Greetings fans from cloudy and cool Los Angeles, CA.  No, that was not a type-o.  I am writing this weeks blog from my hotel room in LA as we prepare for our game this week against the Galaxy.  Or Beckham’s team, as some of you (especially the females) might refer to them as.  But all joking aside, the match will be a difficult one as Beckham and Donovan have formed a strong partnership this  year and have linked up for plenty of goals so far.  With Beckham you know you are always going to have the service and vision that he brings to the game, and Donovan is going to bring the speed, runs off the ball, and work rate.  I think that is why those two have gotten off to such a hot start this season because they are great compliments to one another.  For me the keys to the game for us are obviously going to be keeping an eye on Beckham and Donovan at all times and avoid committing silly fouls around the box (where Beckham provides great service and finishing).  Having said all that though, I think it is just as important that we not pay TOO much attention to those guys that it takes away from what we do well as a team.  So it will be a balancing act, but I believe if we keep passing the ball well, defending with urgency, and finish some chances we have a great chance to come back from LA with a good result.  More importantly, a chance to win the game!

Now I have looked ahead at our match this week, lets reflect a bit on last weeks match at Toronto.  Personally for me, it was GREAT to be back on the field.  I would be lieing if said that I didn’t have a few butterflies and nerves before the match started.  It was as if it were my rookie year all over again and I was about to make my debut.  Yet, after the whistle blew and I got my first few touches on the ball it was like riding a bike.  Oh, and about that foul!  I have to say that I have committed my fair share of fouls throughout my career, but the one that led to Toronto’s goal I have to say still boggles my mind.  I don’t want to say too much in fear of a fine, but I do not believe it was a foul.  However, that is soccer and things do not always go your way.  Unfortunately for us, that is exactly what happened, as I thought we had controlled play and had the better of possession and chances leading up to their goal.  However, we stayed strong and didn’t stray from what we were doing and it eventually paid off with a great free kick from DVB.  

And for those wondering what exactly his celebration is after every goal when he kicks his leg straight up in the air…as most of you know DVB is from Holland.  In the Austin Powers movie, Goldmember, if you remember Goldmember is from Holland as well.  In one particular scene, he kicks his leg over his head to show his flexibility.  That is why DVB does that after every goal….I get questions about it from my friends every time he scores wondering what he is doing.  So I thought I would share that little tid bit with all of you!

Back to the game….overall it was a good result for us on the road against a hot team (Toronto had won 3 in a row), but at the same time we were a bit disappointed because we felt that we had enough chances where we could have put one away and possibly got all 3 points.  It was good to play all 90 mins, although I could have used a sub at about the 75^th min mark!  I felt pretty good, and overall was pretty pleased with my first game back from injury.  There were definitely some things that I could have, and should have done better, but that will come with time and more games.  I’m looking forward to building on my performance this week against LA, and I’m especially looking forward to making my home debut next weekend in front of our fans!

Now for your questions:

1. Hey Hunter, hope all is well!, I saw you training on Sunday, was 

great to see you!, I was wondering if you had been following the 

presidential primaries and whether you supported any candidates. Thanks!

-Kimberly J

Kimberly,

To be honest I do not follow the presidential primaries too closely.  Obviously watching the news I will get updated enough to know what is going on and who is in the lead at the moment.  Other then that, I couldn’t tell you much else!

2. Hi Hunter, I’ve read that a lot of teams have initiation rituals for 

rookies/new players, do you guys have anything like that?

-Steve M

Steve, 

I think that all varies from team to team to be honest.  I know with Red Bull during the preseason the rookies had to do some skits and a dance off while the team was in Austria.  Unfortunately, I was not with the team for that trip, so I am not sure exactly what all went on and who won.  

3. Hello Hunter, what player(s) in MLS do you look forward to playing/ 

beating most?

-John B

John,

Good question!  In this league, you play one another a lot.  So you build up some good rivalries and matches between players.  Playing outside back, you are marked up 1v1 a lot with one particular player throughout most of the game.  So I have definitely had some good battles.  I don’t think there is one particular player that sticks out in my mind, but here are a few for you.  They all have their different reasons why and are in no particular order:  

Khano Smith: tall, lanky, and fast. We have had some good battles

Fred- clever, skillful and quick first step.  Tough match up

Arturo Alvarez- Good friend, played against one another growing up

Stuart Holden- another good friend 

Francisco Mendoza- small, shifty, and skillful.  Tough match up

4. Hunter, it was great to see you included in the Olympic qualifying 

squad. It must have been exciting to play with so many fellow young 

talented US players. Any good off-field stories/happenings? Do you 

keep in touch with any of the guys playing abroad?

