LA Galaxy Fans Q&A Number Nine. FREDY MONGE.

Next up is my Galaxy going buddy Fredy. Our paths first crossed in San Jose last season when Fredy and his friends booked into the same hotel as me and Mark and were immediately impressed by our drinking prowess. Drinking and supporting the Galaxy is all we need in common to be friends with Fredy and his crew, that's the beauty of following the G's, you meet a hell of a lot of nice people.




Q1. How did you first get into the Galaxy and what was the first game you attended?
I got into the Galaxy after the 1994 World Cup. My dad, uncles and friends used to go to a lot of international friendly game when they were in town. I wasn’t such a big fan of dodging cups full of piss (Urine not booze) at the coliseum when Mexico played El Salvador or Guatemala but I loved hanging out watching football with the family. Some of the best Galaxy games were the ones where Dexter’s dad hooked it up with free suite tickets at the Rose Bowl. We were too young to drink their free booze but it was still fun.


Q2. Name your favourite five Galaxy players of all time?
Cienfuegos
Donovan
Buddle
Ruiz
Jones


Q3. What is your normal preparation/routine when attending a Galaxy game?
I usually half ass my day and leave everything I have to do until last minute, consequently making me late to pick Dexter up on the way to HDC. Pick up some beer at the Ralphs by the HDC and head over to see all the great friends we’ve made.


Q4. Do you follow any other footy teams?
Not really. I enjoy following leagues. I can’t say that I’ve grown up following one team.


Q5. Name five footy teams that you hate the most?
No one specifically to hate on.


Q6. Describe the best Galaxy performance you attended?
In Seattle May, 2010. Galaxy whooped the Sounders in front of their massive, sold-out crowd. Traveling games are all amazing, especially when won.



Q7. Describe the worst?
RSL 2011. Great trip, great snow, great people, worst Galaxy performance.


Q8. Has the Beckham signing been better for Beckham, the Galaxy or the MLS?
I think it has been good all around. Games sell out in places you wouldn’t think they’d sell out. The Galaxy played in Australia because of him so it got some global exposure. Beckham also attracts “talent” to the games (aka hot chicks that wouldn’t otherwise come to a match).



Q9. Do you follow any other sports and if so, what teams?
I don’t follow any other team like I do the Galaxy. I like going to baseball games and root for the Dodgers and Angels. Going to Spring training in Arizona is always a good time. LA Kings all the way!


Q10. Do you play footy, what position and are you any good?
I haven’t played in a looooooong time! Stuck to school first and foremost because I wasn’t good. I loved playing and played in the high school team but c’mon, I knew I didn’t have a future in footy so it was always secondary to school.


Q11. What's with the rivalry between Galaxy supporters groups?
Who knows? Same as any other group organization trying to best the other I guess. Everyone is pretty cool in all the supporter groups.


Q12. Have you ever been involved in any aggro at the match? Galaxy or otherwise?
If I have I don’t remember. It wasn’t me. I once took out some bushes in San Jose, does that count?





Q13. How do you think the MLS compares with other leagues around the world?
Who cares! It’s ours to enjoy! People spend too much time comparing apples to oranges. Shut up and support your team.



Q14. Club before country?
Club


Q15. Almost every Galaxy fan I speak to wishes that Chivas USA were gone from the HDC, where would you like to see them end up?

Las Vegas, NV. San Diego, CA. Tempe, AZ. Send them to Arizona! That would be an awesome road trip. Tempe would be a better trip than Vegas or San Diego.


Q16. Favourite away stadium? (MLS or otherwise)
There are so many to discover still. So far the Sounders stadium was a pretty fun one.

Q17. Least favourite away stadium? (MLS or otherwise)
San Jose sucks.



Q18. Finally, how do you see the season ending for the LA Galaxy this year?
This is a tough one. I do not like the results so far. I hope the team grows to play better as we go. They better keep in mind the cup will be played at home.

00 years and we're still here.

So after 35 years my Manchester City finally win some major silverware, the FA Cup.
It was a cracking performance against a pretty poor Stoke City who should thank their keeper Sorensen for keeping the score respectable.
Is this the start of the "Blue Moon Rising" or just another false dawn?
I don't care at this moment as I'm still pretty chuffed, but for the past couple of decades I've been saying how I hoped I got to see City win a trophy before I died.
Must admit, I'm feeling pretty nervous right now.

Los Angeles Galaxy Fans Q&A Number Eight. ME aka ANDY GILLESPIE

I have a few Q&A's out there in e-mail-land but so far I am still waiting for responses. In the meantime, I think I'll have a crack at it myself, so here goes.......




