Alan Pulido is heating up at just the right time

I haven’t made it all the way through, have about 10 mins left. But I agree that it’s great to have pulido rounding into form. I criticized earlier in the season because pulido was everywhere except where he needed to be which was in the box, but this game perfectly encapsulated what he brings to the table. He facilated everyone around him, that no look Leibold pass in the first half was a great example, and then having the touch to get 2 goals was great. Had he been able to get a bit more of a touch on that Castellanos eventual goal that would of been a hat trick and I’m not sure he’s had one since being here. With Johnny being out and aging, Alan being able to more or less carry the attack has been huge in this streak. It’s mentioned that there’s a good chance he’s gone, but it’s worth mentioning that the other team that was interested in him, cruz azul, reportedly came to terms with their first choice in Aguirre. I think ESPN deportes was reporting that Aguirre was caught at the airport in Mexico City with the intention of finalizing and signing his deal. That would reportedly cut down his reported suitors and make it a 2 horse race in Chivas and sporting. I still don’t understand the desire for Chivas as sporting more than likely won’t sell him for cheap if they do at all mid season, and if they wait until his contract expires that’s about the time Macias is due back from injury and it’s rumored that Pauvnovic views Macias as important in his plans and re-signing him a priority. So unless he’s just absolutely ok with going to be a backup much like Chivas did with Oribe Peralta after pulido left where he spent the last year or so of his career riding the bench and coming on as an occasional sub I don’t see it more than a smoke screen pulido’s agent could be using as a way to get him a better contract with sporting or someone else.

But as the resident pessimist I had a few things. I got downvoted and a few responses to my opinion on McIntosh. I still don’t think he’s a great option. Nothing Ben does instills confidence to me other than an occasional spot starter. At the very least, I don’t think his performance has been much better than john’s which again warrants the question why John has been more or less in the dog house. Even routine plays I still feel like Ben makes them look nervy, sure he wasn’t done favors by his backline. But, he also doesn’t do much to make you feel like he’s fully in control in his position.

I also still have a problem with Peter. Shocking, as someone who has been on the “vermes out” train before it was trendy still doesn’t like Peter. But, I don’t get the pension for coming out and flipping the bird to fans after a win. Khiry scored one goal and did ok and he’s ready to go out and say Khiry should of antagonized the crowd for rightfully, I might add, being negative about him. And one could argue that is also a result of Peter. Yeah, the renewal is absolutely garbage. But, he’s also the one who went to bat in the media for Khiry being an amazing, under utilized player and Khiry went on to be absolutely awful and basically forced the team to find Agada. It’s just my opinion, but Peter and co should be actively working on repairing the relationship with the fan base not talking shit in press conferences and brew house rants. He’s more or less put Khiry in a position where he has to back it up again since we are more than likely getting a good dose of Khiry on the wing since tzionis is apparently going on international duty unless Johnny is back. I get this is supposed to be the Khiry role, and obviously just like everything else when it works it works, but why not get afrifa some mins at home. If Khiry is a better winger who can be a 9 if you need him to be, why not develop the actual young 9 by getting game mins in the first team.

I also absolutely hate the token subs at the end. I believe radoja got a yellow in the 2nd half if I heard it right on the broadcast, I was a few beers in by that point so I could be wrong, I don’t get why if you had the option of putting Felipe and/or Roger in to drop remi back why you wait until stoppage time to do that.

Overall, good performance. I think we could have done better in the first half, but the team settled in and got a win. Excited to see what we do against lafc next weekend, gonna try and make it since I have a non gig weekend.