Recently in Chivas USA Category

It's getting to be now or never for domestic-based players on the bubble for the U.S. World Cup roster.

Bonus quote -
Here's Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan on Stuart Holden, who he observed is probably his main rival for a World Cup roster spot. The two have never played for the U.S. in the same XI, he said:

"When I was out of the team he was just coming into the team. There's definitely a correlation between the two of us - we play a similar position, we play a similar style. Hopefully we both go, but we'll see. He's a good friend of mine, but it's going to be tough. Maybe one of us will go, maybe neither of us will go."

From Monday:

*Coach Martin Vasquez is considering playing Jonny Bornstein at center back and Ante Jazic at left back this season because of a lack of center backs; he was impressed with the 2006 Galaxy full back combo of Chris Albright and Jazic. Jazic, BTW, was just made captain of his country for the first time.

*Speaking of center backs: veteran Claudio Suarez, who returned to Mexico last week because his mother died, was back in camp today pounding around the track in the Track & Field Stadium by himself to build up his fitness.

*Another veteran, out of contract striker Ante Razov - who did not play all of last year - is not expected in camp any time soon, said Vasquez:

"We would love to see Ante out here, but first he has to be 100 percent and I'm not sure he's there yet. ... Where is he at exactly, we don't know. ... The last communication was that once he's 100 percent we're going to sit down and talk and if he wants to come out here then he'll come out here. If he's 100 percent and he wants to give it a last shot we will support that."

*Chivas USA travels to Mexico later this week for games Saturday against Irapuato and Tuesday against Club Universidad de Guadalajara.

I'll have more in Tuesday's column from the Chivas USA camp.

The Galaxy's newly-signed veteran midfielder Clint Mathis, 33, went under the knife Friday in Santa Monica after injuring his left miniscus (that's knee cartilage for the non-medically-inclined) in training last week.

"Mathis has already begun his rehabilitation and could return to full training before the end of the preseason," the club said today in a press release. "He is expected to be available for the club's season opener against the New England Revolution on Saturday, March 27."

The 12-year MLS veteran, who has scored 61 goals in 249 regular season games, is in his second or third stint for the Galaxy depending whether you count the short episode in 2007 when the club and player were unable to come to contract terms and Mathis opted to play in Greece.

"It has nothing to do with age," Coach Bruce Arena said of the injury after training at Home Depot Center this morning. "Clint has a history with knees. You never like to see an injury, but if there's going to be one the best time to do it is now because he has plenty of time to rehabilitate and be ready for the first part of the season."

Meanwhile it appears Galaxy fans won't be seeing striker Alecko Eskandarian teaming up front with Edson Buddle any time soon.

Eskandarian, who suffered yet another concussion last year in a career punctuated by them, will be out some time it appears:

"The status of Alecko will be finalized this week, but he hasn't been cleared to play," Arena said. "I wouldn't say his career (is done), but his ability to play in the short term is going to be delayed for sure. ... Once his status is determined we'll fully explain where he's at. ... Maybe in the old days this guy might have a chance of playing, but I think we're being very cautious and thinking of the player first. ... Whatever is in his best interests in the long- and short-term we're going to go with."

Finally on the walking wounded front, Chivas USA striker Maicon Santos is out six to eight weeks after injuring his left MCL in a collision with Loyola Marymount University's goalkeeper in a scrimmage last Thursday. Rest, not surgery, is the prescription for this injury, club officials said.

The expected (but long-delayed) announcement came today from U.S. Soccer.

Jesse Marsch, 36, one of the last MLS originals still playing, was always a fiery character on the field, but a thoughtful and quotable one off it and will be missed in the Chivas USA locker room. He made 106 appearances for Chivas USA over three seasons and is the club's second all-time leader in games played, games started, and minutes.
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Here's more from the U.S. Soccer press release: Marsch, who holds a USSF 'A' license, will join the U.S. team for training camp beginning Monday at Home Depot Center, ahead of the game against El Salvador on Feb. 24 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

"I have had the opportunity to work with Jesse for many years, and I believe the knowledge and experience he brings will be a great benefit to both the players and the coaching staff," said U.S. Coach Bob Bradley.

Marsch made two appearances for the U.S. Men's National Team, most recently against China in June of 2007. His first came Nov. 11, 2001, in a World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain.

"I'm excited about this opportunity with U.S. Soccer," said Marsch. "I am looking forward to working hard to help this team be successful in the future."

Marsch, who wore the captain's armband for Chivas USA for much of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, made 358 appearances in his 14-year MLS career. One of the most decorated players in league history, he has collected three MLS Cup titles and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup medals.

