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There is a light that never goes out
It's the one behind the UNBEATEN sign at L.A. Galaxy headquarters. Aw yeah!
Even sans Landon Donovan (league-leading 9 assists) and Edson Buddle (league-leading 9 goals, not to mention 2 beauties to give the USMNT a win against Australia yesterday), the Galaxy easily pulled off a 4-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo yesterday.
(Highlights are in Spanish, which I don't speak or understand outside of a handful of words, but I find not being able to understand the commentary somewhat more enjoyable than listening to most English-speaking MLS announcers.)
The Galaxy are now 10-0-2, having scored 22 goals and only allowing 3. I'm knocking on wood as I write this, although of course I understand that eventually they will lose a game. But at this point, it's really quite amazing. The consistency of all elements of the squad, the ability to put forth major effort at home and at various places on the road, as well as two of their biggest names having been away for three victorious matches now (plus one friendly which they also won, against Boca Juniors) all speaks to the fact that this is not about a couple of guys doing the work, or a team running on luck. This is about a well-built side with skill and depth, and about a coach who knows what he needs and wants from his players and gets it from them day in and day out. Bruce Arena has put together a truly great team, one in which there are plenty of guys ready, willing and able to step up in the absence of the marquee names. The players have obvious respect for Arena, and they show it nearly every time they walk onto the pitch. Tristan Bowen, Michael Stephens and Sean Franklin among others have been strong and consistent, not just playing well but reacting well to whatever is happening. Arena recently became the 4th coach in MLS history to reach 100 victories, and the way he's led this team last season and so far this year, it's no surprise.
Their next match is on Wednesday, at Real Salt Lake, who of course snagged the MLS Cup away from L.A. last year in that damnable penalty shootout. (Fact about me: I hate penalty shootouts. Especially when they lead to a team "winning" the league who ended regular season play at 11-12-7. FFS.) It will be a great test of this team to see how their momentum, and perhaps a hunger for a little revenge, serves them in Utah.
Simon Kuper has an interesting take on penalty shootouts in Soccernomics (I recall you mentioned you were reading it.) I’ll be watching them in the World Cup a little differently as a result.
Way way back in the dim and distant past, the NASL used to have a slightly different version of a shootout. The striker would get the ball 35 yards out, and would gave 5 seconds to dribble and shoot. The keeper can come out and block. There’s a good example on this video, about halfway through:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpAo9c705RE
(Oh, no silverlight for Firefox/Ubuntu.)
Comment #2: James on 06/07 at 04:13 PM
Jeff - I honestly don’t have clear memories of the bulk of the game, although I do recall people saying RSL was the dominant team for a good portion. I agree that the blame largely rests with the playoff system, and I could write an epic post on my sheer hatred for the fact that our soccer league was modeled on our other sports leagues rather than on leagues in other countries where they, you know, give a shit about soccer. That’s the thing - as I said, you have a team called the “winner” whose record was most certainly not “winning”. It irks me! As you might have noticed! 
James - that’s interesting about shootouts of yesteryear. I wonder what the players prefer…
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I hate penalty shootouts too, but come on, you can’t tell me that RSL didn’t outplay the Galaxy in that game (though both sides kinda sucked). The blame should be laid upon the playoff system, not the shootout. (Fun fact: my family’s from Utah so RSL’s my second MLS team behind DCU).
Either way, I think that game lit a fire under the Galaxy for this season. They realized that they checked out of a game at the worst possible time, and that they had better play all-out every game this season. I’m definitely impressed.