And they have the promos to prove it. I’ll have more on NBC’s EPL plans in Tuesday’s column.
Until then, enjoy:
This was two points lost, not two gained on the road in Dallas.
Landon Donovan wasn’t named to the latest U.S. squad, but nevertheless continued his recent outstanding international form for his club Sunday only to see his three-goal outburst come to nought in what is an all too familiar scenario late on in games for the Galaxy.
Quotable: “You just wish everyone on that field was on their game,” defender Omar Gonzalez said, pointing fingers, but not naming names. “Sometimes not everyone is on their game but you want those guys to be on their game.”
Also Sunday, nine-man Chivas USA drew with Colorado in Carson.
It’s a Sunday Southern California soccer showcase in MLS with two games involving the Galaxy and Chivas USA on the schedule after a weekend of action so far that featured the unexpectedly early debut of Clint Dempsey with the Sounders in Toronto.
If the Galaxy aren’t licking their lips at the prospect of meeting a Dallas team in freefall at this juncture of the seaon (live at 5 p.m. on ESPN2), returning from a break in MLS action with influential players approaching game fitness against a club just one point below them in the standings, then something is wrong.
Chivas USA, however, continue to plod along with very little return in another MLS season spiraling into irrelevance and without defensive inspiration Carlos Bocanegra tonight in Carson there are few signs things will be any different against a resurgent Rapids.
The MLS Players Union this afternoon released a second, updated list of their members’ salaries for 2013 that includes just how much newcomers like Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey are pulling down, figures that are put in perspective by this Sports Illustrated story.
The Galaxy’s Robbie Rogers is making $90,000 this season, BTW.
*Juan Agudelo, briefly a Chivas USA player, is moving onto the big leagues with EPL team Stoke City. Really puts in perspective Chivas USA’s awful player management yet again, no?
*Will they stay or will they go: the futures of Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez (and he’s reportedly chatted with Stoke, too) remain up in the air.
*The U.S. have hit the top 20 again.
Clearly more concerned (and rightfully so) about Sunday’s nationally televised ESPN2 game in Dallas, the Galaxy subbed liberally and lost the third-place Guinness International Champions Cup game to AC Milan in Miami Wednesday, while Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a message to former coach Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid downed Chelsea in the nightcap.
And the next international competition is already beckoning as tickets starting at $15 go on sale Friday for the Galaxy’s upcoming participation in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Galaxy plays their third and final game of the Guinness International Champions Cup against AC Milan at 3:30 p.m. today on Fox Soccer with third place in the eight-team tournament at stake.
Possible lineups are here.
Real Madrid and Chelsea follow at 6 p.m. on Fox Soccer in the final before an expected crowd of 70,000.
Inter Milan defeated Juventus last night in Miami.
The unidentified 17-year-old, who will remain anonymous because he is a minor, must also write the family weekly letting them know the progress he is making in his rehabilitation.
This is not a Southern California soccer story, but a universal tale of what can happen when a player’s temper gets out of control and is worth posting here.
Reporter Janelle Stecklein at sister newspaper The Salt Lake Tribune has the story here.
