get 4 wins against 2 losses to open season entirely on the road, fans would take it. They have their home opener next weekend.
Liverpool was on the road at West Bromwich cruising with a 2-0 lead only to surrender 2 goals late. The problems of defense reared its head once again!
QPR lost to Brentford 2-1. Not surprising for a road game at a team at the top half of the table.
LA Galaxy fall at home to Atlanta 2-0. Saw the second half of the match on TV. Atlanta had the lead so they were probably not as aggressive on offense. Nonetheless, it seemed they were always more threatening to score while LAG only got weak "half" chances at goal. LAG simply looked inferior to Atlanta.
Falkenberg (FFF) is off to a 4 game win streak with a 3-1 victory over Frej Taby.
Elfsborg plays Monday against Stockholm based Djurgarden.
Liverpool was on the road at West Bromwich cruising with a 2-0 lead only to surrender 2 goals late. The problems of defense reared its head once again!
QPR lost to Brentford 2-1. Not surprising for a road game at a team at the top half of the table.
LA Galaxy fall at home to Atlanta 2-0. Saw the second half of the match on TV. Atlanta had the lead so they were probably not as aggressive on offense. Nonetheless, it seemed they were always more threatening to score while LAG only got weak "half" chances at goal. LAG simply looked inferior to Atlanta.
Falkenberg (FFF) is off to a 4 game win streak with a 3-1 victory over Frej Taby.
Elfsborg plays Monday against Stockholm based Djurgarden.
LAG thus far
LA Galaxy stand at 3 wins 1 draw 3 losses.
Have seen parts of several matches on television.
The 4-3 victory over LAFC highlighted the best and worst of the LA Galaxy: the worst, a defense that always looks on the edge of calamity, the best, an offense that, on this occasion, lived up to the hype.
However, in most other matches, it has been the offense that hasn't shown much life. Aside from that 4 goal explosion against LAFC, LAG has been shut out 3 times, scored 1 goal 2 times (one for a win and one for a loss), and scored 2 goals in the season opening victory.
Thus, at an anemic 8 goals for the season, only 4 clubs have scored less.
Meanwhile, the defense has allowed 10 goals which is middle of the pack.
On paper, their problems appear more on the offense side of the park than the defense side.
However, by the "eyeball" test, it looks like there are problems on both sides of the game.
The defense always looks to be on the edge of being overwhelmed. One would have thought based on the eyeball test that the stats would bear out they are bad. But the "numbers" say they only gave up 10 goals which isn't too bad compared to the rest of the league.
On the offense side, it just seems the team is out of sync: passes to nobody, shots that don't seem very high percentage, inability to retain possession and pressure on the other team.
Have seen parts of several matches on television.
The 4-3 victory over LAFC highlighted the best and worst of the LA Galaxy: the worst, a defense that always looks on the edge of calamity, the best, an offense that, on this occasion, lived up to the hype.
However, in most other matches, it has been the offense that hasn't shown much life. Aside from that 4 goal explosion against LAFC, LAG has been shut out 3 times, scored 1 goal 2 times (one for a win and one for a loss), and scored 2 goals in the season opening victory.
Thus, at an anemic 8 goals for the season, only 4 clubs have scored less.
Meanwhile, the defense has allowed 10 goals which is middle of the pack.
On paper, their problems appear more on the offense side of the park than the defense side.
However, by the "eyeball" test, it looks like there are problems on both sides of the game.
The defense always looks to be on the edge of being overwhelmed. One would have thought based on the eyeball test that the stats would bear out they are bad. But the "numbers" say they only gave up 10 goals which isn't too bad compared to the rest of the league.
On the offense side, it just seems the team is out of sync: passes to nobody, shots that don't seem very high percentage, inability to retain possession and pressure on the other team.
Elfsborg wins!
In their fourth match of the season, Elfsborg finally got a victory with a 2-0 win on the road against Brommapojkarna!
Lot of ball watching on that second goal by the defenders, eh?
Below is the CMORE highlight package.
Lot of ball watching on that second goal by the defenders, eh?
Below is the CMORE highlight package.
"We are Liverpool: this means more" LFC's latest promo video
Sports is partly about scores and stats but it is mostly about narrative.
"We are Liverpool: this means more" is LFC's latest promo video with great moving images of past and present and the narration of current manager Jurgen Klopp.
Fantastic and moving and I've only been a fan since 2014 and have never been within a hundred miles of Liverpool.
Wide world of Soccer - how the six clubs I follow did
Friday April 13
LAFC beat Vancouver 2-0 on the road
LAFC bounced back from two prior defeats and continue to show the acumen of signing Rossi and Vela who got the goals in the victory.
Saturday April 14
Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 3-0
The three headed front line get a goal apiece in a taking care of business win.
Elfsborg downed by Sirius 1-0 at home
That is now three straight losses for the boys from Boras but no time to panic yet as there are still 27 more matches. For historical context, Elfsborg have been in the top league since 1998. From that time onward, they won the league in 2006 and 2012. They finished second in 2008. They won the Svenska Cup in 2001, 2003 and 2014. Hopefully, they can get their season going real soon!
QPR lost at home to Preston 2-1
Preston is higher up in the table so a loss isn't too surprising.
Chicago 0 LA Galaxy 1
Zlatan has appeared in 3 games and now has 2 game winning goals! Wound up watching the match on the phone via the live stream on Twitter for the first half and then the LA Galaxy audio stream for the second half. With the crazy wind, LAG had the wind with the in the first half and Chicago had the wind with them in the second half. The much maligned (and often with good reason) defense and goalkeeper came through a steady steam of attempts by Chicago in the second half.