The former midfielder has worked with Bradley since 1992, when Marsch was a freshman at Princeton under Bradley the Tigers head coach. In the inaugural season MLS season in 1996, Bradley served as an assistant coach for D.C. United and Marsch a midfielder during their run to the MLS Cup title, the start of three successive league titles for both men. In 1998, Bradley took the reigns of the expansion Chicago Fire and Marsch helped the club complete its historic double, winning both the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup. When Bradley took over as head coach of Chivas USA prior to the 2006 season, Marsch moved to the club and went on to make 106 appearances in four seasons.

The Racine, Wis., native lives in Manhattan Beach with his wife Kim and three children.

Marsch's teammates react to the news here.

And here's Marsch in his own words:

No, not that Super Bowl thingie, which, as it turns out, is is not that super when it comes to global viewership anyway.

The big game for Southern California fans of real football is Landon Donovan's first taste of the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield. Just walking out the tunnel into the sold-out stadium is guaranteed to give the Galaxy playmaker goosebumps. And the game is live at 4:30 a.m. on ESPN2HD.

Donovan will be seeking to erase the bad memories of the last time he played at Liverpool's stadium: a horrific UEFA Champions League performance for Bayer Leverkusen that pretty much killed his career in Germany back in 2005.

Sounds like he's up for it.

Here are some more previews including:
* The probable lineups.

* The game basics from the BBC.

(Updated 7:30 p.m. - BTW, I swiped this from Facebook just now: For those interested in watching this Saturday's Merseyside Derby, featuring Landon Donovan... Breakfast then Liverpool vs. Everton match at the Off Campus Pub in Carson, this Saturday, Feb. 6. Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m., replay of the game will start at 10 a.m. $3 beer, $2 mimosas.)

Click to your right for the full slate of this weekend's games, but I recommend checking out the Chelsea-Arsenal encounter at 8 a.m. Sunday on Fox Soccer Channel.

What else is going on this morning?

*Well, John Terry has lost his cherished England captaincy ahead of the World Cup and that crucial opening game against the U.S.

*The Galaxy Friday announced it will play a preseason friendly at 7:30 p.m. March 10 against Costa Rican team Puntarenas at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium. Galaxy season ticket holders may purchase tickets for $10 beginning Monday; the cost to everyone else is $20 and those tickets go on sale Wednesday.

*Former Galaxy player Tony Sanneh reflects on his career and his time with the club here.

*2008 Galaxy draft pick Julian Valentin has joined the reformed Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL.

*Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy is raring for the MLS season to start after missing last year through injury.

*Chivas USA scored four goals in 13-minute span, including two by striker Maicon Santos, in a 5-1 victory over Loyola Marymount University in a preseason scrimmage Thursday at Home Depot Center. Check out the lineups (and I wonder how close the team that played the first 45 minutes is to the club's lineup on opening day?):

Chivas USA (first half)- Zach Thornton, Jonathan Bornstein, Carlos Borja, Michael Umaña, Carey Talley, Jorge Flores, Marcelo Saragosa, Sacha Kljestan, Michael Lahoud, Maykel Galindo, Justin Braun.

Chivas USA (second half)- Jon Conway, Kevin Tangney, Emilio Viades, Matt McManus, Miguel Sanchez, Gerson Mayén, Ben Zemanski, Blair Gavin, Chris Ross (Cesar Zamora 70), Artur Aghasyan, Maicon Santos.

Good to see Omar Gonzalez keep his place; now the central defender needs to get his first cap.

He was the only Galaxy player named to the squad; Chivas USA contributes three players.

The 23-man roster of domestic-based players gathers Wednesday at Home Depot Center to prepare for the friendly against El Salvador Feb. 24 in Tampa, Fla.

Quotable:

"These are important opportunities for these players as we continue to formulate our plans for the roster for the World Cup," said Coach Bob Bradley. "This camp and the game against El Salvador provide a chance for the coaching staff to get one more long look at this group. El Salvador demonstrated during World Cup qualifying that they are a difficult team to beat, so we expect a good match."

Notable: All these players were in last month's USMNT camp in Carson except for striker Brian Ching and newly-signed Philadelphia Union defender Michael Orozco.

Here's the full roster:

goalkeepers - Troy Perkins (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)

defenders - Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Michael Orozco (Philadelphia Union), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

midfielders - Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

forwards - Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

And after his USMNT performance last month at the HDC, let's just be glad Jimmy Conrad wasn't picked again.

