[retired_mallory08]

2004 Supporters Shield: LA GALAXY (Tom Yaglowski)
First Silverware of the 2004 season goes to LA


Sporting a record of P30 W13 D13 L4 PTS52 20+ GD LA led the way in both the West and MLS as a whole. Four defeats in the entire season was an awesome defensive effort and the team conceded a mere 15 goals through the course of the regular season, a 0.50 GGPA average.

The team was helped by stellar performances between the posts from Kevin Hartman who excelled all season long. He finished top amongst MLS goalkeepers with an average of 7.50 Although the Galaxy were not big scorers, most of their good work came via Cobi Jones. The veteran put up a team leading 9 assists.

So congrats to manager Tom Yaglowski on taking the Supporters Shield back to the Home Depot.

Tom will be facing off against Stu's Dallas in the opening round of the playoffs and appears to be most pundit's favourite for the MLS Cup.

[retired_mallory08]

SJ Claim Homefield Advantage for the Western Semi-Finals

Coach Clark successfully turned around his flagging SJ team and put together a respectable W2 D2 L1 finish to the season. "I think the boys are re-focused and ready for the playoffs. We can't wait to get started".

SGR is still struggling up front, but Dwight Pezzarossi has really stepped up of late and finished out the regular season in 3rd place in the Golden Boot Race. SGR despite his troubles finished the league's top marksman with 18 goals in 27 games....despite adding just 2 tallies in the final 9 games.

Clark's boys had to endure a pretty torrid time playing out 8 games on the road of their final 10. "Kinda explains our rough run there for a while". "We twice played 4 straight road games. It's nice that we're at home for the first round of the playoffs, but of course, the first leg will be at Colorado".

"I want to publically recognise Ramon Ramirez for his outstanding play of late. He's lived up to all his billing and has garnered the MOM plaudits in most of the last 5 weeks. He's been a quality pro, a credit to the game. I hope he can continue this good form into the playoffs. So much will depend on him creating chances for our boys up front. I don't think it's any coincedence that we were the top scoring team in MLS and had 2 of the top 3 marksmen."

Clark seems happy then, but the series against the Rapids will be tough. Local bookies have Clark at 7-5 to get a win over the two legs. Clark would take that.....

[retired_mallory08]

Dallas backs into Playoffs...

Disgusted

Is the word that Dallas manager Stu used to describe his thoughts on his squad's performance at the end of the season. Despite clinching a playoff spot by winning their last two games, the manager was far from happy.

Going into the session Dallas seemed poised to go on a good run of results enabling them to capture second place in the group. Three home games, including a home and away series v NE, seemed to be just the right opportunity to capitalize on. Sadly, it was not to be...

Dallas started brightly enough, with a full healthy squad at their disposal and a home game v DC United.

"*%$##@&@ Oktay,"manager Stu muttered after the Turkish star netted his hattrick. DC managed a fourth to round off the mauling, 4-0. Stu was understandably distraught.

"This was a massive game for us, it really was. To come out of it with absolutley nothing is just unacceptable. A decent result here could have propelled us to second place! It's just tremendously disapointing."

Dallas seemed to catch a lucky break for their next game. A home fixture against a NE side that had just 3 days prior come off of an extra-time penalty kick cup game. Knowing NE would be exhausted, Dallas played a high tempo, high pressure game...to no avail.

"There goes my job,"Stu told the media after the game,"To lose to an exhausted side 0-1, at home, is just unacceptable. I really thought the boys would show some pride after their last effort and come out blazing, but..."

Dallas had gone from a position of strength to one of dire necessity. If the results didn't come soon, they were in real peril of missing the playoffs altogether. The next match, the return against NE away, became vital.

"Thank God for Talley,"Stu said after the defender notched in his sixth minute winner off of a cross from Quill."At least someone showed up..."

Dallas now had a three point bulge on last place KC, but KC had a game in hand. The season closer v old nemesis San Jose now became a matter of survival. To make matters worse, int'l commitments took away most of Dallas regulars including keeper Onstad. It was time for old inconsistent Cassar to atone.

But the star of the match turned out to be Chris Gbandi. The player who is moving to San Jose in the off-season surely impressed his new boss with a well-taken goal. Then disaster struck with the first half sending-off of stalwart Dc Jolley; reduced to ten men Dallas battled bravely. FC held on to the death, earning themselves a first round draw against mighty, (boring), LA.

Stu was still unsatisfied. "Unacceptable,"he said. "I expect more. The fans can expect sweeping changes this offseason, no matter what happens in the playoffs."

[retired_mallory08]

GIANTS STADIUM UPDATE

The 2004 MLS regular season has come to an end, the Metros finished the last session of the season with a 0 and 4 record. They are last in the league in points (16), goal scored (18 ) and against (64), they set a MLS record for goal difference with -46.

"I am sure this is a season that everyone from the organization and everyone from NY/NJ area want to forget. Coach Lung appologized to the organization and all the fans in a news conference saying that he will take all the blame for such a disappointing season. He said he will try to make this team go the other way next season."

With post-season action just a few days away, Lung's Metros season is done, they can start recapping their disappointing season, figure out what they should address during the off-season.

