In my pre-game analysis of this matchup I missed out on what would be it’s most pivotal breakdown.  Coaching.  This game really did come down to that.  What we all saw on the field that day were two teams, one who is buying into their coach’s ideals and one that has given up on them.

With every game you get the sense that the Galaxy is building.  Even the defense allowed less than their average amount of goals (Credit to Cronin).  More than that, however, is the rhythm with which the Galaxy seems to be developing.  If you compare the style of play LA tried to force early in the season, it was very direct, with long balls and counter attacks.  In the last three to four games LA has adopted a possession and first and second touch passing through midfield that reminds me of the great DC United teams of the last two years.  For this the credit must go to Ruud Gullit.

Ruud came to the team saying priority one needed to be fitness.  To play the style the Galaxy currently are takes a tremendous work ethic off the ball.  Making runs into space to create passing lanes and developing triangles for one touch passing is a tiring process.  Yet even in the stifling heat of Pizza Hut Park the Galaxy was able to impose their style onto the game.  Credit Ruud’s commitment to conditioning for Sunday’s success.

Now in a fitting tale of two cities we have to look at FC Dallas.  This team was never in the game after Cronin made that great kick save on Kenny Cooper.  Once they got behind they gave up.  Their body language said it all.  Sluggish movement of the ball forward and stagnant passing spelled a slow painful death for Dallas fans.  It deserves mention that the only two people who seemed to not give up were Cooper and Oduro.  They kept pressing and never stopped believing that if they worked hard at least they could leave with their dignity in hand.

Steve Morrow, the Dallas Coach, really is in trouble here.  He doesn’t seem to have the confidence of his players anymore and the TV shot of him with his head in his hands said it all.  He wasn’t on his feet trying to breathe some passion into his players, but instead he was postured in the international sign for surrender.  As much as I have always liked Morrow for his dedication to sticking up for the American game every time he is interviewed, something has to change in Dallas.  And it may have to start with him.

One last note regarding Gullit.  His use of Franchino in the left mid slot was bothersome to me when I first saw it in the lineups.  But once the ball started rolling what I saw was a very nice compliment to Vanney.  Having Franchino out wide allowed Vanney to freely overlap and get forward, because Franchino can easily cover the left back spot.  This makes me even more happy for Ante Jazic’s immanent return, because he is more potent going forward than Vanney.  While Franchino may not be much of an offensive threat from left midfield, on a team with plenty of offense it’s good to see a nice defensive adjustment.

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