-Roberto A

Robert,

It was great to be a part of that team, and to play with a great group of guys.  As far as funny off the field stories there were plenty.  We are always joking around and giving each other a hard time.  No particular moment or story sticks out in my mind, but there have definitely been a lot of good times with that team.  As far as keeping touch with the guys playing overseas, I do.  Particularly with Charlie Davies.  Its tough to keep in touch because of the time difference, but every now and then we will catch one another online at the same time.

5. Hey Hunter, I’ve got a few either/or questions for you! Coffee/Tea? 

Grass/Turf? DC United/New England Revolution?(which do you despise 

less) TV/Movie? Soccer/Golf? Red Bull/Rockstar Energy Drink? Grilled/ 

Fried? and finally, Any relation to Morgan?

-Anthony S

Anthony,

Coffee in the morning, Sweet Tea with meals, and Hot Tea at night.

Grass

DC

Movie

Cleary its soccer, but if we are talking about in my off time it is definitely golf!

What is Rock Star? 

I am from the south, FRIED!

No relation unfortunately.

Popularity: 32%

OVERVIEW:

The Bulls currently hold a 2-1-2 record in the East, while once bottom dwellers LA Galaxy are finding a way to stay atop the standings in the West.  David Beckham and Landon Donovan have formed a 2 headed monster - a “Beckovan” if you will - that has been causing early fits with defenses this season.  The Bulls seek to earn a point on the road, with a line up that is beginning to read like a who’s who of ER fame.

CURRENT TABLE :

……………………….GMS……….PTS

Chicago ……………….7………….16

Columbus ……………6………….15

Kansas City …………7………….10

New England ………7…………..10

Toronto FC ………….6…………10

New York ………….5…………..8

D.C. United ………….7……….6

INJURIES:

Richards - (probable)

Eric Brunner - (left the team, as reported first on ASR)

David Roth - 3-4 weeks - knee

Marco Echeverry - 2-4 weeks

PROJECTED LINEUP:

===========Angel==============

Borman======Magee=======Freeman

==D. Van Den Bergh==Ubiparipovic===

Goldthwaite==Parke===Mendes==Leitch

==========Conway=============

BEHIND THE SCENES:

+ Jozy Altidore is being overworked and overtraveled, so says Coach Osorio.  It seems like a full year of playing games, and travelling cross country has taken a toll on our budding young star, and this may prohibit his entry into Saturdays big game.

+ Eric Brunner, as reported first here on ASR, has decided to forego a developmental contract with the Red Bulls after his original contract was negated.  He will now explore European and USL options.

+ Osorio looks to be playing a 4-5-1 for this game, so don’t expect a large array of goals.  The way he has been able to hold the teams form this season may prove to be just enough to hold back Beckovan and the rest of Los Angeles.

+ Claudio Reyna and Seth Stammler may be available off the bench, but will definitely not be a part of the starting 11.

+ If the 4-5-1 would be employed, it will be interesting to see if Mendes or Boyens gets the nod in the back.  It seems from early indications that Mendes is not looked at in the highest regard, which may allow Boyens to move into a more central position and allow Leitch to continue to man the right hand side.

+ Boyens is yet to receive his work visa.

KEY MATCHUPS:

Juan Pablo Angel v. Sean Franklin and Greg Vanney (Abel Xavier)

Coach Osorio believes it will only take one goal to make Angel forget his ailments this year.  And he may be correct.  But he will have to get by a resurgent Galaxy central defense.  Sean Franklin has been able to balance the slow footing of an Abel Xavier and Greg Vanney in the middle, making for more versatile defending.  And once you get past them, its only one Steve Cronin standing in his way for a goal.   I expect Angel to break the snide this week, and to do so with an emphatic exclamation.

Beckham v. Conway and the Backline

Can Bormans crosses in practice be enough to prepare for Mr. Pin Point Accurate David Beckham?  The Bulls are hoping so, as they will surely trot out a very defensive oriented lineup to neutralize Golden Balls.  If you see alot of bodies in the box, continuously this game, do not be surprised.  The absence of Reyna and Stammler will make for some important back tracking, which is why I would see a Hunter Freeman at wing to neutralize the Beckham affect even more so.

Jeff Parke v. Landon Donovan.

