Getty Images CARSON, Calif. – Everyone wants a prediction for Saturday’s MLS Cup contest. Fair enough.
The trouble is in knowing which version of the Los Angeles Galaxy will show up Saturday at the (potentially rainy) Home Depot Center?
Will it be the version that tiptoed meekly into the playoffs? The one that managed to scrape by a Vancouver side that was only a “playoff” team in the academic sense that it was actually in the playoffs? (That is, the Whitecaps never looked like any kind of a playoff threat.)
That same Galaxy-lite version also carried surprisingly little zip or zing into its subsequent match, a loss at home to San Jose. By then we were all wondering where Bruce Arena’s team had gone – who had kidnapped the swashbuckling bunch that held court in the Western Conference over the seasons’ last few weeks, leaving us with this bunch of underperforming imposters?
Or …
For Saturday’s final would we see the Galaxy version that turned things around with such a mighty force in that dominant, subsequent night at San Jose? Led by Landon Donovan (pictured) and Robbie Keane, Arena’s men nearly ran the Supporters Shield winners out of their own cozy little stadium in a 3-1 thumping.
A few days later, more of the same as the Galaxy sliced up Seattle to take a firm hold on that series. So, are we going to see that version?
Or …
Will we get another spin from the version that, just a few days later, barely escaped Seattle to close out the series and arrive into the MLS Cup final – and needed a controversial penalty kick to do that?
If the better version shows up, it’s the Los Angeles Galaxy’s game to lose. If the lesser version arrives into Carson tomorrow, it’s not hard to see Houston finding a way to reverse last year’s result.
-
Sauerbrunn, Quon, and why its still too early to see NWSL’s influence on Sermanni’s choices
May 22, 2013, 6:47 PM EDT
Tom Sermanni has brought new talent into the national team, but it’s too early to know the extent to which the U.S.’s roster will see new faces.
-
José Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo pick up meaningless two-match bans
May 22, 2013, 6:02 PM EDT
Cristiano Ronaldo will serve a two-match ban. José Mourinho will skirt it.
-
Looking at the United States’ roster ahead of their Canada rematch
May 22, 2013, 4:03 PM EDT
Yesterday’s announcement included few surprises ahead of the U.S.’s June 2 match at BMO Field.
-
How Tony Pulis removal at Stoke City may affect U.S. internationals Cameron, Shea and Edu
May 22, 2013, 2:40 PM EDT
Getty Images
Looks like a mixed bag for the American trio:
-
Getty Images
As the towering English forward weighs up his options, should he return to Liverpool, sign for West Ham or go elsewhere?
-
Mario Götze to miss Champions League final against future club Bayern
May 22, 2013, 1:40 PM EDT
Reuters
With Dortmund’s main attacker threat out injured, can Dortmund still lift the Champions League trophy?
-
AP
Can the Yankees provide a viable option for New York City FC to play in? Of course they can. Maybe.
-
Getty Images
The one accolade no EPL player wants on their soccer resume…
-
Claudio Reyna announced as New York City FC Director of Football
May 22, 2013, 11:05 AM EDT
New York City FC announces Reyna as first employee, a good first move, right?
-
Reuters
Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Red Bull Arena… which venue could work best as a temporary home for New York City FC?
-
Getty Images
The magic of the Cup lives on, as four PDL sides now face trips to MLS teams in the third-round. Is this the stuff dreams are made of?
-
Getty Images
Pulis joins long list of EPL managers departing… is English soccer becoming more ruthless?






