Galaxy's first day of practice on the training field - by the numbers
Here, as promised, is a short gallery by Staff Photographer Brad Graverson from the first day of Galaxy practice on what was a beautiful day at Home Depot Center.
Look ma, no eyes (open): Juan Pablo Angel, who has been given the No. 9 jersey (Jovan Kirovski, in a classy move, has given up that number and will wear No. 7, the number he wore from 2004-05 as a member of the Galaxy) uses his head on his first day of training with his new club.
Muscle man: Angel was busy stretching, not talking Monday. He will talk to the media for the first time after practice Tuesday.
The first day of the rest of his Galaxy career: Miguel Lopez, a 22-year-old Argentine midfielder, who was a teammate of MLS draft pick Paolo Cardozo at Quilmes, also joined practice for the first time today.
Lopez will wear No. 25, Cardozo No. 30.
"We're hopeful they can add a different dimension to our attack," Arena said of the pair. "Lopez is a quick, direct, aggessive attacker (who) likes the ball at his feet. (He) can take people on (and) can play as a second forward, perhaps as an attacking midfielder. Cardoza plays wide in midfield."
In other number moves, defender Gregg Berhalter, who has worn the No. 16 since joining the club in 2009, will now wear No. 3. Additionally, after wearing the No. 28 shirt for his first three years with the club, Sean Franklin will now wear No. 5.
Other number updates:
Chad Barrett #29
Adam Cristman #17
Frankie Hejduk #6
Hector Jimenez #16
Dan Keat #15
Jack McBean #32
Dustin McCarty #21
Ryan Thomas #14
I'll have a few words with striker Chad Barrett a little later and, of course, Tuesday's column will focus on the Galaxy.
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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.
"We're hopeful they can add a different dimension to our attack," Arena said of the pair. "Lopez is a quick, direct, aggessive attacker (who) likes the ball at his feet.
If Arena was not so "bull" headed and had listened to us fans and got such a player last year we would be wearing the scudetto on our shirts this year. Obvious, shockingly obvious shortcoming was not addressed. Even at the halfway mark of the season when all the other teams were re-tooling for the playoff push, Arena sat pat and paid dearly for it.
PS - why has Kovalenko disappeared from the scene? He can still play in this league.
Thanks for all the details, reporting and pictures.