Sunday April 15
GAIS 0 Falkenberg 2
The team by the sea have started off with 3 wins!
LAFC beat Vancouver 2-0 on the road
LAFC bounced back from two prior defeats and continue to show the acumen of signing Rossi and Vela who got the goals in the victory.
Saturday April 14
Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 3-0
The three headed front line get a goal apiece in a taking care of business win.
Elfsborg downed by Sirius 1-0 at home
That is now three straight losses for the boys from Boras but no time to panic yet as there are still 27 more matches. For historical context, Elfsborg have been in the top league since 1998. From that time onward, they won the league in 2006 and 2012. They finished second in 2008. They won the Svenska Cup in 2001, 2003 and 2014. Hopefully, they can get their season going real soon!
QPR lost at home to Preston 2-1
Preston is higher up in the table so a loss isn't too surprising.
Chicago 0 LA Galaxy 1
Zlatan has appeared in 3 games and now has 2 game winning goals! Wound up watching the match on the phone via the live stream on Twitter for the first half and then the LA Galaxy audio stream for the second half. With the crazy wind, LAG had the wind with the in the first half and Chicago had the wind with them in the second half. The much maligned (and often with good reason) defense and goalkeeper came through a steady steam of attempts by Chicago in the second half.
Sunday April 15
GAIS 0 Falkenberg 2
The team by the sea have started off with 3 wins!
Chicago v Los Angeles Galaxy
The LA Galaxy and Zlatan take their show on the road to Chicago.
How many minutes will Zlatan play?
He was in about 20 minutes against LAFC and 30 minutes against SKC. Some speculate 40 minutes in which case, might as well go 45 for a full second half. My "guts" tell me to look for 30 minutes again. This is his first road trip and the weather is likely to be miserable in Chicago so I'm thinking they play it safe with 30 minutes.
Any changes to the line-up that was used against SKC?
That line-up played SKC got their chances and played them pretty even with the exception of two defensive lapses in the early part of the second half which cost LAG the two goals. Thus, I don't see any line-up changes. The only two that could perhaps be considered is putting in Ciani for Steres but I think that unlikely. The other would be to start Lletget instead and have Boateng enter as his sub. But I think that unlikely as well but more possible than Ciani starting.
4-2-3-1 or something else?
As a relatively new soccer watcher, formation watching isn't always so clear to me. I know that at the beginning of the TV match coverage, a formation is shown. When I watch the game, it is sometimes pretty much as described. But clearly in the flow of the game, players push forward when the opportunity is there.
I was in the stands (behind the goal) on the side LAG were moving toward in the first half of the SKC match. There were times when Jonathan dos Santos (listed as one of the defensive midfielders) looked like he was in the offensive front! Alessandrini was listed as a central midfielder and he was often out wide. Pontius was listed as a wing midfielder and he was central. So clearly, these 4-2-3-1 formations are allowed to be fluid to capitalize on the situation. Perhaps that is part of why the defense sometimes gets over-run as the back line doesn't have any help when the other team comes pouring forward off a turnover by the LAG offensive players.
In the Premier League, the formation shown at the beginning is often a 4-3-3 that is favored by Liverpool. Could the LA Galaxy play something like that?
Kitchen would clearly be the "6" with 100% of his mindset on defense.
JDS would be 50% defense and 50% offense and link the movement of the ball from defense to offense.
Alessandrini would be offense minded looking to feed the ball to the three guys in the forward line or taking the shot himself.
The three forwards would be Pontius, Kamara, Boateng.
My guts tells me that this set up might be too offense minded and could expose the defense more especially since Feltscher and Cole do like to push forward and get into the offensive actions.
4-4-2
When Zlatan comes in, the team appears to go into this formation with Zlatan and Kamara as the two upfront. Perhaps, the team could play that from the start and have Pontius and Kamara as the two upfront? Alessandrini/Kitchen/JDS/Boateng as the midfield?
At the 70 minute mark, sub in Zlatan to pair with Kamara, Lletget replacing either Alessandrini or Boateng depending on who looks more tired and Pontius gets reassigned to the midfield?
Anyway, as the team chemistry improves, the players will have a better sense of when to pour forward on attack and when to play it safe and not rush too far ahead. With those subtle adjustments in decision-making, I think the team can compensate for the slightly slower feet of the defensive line.
Fearless (clueless) forecast:
1-1 or 2-2 draw on the road.
UPDATE: LAG win it 1-0! Zlatan with the game winner in stoppage time of the first half. Zlatan started and played 80 minutes.
How many minutes will Zlatan play?
He was in about 20 minutes against LAFC and 30 minutes against SKC. Some speculate 40 minutes in which case, might as well go 45 for a full second half. My "guts" tell me to look for 30 minutes again. This is his first road trip and the weather is likely to be miserable in Chicago so I'm thinking they play it safe with 30 minutes.
Any changes to the line-up that was used against SKC?
That line-up played SKC got their chances and played them pretty even with the exception of two defensive lapses in the early part of the second half which cost LAG the two goals. Thus, I don't see any line-up changes. The only two that could perhaps be considered is putting in Ciani for Steres but I think that unlikely. The other would be to start Lletget instead and have Boateng enter as his sub. But I think that unlikely as well but more possible than Ciani starting.
4-2-3-1 or something else?
As a relatively new soccer watcher, formation watching isn't always so clear to me. I know that at the beginning of the TV match coverage, a formation is shown. When I watch the game, it is sometimes pretty much as described. But clearly in the flow of the game, players push forward when the opportunity is there.
