Now I know how Augustus Gloop felt. That wicked Willy Wonka putting so many tempting treats all around him and expecting him to be able to focus. I mean can you really fault the kid? There was a Chocolate River for god’s sake! Like Augustus, I don’t know where to start, there is just too much to choose from this week.

I know, let’s start with the Classico. I, like the Galaxy supporters groups, was banished to the upper deck for the game. Thankfully it put me farther from that terrible excuse for a pitch the teams played on Thursday night. I know Chivas is probably more at home playing on a dirt lot, but it was an ugly view from up high. The only good thing about my location on the north side’s 18 yard line was that I had a perfect view of the linesman’s terribly missed offside call on Chivas’ second goal. I watched the TV replay and they never gave a good camera angle. Let me tell you how bad it was. Even Alex Prus thought the player was off. He kept looking to the linesman for the sure flag that was coming. It finally took the linesman motioning to Stott before he blew the whistle to signal the goal. The linesman blew that call plain and simple.

My man Cobi needs to be given a little credit, he inserts Michael Randolph and Alan “Look Ma’, No Feet” Gordon into the game late. They both did him proud by hitting the crossbar and scoring the late equalizer respectively. Part of me is glad, however, that that game will be Cobi’s last as head coach for a bit. Now he can “Stay Gold” like Ponyboy. By the way, how pimp was that suit my man was sporting? Showing chest like he was Hasselhoff!!

So on to the big news this week. The Bruce wants to get a tan. Lured by the smell of In-N-Out burgers and the chance to dabble in scientology with Mr. Cruise, Bruce Arena has flipped coasts to become both the GM and Head Coach of the Galaxy. While it is not what I was hoping for, I get it. He will give an air of stability to the team. He’s a players coach. Maybe not to the extent that Yallop was, but Arena has the ego to go with being in LA. He can take the scrutiny. As long as we don’t see any 4-5-1 formations I’ll be a happy man for a bit. Because with The Bruce comes just enough US Soccer goodwill to appease most fans for a short span of time. We are waiting to see which incarnation of Bruce Arena we will see. Will it be the coach that won 5 NCAA titles, 2 MLS Cups, and had that great WC2002 run? Or will it be ineffective one that we saw in New York last season. One thing I do like? Bringing in Dave Sarachan. I always felt that he was all heart when he was in Chicago and that he got a bit of a bum rap there.

Speaking of the Windy City, they are blowing into town Thursday night here in LA. I can smell the Blanco fans already. However, it remains to be seen if he, along with Donovan, will be able to see quality minutes after both being involved in their country’s World Cup Qualifiers Wednesday. My money is on Donovan playing pretty significant minutes Thursday night. I’m happy to report that I will be back in my normal plastic season ticket bucket seat, complete with cup holder and no little red horns. I just hope Brian McBride will look as ineffective in a red Chicago uniform as he did in a white USA one in the Olympics. Sorry McHead, I love ya, but you’re wearing the wrong colors Thursday.

One-Liners:

-Give a raise to Maurice Edu’s agent for getting the kid to a quality team in Rangers FC

-Fire Michael Bradley’s. If he can’t sell a young kid with 15 league goals in the Eredivisie, than he ain’t worth the Bluetooth in his ear.

-Unlike some, I’m liking the potential Eddie Lewis acquisition. Quality service from the left side and someone to teach Mike Randolph and Ely Allen.

-Is it bad that I like that Jesse Marsch felt pain? Not career ending pain, or deathly pain, just enough to make me twirl my handlebar mustache.

-Loving Julian Valentin’s blog. Especially like how you can feel his hunger to get on the pitch. Give the kid a chance. I think Bruce might be the guy to do it. He is much more familiar with his time with the US Youth Teams than Ruud ever was. He’s gotta be better than Vanney right?

-For all the crap that Pete Vagenas catches about back passing and his hair line, you gotta give it up for the only guy in the locker room that you KNOW would bleed for this team. Let’s hope the kids take notice.

-THIS JUST IN: Bob Bradley enters the Betty Ford Clinic for treatment of his certain crack addiction, evidenced by his not calling Kenny Cooper into camp!

My Homer Line-Up:

Cronin

Klein - Franklin - Dominguez - Jazic

Beckham - Vagenas - Pires - Lewis (if Available)

Buddle - Gordon

Don’t worry, it hasn’t all gone quiet over here.  Despite another addition to the “L” column last week against D.C., I’ve learned to re-adjust expectations and find the silver lining, even in a 3-1 defeat.  There were a few passages of attractive attacking soccer on the part of the Quakes, reminiscent of past squads and all too rare this season.  The return of Guerrero definitely helps open up the attack and stretch defenses.  Unfortunately, San Jose fell victim to a couple of deflections and suffered from a patchwork back line.  All things considered, not a bad effort on the road against a surging opponent. 

