This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/15/mls-previews-la-galaxy-nigel-de-jong
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| MLS previews: LA Galaxy travel to Houston without naughty Nigel de Jong | MLS previews: LA Galaxy travel to Houston without naughty Nigel de Jong |
| (5 months later) | |
| Nigel de Jong left at home as that tackle roils the league | Nigel de Jong left at home as that tackle roils the league |
| Xabi Alonso. Hatem Ben Arfa. Stuart Holden. Now we can add to the Darlington Nagbe to list of Nigel de Jong’s injury victims: the LA midfielder’s reckless tackle on the Portland star during last Sunday’s 1-1 draw led to much hand-wringing, a probable three-match ban for De Jong, and a mini-crisis in MLS. | Xabi Alonso. Hatem Ben Arfa. Stuart Holden. Now we can add to the Darlington Nagbe to list of Nigel de Jong’s injury victims: the LA midfielder’s reckless tackle on the Portland star during last Sunday’s 1-1 draw led to much hand-wringing, a probable three-match ban for De Jong, and a mini-crisis in MLS. |
| De Jong became the league’s big story last weekend. Holden, who, coincidentally, was analysing the game for Fox Sports, said the tackle – a studs-up lunge with his right foot, over the top of the ball and right into Nagbe’s ankle – made him feel sick. “There is absolutely no excuse for that type of challenge,” Holden said. “We don’t need it in the game. It’s horrific. It’s horrible. And he’s going to get retroactive punishment.” | De Jong became the league’s big story last weekend. Holden, who, coincidentally, was analysing the game for Fox Sports, said the tackle – a studs-up lunge with his right foot, over the top of the ball and right into Nagbe’s ankle – made him feel sick. “There is absolutely no excuse for that type of challenge,” Holden said. “We don’t need it in the game. It’s horrific. It’s horrible. And he’s going to get retroactive punishment.” |
| Just as he did in the three examples listed above, De Jong escaped a red card on the play. (Strangely enough, De Jong has received only one red in his entire career: for Hamburg, 10 years ago – and even that was for two yellows.) Referee Allen Chapman issued only a yellow, and has been punished by being removed from the RSL-Vancouver game he was due to take charge of this weekend. De Jong’s punishment, as we write, has yet to emerge, but the talk is that he’ll receive a three-match retrospective ban from the disciplinary committee. Portland feared the worst after Nagbe left the field in a wheelchair, but it seems he got lucky, and has nothing more than an ankle sprain, although the length of his spell on the sidelines is yet to be determined. | Just as he did in the three examples listed above, De Jong escaped a red card on the play. (Strangely enough, De Jong has received only one red in his entire career: for Hamburg, 10 years ago – and even that was for two yellows.) Referee Allen Chapman issued only a yellow, and has been punished by being removed from the RSL-Vancouver game he was due to take charge of this weekend. De Jong’s punishment, as we write, has yet to emerge, but the talk is that he’ll receive a three-match retrospective ban from the disciplinary committee. Portland feared the worst after Nagbe left the field in a wheelchair, but it seems he got lucky, and has nothing more than an ankle sprain, although the length of his spell on the sidelines is yet to be determined. |
| De Jong isn’t travelling with the team for their Friday night game in Houston, which is probably just as well. Bruce Arena was second-guessing a suspension when he made the call to leave De Jong in LA, but he wasn’t happy with the reaction on social media and in certain sections of the press. “I think it’s hysteria,” Arena said. “If that was any other player in that tackle, it would not have received the hysteria that it has. I think the press and others have failed miserably in reporting the incident and what actually happened.” | De Jong isn’t travelling with the team for their Friday night game in Houston, which is probably just as well. Bruce Arena was second-guessing a suspension when he made the call to leave De Jong in LA, but he wasn’t happy with the reaction on social media and in certain sections of the press. “I think it’s hysteria,” Arena said. “If that was any other player in that tackle, it would not have received the hysteria that it has. I think the press and others have failed miserably in reporting the incident and what actually happened.” |
| Discuss. | Discuss. |
| Portland host San Jose after poor showing against Dallas | Portland host San Jose after poor showing against Dallas |