I was in the stands (behind the goal) on the side LAG were moving toward in the first half of the SKC match. There were times when Jonathan dos Santos (listed as one of the defensive midfielders) looked like he was in the offensive front! Alessandrini was listed as a central midfielder and he was often out wide. Pontius was listed as a wing midfielder and he was central. So clearly, these 4-2-3-1 formations are allowed to be fluid to capitalize on the situation. Perhaps that is part of why the defense sometimes gets over-run as the back line doesn't have any help when the other team comes pouring forward off a turnover by the LAG offensive players.
In the Premier League, the formation shown at the beginning is often a 4-3-3 that is favored by Liverpool. Could the LA Galaxy play something like that?
Kitchen would clearly be the "6" with 100% of his mindset on defense.
JDS would be 50% defense and 50% offense and link the movement of the ball from defense to offense.
Alessandrini would be offense minded looking to feed the ball to the three guys in the forward line or taking the shot himself.
The three forwards would be Pontius, Kamara, Boateng.
My guts tells me that this set up might be too offense minded and could expose the defense more especially since Feltscher and Cole do like to push forward and get into the offensive actions.
4-4-2
When Zlatan comes in, the team appears to go into this formation with Zlatan and Kamara as the two upfront. Perhaps, the team could play that from the start and have Pontius and Kamara as the two upfront? Alessandrini/Kitchen/JDS/Boateng as the midfield?
At the 70 minute mark, sub in Zlatan to pair with Kamara, Lletget replacing either Alessandrini or Boateng depending on who looks more tired and Pontius gets reassigned to the midfield?
Anyway, as the team chemistry improves, the players will have a better sense of when to pour forward on attack and when to play it safe and not rush too far ahead. With those subtle adjustments in decision-making, I think the team can compensate for the slightly slower feet of the defensive line.
Fearless (clueless) forecast:
1-1 or 2-2 draw on the road.
UPDATE: LAG win it 1-0! Zlatan with the game winner in stoppage time of the first half. Zlatan started and played 80 minutes.
It is Big-ly: Man City v. Liverpool, Leg Two
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 10, 2018
The starting XI is pretty much as expected. Admittedly, the bench is depleted; however, hopefully, they won't be called into service other than to provide some fresh defensive energy to close out the match. If they have to call up on the reserves to chase the game, then it would mean Liverpool is in serious trouble!
And here is the starting XI and the bench for Manchester City.
How we're lining-up tonight! 🙌— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 10, 2018
City XI | Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva (C), Sane, Sterling, Bernardo, G Jesus
Subs | Bravo, Aguero, Kompany, Foden, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Delph#cityvlfc #mancity pic.twitter.com/rdWCEYwniX
Currently, LFC has a three-goal edge.
If at the end of regulation the aggregate is:
3-0 LFC advances
3-1 LFC advances
3-2 LFC advances
3-3 goes to Extra-Time
3-4 Man City advances
4-4 LFC advances on away goals
4-5 Man City advances
Let's Go Liverpool!
IT. IS. A. FINAL!!!
Liverpool advance to the semi-finals with a 2-1 victory in leg two with a 5-1 aggregate!
Man City came out on fire and got a very quick goal and put LFC on their heels and came at them in waves. Some disputed calls went against Man City and the half ended 1-0 in favor of Man City but still down 3-1 on aggregate. Coach Pep was hot at the referee and was sent to the stands.
Man City continued to press but LFC continued to parry and you guessed it, MO SALAH got the goal at 56.
Man City had to push forward even more down 4-1 on aggregate and needed 4 goals to win. Liverpool defended and got the insurance goal from Bobby Firmino at 77.
Man City gamely fought on but Liverpool began to sub in some fresh legs to finish off the match.
Here are the highlights from Fox Sport. Fantastic goals by Salah and Firmino.
The weekend in soccer
Saturday started with the Merseyside Derby.
Everton v. Liverpool 0-0 (draw)
The Reds with an eye toward the second leg of the Champions League semi-final played a weakened side so a draw was a reasonable outcome.
Hull v. QPR 4-0 (loss)
Ugh. QPR isn't a top level team so don't expect them to win all the time but they are usually at least competitive and they weren't today.
Falkenberg v. Eskilstuna 2-0 (win)
Off to a good start with two wins. Can they keep it up and get back to the top tier? "Laget vid havet!"
Atlanta v. LAFC 5-0 (loss)
Did the stunning loss against LA Galaxy last weekend leave the team still out of sorts? Or perhaps Atlanta is simply too much for LAFC to deal with? In either case, Bob Bradley and the brain trust will need to look at their situation after the glossy start.
Sunday provided two matches for me to follow
Kalmar v. Elfborg 1-0 (loss)
Ooofff .... off to a bad start with two losses. 28 matches to go. Hopefully, they will get their feet under them soon!
LA Galaxy v. Sporting Kansas City 0-2 (loss)
SKC dominated possession of the ball in the first half but LAG defense was up to the challenge for much of the time in the first half. But there was one bad patch early in the second half when LAG surrendered two goals. Those were not outrageous world class goals. However, they were clinical finishes to the opportunities granted by some poor defending from LAG.
The first goal was off a weak clearance off a corner kick that got pounced on by SKC.
The second goal was essentially a 1-against-3. Give the guy credit for taking it to the LAG defenders Steres and Cole and after ditching them, he got it past the goalkeeper Bingham. Any one of Steres, Cole, or Bingham could have prevented that goal but none did rise to that occasion.
LAG had shots of which three hit the woodwork. Jonathan Dos Santos and Romain Alessandrini were back in the line-up but did seem a little rusty: pace and passing was just a little off.
