The Los Angeles Galaxy know the situation they're in. Simply put, they only control about 50 percent of their playoff destiny. Winning their last two games, both of which are against FC Dallas, will not assure them a spot in the postseason. They will need the results involving the other Western Conference teams to tilt in their favor as well.
This weekend, when the Galaxy travel to Pizza Hut Park, Colorado will be playing host to New York and Real Salt Lake will entertain Houston. While there are a whole lot of scenarios that will spell playoffs for Los Angeles, the Galaxy will be the biggest Dynamo and Red Bulls fans in the league.
"If guys are professionals and guys take it seriously and guys really care, they're going to be scoreboard watching," said Kevin Hartman. "We're going to be checking up on Salt Lake, Colorado and Chivas. We're going to be watching as many games as we can, but at the same time, not letting them interfere with what we can control."
Normally head coaches are all about the task at hand, but Galaxy coach Frank Yallop has even admitted that he will have one ear and one eye on the results around the league.
"It depends on the kickoffs. We're in Dallas so I have to work out when K.C. is playing Chivas. Colorado is at home to New York," said Yallop. "I think they're all around the same kickoff."
All the games that have any significance to the Galaxy's postseason hopes start within 30 minutes of the Galaxy's opening whistle against FC Dallas. Both the Colorado game and the Salt Lake game start a half-hour after L.A.'s, meaning that players will most likely have their eyes glued intently to a TV somewhere in the locker room following the finish of their match.
Keeping the team's thoughts off those same games at halftime or during the contest -- as score updates will undoubtedly be announced on the stadium public-address system -- will be a bit trickier. According to Yallop, mum is the word as far as that's concerned.
"We won't let the players know, because it's irrelevant," said Yallop. "We just have to take care of ourselves in the 90 minutes."
The players aren't concerned about losing focus on the task at hand either. When they step out on the field, all they control is taking care of business against Dallas and keeping the pressure on the teams they are chasing.
"Everyone knows that we just have to win. (The other games) are going to be in the back of our minds," said second-year defender Ugo Ihemelu, "but we know the most important thing is the game on Saturday against Dallas."
It's a simple truth: the Galaxy don't have complete control over their destiny. All they can do is get three points,and put pressure on the teams directly in front of them in the standings. If they do that, maybe they can force their playoff competition to do a little scoreboard watching of their own.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