Jeff Parke has been the dominant leader of our back 3 (sometimes 4).  He has made the big saves, held form, barked orders and stablized a potentially horrible defensive situation.  Donovan is on a record goal scoring pace, stretching defenses like putty, and cutting through them like toilet paper.  It will be interesting to see how two men, at the top of their games, but on opposite sides of the offensive/defensive spectrum, handle each other.  Will Donovan do what he has done to defenses all season?  Or does Parke have enough to neutralize Beckovan?

PREDICTION:

The odds may be too highly stacked against the Red Bulls, though the infusion of a Jozy / Angel tandem up top would allow a more even playing field.  Nevertheless, without the midfield defensive prowess of Claudio Reyna and Seth Stammler, Saturday will prove to be a test of this teams defensive fortitude. 

 PREDICTION:  Red Bulls 1 - Galaxy 2

Goals by:

+ Angel (1)

+ Landon Donovan and Alan Gordon

Popularity: 10%

I’m back from the brink. The brink of debauchery that is… I missed last weeks Galaxy coverage due to my pressing need to be in Vegas for a bachelor party. As any guy knows, it is against Bro Code to turn such opportunities down. Let me tell ya, I partied like I was Joey Franchino at a midget tossing competition serving a free Schlitz for every bulls eye. It’s all good anyway, because I spared my eyes the fugliness that is the Rice “Kankles” Stadium. Seriously, is there an uglier field anywhere else in the country? In my opinion the fact that his goals happened on that field, probably cost Beckham goal of the week.

Anyway, onto the New York game. The Galaxy return home after a tough earned draw on the road last week. I have one word that describes my feeling going into this week’s game: Nervous. You have the league’s worst defense in LA. Going up against an under-achieving NYRB offense that is looking to finally explode. The Angel-Altidore tandem has not met expectations yet, but you know it is there, just waiting to come out. And Saturday at the HDC may be their opportunity.

The matchups don’t look that bad on paper for LA. The one place Abel Xavier has looked good this season is in the air, so hopefully he should be able to negate some of Angel’s stellar play from his head. Along with this, Sean Franklin’s speed can definitely keep pace with Altidore’s, but where Altidore gets him is in size. Franklin has great hops, but he’s giving up at least 25-30 pounds to Jozy. Luckily for Franklin his counterpart is coming off a week that saw him miss two days of training due to an allergic reaction, so he may not be 100%.

LA has caught a few other breaks this week as well, with both Claudio Reyna and Seth Stammler not making the trip to the Golden State. The good news? The loss of these two players will make New York far weaker through the middle of the field. The Bad News? The Galaxy doesn’t have the personnel down it’s own center to take advantage of this. Unless, of course, Ruud chooses to slot Donovan into the midfield, but his league leading eight goals makes that highly unlikely.

Los Angeles instead will have to try to work from the wings, just like New York. This week we are treated to some of the best wide players in the league going head to head. The Galaxy’s combination of Klein and Beckham has been potent all season so far, and their ESP gets stronger every game. Klein’s ability to get forward, however, will be severely hampered by his need to keep Dave Van Den Bergh honest on NY’s left side of midfield.

On the other side of the field the Red Bulls have to love the idea of watching Dane Richards torching the stone feet of Greg Vanney. Look for Ruud to adjust by giving Michael Randolph a lot more defensive responsibilities so that Vanney gets help. He is going to need it.

Finally, don’t forget it is Mother’s Day this weekend. I’m taking my momma to the game, so don’t let her down G’s! Let’s keep this train rolling.

Popularity: 19%

Marcio “Marcinho” Batista and Wanderson have joined the San Jose Earthquakes on trial. Both players most recently played for Mexican side Morelia B. This is yet another sign that Frank Yallop is looking to bolster his squad in the coming weeks, a squad that has been lacking offensively. 

Popularity: 7%

 Rating- Confirmed

According to several sources rookie defender Eric Brunner has rejected a new contract offer from NYRB. We recently reported that the Red Bulls had signed defender Andrew Boyens, in order for this move to take place, Brunner would have to take a pay cut and except a senior developmental contract. Brunner was drafted by NYRB in the 2008 Superdraft in an effort to bolster a leaky defense, and signed to a $36,000 a year contract. The roster spot change for Brunner would mean a fairly significant paycut, Brunner has rejected this offer and is said to be on his way back to Ohio. Brunner was a very hot prospect out of Ohio State, but has yet to debut for New York due to injuries in preseason.  

Update: We were the first to report that Brunner had reportedly rejected his developmental contract offer. These initial reports have been confirmed. Brunner will be exploring both USL and European options.

Popularity: 9%