The defensive group does seem a bit slow and teams that have speed will cause problems for LAG. Cole is astute but his 37 year old legs sometimes let him down. Skjelvik looks promising and don't recall him getting overwhelmed against SKC but he clearly got outpaced on goal #3 that LAFC scored. Steres has the physical tools (he made a couple of good tackles against SKC) but over his time at LAG errors seem to crop up. Perhaps it is focus and decision making that will improve with experience? Feltscher seems to be settling in but am concerned that without smart positioning and situational awareness he might not have the speed to catch up if he gets up too far forward on the attack. Kitchen has been very helpful to the defense but it seems the sum of the parts haven't gotten to where LAG needs to be to be consistently competitive.
Meanwhile, the Zlatan phenomena continues but no Hollywood ending tonight. He got in for about 30 minutes and put some shots on goal with one or two of the chances that got the crowd hopeful.
From the General Admission side of the stadium, it was hard to tell how good were his shots on goal. Judging from video replays I saw after the game, two of them looked like good efforts that if the goalkeeper has shut-off for a moment would have yielded a goal.
Sigi and company have a lot to chew over.
Defending put them in a three-goal deficit against LAFC and a two-goal deficit against SKC. Don't see Ciani or Romney as a better option than what they have out there now. So they may simply have to live with what they have. Do wonder how much upside does youngsters Hilliard-Arce and Arellano have?
As LAG offensive players advance in fitness returning from injury, it will be interesting to see which players will get the minutes upcoming and whether they will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation - probably. It seems that when Zlatan is in they switch to 4-4-2. Will he go on the road to Chicago? And how many minutes will he get?
Tough loss that could easily have been a draw. No time to panic as the team is still a work in progress with the arrow facing in the up direction.
Everton v. Liverpool 0-0 (draw)
The Reds with an eye toward the second leg of the Champions League semi-final played a weakened side so a draw was a reasonable outcome.
Hull v. QPR 4-0 (loss)
Ugh. QPR isn't a top level team so don't expect them to win all the time but they are usually at least competitive and they weren't today.
Falkenberg v. Eskilstuna 2-0 (win)
Off to a good start with two wins. Can they keep it up and get back to the top tier? "Laget vid havet!"
Atlanta v. LAFC 5-0 (loss)
Did the stunning loss against LA Galaxy last weekend leave the team still out of sorts? Or perhaps Atlanta is simply too much for LAFC to deal with? In either case, Bob Bradley and the brain trust will need to look at their situation after the glossy start.
Sunday provided two matches for me to follow
Kalmar v. Elfborg 1-0 (loss)
Ooofff .... off to a bad start with two losses. 28 matches to go. Hopefully, they will get their feet under them soon!
LA Galaxy v. Sporting Kansas City 0-2 (loss)
SKC dominated possession of the ball in the first half but LAG defense was up to the challenge for much of the time in the first half. But there was one bad patch early in the second half when LAG surrendered two goals. Those were not outrageous world class goals. However, they were clinical finishes to the opportunities granted by some poor defending from LAG.
The first goal was off a weak clearance off a corner kick that got pounced on by SKC.
The second goal was essentially a 1-against-3. Give the guy credit for taking it to the LAG defenders Steres and Cole and after ditching them, he got it past the goalkeeper Bingham. Any one of Steres, Cole, or Bingham could have prevented that goal but none did rise to that occasion.
LAG had shots of which three hit the woodwork. Jonathan Dos Santos and Romain Alessandrini were back in the line-up but did seem a little rusty: pace and passing was just a little off.
The defensive group does seem a bit slow and teams that have speed will cause problems for LAG. Cole is astute but his 37 year old legs sometimes let him down. Skjelvik looks promising and don't recall him getting overwhelmed against SKC but he clearly got outpaced on goal #3 that LAFC scored. Steres has the physical tools (he made a couple of good tackles against SKC) but over his time at LAG errors seem to crop up. Perhaps it is focus and decision making that will improve with experience? Feltscher seems to be settling in but am concerned that without smart positioning and situational awareness he might not have the speed to catch up if he gets up too far forward on the attack. Kitchen has been very helpful to the defense but it seems the sum of the parts haven't gotten to where LAG needs to be to be consistently competitive.
Meanwhile, the Zlatan phenomena continues but no Hollywood ending tonight. He got in for about 30 minutes and put some shots on goal with one or two of the chances that got the crowd hopeful.
From the General Admission side of the stadium, it was hard to tell how good were his shots on goal. Judging from video replays I saw after the game, two of them looked like good efforts that if the goalkeeper has shut-off for a moment would have yielded a goal.
Sigi and company have a lot to chew over.
Defending put them in a three-goal deficit against LAFC and a two-goal deficit against SKC. Don't see Ciani or Romney as a better option than what they have out there now. So they may simply have to live with what they have. Do wonder how much upside does youngsters Hilliard-Arce and Arellano have?
As LAG offensive players advance in fitness returning from injury, it will be interesting to see which players will get the minutes upcoming and whether they will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation - probably. It seems that when Zlatan is in they switch to 4-4-2. Will he go on the road to Chicago? And how many minutes will he get?
Tough loss that could easily have been a draw. No time to panic as the team is still a work in progress with the arrow facing in the up direction.
Wide world of soccer - LA Galaxy v LAFC
Complete craziness!
IN any language, exciting ....... video compilation of the Zlatan goal call from announcers from around the world!
LAFC made LA Galaxy defenders look like they had concrete shoes on and bang, 3-0 lead!
But the LA Galaxy woke up in the second half and LAFC started to get a little tight.
3-1, with the Lleget goal. Good to see him on the way to full force after so many months of rehab from his foot surgery that could have been career ending.
Zlatan comes into the game!
Boateng crosses and Pontius scores on a diving header, 3-2.
