Had a chance to re-watch the game on DVR
- Odd that the new coach/current GM, a former defender for the Timbers, oversees an immediate change from a team that can barely put the ball on target but defend admirably, into a team that can generate three goals against one of the better defenses in the league but looked lost on defense.
- The new 4-2-3-1 works particularly well for Boyd who is as good of a cold-blooded target shooter as anyone in the league and why he's scored more goals than anyone in the history of the Scottish Premier League. He can now stay up top without having to worry about doing much else, and he frankly isn't that good at much else.
- LA was clearly on point, Arena made it a point to make the game in the first half about Donavon, Beckham and Keane vs. Lovel Palmer, David Horst and Steven Smith. That will resemble an episode of Oz every time. For purposes of disclosure, our 2nd best centerback (Brunner) and best defensive midfielder (Chara) were out.
- I've been watching a lot of MLS this season, and I haven't seen a goalkeeper make strides like Troy Perkins has, particularly in the area of distributing. He made a throw to midfield to Darlington Nagbe that resulted in a spectacular run that Josh Saunders was barely able to save.
- Kalif Alhassan showed great progress. He's a 20 year old that has always possessed great footwork, but he was able to show that he can work that in with good passes and earned an assist for his efforts
- We really have a mess at left back. Smith is there because of his ability to pass and generate offense, but the guy is dreadfully slow. Gotta be able to get back and mark before you can worry about getting forward and generate goals.
- Going forward, the schedule IIRC is Dallas, Chivas, Dallas, Chivas, Toronto. If we don't get at least eleven or twelve points out of that stretch, the season is done.
- That said, if things look at least promising we might be able to look forward to a nice hire. Bob Bradley was thrown out there as a sort of pipe dream, but rumors are out there that it may be a real possibility if we can finish the season at least in the running for the playoffs.