Next for Becks: the bright lights of Milan
Photo by Scott Varley
The dimming of the star power at the Galaxy is the subject of today’s column. It’s a good thing.
David Beckham and Landon Donovan have already left the building judging by their recent comments:
“I’m ready to take that step (of going to Europe) and I want to,” Donovan said Sunday. “Competitively I have that itch and I want to do it and I’ll make that very clear to people.”
And you don’t think Becks needs to play in the off-season? Rest is not what he needs. Minutes on the field are. Or his immobility on the field the Galaxy have seen on several occasions this season will be exacerbated. Beckham was hampered by a quad injury Sunday and one reporter observed he looked like he was running on a treadmill:
“It’s just my age, maybe,” he said only half joking.
By the way, in the wake of Beckham’s first full MLS season, I asked him Sunday about some of his impressions of players and teams so far:
*Toughest opponent: – None (he didn’t want to single anyone out, perhaps knowing anyone he didn’t name might want to make more of an, er, impression on him next time out).
*Best team to play against – “Every time we play against Chivas, for me it’s a tough game. I always enjoy that game. It’s obviously a huge rivalry, but that’s the game I personally enjoy playing in.”
*Best opposing player in MLS – “One of the best players in this league is (New York’s Juan Pablo) Angel. He’s obviously played in top flight football and you can see the quality of the player and how hard he works. He’s older now, but still a threat to many teams.”
And finally:
*The Houston Dynamo reserves (9-1-2) captured the MLS Reserve Division title Sunday with a 3-0 win over the Chivas USA reserves (4-5-3) at Home Depot Center, claiming a $20,000 first prize. Roberto Nurse was the Chivas USA leading goalscorer with four goals and one assist in six games.
*The Galaxy reserves (1-8-3) finished their season with a 2-0 loss Sunday to their FC Dallas counterparts at the HDC.
*The Chivas USA Under-18 team (5-1) won 5-2 over the San Diego Surf on Saturday keeping them in first place in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s SoCal Division. Polo Morales had his second hat-trick of the season, and Victor Sanchez, playing his first full game of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, added two more.
*The Galaxy Under-18 team (2-4) lost 3-2 to Nomads FC at the HDC.
*The Chivas USA Under-16 team fell 2-1 to the Surf on Saturday. The loss dropped the U-16’s to third in their division with a 2-3-1 record (W-L-T).
*The Galaxy Under-16 team (5-1) beat Nomads 1-0 at the HDC and lead the SoCal Division.