| All of which meant Portland went into their midweek game against Dallas without their crocked midfielder – and how they missed him. Nagbe’s replacement, Jack Jewsbury, had a game to forget: twice he was dispossessed by former Timber Maxi Urruti in his own half, and twice Dallas immediately went and scored – the second a wonderful cucchiaio from Fabian Castillo as he bore down on goal. Adam Kwarasey didn’t cover himself in glory for any of the goals, and Portland were 3-0 down inside half an hour. Darren Mattocks pulled one back in the second half – his first goal since his move from Vancouver – but the game was up, and Dallas rolled to an impressive road win. | All of which meant Portland went into their midweek game against Dallas without their crocked midfielder – and how they missed him. Nagbe’s replacement, Jack Jewsbury, had a game to forget: twice he was dispossessed by former Timber Maxi Urruti in his own half, and twice Dallas immediately went and scored – the second a wonderful cucchiaio from Fabian Castillo as he bore down on goal. Adam Kwarasey didn’t cover himself in glory for any of the goals, and Portland were 3-0 down inside half an hour. Darren Mattocks pulled one back in the second half – his first goal since his move from Vancouver – but the game was up, and Dallas rolled to an impressive road win. |
| Portland coach Caleb Porter had some strong words afterwards. “The first half was unacceptable,” he sniffed. “I’ll start off by apologizing to the supporters … When you make mistakes and give up goals, it’s impossible to win games.” | Portland coach Caleb Porter had some strong words afterwards. “The first half was unacceptable,” he sniffed. “I’ll start off by apologizing to the supporters … When you make mistakes and give up goals, it’s impossible to win games.” |
| It’s been a distinctly mixed start for Portland. True, they were missing Liam Ridgewell for the Dallas game, which hampered their backline, but they’re not playing like champions, and have acquired a habit of shipping goals: they’ve given up 13 already, the most in the league along with the Red Bulls. Fortunately, they don’t have too much time to stew and brood: they can put it right on Saturday against San Jose, even if Porter doesn’t know why much of anything is happening. | It’s been a distinctly mixed start for Portland. True, they were missing Liam Ridgewell for the Dallas game, which hampered their backline, but they’re not playing like champions, and have acquired a habit of shipping goals: they’ve given up 13 already, the most in the league along with the Red Bulls. Fortunately, they don’t have too much time to stew and brood: they can put it right on Saturday against San Jose, even if Porter doesn’t know why much of anything is happening. |
| “I don’t know how it happened,” Porter said. “I don’t know why it happened. I don’t know why we made those mistakes. I don’t know why we were so opened up defensively. We’ve got two days to sort it out and I got to look at everything.” | “I don’t know how it happened,” Porter said. “I don’t know why it happened. I don’t know why we made those mistakes. I don’t know why we were so opened up defensively. We’ve got two days to sort it out and I got to look at everything.” |
| Wondolowski keeps scoring for in-form Earthquakes | Wondolowski keeps scoring for in-form Earthquakes |
| That said, now might not be the best time to face San Jose, especially since Chris Wondolowski has moved clear at the top of the MLS goalscoring chart. | That said, now might not be the best time to face San Jose, especially since Chris Wondolowski has moved clear at the top of the MLS goalscoring chart. |
| Did anyone really doubt him? He might have endured a dry spell in pre-season, and he’s obviously the wrong side of 30 for a top striker, but he was back to his best on Wednesday, heading clinically past Luis Robles to help San Jose to a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Red Bulls that keeps his team in the hunt. | Did anyone really doubt him? He might have endured a dry spell in pre-season, and he’s obviously the wrong side of 30 for a top striker, but he was back to his best on Wednesday, heading clinically past Luis Robles to help San Jose to a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Red Bulls that keeps his team in the hunt. |
| Wondo now has five goals on the season, moving ahead of a clutch of players on four, including Dom Dwyer and Mauro Diaz. He could, and probably should, have had another in the first half on Wednesday, sending a right-footer inches wide after being put clean through. No matter; Dominic Kinnear had only praise for his star man. | Wondo now has five goals on the season, moving ahead of a clutch of players on four, including Dom Dwyer and Mauro Diaz. He could, and probably should, have had another in the first half on Wednesday, sending a right-footer inches wide after being put clean through. No matter; Dominic Kinnear had only praise for his star man. |
