Friday Night Football: Bravo Out at Galaxy, Miglioranzi Returns & More
In a perfect world, I'd be at Home Depot Center watching Chivas and Club America in Interliga action right now.
Alas, a major project intervened and I'm still stuck at the office.
Fans are going out in droves though and InterLiga officials have decided to open the grass berm for Sunday's finals to meet the demand. The general admission tickets are $25.
In other news today:
*Paula Bravo is out at the Galaxy as director of soccer and returns to the Colorado Rapids, where he played four years, to assume the post of technical director there. He became expendable with Coach Bruce Arena assuming player personnel decisions as GM and Dave Sarachan the associate head coach.
Bravo, 40, joined the Galaxy as an assistant coach under Frank Yallop and became director of soccer in August 2007. His duties included scouting and player evaluation (that didn't go so well did it?).
"Paul has proven himself as a great evaluator of talent," said Rapids Managing Director Jeff Plush. Well, OK, then.
*Meanwhile, the Galaxy reacquired midfielder Stefan Miglioranzi today from the Columbus Crew today in exchange for a conditional fourth round 2010 draft pick.
He made three appearances as a substitute after joining the Galaxy in September 2006 and was traded to the Crew in January 2007 for a third round draft pick. The 31-year-old, who also played in the English lower divisions for eight years, made just seven starts last year for the MLS Cup-winning Crew. Doesn't exactly sound like a pivotal player move.
*Finally, U.S. Women's National Team Coach Pia Sundhage named a squad of 25 players today for an HDC training camp Jan. 20-Feb. 4 ahead of the annual Algarve Cup.
The camp marks the return of Abby Wambach, who suffered a broken leg last summer in the run-up to the Olympics.
Complete details and the full squad is here.
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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.
News certainly were coming thick and fast with the Pan Pacific Championship, Miglioranzi and Bravo...
I'm very happy Bravo is gone, since he was the guy who brought us Carlos Pavon, Alvaro Pires and Eduardo Domginguez... (obviously he wasn't in charge alone, but he has to take some blame as well).
Ever since Arena/Sarachan came in, he was not needed anymore.
It's good we're getting some new players in, how good/bad they fit we will be able to see when the matches are played.
At least it seems Arena knows what he's wants and what the team needs (new GK, defenders and central midfielders).