Defender Jay Needham was cut from training camp today, Galaxy officials said. Although he plays in the USL his MLS rights were owned by D.C. United and the Galaxy obviously didn’t feel he was much of an upgrade.
Brazilian defensive midfielder Alvaro, last seen playing in Russia, is in camp. Aussie goalkeeper Chris Sharpe, who played in Denmark and for the Vermont Voltage (is that a great name or what?), was let go earlier in the week.
Excellent camp update is here.
The Galaxy also announced today they have entered into a multi-year broadcasting agreement with ESPN Deportes Radio KWKW 1330 AM to provide coverage of all 30 Galaxy games this season including a weekly program Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Over at Chivas USA, draft pick El-Hadj Cisse (North Carolina State University) picked up a knock on Tuesday against the Red Bulls and hasn’t trained the last couple of days. Chivas USA plays Saturday against the Japanese Under-23 National Team in a game in the main Home Depot Center stadium that’s only open to the media.
U.S. Women’s National Team update (such as it is) is here.
Mexican Olympic Team head coach Hugo Snchez announced the roster for 2008 CONCACAF Mens Olympic Qualifiying today as well as warm-up games against Australia March 2 in Oakland and against Finland March 6 at Pizza Hut Park.
The squad: goalkeepers Guillermo Ochoa (Club Amrica), Jorge Villalpando (Puebla) y Jonathan Orozco (Monterrey); defenders Omar Esparza (Chivas), Luis Robles (Atlas), Julio Csar Domnguez (Cruz Azul), Rodrigo Iigo (Club Amrica), Luis Omar Hernndez (Necaxa), Hugo Ayala (Atlas), Francisco Gamboa (Toluca) y Efran Velarde (Pumas); midfielders Jorge Hernndez (Atlas), Patricio Araujo (Chivas), Alan Zamora (Atlante), Gerardo Rodrguez (Pachuca), Juan Carlos Silva (Club Amrica), Edgar Castillo (Santos), Csar Villaluz (Cruz Azul) Sergio vila (Chivas); forwards Enrique Esqueda (Club Amrica), Pablo Barrera (Pumas), Edgar Andrade (Cruz Azul), Santiago Fernndez (Toluca), Luis ngel Landn (Morelia) y Omar Arellano (Chivas).
Finally, UCLA men’s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo today signed seven players to national letters of intent: goalkeeper Joseph Scachetti (West Torrance High), midfielder/defender Chris Cummings (Chatsworth/Crespi High), midfielder Daren Flitcroft (Great Falls, Va.), defender Oscar Reyes (Santa Ana, Saddleback High), midfielder/defender Andrew Rose (Bristol City) and midfielder Christian Vazquez and defender Zach Zerrenner (both Santa Barbara High). In addition, striker Fernando Monge (Bellevue, Wash.) graduated from high school early and will join the 2008 freshman class.