"Coach Lung started his off-season action shortly after the end of the regular season. He is actively talking trades with different teams, exploring different options, his phone rings all day long. He is very cautious this time since he doesn't want the SGR trade to repeat again. From what we know at this point, he had agreed to 4 trades."

Trade Details:

Metrostars - LA Galaxy (Finalized)
To Metros:
Arturo Torres (S C)
To LA:
3th round pick
4th round pick

Metrostars - DC United (Finalized)
To Metros:
Joshua Gros (AM L)
6th round pick
To DC:
4th round pick (from SJ)

Metrostars - FC Dallas (Finalized)
To Metros:
Phil Salyer (D/DM RL)
Carey Talley(D/DM RLC)
To Dallas:
Eddie Gaven (AM/F RC)

Metrostars - Chicago Fire (Verbally agreed, go through during off-season)
To Metros:
Logan Pause (D/DM LC)
Craig Capano (AM RLC)
Jean-Phillipe Peguero (F RC)
To Chicago:
Amado Guevara (AM/F RC)
5th round pick

Lung had also signed Dwayne De Rosario (S C) and Oleg Luzhnyi (D RC) to a contract.

After putting several picks in some of the trades, Lung is now hoping to get a few picks back before the draft begins.

Lung had put the following players on the block:
Craig Ziadie (D/DM RL)
Joselito Vaca (AM RC)
Eliseo Quintanilla (F C)
Cornell Glen (S C)
Roger Levesque (S C)

[retired_mallory08]

FIRE SALE BEGINS IN METROTOWN

It seems Ricky's desire to keep his job and improve on his dismal 2004 campaign have spawned some more ugly deals.

The departure of Gaven and Guevara follow hot on the heels of the departure of Ricardo Clark, Eddie Pope, Johnny Walker, Pablo Brenes and Sergio Galvan Rey.

Instead of cutting out the deadwood, Ricky seems to be selling his most valuable assets. But I guess he feels it's time to start from scratch. No one is safe on Ricky's team after a horrible season. Gaven and Guevara will move in return for players who can perhapos move the team forward.

I hope there's some quality in depth at the draft, because the metros will have parted with 7 international players. Rookies Torres and Gros hold real potential, but one must ask if they are going to help in the short and medium terms? But there's plenty of traffic and Ricky is bringing in some numbers so he can start again. Hopefully Peguero can fire some goals for the flagging attck.

Who knows how much more of this the Metro's board can take?!

[retired_mallory08]

Fire to Maul DC

Grom is set to make some tactical changes for the Fire's away leg against DC United. He's being coy about whether it's personel or formation positional changes. However, one aspect remains certain and that's the Fire's dirty play, persistent fouling and over aggressive tackles have become trademarks for their style of football. This is relected not only by the yellow and red cards but the players that they have injured.

Whatever the outcome is, DC will know that they've played a game. Grom is reported to have instituted a bonus of 5k for any player than injures a DC United player, a bonus that can increase if the injury is severe. It is reported that Carlos Fernando Figueroa is the player with the biggest bounty on his head, but as this is all speculation nothing can be confirmed.

[retired_mallory08]

United Manager Not Amused

"The more the hard tackles the more the free kicks. More of those means more scoring chances for us" United manager said in reponse to Grom's comments. "I am pleased we have made it this far and I am not under any illusions that the Chicago match will be easy." he added.

Answering questions from the media, United boss also said:
"They should remember that United are not exactly an easy tacking team and Dema Kovalenko's numerous cards of various colours are a testament to that." "As long as the refrees call the game fairly, I have no worries about their tackling."

"I am more worried about the condition of the pich in Chicago since we have picked up several injuries there already and Razov's injury and his missed penalty kick against us were both because of the condition of their pitch. But, before we travel there, we will try to get a good result at home first."

"Sure Chicago are favorites going into the game. They have earned to be the favorites with their play this season. I just hope my players will go into the matches relaxed and looking to play good football against Chicago's star studded squad. Chicago are the ones that will be labelled as failures if they don't win the cup this year. We are still trying to rebuild our squad here in D.C."

[retired_mallory08]

Grom Speaks in English

Grom answered the media:

"We're hardly favorites for the series as both teams are evenly matched the regular season standings are a testament to that."

"Well we had a great season. We beat the pundit's prediction of finishing last in the East and are just happy in be in the position we're in, since it's a rebuilding year for us."

"We also don't have the star studded line up like they do, we lost are only star player earlier in the season and since then it's been a combined team effort. The lads have given 110% to the cause and can be chuffed with their success."

"It would be a failure if LA didn't win the cup this year, but I'd be lying if I said we didn't have ambitions on the trophy. But for now we are focused on DC, and the boys are relaxing and anticipating a fiercely contested and well refereed match. May the best team win"

[bigmacx]

What the hell, are you going for a record?

[retired_mallory08]

Originally posted by Marlow:
What the hell, are you going for a record?

Well, we debated all sitting here and copying and pasting in turn as it was on our board and decided it was too much bother!

So, as I had editing privileges I said I'd do it all. It's about time we started posting on here again, but we've been kinda pre-occupied with our own boards for a while.

I keep setting off the flood alerts!! (Sorry). I'm about half way through, then it'll be done and we can post individually from then on.