Free kick by LAFC goal keeper and Steres heads it upfield. Zlatan sees that the LAFC goalie is too far from his goal and the properly gauges the flight of the header and on the bounce strikes a swerving shot into the goal, 3-3!
LAFC realizes they could lose this thing and they wake up and start to attack and get shot that hits the post.
As the game appears to be winding down to a draw, LAG pushes forward as the ball goes toward the open space to the right of the goal box and Cole, 37, tracks it down and hits a cross into the box and Zlatan, 36, out jumps everyone to head the ball into the goal, 4-3!
###
LA Galaxy were one of the "originals" when MLS started in 1996. Soccer was still on the periphery of most sports fans including myself back then.
David Beckham arrived in 2007 and the LA Galaxy and MLS began to get a bit more attention. I would check in on their progress on and off but mostly off. I did make it to one Galaxy game when both Beckham and Donovan were on the field.
It would not be until 2010 that I would follow the club more routinely. The Landon Donovan late game goal against Algeria in the World Cup pushed me into soccer fandom!
Got pretty spoiled as the LA Galaxy won 3 MLS Cups between 2010-2014 in 4 MLS Cup final appearances.
After that great run, the team model of relying on 30+ y/o European stars began to run into trouble as Robby Keane and Steven Gerrard just couldn't stay healthy enough to make a difference and so the LA Galaxy flamed out in the playoffs in 2015 and 2016.
2017 was a dumpster fire as the team went toward a youth movement and some of their veteran players got hurt or just didn't play well resulted in the team finishing with the worst record in MLS.
With the launching of LAFC in 2018, it was tempting to "jump ship" but I decided to stick with the LA Galaxy as it is pretty hard to change clubs once you have some history of rooting for them.
No hard feelings about LAFC. It is good for the sport and the city to have a solid rival in town. In a face-to-face match, I have my team to root for. In other situations, I'll check in on how they are doing and wish them well. This is how I think of the Angels (I am a Dodger fan) and the Clippers (I am a Laker fan). I happily rooted for the Angels the year they beat the Giants to win the World Series!
LAFC has definitely gotten off to a great start and the LA Galaxy could learn from them about scouting for talent in Latin America.
Wide world of soccer - LFC v Man City, leg 1
Champions League quarter-finals!
Am guessing Man City is favored but leg one is at Anfield.
The KOP should be loud tonight!
In reading around the various media outlets in the build up, there is concerns at LFC about injuries.
The Echo reports that Gomez, Matip, Klavan, and Can are not available for selection.
Line-up guesses:
GK: Karius
Defense: Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson
Midfield: Henderson, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Frontline: Mane, Firmino, Salah
Liverpool take a 3-0 lead in leg 1. Here are the highlights!
Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane score in the first half!
Am guessing Man City is favored but leg one is at Anfield.
The KOP should be loud tonight!
In reading around the various media outlets in the build up, there is concerns at LFC about injuries.
The Echo reports that Gomez, Matip, Klavan, and Can are not available for selection.
Line-up guesses:
GK: Karius
Defense: Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson
Midfield: Henderson, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Frontline: Mane, Firmino, Salah
Liverpool take a 3-0 lead in leg 1. Here are the highlights!
Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane score in the first half!
Wide world of soccer - QPR!
QPR bounce back from their loss to Redding with a 4-1 victory over Norwich.
I had mentioned in my last blog post that I would go find fish and chips if QPR would win a match!
So now, I will need to look around the part of town I live in to see who has them on the menu.
Sheffield Wednesday is another club like QPR and Norwich occupying the middle-ish part of the bottom half of the table.
Come on you R's!
Wide world of soccer - Sweden
Swedish soccer leagues that I follow, Allsvenskan (tier 1) and Superettan (tier 2) have kicked off.
Elfsborg fell 2-1 to historic powerhouse Malmo.
According to Transfermarkt.com, Malmo, AIK, and Ostersunds are the top-three in terms of "market value" of the clubs. Elfsborg is fifth.
According to one odds-maker site, Malmo, AIK, and Djurgarden are front-runners. Elfsborg is seventh.
Last season Elfsborg finished eighth.
In the Superettan, Helsingborg, Halmstad, and Jonkopings are the favorites according to the same odds-making site. Falkenberg is projected fifth.
On the basis of "market value," Helsingborg, Eskiltuna, and Jonkopings are the three strongest. Falkenberg comes in eighth.
Falkenberg kicked off their season with a 3-2 victory over Landskrona.
Falkenberg has punched above their weight the last few years winning the Superettan in 2013 and staying in tier 1 for three seasons. Last season they came up short to making it into the promotion playoffs.
Elfsborg fell 2-1 to historic powerhouse Malmo.
According to Transfermarkt.com, Malmo, AIK, and Ostersunds are the top-three in terms of "market value" of the clubs. Elfsborg is fifth.
According to one odds-maker site, Malmo, AIK, and Djurgarden are front-runners. Elfsborg is seventh.
Last season Elfsborg finished eighth.
In the Superettan, Helsingborg, Halmstad, and Jonkopings are the favorites according to the same odds-making site. Falkenberg is projected fifth.
On the basis of "market value," Helsingborg, Eskiltuna, and Jonkopings are the three strongest. Falkenberg comes in eighth.
Falkenberg kicked off their season with a 3-2 victory over Landskrona.
Falkenberg has punched above their weight the last few years winning the Superettan in 2013 and staying in tier 1 for three seasons. Last season they came up short to making it into the promotion playoffs.
The world of LA soccer
It is an exciting time for soccer in Los Angeles with the spectacular start of LAFC and the arrival of Zlatan, hashtag #zLAtan. His signing with trumpeted with a simple yet over-the-top one page ad in the LA Times.
The marketing minions of the LA Galaxy have trotted out this promo video!