Q1. How did you first get into the Galaxy and what was the first game you attended?
Pretty much like a lot of Galaxy fans did, they started up the MLS and we were granted a team called the Galaxy. I went to the first game, it was pretty mental off the field with all the 1000's of extra fans that showed up. The football wasn't so great and I gave up after a few seasons, but now I'm back with a vengeance and I'm Galaxy till I die...


Q2. Name your favourite five Galaxy players of all time?
Mauricio Cienfuegos - Still my all time favourite G's player, what I'd give to have him in his prime in the current squad.
Kevin Hartman - One of the best MLS keepers of all time for me. Could and probably should have moved to Europe years ago and made a name for himself, not to mention a lot more money.
Cobi Jones - Longest serving G ever, breaks my heart that he's now with the NY Cosmos and they're not even a proper team.
Landon Donovan - Mr Consistant and has carried this team single handedly unlike a certain Mr Beckham.
Edson Buddle - Had a couple of great years and a couple of crap years with us. I wanted him gone after his lack of performance in the MLS Cup Final, but he came back the next year and proved his critics wrong. It was close between him and Hurtado, but I went for Buddle as he was an idol to my kids as well.


Q3. What is your normal preparation/routine when attending a Galaxy game?
Load up the ice cooler with Bitburger.
Get the kids ready, pick out which Galaxy shirt and trainers to wear.
Mark picks us up, we pick up Alex, get food from Carls Jr, meet up with the Galaxians, drink until kick off and then scream, jump around and clap on the Galaxy for 90 minutes.




Q4. Do you follow any other footy teams?
First and foremost Manchester City, God's own team.


Q5. Name five footy teams that you hate the most?
In England: Man U*****d, L**ds U****d, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs.
Rest of the World: San Jose Earthquakes, RSL, Chivas, Seattle Flounders, Real Madrid.


Q6. Describe the best Galaxy performance you attended?
My memory is a bit shit, so I'll say most recently, it would be beating Seattle Sounders last year on July 4th. Kellie and the kids were with us and they loved it as well, a great day all round.
Plus any other time we beat the Flounders and any time we beat Chivas, which thankfully is quite often on both scores.


Q7. Describe the worst?
RSL the other week instantly springs to mind, it was awful. Losing to those fuckers in the MLS Cup Final was shit as well.


Q8. Has the Beckham signing been better for Beckham, the Galaxy or the MLS?
A bit of all three really. I have defended his behaviour a few times, but he fucked the Galaxy and our fans over once too often, the sooner he is gone the better.





Q9. Do you follow any other sports and if so, what teams?
No, there really is no other sport for me.
I do actually want all other L.A. teams to do well as a local, but I really don't give a toss either when they lose.


Q10. Do you play footy, what position and are you any good?
I was quite decent in my youth, played on the wing and also right back. Used to be quite fast and could knock a great cross in. I was also known for being deadly with a slide tackle and when I first came to the USA as youngster, much older players genuinely feared me.
I was also known to have scored a few screamers in my time, which I am quite proud of and once scored two goals from the halfway line in a minute. I banged one in and took abuse off the opposition saying it was a fluke. Then they fucked up the kick off so I ploughed into them and banged the ball into the top corner, they were shell shocked.
Now I don't really play that much anymore, I just tend to stand/jog about but can still knock a great cross in and have a decent shot, a bit like Beckham only older, fatter and a lot sexier.


Q11. What's with the rivalry between Galaxy supporters groups?
I don't get it, we're all Galaxy fans. I just mainly hear rumblings from knobs from each supporters groups bitching about each other and who has the best supporters group, laughable really.




Q12. Have you ever seen or been involved in any aggro at the match? Galaxy or otherwise?
Many, many times.
Been beaten, beaten people and seen tons of stuff go down.
I used to revel in it and think it was cool as fuck. Now I look back and realise it was all pretty pointless and a bit sad really.


Q13. How do you think the MLS compares with other leagues around the world?
We shouldn't really worry about that sort of stuff, we have our own market and our own unique fans to cater to. The league is getting better each year though.
I remember Eric Wynalda bragging when the league first started that within 10 years the MLS would compete with the best leagues around the world. He was way wide of the mark, but I'd be shocked if we can't reach that within the next 20 years.

Q14. Club before country?
Always been club for me, don't really care that much for the England national team, I'd watch City or the Galaxy over them any day of the week.


Q15. Almost every Galaxy fan I speak to wishes that Chivas USA were gone from the HDC, where would you like to see them end up?

