A third consecutive loss is never a positive thing, and it’s only the second instance in Kreis’s managerial career of such a streak — but for all the problems that come with it, we needn’t hang our heads just yet.
Remember that Javier Morales, who, a month ago, might have been able to get a look in as a sub, not only started, but made it through about 80 minutes of play. That’s a remarkable feat for the man, and it will help our chances in the playoff picture. He’s still got great composure and ability on the ball, and while he’s clearly not back to full speed yet, he’s been dangerous in the short time since we’ve had him back.
This loss, as much as it always hurts to lose, and as much as it really, really hurts to lose three in a row, wasn’t the result of catastrophic failure as a side. We weren’t good enough, sure — nobody among us would really deny that — but we weren’t clods on the pitch. Unfortunate, unlucky, and certainly not quite good enough, but not the end of the world (or, more acutely, the end of our season.)
You see, the Galaxy are in quite good form while we, unfortunately, are in quite bad form (even when we were on quite the winning streak, our form was lacking.) It makes a winning proposition quite unlikely, and it’s frustrating when we know how well we really can do. But we haven’t been on a genuine good run of form this season save maybe for the first few weeks — that’s indeed telling.
What is essential now is that we find our feet in the final three matches such that we have a chance in the playoffs. We need to find our best eleven and pray that they’ll be fit and ready. The red to Kyle Beckerman may have been a blessing in disguise, as it allows him at least some time to rest. Considering he’s been an ever-present in our side, some time may be quite a good thing.
See, a win wouldn’t have meant our season was saved, nor would it have meant we were suddenly the best side in the MLS. There’s got to be more to it than that. We know we’re better than this, so let’s see our side get to it and go into the playoffs with three wins on their backs — and not just three ground-out, bunkered-in wins. We need to win at our own game. If we can’t do that, than we may well need to start saving our hopes for 2012.
Right, I’ll break down a few things tomorrow and try to take a statistical look at some of our downfalls this season, but for now, I think we all need some time to think and relax.
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