Sunday Galaxy Gameday: The Knives Are Out

The Galaxy are ugly and getting uglier.

Sniping. Name-calling. Signs of locker room discontent. Is the Galaxy big enough for all this?

This is a team whose confidence looks shot and whose players are riven with doubts.

The basic question: how can a team with David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Carlos Ruiz in the line-up not only look so bad in Sunday's tortured 4-0 loss to Dallas, but have failed to win in the last six games?

The last time the Galaxy won a game was June 13 against the San Jose Earthquakes so you might think Ruud Gullit and Co., would relish meeting them again at noon (live on FSN and Telefutura). Especially since San Jose hasn't won in eight games.

But this Earthquakes team is a different proposition. The biggest change: Lawndale's Kei Kamara was banished for his inability to score, veteran Norwich City star Darren Huckerby was brought in and San Jose now actually look dangerous in attack.

Huckerby scored his first MLS goal in his home debut against Toronto with a typically opportunistic strike and was a threat throughout the game:

But Huckerby is much more than that. He possesses blinding pace that could shred the slow Galaxy defense, is capable of taking on defenders with a delicate touch and has a blazing shot.

Huckerby was beloved in Norwich (full disclosure: City are my English team) and this tribute video shows why. His last goal for Norwich at the end of the clip is vintage Huckerby:

Even worse, the last-place Earthquakes are motivated, desperate and smell blood in the water. This a must-win with the faltering Galaxy coming into Oakland and one of the largest crowds of the season urging the Earthquakes on.

With the pressure growing on Gullit and GM Alexi Lalas, this could be a pivotal game in terms of their Galaxy careers.