| “He didn’t score a goal in preseason and everybody was worried about him, and I just said, ‘No, [I’m not,] because he just has such a short memory and wants to score all the time,’” Kinnear said. “He wants to do well. He makes good runs, and that’s the main thing, is that he doesn’t stop believing he’s going to get a chance. And as soon as you see it going to his head, you feel confident that he’s going to get it on target.” | “He didn’t score a goal in preseason and everybody was worried about him, and I just said, ‘No, [I’m not,] because he just has such a short memory and wants to score all the time,’” Kinnear said. “He wants to do well. He makes good runs, and that’s the main thing, is that he doesn’t stop believing he’s going to get a chance. And as soon as you see it going to his head, you feel confident that he’s going to get it on target.” |
| San Jose are beginning to put together a nice little run: with three wins from the first six, they’re up to third in the West, their only defeat having come in the California Clasico last month. Their game up the coast at Providence Park isn’t immediately obvious to call – but another win, and the Earthquakes won’t be the only Bay Area team with something to celebrate. | San Jose are beginning to put together a nice little run: with three wins from the first six, they’re up to third in the West, their only defeat having come in the California Clasico last month. Their game up the coast at Providence Park isn’t immediately obvious to call – but another win, and the Earthquakes won’t be the only Bay Area team with something to celebrate. |
| Red Bulls can’t defend, and can’t attack | Red Bulls can’t defend, and can’t attack |
| What’s happened to the Red Bulls, though? Wednesday’s 2-0 loss was their fifth defeat in six, and only Columbus sit below them in the Eastern Conference. Last year’s Supporters’ Shield winners are in a serious funk, and if they’re not careful, the season could start to get away from them before they know it. | What’s happened to the Red Bulls, though? Wednesday’s 2-0 loss was their fifth defeat in six, and only Columbus sit below them in the Eastern Conference. Last year’s Supporters’ Shield winners are in a serious funk, and if they’re not careful, the season could start to get away from them before they know it. |
| There are just two problems for the Red Bulls: attack and defense. They can’t keep them out at one end, and their impotence in front of goal is becoming a real worry: they’ve now gone 277 minutes without scoring, and their only goals this season came in a single game, that zany 4-3 against Houston Dynamo. Five times this season they’ve been shut out. Not good. | There are just two problems for the Red Bulls: attack and defense. They can’t keep them out at one end, and their impotence in front of goal is becoming a real worry: they’ve now gone 277 minutes without scoring, and their only goals this season came in a single game, that zany 4-3 against Houston Dynamo. Five times this season they’ve been shut out. Not good. |
| Coach Jesse Marsch shuffled his pack for the trip to San Jose, and Bradley Wright-Phillips, Dax McCarty and Sacha Kljestan were all relegated to the bench in favor of some fresh faces. Tyler Adams made his MLS debut, Sean Davis got the nod, and Bradley’s brother Shaun was handed a rare start, but it didn’t seem to make much difference: Red Bulls dominated possession but didn’t create many clear chances up front, and left Avaya Stadium well beaten. | Coach Jesse Marsch shuffled his pack for the trip to San Jose, and Bradley Wright-Phillips, Dax McCarty and Sacha Kljestan were all relegated to the bench in favor of some fresh faces. Tyler Adams made his MLS debut, Sean Davis got the nod, and Bradley’s brother Shaun was handed a rare start, but it didn’t seem to make much difference: Red Bulls dominated possession but didn’t create many clear chances up front, and left Avaya Stadium well beaten. |
| “Losing’s tough, especially when you keep losing games the way that we do,” Luis Robles said after the game. “It just seems like it’s Groundhog Day in that regard. We’ve got to be honest with ourselves from the standpoint of our effort. And the quality is just not what we’re capable of.” They travel to Colorado for Saturday’s game, and they have much work to do. Red Bulls possess a ton of quality; now’s the time to start showing it. | “Losing’s tough, especially when you keep losing games the way that we do,” Luis Robles said after the game. “It just seems like it’s Groundhog Day in that regard. We’ve got to be honest with ourselves from the standpoint of our effort. And the quality is just not what we’re capable of.” They travel to Colorado for Saturday’s game, and they have much work to do. Red Bulls possess a ton of quality; now’s the time to start showing it. |
Previous version
1
Next version