Galaxy (Finally) Release Roster For Pan-Pacific Championship
It took long enough, but here are the 27 players in Hawaii for the preseason tournament that starts Wednesday night:
Goalkeepers Charles Alamo, Steve Cronin, Josh Wicks; defenders Celestine Babayaro, Sean Franklin, Michael Gavin, Ante Jazic, Brandon McDonald, Mike Randolph, Troy Roberts, Julian Valentin, Greg Vanney, Abel Xavier; midfielders Ely Allen, Alvaro, David Beckham, Kelly Gray, Kevin Harmse, Chris Klein, Josh Tudela, Pete Vaganas; forwards Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon, Bryan Jordan, Carlos Ruiz, Israel Sesay.The missing: Galaxy draft picks Daniel DeGeer and Matt Hatzke, open tryout selection Vito Higgins (who is from Hawaii) and midfielder Kyle Martino.
Martino told me last weekend that's he's healthy and recovered from offseason surgery, so the question arises: Is the relatively high-paid veteran trade bait as the Galaxy look both to reduce their wage bill and log-jam in midfield?
I have no idea whether Ruiz is healthy enough to play; he didn't feature in either of the Galaxy's two closed-door scrimmages last week. Similarly, it's unclear whether Babayara has yet secured a work permit.
And I bet Higgins is crushed.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
I've really enjoyed your blog this pre-season. Keep up the great work!
Mike