Have been a follower of the LA Galaxy on and off and mostly on since 2010. The club definitely goes for the off-the-field sizzle and has produced a lot of on-the-field steak (5 MLS cups). We shall see how this pans out.
I was excited about the Steven Gerrard move to LAG but it soon became apparent that he had reached a point in his career that he was too injury prone and so the on-the-field performance didn't live up to the hype.
Below is a video of some highlights from his career and so if he can stay healthy and do 1/2 of what he did in his prime, he will have an impact!
In financial terms, it was a pretty reasonable move considering it is only for $3 million over 2 years.
In practical terms, what is the starting XI going to look like?
In the near term, the defense is not going to change with the possible exception that the injury to Ciani might keep him out of the line up for more than month.
Previously, the "ideal" plan had Kitchen and JDS as defensive midfielders with Alessandrini, GDS, and Lletget as attacking midfielders and Kamara as the lone striker. Injuries have already rendered that plan "inoperative" for the next match or three.
For instance, in tonight's match against Vancouver, it is likely that Kitchen, JDS, GDS, and Allesandrini will be unavailable due to injury and Kamara is out for international duty. But if we take an optimistic view that all will return eventually, who ultimately gives up a starting spot to Zlatan?
If GDS lives up to his full potential, then Lletget is the odd-man out?
I would imagine Zlatan will be a 60 minute starter at most unless it is very clear he is fully recovered from his injuries. In some other scenarios, he might be a final 20 minute substitute.
Interesting times for the LA Galaxy.
Meanwhile, LAFC has taken the path of finding talent from Central (Carlos Vela) and South America (Diego Rossi).
And so after two matches, the talent scouts at LAFC have to be pleased.
Check out the 5 goal blitz they put on Real Salt Lake in the video below.
The marketing minions of the LA Galaxy have trotted out this promo video!
Have been a follower of the LA Galaxy on and off and mostly on since 2010. The club definitely goes for the off-the-field sizzle and has produced a lot of on-the-field steak (5 MLS cups). We shall see how this pans out.
I was excited about the Steven Gerrard move to LAG but it soon became apparent that he had reached a point in his career that he was too injury prone and so the on-the-field performance didn't live up to the hype.
Below is a video of some highlights from his career and so if he can stay healthy and do 1/2 of what he did in his prime, he will have an impact!
In financial terms, it was a pretty reasonable move considering it is only for $3 million over 2 years.
In practical terms, what is the starting XI going to look like?
In the near term, the defense is not going to change with the possible exception that the injury to Ciani might keep him out of the line up for more than month.
Previously, the "ideal" plan had Kitchen and JDS as defensive midfielders with Alessandrini, GDS, and Lletget as attacking midfielders and Kamara as the lone striker. Injuries have already rendered that plan "inoperative" for the next match or three.
For instance, in tonight's match against Vancouver, it is likely that Kitchen, JDS, GDS, and Allesandrini will be unavailable due to injury and Kamara is out for international duty. But if we take an optimistic view that all will return eventually, who ultimately gives up a starting spot to Zlatan?
If GDS lives up to his full potential, then Lletget is the odd-man out?
I would imagine Zlatan will be a 60 minute starter at most unless it is very clear he is fully recovered from his injuries. In some other scenarios, he might be a final 20 minute substitute.
Interesting times for the LA Galaxy.
Meanwhile, LAFC has taken the path of finding talent from Central (Carlos Vela) and South America (Diego Rossi).
And so after two matches, the talent scouts at LAFC have to be pleased.
Check out the 5 goal blitz they put on Real Salt Lake in the video below.
QPR - looking safely out of the relegation zone?
Have been wearing my R's baseball cap periodically and I've said that I'll go find some Fish and Chips if someone recognizes the cap as a QPR cap. People do ask what team the hat is from occasionally and I explain it is an English soccer club in the Championship.
When I was in London asking directions in the Underground to go to Loftus Road to see the Queens Park Rangers, people didn't seem to know what I was talking about! So I guess it isn't surprising that no one so far has recognized the cap in and around Los Angeles.
Perhaps, I should change the Fish and Chips to the next time QPR wins a match?
###
QPR has picked up 7 points on 3 matches!
3 points against relegation bound Sunderland is what you expect.
Getting 3 points from an Aston Villa that is looking at promotion via playoffs was an unexpected surprise!
Getting a draw from Fulham that is aiming for promotion via playoffs was an unexpected surprise after going down two goal.
It has been lots of fun following QPR from Los Angeles. I saw the last part of the Fulham match on ESPN3. I check on the text commentary at the QPR site on games not on TV. I listen in on most episodes of the QPR podcast to get the pulse of the people who sit in the stands.
I suppose the goal for the rest of the season is to continue to build upon the mix of talent that is in the club, in particular the younger players that might stick around another season or two. Some of the more established talent will continued to be showcased as they might draw interest from the Premier League or other leagues in Europe that see the Championship as a proving ground for the next level.
The screen capture above are the "top" players on the QPR roster according to Tranfermarkt.
Will be interesting to see which of these players will be moved this summer (for a profit) to help with QPR's financial problems. For a team in QPR's position you hope to sell on at a profit and pick up new players on the rise at a reasonable cost.
Until then, looking forward to some more good efforts by the Rangers!
Come on you R's!
When I was in London asking directions in the Underground to go to Loftus Road to see the Queens Park Rangers, people didn't seem to know what I was talking about! So I guess it isn't surprising that no one so far has recognized the cap in and around Los Angeles.
Perhaps, I should change the Fish and Chips to the next time QPR wins a match?
###
QPR has picked up 7 points on 3 matches!
3 points against relegation bound Sunderland is what you expect.
