Chivas USA Defender Burling to Miss Start of Season & More
Central defender Bobby Burling, a product of Loyola Marymount who is entering his third season with the team, will miss the start of the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery today in Philadelphia, Chivas USA officials announced today.
Burling made 18 starts for Chivas USA last season - the most of any central defender on the team - and is expected to be sidelined up to six weeks
It's the latest injury blow for Chivas USA, which has picked up where it left off last season in terms of a succession of disruptive injuries.
Among the players already struggling with injuries are strikers Maykel Galindo, Ante Razov, Alecko Eskandarian and Atiba Harris, while defender Lawson Vaughn and midfielder Sasha Victorine are both coming back from surgery. Of course, the oft-injured Raphael Wicky also just retired and veteran defender Claudio Suarez remains out of contract. (Did I miss anyone?)
However, playmaker Sacha Kljestan returned from injury in a 1-0 Chivas USA loss to the San Jose Earthquakes today in a preseason game at Home Depot Center.
Cam Weaver scored in the seventh minute for the Quakes, who also had former Galaxy players Brandon McDonald and Simon Elliott in their lineup.
The Chivas USA XI: Chivas USA: -- Zach Thornton, Ante Jazic (Jim Curtin 72), Jonathan Bornstein, Shavar Thomas, Michael Lahoud, Bojan Stepanovic (Jamie Franks 82), Jesse Marsch (Dan Gargan 63), Paulo Nagamura, Sacha Kljestan (Diego Scotti 66), Justin Braun, Eduardo Lillingston.
Stepanovic, a 26-year-old Serbian midfielder, apparently came in the Chivas USA camp Saturday. Mexican midfielder Mariano Trujillo , most recently with Atlante, also remains in camp.
Departures of today: defenders Dan Gargan and reader's favorite Leo Bautista, who has now struck out with both Chivas USA and the Galaxy.
Meanwhile, David Beckham played the first 45 minutes of AC Milan's win today in a friendly against Al Sadd in Qatar and Landon Donovan didn't get on the field at all today as Bayern Munich lost 4-2 to Bayer Leverkusen in the quarterfinals of the German Cup.
Bayern Munich have just one win in their last five games, heaping pressure on Manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Maybe it's just as well Donovan isn't sticking around.
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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.
I am very surprised that Leo Bautista was let go! With Bobby Burling out and only Shavar and Curtin without injuries, it's gonna be a long first couple of matches for us. It just shows that us fans don't know anything about talent.
Wow! After Sunday's performance, for sure thought Leo would stay around. Agree with Michoacano about only having Shavar and Burling.
Nick, did you hear anything from mgmt on this issue? With Burling out 6 weeks, almost 4 games, we need coverage.
What is it that doesn't attract teams to Leo. Has good height, fast as heck. Sure he may not be physical enough, but that comes with adaptation.
Let me know Nick, cheers.
Nick replies: Here's what Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said about Leo after he was cut from their camp: "He's a somewhat inexperienced player who might not be physically strong enough to deal with the speed of the game in MLS."
I suspect Preki agreed with the strength part. That's always a concern (see Eduardo Dominguez) for Latin American defenders in a physical league like MLS - unless they're Argentine.
Hey Nick,
Does Chivas USA have any defenders on the horizon? We need depth. Burling is a converted forward.
Nick replies: Maybe CD Guadalajara are gonna help there? I agree, lots of questions surrounding Chivas USA.