Chivas USA camp update: Cuesta out; Elliott in?
Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser is taking a look at his former Galaxy teammate Simon Elliott, last seen playing (briefly) in his native New Zealand after being released in preseason last year by the San Jose Earthquakes.
He practiced with the team Sunday. Elliott, 36, the Galaxy MVP in 2000 (Fraser's last season with the club) made more than 120 appearances with the Galaxy.
Elliott has looked like his pace has vanished the last few times I've seen him though.
Still, sounds a bit like Fraser is taking a leaf out of Bruce Arena's book and surrounding himself with veteran, known quantities, doesn't it?
Fraser also said Sunday that the club has released 21-year-old Colombian defender Yamith Cuesta, who played a marginal role in a bad defense last year.
"We decided to part ways with Yamith Cuesta," Fraser said. "He was a wonderful young man. He worked so hard, but I just don't think he was the right fit for what we were looking for."
Also gone: supplemental draft pick Ernesto Carranza, a midfielder out of Sacramento State.
Fraser told me the club continues to scour the globe in search of some international help.
He expects needing the full six weeks left before the team's first game to continue to shape the squad - and the starting XI opening day. Fraser said Sunday he's still looking for quite a few starters.
I chatted with Alejandro Moreno and Jimmy Conrad after training and will have more from them a little later.
Tuesday's column will take an in-depth look at how Chivas USA is taking shape.
Chivas USA plays a scrimmage 2 p.m. Monday at Home Depot Center and if Elliott plays he will see a lot of familiar faces. The opposition: the Earthquakes.
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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.
Just like a bad dream, "Simone Idiot" does not go away.
I HOPE FRASER DOESN'T SIGN ELLIOTT BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO THE YOUNG TALENT ON THE TEAM. COME ON ELLIOTT AND RETIRE! GIVE THE YOUNGSTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY.
36 years old, he' s a good substitute in the second half. Experience to assist the new blood but not as a starter. Speed is everything on the pitch!!
Perhaps the Galaxy should invite Cuesta for a trial. It couldn't hurt, given how old Berhaler is and how slow Gonzalez is.