Vegas or San Diego would make for a great away trip.



Q16. Favourite away stadium? (MLS or otherwise)
Seattle was awesome, but I don't count it because it's a NFL stadium. I was very impressed with Rio Tinto and in the EPL I always enjoyed visiting Anfield with City.





Q17. Least favourite away stadium? (MLS or otherwise)
San Jose is a joke. In the EPL I'd have to say Old Trafford. Nice enough stadium, but heavily populated by cunts.


Q18. If you could change anything about the Galaxy organisation what would it/they be?
Get rid of Beckham.
Have designated away end/section.
Hang the DJ, the music at home games is seriously shit. I don't need to hear the Black Eyed fucking Peas ever again.
Get some half time entertainment other than 46 AYSO kids chasing a ball around for 10 minutes.
Cheaper concessions and more choices




Q19. What changes would you make to the MLS?
Not a fan of play offs, I know it's an American thing, but they could get rid of them and I'd be happy.
Sort out the situation with major international tournaments clashing with our season, you can't exactly move the World Cup so we should have an extended break during it.
Have weekends off for WC qualifiers and friendlies, we always lose Donovan, it's a joke.


Q20. What's the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at the match?
One year at Watford, I hitch hiked down there as I was on the dole and broke, paid into the cheapest part of the ground and was instantly rumbled by a steward who shouted at me from the bottom of the stand "Oi, you're a Man City fan, you're not supposed to be in there"
"Fuck me" I thought, "how did he know?" Then I looked around to see that everyone stood around me only came up to my chest and I had paid to get into the kids stand for under twelves. Even eight year old girls were pointing and laughing at me.


Q21. Funniest thing you has seen at the match?
Probably when we thought our mate Colin Wilson had been stabbed at Blackburn away with City after we saw it kick off in their end and him being carried away, doubled up on a stretcher. Turned out he just had an extreme case of the shits from a bad curry the night before.
There's a blog about it somewhere on here.



Q22. Finally, how do you see the season ending for the LA Galaxy this year?
We obviously haven't started off too good this year, but I think we'll turn it around. Every season there is a team that gets "hot" just before the end of the season, rolls into the play offs and destroys all before them. I'm hoping we're going to be that team this year. It's only a matter of time before our forwards, especially Angel click and start banging the goals in for fun.



Great answers, thanks Me.

British Sea Power at the Troubadour April 7th 2011

I have a lot of friends back in the UK who have raved about this band, "You'll like them" said one, "they sound a bit like Echo and the Bunnymen"
Well I own three albums by them, Open Season, The Decline of BSP and Do You Like Rock Music?
I think I've only ever listened to each CD maybe once, they didn't exactly grab me and drag me in with them, but given the chance to see the band live I jumped at it, hoping things would be different in the flesh.

I'll tell you this about British Sea Power, they are great musicians, put on a great show and their fans are rabid about them and were really into the gig.
But I found myself getting a bit bored at the show, maybe it was because they came on late and I had to be up the next day at 5am? I don't know, but I gave it a try, it wasn't horrible or remotely bad. Like I said, they were very good, just wasn't my thing.
It's almost like meeting a really beautiful girl, you get along, everything looks rosy, then you get her into bed and it's just MEH!!! Nothing wrong with that, just no connection.
So I tip my cap to you BSP, but it was never meant to be.

Liam Spencer.

And now ladies and gentlemen, my loyal followers (all 8 of you) I give you a bit of culture as I delve into the world of the arts.
I am a big fan of England's North West artist Liam Spencer, I first saw his work a few years back in a gallery back home in Manchester.
He's a modern day L.S. Lowry and paints scenes from the NW of England using oils on board, canvass or whatever he can get his hands on.
As a fellow northerner, his work, subject matter and methods really appeal to me.

Here's a handful of Manchester City related pieces he did (just like Lowry), they are my personal favourites, so good in fact that I'll even forgive him for the one he did of Old Trafford.

More amazing stuff can be found at:

http://www.liamspencer.co.uk/



Bluemoon Chippy.


Maine Road at Twilight.


Eastlands.


Eastlands Ariel View.

A few football related pictures by LS Lowry.
Lowry was known to be a keen Manchester City fan and the first two paintings here were of Maine Road.


LS Lowry. Going to the match


LS Lowry. The football match.


LS Lowry. Also known as "The match"

I will be posting more football related artwork over the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.

FA Cup Semi Final: Manchester City v Manchester U****d

Great win today.
Ya Ya Toure, I think I love you!!!!!



