Pan-Pacific Championship: Galaxy-Terrible Turtles

The Terrible Turtles is (are?) the weird nickname of Japan's Oita Trinita.

And it's almost as weird as Bruce Arena's lineup:

In goal: Josh Wicks (where's Donovan Ricketts)?

In defense, Cal State Northridge product Sean Franklin is at right back as expected (he played one game there last year), top draft pick Omar Gonzalez partners geriatric Tony Sanneh in central defense (no wonder the Galaxy are still looking for a central defender), while Eddie Lewis, captain for the night, is on the left.

In midfield, Josh Tudela and Dema Kovalenko clog up the middle of the park (which Kovalenko might well do literally given his reputation, but I suppose he's the playmaker), Chris Klein is on the right in Beckham's spot and Jovan Kirovski will wander around on the left.

Up front: Edson Buddle and Alan Gordon.

On the bench: draft picks A.J. DeLagarza and Kyle Patterson are joined by Stefani Miglioranzi, Bryan Jordan and Mike Magee. Goalkeeper Josh Saunders (where's Steve Cronin exactly?) is back for another go around with the Galaxy, while there's also a new face - defender Yohance Marshall out of South Florida. Press box colleague Scott French observed some had projected Marshall as a first round draft pick, but played himself out of the draft altogether with a terrible combine, so that's comforting.

As for Oita Trinita: you're on your own.

Updated: Ricketts has a tight left hamstring and the medical staff advised rest. But how to explain the absence of the likes of Ely Allen, Brandon McDonald, Julian Valentin and Mike Randolph? Those guys are under contract, of course, so one Galaxy official suggested Arena perhaps wants to take a look at those who aren't. We'll ask after the game.