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MLS Week One: Your Running Commentary

The defending MLS Cup champions will open defense of their second straight title while two rookie head coaches square off in a high-profile clash at what should be a raucous Jeld-Wen Field.

The LA Galaxy open today’s action by taking on the Chicago Fire (5pm). Caleb Porter and the Portland Timbers face off against Mike Petke and the New York Red Bulls in a clash of first-year pro head coaches. The nightcap of MLS action offers some good quality as well, with Western Conference powers San Jose and Real Salt Lake squaring off.

If you will be watching today’s MLS action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

      • Silvestre’s only been in the states since Thursday I believe and had a few sessions with the first team. The first in about 3 weeks. He’ll settle in fine. He needs to adjust to turf at JW. He’ll be fine and I think AJB will become a hell of a CB learning from him.

    • I think Lalas said it best when he referred to Silvestre getting a crash course lesson in the 1st half.

      2nd half, he shaped up dramatically.

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  1. Wow, Petke has lots of work to do with this squad. The second half was the worst display of passivity and disinterestedness I can recall. Portland was active, aggressive and smart, while RBNY was sleepy and constantly trying for the cute/tricky/spectacular play instead of the smart play. (I’m talking about you, Henry and Juninho.) The formation (if you can even use the term) seemed to be a 4-6 — until the second half, until it morphed into a sort of 4-5-1 with Henry jogging about. If it were not for McCarty’s energy you could have mistaken the second half for an audition for “The Walking Dead.”

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  2. Wow, NYRB completely blew that game, but I will give Portland credit, they worked hard to comeback and had a good chance to win at the end.

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  3. Damn, being at that match was one of my all time best fan experiences. Plus, I had an Ives sighting after the game. 🙂

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  4. Post match interview:

    Monica Lopez: What about Darlington Nagbe? Did you have words with him? What did you tell him your expectations are?

    Caleb Porter: No, I just let Darlington Nagbe go. The less you talk to him, the better.

    ===

    I know Porter has his skeptics and nay-sayers but it’s refreshing to hear a Manager, an American Manager, have this approach.

    Quite frankly, I think more American talent would prosper with flair, if Managers took this approach. There’s developing, educating and Managing and then there’s match play.

    Let them play.

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    • To clarify, the reference to developing, educating and Managing was alluding to practice and then conversely letting them free in matches.

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  5. RB vs Timbers game was one of the best games I’ve ever seen. Timbers could be very exciting this year, and man did Nagbe look electric.

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  6. I hate to be that guy who complains about refereeing, but I hate when a ref loses control of a game cause he’s inept.

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  7. Timbers really knocking the ball around in impressive fashion. Fun to watch. If they can improve their finishing and defensive organization they may be dangerous.

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    • Organization on d to improve with a bit of time on the pitch

      Sylvestre had a wake up call for the level of play in the mls

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  8. I’m at the game right now. From here, the game has looked pretty even outside of those two godawful defensive mistakes. Definitely don’t feel like my Timbers are out of this one yet. Awesome atmosphere regardless.

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    • He’s great on the ball. Not sure if he’s doing anything in terms of ball winning and backtracking, though. Timbers seem to be dominating the midfield.

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  9. Twellman way off in his commentary. Olive was blanketed on that goal. Is TT always this full of BS or is this an anomaly? I can’t remember.

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    • Dang autocorrect. Olave, not Olive. Regardless, it was a good ball, not poor marking that was the root cause of the goal. Great match though.

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      • Yeah, it seems to be a distinctly American, ex-player commentator thing. I always get the feeling that they are overcompensating and trying to sound proper while trying to get people to think they know what they’re talking about.

      • Maybe he’s been hanging out with Lalas too much. Alexi is the king of sounding authoritative and condescending when he doesn’t know what the eff he’s talking about. At least the big red dork is entertaining, though. I wish I could say the same for TT.

    • Twellman now occupies the Harkes/Balboa Chair of Repetitive and Pointless Announcing. His contribution last night consisted of saying “running the channels” a lot. “Knock the ball around” and “switch the point of attack” we’re retired by Professors Balboa and Harkes.

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    • Definitely. On replay I expected to be bashing a few defenders, but all you can do is applaud the effort on a goal like that.

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    • A few defensive miscues on each side, but otherwise a wonderful match to watch, ESP from a stylistic pov. Last year most teams packed it n against NYRB and played to counter which is probably the rit play, but it’s fun to watch a team go right at them.

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  10. Did I just see Tim Cahill tell the ref not to give a card to the Portland defender who took down Espindola? It looked like it. Then of course Espindola scores off horrible communication between Ricketts and Silvestri.

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    • If you understand what Tab Ramos is doing and how they played today against mexico you would understand why McBean just dosen’t fit the system. He’s going to be great for Galaxy but hes not good at the tiki taka the USA are trying to play.

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    • I had him in my Fantasy league. 🙂

      Knew galaxy were going to score just didnt know who it was going to be so i got Keane and Mcgee to cover my bases. Best 8M spent Fantasy.

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  11. Magee again.

    Maybe Robbie Keane was on to something.

    Also, sweet picture of Henry up there. Didn’t know the Full Nelson was legal in MLS.

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    • To me, that’s typical Mike Magee, isn’t it? He picks a spot and if he connects, it’s great. Otherwise he is not a guy that dominates games. At least that tens to be the case when I watch him.

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    • It’s on MLSsoccer .com. But to save you a few clicks: Sherjill MacDonald, Paolo Tornaghi , Dan Paladini, Michael Videira, Yazid Atouba, Alex, Wells Thompson

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      • Thanks so much, also thanks for not being a jerk! I looked on mlssoccer but couldn’t find it. Thanks again

  12. Everyone but Mike Magee, apparently.

    Galaxy keep attacking, even without you know who and you know who…

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