Galaxy Sign Griffin, Ink New Deals With Cronin and Kirovski and bring Venezuelan Defender into Pre-season Camp
The Galaxy will announce later today they have signed goalkeeper Steve Cronin and midfielder Jovan Kirovski to new deals.
The Galaxy have also signed former UCLA, Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire and Portland Timbers midfielder Leonard Griffin and that contract will also be announced today.
Terms were not disclosed, per team policy.
Pasadena native Griffin, you'll recall, trained with the team for about a month and then accompanied the Galaxy on the New Zealand tour, where he apparently did enough to impress Coach Bruce Arena. Griffin was originally drafted by the Fire when current Galaxy Associate Head Coach Dave Sarachan was coach there, playing 18 games over three years.
In addition, Venezuelan defender Henry Leo Bautista, 25, an imposing (6'2"), left-footed, central defender will join the team on trial when pre-season camp opens, confirmed his agent, Martin Saavedra, today. Bautista's name has been thrown about of late on various blogs and message boards.
Training camp is tentatively slated to open Jan. 19, by the way.
Here's a look at Bautista in action:
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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.
Thanks for the G's update Nick!
Couldn't post a comment before, got some weird error message.
Any help is welcome indeed.
However I feel the offense should not be the priority.
Donovan (for the time being is still a Galaxy player on loan)
Buddle had a career best season in 2008
Gordon might not be everyone's fav player, but he scored a couple too and then there are the young guys like Jordan, Bowen, Sesay (the later 2 GenAdidas players) and the newly signed Kirovski.
Defenders still should be top priority and some bodies in Midfield wouldn't hurt either.
Nick replies: Thanks for your patience in leaving a comment. Our blogging software went down for about four hours and I couldn't post either, which is frustrating when you're sitting on semi-scoops like these. Things seem to be back to normal now.
Nick,
Just to again echo what Ben mentioned: "Thanks very much" for these updates. We really appreciate the timely news/info you are able to provide.
Ben, you are right - for the Galaxy... definitely, bringing in quality, experienced, solid, reliable defenders is of utmost priority. Then, finding one or two quick, pacy, one-on-one central midfielders that have enormous stamina and fight that can keep fighting for turn-overs and possession. I really have no idea what to think or believe about Landon's future. I just feel that the "wool and wooden shades are constantly being pulled over all our eyes". Personally, I know that Alan Gordon is tall enough to be our post-up & guard; but, seriously, he is not a Ramiro Corrales or a Brad Evans or a Juan Carlos Toja or a Brian Ching. These latter players mentioned actually are willing to fight without hesitation and have good soccer instincts and knowledge built-in. These latter mentioned are professionals without a shadow of a doubt. The Galaxy does not need to hold onto nostalgia or "good 'ol LA boys". They need strong, rough, tough players who understand fight, power, and soccer sensibilities. Players who are not afraid to play with utmost guts and instinct; who are willing to go extra each and every game for the club, for the team, for their fellow men, and for the thousands of fans that fill the stadiums night-in and night-out!
Leonard Griffin...the next Claude Makalele!!
And is Henry Leo Batista the next Franco Baresi?!?!?!? Nothing less would do for the jewel of MLS.
More great finds from the Galaxy's crack scouting staff (or is it scouting staff on crack?)
On the YouTube video anyway, Bautistat is impressive: imposing, fast, strong - might be just what the doctor ordered.