Getting 3 points from an Aston Villa that is looking at promotion via playoffs was an unexpected surprise!
Getting a draw from Fulham that is aiming for promotion via playoffs was an unexpected surprise after going down two goal.
It has been lots of fun following QPR from Los Angeles. I saw the last part of the Fulham match on ESPN3. I check on the text commentary at the QPR site on games not on TV. I listen in on most episodes of the QPR podcast to get the pulse of the people who sit in the stands.
I suppose the goal for the rest of the season is to continue to build upon the mix of talent that is in the club, in particular the younger players that might stick around another season or two. Some of the more established talent will continued to be showcased as they might draw interest from the Premier League or other leagues in Europe that see the Championship as a proving ground for the next level.
The screen capture above are the "top" players on the QPR roster according to Tranfermarkt.
Will be interesting to see which of these players will be moved this summer (for a profit) to help with QPR's financial problems. For a team in QPR's position you hope to sell on at a profit and pick up new players on the rise at a reasonable cost.
Until then, looking forward to some more good efforts by the Rangers!
Come on you R's!
Liverpool FC: what is next for them?
If you had said LFC would be in the Champion's League quarterfinals before the season started, fans would take that.
If you had said LFC would lose Coutinho and still be competing for a top four finish in the Premier League, fans would take that.
But of course, now that expectations have been raised, fans want more!
The Champions League showdown against Manchester City will be interesting as the two teams split their meetings in the Premier League with Man City winning the first time 5-0 but LFC taking the second meeting 4-3. Am figuring the odds makers have Man City as favored in the two-legs of the quarters. If I had to guess, I would say 60/40 in favor of Man City. A check on the stat heads at 538 says 57/43 (as of 6:12pm March 18, 2018) for Man City.
The remainder of the Premier League schedule looks favorable to LFC. The difficult matches: Everton (away) and Chelsea (away). Liverpool should beat relegation zone Crystal Palace (away), West Brom (away), and Stoke (home). They should also beat mid-table Bournemouth (home) and Brighton (home). With 5 wins, they gets them to 78 points. If they can scratch out draws at Everton and Chelsea, LFC can finish with 80 points which should get them a top-four finish. But even with 78 you have to go back to 2013/14 where that isn't enough to finish top-four.
But you got to play the games and injuries and crazy stuff happens.
For this fan of recent vintage (started in 2014), it has been a very good year. Hope it finishes off strong!
Go Reds!!
Below is the 5-0 win over Watford with Mo Salah getting four goals and one assist.
If you had said LFC would lose Coutinho and still be competing for a top four finish in the Premier League, fans would take that.
But of course, now that expectations have been raised, fans want more!
The Champions League showdown against Manchester City will be interesting as the two teams split their meetings in the Premier League with Man City winning the first time 5-0 but LFC taking the second meeting 4-3. Am figuring the odds makers have Man City as favored in the two-legs of the quarters. If I had to guess, I would say 60/40 in favor of Man City. A check on the stat heads at 538 says 57/43 (as of 6:12pm March 18, 2018) for Man City.
The remainder of the Premier League schedule looks favorable to LFC. The difficult matches: Everton (away) and Chelsea (away). Liverpool should beat relegation zone Crystal Palace (away), West Brom (away), and Stoke (home). They should also beat mid-table Bournemouth (home) and Brighton (home). With 5 wins, they gets them to 78 points. If they can scratch out draws at Everton and Chelsea, LFC can finish with 80 points which should get them a top-four finish. But even with 78 you have to go back to 2013/14 where that isn't enough to finish top-four.
But you got to play the games and injuries and crazy stuff happens.
For this fan of recent vintage (started in 2014), it has been a very good year. Hope it finishes off strong!
Go Reds!!
Below is the 5-0 win over Watford with Mo Salah getting four goals and one assist.
Homelessness and Hunger in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Times recently ran a series of editorials on the issue of homelessness in Los Angeles.
Excerpts:
Homelessness burst its traditional borders several years ago, spreading first to gloomy underpasses and dim side streets, and then to public parks and library reading rooms and subway platforms. No matter where you live in L.A. County, from Long Beach to Beverly Hills to Lancaster, you cannot credibly claim today to be unaware of the squalid tent cities, the sprawling encampments, or the despair and misery on display there.
[.....]
Today, we are paying the price: The economically homeless are now estimated to make up more than half of L.A.’s unhoused — and it is their rising numbers that are fueling the unprecedented growth in that population. More than half of the people surveyed by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority last year said they were homeless because of an eviction, foreclosure, unemployment or “financial reasons.”
[.....]
Until the mayor and the members of the City Council treat the building of these 10,000 units of housing with the kind of extraordinary urgency this crisis requires — the kind that the federal and state governments bestowed upon, for example, the rebuilding of the broken Santa Monica Freeway after the Northridge earthquake — they simply will not be built. And they must be built. Supportive housing in particular — which offers not just a place to live but also access to job counseling and mental health and substance abuse treatment, among other things — is the best long-term solution for the chronically homeless, whose cases are the most difficult to solve. A substantial number of these housing units must be located in every single council district. They cannot just be concentrated in poor areas or in neighborhoods with less political clout. Already, a new report shows that even more housing will be needed than was estimated at the time HHH was passed.
[.....]
The largest psychiatric institutions in the United States are the Los Angeles County jails, the Cook County Jail in Chicago and Rikers Island in New York. L.A. County incarcerates thousands of mentally ill people. The Sheriff’s Department reports that more than 70% of inmates who enter jail report a serious illness, either mental or physical. The county is moving forward with a $2-billion-plus plan to replace the aging Men’s Central Jail with a new facility specifically geared toward mental health treatment — but still a jail. We’re back where we started, but this time even more literally than before: Mentally ill people are prisoners. It’s not that jailers want the new business. It’s a population, L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell recently told ABC7, “that I would argue should not be treated in a jail facility.”
