MLS on YouTube, Part One: The Western Conference

You may have heard of it - apparently it’s quite popular these days - but there’s a place besides MLSNet where you can watch all sorts of MLS and MLS-related highlights. YouTube is a global phenomenon, and our corner of the soccer world is pretty well represented thereon. And your friends on the AAXI staff have gone to the trouble of reviewing each MLS Season XI team’s presence on YouTube. The criteria: videos must be found via entering only the team name, rather than a particular player, and a particular video must focus on some aspect of the team or a player to be included in the review (meaning, All Star Game highlights that pop up in a search for the LA Galaxy don’t count towards the Galaxy total listed herein).

This week we take a look at the six Western Conference teams and try to identify the “best” clip available on YouTube.

Chivas USA There are a whopping 31 video clips featuring Chivas USA, tops for Western Conference teams. But you can’t watch most of them at work or with the kids, unless no one there understands swear words in Spanish. Chivas USA fans swearing at opposing teams, and opposing team fans swearing at Chivas USA – now that’s variety. The Red Bulls fan falling on his face while jumping up and down and singing swear words at Chivas USA does have something going for it, but the clip titled “UC Irvine vs. Chivas USA” just shows a girl rolling down a hill. Hmmm. But the “best” clip is one that demonstrates a hallmark of YouTube: film of the untelevised event. In this case, you get scenes from Chivas USA’s exhibition against Tigres in Donna, Texas – available nowhere else.

Colorado Rapids It’s no surprise that searching for “Colorado Rapids” on YouTube leads you to a host of white water rafting videos. What is surprising is that, including the rafting videos, you only get 17 hits from the search. Take out the rafting, and you’re down to 8 videos. Of those eight, you get fireworks on the Fourth of July (a big draw in Denver), two and a half minutes of Mascot Soccer (a halftime event), two clips of Brian Ching scoring against the Rapids, and the LA Galaxy playing a couple of times. Remove the compilation of departed player Jean-Phillipe Peguero scoring for Colorado and the Red Bulls, and you’re left with only one choice for “best” clip: “Big Head” featuring the partially shaved head of a Rapids fan. Nineteen seconds of the fan, followed by a written statement: the haircut stays until the Rapids win. That’s it. Come on, Rapids fans - there’s more Mascot Soccer highlights than Rapids clips! Start uploading!

FC Dallas What happens when almost half of the 27 videos posted featuring a team are variations of the same fifteen second clip? And that clip isn’t one of Carlos Ruiz’s bicycle kicks or Kenny Cooper’s headed goals, but a shot of some drummers in the supporters’ section shot from a low angle? I’m going to guess that Dallastar02 was new at the whole YouTube thing when s/he uploaded the clips for the first time. Or obsessed with that one drummer! But the best clip there - one that may make you laugh - is the appropriately named “National Anthem Played on a Saw” before an FC Dallas home game. It really does show a guy playing the anthem on a saw - and while we’re sure there’s a logical explanation for why the FC Dallas FO picked this particular way to start the game, it’s still a guy playing the national anthem on a saw!

Houston Dynamo The Dynamo just moved to Houston a short time ago, and so one might expect there to be little to see on YouTube featuring them instead of the Earthquakes or Clash. Surprise! You’ll find 29 videos featuring some aspect of the Houston Dynamo experience. Fan clips, homemade game previews, and “Stuart Holden’s first professional goal EVER!” (The capital letters from YouTuber 12dangbang12 really brings it home for the AAXI staff). It isn’t funny, but the best clip is the lengthy highlight package and interviews broadcast by Houston’s CBS affiliate following the team’s first match in 2006.

Los Angeles Galaxy The Galaxy feature in 18 videos posted on YouTube. Some of the connections are a bit tenuous, such as “Breanna singing the national anthem at a Los Angeles Galaxy game,” which was posted by a YouTube user named . . . Breanna. But there’s some fun to be had watching some of these gems. Remember the Riot Squad taking on Brad Guzan last year? Or the host of Chivas Girls blow up dolls? Pop on over and watch the clips. You can watch MLS Cup highlights featuring the Galaxy, but from a neutral standpoint the “best” Galaxy clip is this one, featuring game two of the Galaxy-Earthquake playoff series in 2003 - the one with the phenomenal San Jose comeback.

Real Salt Lake This team has only been around for a season and a half, but its recent exhibition against Real Madrid means that it is featured in an impressive 28 videos. Of course, more than half are things like “Ruud penalty against Real Salt Lake” and the like. There’s also an odd series of “how to” videos of 2-5 minutes in length from RSL players, such as “Punting” by backup goalie Jay Nolly and “Shooting” from Chris Klein. But the “best” is something that follows one of the most common (and sometimes truly bizarre) YouTube traditions: the homemade music video. Someone takes one of their favorite songs, clips things together, and off you go (the strangest ones feature clips from video games set to popular music). In RSL’s case, “RSL 2005 Goals”, is set to Weezer’s “Damage in Your Heart.” Why? Only YouTube member climbingtheladder knows.
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It’s a 5-4-1 this week for the AAXI. Once again, Jeff Cunningham is the only Yank forward to make the team. Apparently the Americans have the defensive part of the field covered, but Cunningham could use some company - where have you gone, Ante Razov?

