Wizards & Waibel

The inconsistent Wizards come to town. (Game guide.) After a dynamite start and world class performances from Eddie Johnson, the team hasn't been getting the results and EJ has disappeared. Our own D-Ro hasn't been very visible either, but D-Ro has been doing the little things in the middle that keep our team in the game and keep the opponents on their toes.

Tonight, we need D-Ro to be more visible, and we need to be able to neutralize EJ's only real weapon: a speedy fast break.

If KC is tired, they might play a lot of men behind the ball, and we know how poorly we deal with that. Hopefully KC goes back to the bread and butter of their early season success, which is open, attacking soccer. If so, we should have the space necessary to get the goals we need. And we do need goals. The race is too tight, particularly with an upswinging Chivas USA having so many games in hand. We would have to completely choke to not get into the post-season, so that's a near lock; but I want the Supporters' Shield, and we have a lot of work to do before we can claim that or even challenge for it.

It won't be easy tonight or the rest of the season. Injuries have cut us to the quick, particularly at left midfield and forward. Tonight we'll be without Davis and Holden, as has been the trend, but we'll also be without Ching (which hopefully doesn't last long). Jaqua will be out due to yellow card accumulation. We're going to have trouble on the left flank and in the attacking third with this line up. That means we'll need some magic from D-Ro.

But as I've said many times: D-Ro, don't force it. Feel the game, be a part of it, then let your talent and creativity mold the game naturally. That's how you roll. When you try to impose your will and dominant the game, that's when your gifted instinct is set aside and your play suffers. Don't make me break out my Yoda graphic again...

Dynamo 2, Wizards 1.

The press:
Craig Waibel has a great interview at Goal.com. He's quite candid about the teams aspirations and shortfalls. Interesting to hear him speak so highly of New England. I suppose they are a team that gets results, but I hate their style of play for the most part.

LA GK coach, Tim Hanley, quietly left the Galaxy organization this week. I don't know if this is the beginning of a housecleaning effort by the Gals, or if Tim decided he didn't want to have anything else to do with the organization. I know he likes working with Frank Yallop and Joe Cannon, so I doubt it was a personality conflict with them. Tim is a genuinely nice guy. He left the Dynamo last season to be close to his family. In the warmups before his last Dynamo game, he actually came over and talked to my kids as we sat in Section 117. He was also the first to console Onstad after we lost to the Gals in Reliant Stadium and during the US Open Cup. Whatever the story, I wish the best for him and his family. He can surely find a job at the college level ... Stanford maybe?