[.....]
Across the city, drivers exiting freeways routinely encounter homeless people on the off-ramps shuffling from window to window requesting money. Libraries, train stations and public parks have become refuges for homeless people. In many residential neighborhoods and commercial districts, encampments have become a seemingly immutable fact of life. As homelessness spreads across Los Angeles County — the official tally shows a 46% increase from 2013 to 2017 — it is drawing two conflicting responses, at times from the same people. There’s sympathy and a desire to help, but there’s also a sense of being invaded and perhaps even endangered — in terms of both physical safety and public health
[.....]
Yet such a czar would only be as powerful as the mayor who appointed him or her. And in L.A., the mayor lacks legal authority to override City Council members, who can and do frequently say “no” to proposed housing and mental health facilities in their districts. And neither the mayor nor the czar would have control over the county, which supplies the services, or the region’s other 87 cities. Czar-like powers would be possible only if council members were to relinquish some land-use and budget authority through something like an emergency declaration. And remember, they never did that. They gathered together and said they were going to do it, and much of the world’s media mistook that cleverly phrased promise to do it as actually doing it. You’ll find news stories saying they did it. But they did not.
As an individual, there is little one can do against such massive needs. But we can be faithful to what we can do. Like most Angelinos, I voted for Measure H and HHH. I also donate to Union Rescue Mission and Salvation Army and Venice Family Clinic, three organizations that have been providing help for many years.
I'm a research scientist not a social worker. I'd have no idea how to help the people in these situations. Each person and family has a story and hats off to people who have the heart, knowledge, and skills to help them. And so I support the three organizations mentioned above. I'd encourage you to find a group or two to support. And maybe all of us together helping in some small way can begin to help turn the tide of this crisis.
Excerpts:
Homelessness burst its traditional borders several years ago, spreading first to gloomy underpasses and dim side streets, and then to public parks and library reading rooms and subway platforms. No matter where you live in L.A. County, from Long Beach to Beverly Hills to Lancaster, you cannot credibly claim today to be unaware of the squalid tent cities, the sprawling encampments, or the despair and misery on display there.
[.....]
Today, we are paying the price: The economically homeless are now estimated to make up more than half of L.A.’s unhoused — and it is their rising numbers that are fueling the unprecedented growth in that population. More than half of the people surveyed by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority last year said they were homeless because of an eviction, foreclosure, unemployment or “financial reasons.”
[.....]
Until the mayor and the members of the City Council treat the building of these 10,000 units of housing with the kind of extraordinary urgency this crisis requires — the kind that the federal and state governments bestowed upon, for example, the rebuilding of the broken Santa Monica Freeway after the Northridge earthquake — they simply will not be built. And they must be built. Supportive housing in particular — which offers not just a place to live but also access to job counseling and mental health and substance abuse treatment, among other things — is the best long-term solution for the chronically homeless, whose cases are the most difficult to solve. A substantial number of these housing units must be located in every single council district. They cannot just be concentrated in poor areas or in neighborhoods with less political clout. Already, a new report shows that even more housing will be needed than was estimated at the time HHH was passed.
[.....]
The largest psychiatric institutions in the United States are the Los Angeles County jails, the Cook County Jail in Chicago and Rikers Island in New York. L.A. County incarcerates thousands of mentally ill people. The Sheriff’s Department reports that more than 70% of inmates who enter jail report a serious illness, either mental or physical. The county is moving forward with a $2-billion-plus plan to replace the aging Men’s Central Jail with a new facility specifically geared toward mental health treatment — but still a jail. We’re back where we started, but this time even more literally than before: Mentally ill people are prisoners. It’s not that jailers want the new business. It’s a population, L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell recently told ABC7, “that I would argue should not be treated in a jail facility.”
[.....]
Across the city, drivers exiting freeways routinely encounter homeless people on the off-ramps shuffling from window to window requesting money. Libraries, train stations and public parks have become refuges for homeless people. In many residential neighborhoods and commercial districts, encampments have become a seemingly immutable fact of life. As homelessness spreads across Los Angeles County — the official tally shows a 46% increase from 2013 to 2017 — it is drawing two conflicting responses, at times from the same people. There’s sympathy and a desire to help, but there’s also a sense of being invaded and perhaps even endangered — in terms of both physical safety and public health
[.....]
Yet such a czar would only be as powerful as the mayor who appointed him or her. And in L.A., the mayor lacks legal authority to override City Council members, who can and do frequently say “no” to proposed housing and mental health facilities in their districts. And neither the mayor nor the czar would have control over the county, which supplies the services, or the region’s other 87 cities. Czar-like powers would be possible only if council members were to relinquish some land-use and budget authority through something like an emergency declaration. And remember, they never did that. They gathered together and said they were going to do it, and much of the world’s media mistook that cleverly phrased promise to do it as actually doing it. You’ll find news stories saying they did it. But they did not.
As an individual, there is little one can do against such massive needs. But we can be faithful to what we can do. Like most Angelinos, I voted for Measure H and HHH. I also donate to Union Rescue Mission and Salvation Army and Venice Family Clinic, three organizations that have been providing help for many years.
I'm a research scientist not a social worker. I'd have no idea how to help the people in these situations. Each person and family has a story and hats off to people who have the heart, knowledge, and skills to help them. And so I support the three organizations mentioned above. I'd encourage you to find a group or two to support. And maybe all of us together helping in some small way can begin to help turn the tide of this crisis.
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