Congratulations to Roberto Mancini and the entire Manchester City squad.
In typical City fashion, after beating U****d I fully expect expect us to choke against Stoke or Bolton.
Already had a few Bitburgers, now I'm off to mow the lawn in my 1976 retro City shirt.


If you see this man wearing this shirt and coming at you with a lawnmower, get out of the way, he's drunk.

LA Galaxy Fans Q&A Number Seven. SANDRO SOLER.

Lucky number seven and it's the turn of Sandro Soler. Sandro was instrumental in making us Simi Valley types feel welcome in the Galaxians.
Even when we were in denial that we weren't officially Galaxians, he insisted that we were and that was that. I remember seeing Sandro around the HDC for a while and always had a bit of a chuckle at their antics. I recall one game where fans of some rival team (it might have been Dallas) sat behind the Galaxians and unfurled their team flag. Sandro and Co were having none of it and within minutes had the away fans moved "for their own safety".
Always good for a laugh, a beer, a conversation about music, UCSB and of course the Galaxy.
Sandro also flew up to Toronto last year for the MPS Cup Final and to collect the Supporters Shield with a few other Galaxy fans on all of our behalf, thanks for that Sandro.




Q1. How did you first get into the Galaxy and what was the first game you attended?
I moved here from Peru in 1990. I was unable to attend a live football match on a regular basis until MLS came in 1996. When the league was announced, I decided to be a fan of whatever team LA would get.



Q2. Name your favourite five Galaxy players of all time?
Cienfuegos, Hartman, Hendrickson, Ruiz, Jones.





Q3. What is your normal preparation/routine when attending a Galaxy game?
I go to the supermarket to pick up beer and meat for the grill.


Q4. Do you follow any other footy teams?
Universitario


Q5. Name five footy teams that you hate the most?
Chivas, San Jose, Alianza Lima, Sporting Cristal, Sport Boys


Q6. Describe the best Galaxy performance you attended?
Galaxy 5, Kansas 2, 2002 MLS Play Offs



Q7. Describe the worst?
SJ 5, Galaxy 2, 2003 MLS Play Offs





Q8. Has the Beckham signing been better for Beckham, the Galaxy or the MLS?
Beckham, by far. In terms of marketing and exposure, it was one of the best things for the MLS and the Galaxy. In terms of football results and fans getting screwed over because of money, Beckham is the worst thing ever.



Q9. Do you follow any other sports and if so, what teams?
Rugby, hockey - LA Kings and any UCSB team


Q10. Do you play footy, what position and are you any good?
I play all positions, my favorites are striker and goalie. I can hold my own.


Q11. What's with the rivalry between Galaxy supporters groups?
Never understood the Riot Squad's need to wage war on the Galaxians, since we both support the same team and would be on the same side. We never did anything to them. They just needed a target to make themselves feel better. When we decided to ignore them, they started fighting each other.



Q12. Have you ever seen or been involved in any aggro at the match? Galaxy or otherwise?
No, thank God.


Q13. How do you think the MLS compares with other leagues around the world?
We have grown light years in 15 years, but we are still far behind.


Q14. Club before country?
Both








Q15. Almost every Galaxy fan I speak to wishes that Chivas USA were gone from the HDC, where would you like to see them end up?
Actually, let them stay in the HDC, and move us back to the Rose Bowl.


Q16. Favourite away stadium? (MLS or otherwise)
Qwest Field, Seattle


Q17. Least favourite away stadium? (MLS or otherwise)
Spartan, Oakland Coliseum, Buckshaw Stadium


Q18. If you could change anything about the Galaxy organisation what would it/they be?
Better treatment of the supporter's groups, and going back to football over greed.





Q19. What changes would you make to the MLS?
The end of Play-Offs and have us be an actual league. League wide rule on travelling fans, such as setting aside a mandatory away fans section like in the rest of the world.



Q20. What's the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at the match?
Not embarassing, but I got thrown out of Spartan for doing nothing.


Q21. Funniest thing you has seen at the match?
Beckham yelling back to the crowd.



Q22. Finally, how do you see the season ending for the LA Galaxy this year?
From what I saw on our last match vs. Toronto, we are a very Donovan-dependant team. If he is out for a long period of time, it'll be a very difficult season. It's too early to tell. But this league is notorious for the regular season killer team to fall flat on it's face during the play-offs.





Thanks mate, I think your answer in Q21 might be referring to the home opener this season when you screamed at Beckham to cross the ball and he got his panties in a twist and started grabbing the LA badge on his jersey. You're trouble maker Sandro and that's a fact.