Troy Perkins – (5)

If ever there was a game where a player deserved AAXI honors without doing anything particularly flashy, it was Wednesday against New York for Troy. His decision making, positioning, and execution were superb. He kept his defense organized, and only his distribution was short of superlative, being merely adequate. Just a great game from a player where keepers are remembered frequently more for their dubious choices in coming off the line than in their strong understanding. He got the clean sheet and bettered his best-in-the-league goals against average.

Dasan Robinson – (4)

The guy is never mentioned when it comes to Rookie of the Year candidates, and it is a crime. He’s had a stellar season for the Fire and by in large has played nearly flawless games week in and out. Did you know Eddie Johnson played against the Fire? We didn’t; we figured he was still touring Germany or something. EJ had no impact because Robinson effectively neutralized him from the first whistle to the last.

Ugo Ihemelu – (1)

Ugo receives fair criticism for an overly phsyical style, but his speed and positioning against Dallas shouldn’t be overlooked. His physical strength helps with the likes of Carlos Ruiz and Kenny Cooper, but he’s also developing a good sense of timing and increasingly gets to the right place at the right time. His defensive partner in central defense, Troy Roberts, deserves some credit this week as well.

Jack Stewart – (1)

Stepped right into the RSL defense and picked up where the injured Danny Torres left off. “Hot New Guy,” as he is known in certain circles, has been solid from his first start with RSL. And while other RSLers on this week’s AAXI may be getting much of the credit, the teams winning streak coincides with Stewart’s first start following his trade from Chicago.

Carlos Mendes – (1)

We’ll admit that one mistake by a defender could wipe out a great performance, whereas a striker only needs one good play to have a good game. And we know that Joseph Ngwenya beat Mendes on the Crew goal late in the half. But for at least 88 minutes of the game, he won every one on one match up and kept the Crew at bay. And I daresay he wasn’t the only one flummoxed by Ngwenya on that run. Hence, Mendes on the AAXI.

Bobby Boswell – (3)

Boswell made a great sliding tackle to disrupt Amado Guevara in a drab 0-0 draw with the Red Bulls. So what? Well, for one thing no one on the AAXI staff can remember the last time Bobby left his feet. He is putting together an amazing season while getting to the ground less frequently than Bruce Arena’s ego. This game was not an exception, as he neatly shielded attackers, disrupted crosses, and actually was one of the few DC defenders who could make a pass out of his own defensive third.

Justin Mapp – (4)

So, sometimes he starts, and sometimes he doesn’t because the team never knows how much “sustained Mapp” they’re going to get. He got the start last Wednesday against Kansas City, the kid was a terror. He led the Fire to victory with tireless effort and some very strong runs. Two assists (one from the left, one from the right) and a goal is a damn fine performance for Mapp; now, if only he could do it more often.

Chris Klein – (2)

The MLS Player of the Week had quite a pair of games for the suddenly hot team from Salt Lake City. In the Wednesday match, he ran absolutely rampant through the Crew defense during a sustained thirty minute siege of the Columbus goal. Sometimes he was mysteriously wide open, while most often he timed his runs prefectly. He did most of his damage on the right but looked good running left and center as well. His well-taken goal off a perfect Andy Williams feed leveled the score, and he contributed to the game winner as well. And while his goal against Houston on Saturday never crossed the goal line, Klein’s performance all game long was outstanding. He played useful balls and seemed minimally troubled by Houston’s defensive pressure.

Jacob Thomas – (4)

Thomas led the Crew attack Wednesday when it looked dangerous in the first half. In fact, Columbus looked every part the more dangerous team while he was on the field. When he left injured in minute 44, so went the Crew offense - and the defensive pressure in the midfield as well. His foray down the right and into RSL’s box led to the Crew penalty and a 1-0 lead. Still, his apparent fragility has to be troubling - or perhaps he keeps rushing back from injury and would do well to stay off the field until he’s fully healed.

Carey Talley – (4)

Scored the game winning-goal Wednesday with a well-placed shot off of Cunningham’s setup. His play may not have been spectacular, but he played hard, set up shots, and helped shut down the Crew defense. But somewhere between the Crew game and Saturday’s match against Houston, Talley cut this hair. Luckily the haircut didn’t jinx him, and his continued integral play on both sides of the ball was a main contributor to both RSL wins.

Jeff Cunningham – (5)

When will Cunningham slow down? He did not have a particularly standout 60 minutes in the Wednesday game in Columbus, and then an average minutes 60-75. But over the last fifteen minutes he was absolutely everywhere in the attacking third and cut through a tired Crew defense seemingly at will. Some good play by Crew keeper Bill Gaudette and several close calls kept it close until minute 90 when Cunningham’s assist of Talley won the game. Without Cunningham, there would not have been an RSL win on the night. Then on Saturday, Cunningham completely exposed the lack of speed in Houston’s defense all night. He worked right up the middle of a previously very decent defense with ease that can’t be discounted simply because Eddie Robinson was out. Ryan Cochrane, Adrian Serioux, and Ricardo Clark all know their defensive responsibilities and none of them could deal with Cunningham.
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  • Header by ismitje.
  • List compiled and edited by ismitje, with input from all of the AAXI contributors.
  • All typos and errors should be blamed on Kelly Dalglish.