Up next is Chicago as the Quakes continue to run the gauntlet of road games.  While the Fire are mired in a slump at the moment, a situation which San Jose is hoping to take full advantage of, they can burst back into form at any time.  For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Quakes will have pretty much their full complement of starting players.  Riley, of course, will be serving his suspension for yet another red card.  Two red cards and an own goal add up to a nightmare season for the ex-Revolution player.  Hopefully, the rest of the Quakes will find some better fortune on Saturday.

Quakes/Fire Pregame Analysis

Goalkeepers: Busch is a solid keeper and has reminded everyone what he is capable of this season.  He is not likely to make mistakes, so the Quakes will have to generate some quality chances on their own.  Cannon was not at fault for the three goals against D.C., but has yet to recapture his dominant form. 

Advantage - Even

Fire Forwards vs. Quakes Defense: We will likely see Barrett up front, but the question is whether he will be the lone striker or paired with another player, perhaps Rolfe.  Barrett is a solid finisher in the box, but embarassingly missed a couple of easy chances against Chivas U.S.A.  The key is to cut off his service.  Fortunately, Garcia should be back for this game, and the Quakes have definitely missed his presence.  With Riley out, Hernandez will likely fill in at right back, meaning Cochrane will pair up in the middle despite his struggles this season.  Not watertight by any means, but the backline of Denton, Garcia, Cochrane, and Hernandez is probably the best we have with current personnel.

Advantage - Quakes

Quakes Forwards vs. Fire Defense: Johnson, now ever-present up front, will be paired either with Cunliffe or the returning Kamara.  Despite a good strike against Salt Lake (and a goal against D.C.), Cunliffe has not added much punch to the Quakes’ attack.  Its time to see what Kamara and Johnson can do together given more time, and it appears Kamara has more upside than Cunliffe.  Fire has a solid, if not spectacular, defense anchored by C.J. Brown.  This unit can be beaten, but only with better service from the midfield than we have seen from the Quakes so far.

Advantage - Fire

Midfield: The battle to watch in this game will on the flanks.  Guerrero and O’Brien vs. Mapp and Rolfe.  Guerrero has better defensive skills than Rolfe and can help to shut him down, as well as provide offense down the left.  O’Brien has done a good job of working hard in all areas of the field.  We may see a Gray-Corrales or Grabavoy-Corrales center duo against Chicago’s Thorrington, King, and Blanco.  I hope to see Gray use his size and distribution in the middle of the field.  I think that a Gray-Corrales pairing is a good experiment.  Gray and Corrales can both win the ball and distribute as well as go forward at times.  They fill the classic Yallop two holding midfielders system better than Grabavoy and Corrales can.  This is what is needed to shut down Blanco, which the Quakes did a good job of last time around. 

Advantage - Even

Coaching: Hamlett must now prove his managing chops by pulling Chicago out of their slump.  Facing off against an expansion side at home, now is his opportunity.  Yallop can feel a bit better having Garcia, Kamara, and Guerrero back.

Advantage - Quakes

Intangibles: All the talk has been about the Fire’s slump.  Harder to categorize is where the Quakes’ season is at currently.  Are they falling, rising, building, or stagnating?  I think most would agree that the Quakes needs a few more players to push higher in the standings, but I don’t think the Quakes are standing still despite some initial frustration on my part.  I see Yallop experimenting with different players and small modifications in play, exactly what he should be doing in an expansion situation.

Advantage - Quakes

Key Man: Kelly Gray

This assumes he gets the start, which I hope he does.  He had a couple of good chances against L.A., and I fully expect him to score a quality goal at some point this season, maybe even this game.  If Gray can develop a rhythm with Corrales, then the Quakes can turn the tide.

If I Were Manager:

              Johnson-Kamara

Guerrero-Gray-Corrales-O’Brien

Denton-Garcia-Cochrane-Hernandez

                        Cannon

Verdict: I could go either way on this match.  Part of me feels a bit optimistic having some of our first team players back.  At the same time, this feels like the game where Chicago could explode once again.  Forget the result, it’s time to look at the big picture.  Look for how the chemistry between Johnson and Kamara and Gray and Corrales work out.