Three items:

*The Chivas USA-LMU scrimmage Thursday scheduled for Loyola Marymount's Westchester campus will now take place in Carson at Home Depot Center's field 6. Kick off: 11 a.m.

*Schedule update noted - The road game against the New England Revolution originally scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 15, has been switched to Wednesday, May 5.

* This last item has not just been rumor - it's pretty much been an open secret considering Jesse Marsch spent the last week or so in attendance at the USMNT training camp in January and that at age 36 he didn't want to risk serious injury by continuing playing in the wake of the concussion he suffered last season.

Marsh hasn't been at Chivas USA training camp at all this season as Coach Martin Vasquez has (pointedly) pointed out. The club had envisioned announcing Marsch's retirement (and new job) last week, but obviously that didn't occur.

And it makes D.C. United's Jaime Moreno the last of the MLS originals still playing in the league after Steve Ralston returned home to the USL in St. Louis, no?

Here's a guide to all 240 MLS games (with a full interlocking schedule where all 16 clubs play each other twice for the first time in league history) month by month.

Here's the Galaxy schedule. Complete with a visit by Sigi Schmid's Seattle Sounders to take on his former club on Independence Day. And six of the Galaxy's last seven games are at Home Depot Center (how favorable is that).

Here's the Chivas USA schedule.

The dates that really matter:
*Thursday, April 1 Galaxy-Chivas USA 8 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN Deportes
*Sunday, Oct. 3 Chivas USA-Galaxy 5 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN Deportes

Notable:

* A total of 75 percent of games will be played on Saturdays; 85 percent of games will be played on weekends.

*The four Mexican teams in this year's SuperLiga will be announced in the coming weeks; they'll join Chivas USA, the Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo, and New England Revolution in the tournament.

Here's more on the Galaxy television schedule from the club's press release:

Of the Galaxy's 30 games in 2010, 16 will aired by the league's national broadcast partners, ABC/ESPN, Fox Soccer Channel/ Fox Sports En Español and Telefutura. ESPN and ESPN Deportes are scheduled to air five Galaxy games in 2010, including both of the SuperClasico's against Chivas USA, as well as home games against San Jose (July 22) and New York (Sept. 24) and the club's first-ever trip to Chester, Pa. to take on the expansion Philadelphia Union (Oct. 7).

Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports En Español will broadcast a total of seven Galaxy games in 2010, starting with the season opener against New England at 8 p.m. on March 27. The Galaxy's games away to Toronto FC (June 26), D.C. United (July 18) and the New York Red Bulls (Aug. 14), the club's first-ever trip to Red Bull Arena in Harrison N.J., will also be carried on the networks. The two Fox networks will also broadcast the Galaxy's home game against Real Salt Lake on April 17 in the year's first rematch of MLS Cup 2009, as will the club's home games against the Chicago Fire (Aug. 1) and D.C. United (Sept. 18).

Telefutura rounds out the Galaxy's national broadcast package with four games, beginning with the club's trip to Qwest Field to face the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, May 8. The network will also show the Galaxy's home match against the Houston Dynamo (June 5), their trip north to San Jose to face the Earthquakes (Aug. 21) and their game at Toyota Park against the Chicago Fire (Sept. 4).

Chivas USA held its first preseason scrimmage today and emerged victorious with a 2-0 win at Home Depot Center over PDL team the Ventura County Fusion, which featured former Galaxy defender Mike Randolph and former Chivas USA players Anthony Hamilton, Brent Whitfield and Rodrigo López.

Brazilian forward Maicon Santos scored the opener in the 16th minute and trialist Artur Aghasyan (who played for the Fusion last year) closed the scoring in the 79th minute.

Chivas USA fielded two different sides in each half with goalkeeper Dan Kennedy returning to the field for a game since injuring his knee in the 2009 preseason.

Lineups.

Chivas USA (first half)- Dan Kennedy, Mariano Trujillo, Michael Umaña, Emilio Viades, Jorge Flores, César Zamora, Gavin Blair, Marcelo Saragosa, Gerson Mayén, Maykel Galindo, Maicon Santos.

Chivas USA (second half)- Lance Parker, Miguel Sánchez, Carlos Borja, Matt McManus, Kevin Tangney, Chris Ross, Michael Lahoud, Ben Zemanski, Bryan De La Fuente, Artur Aghasyan, Isaac Kissi.

Wondering who some of these guys are?

Me too:

*Emilio Viades, 32, has played in Mexico for Veracruz, Toluca, Cruz Azul and Necaxa.

*Defender Miguel Sachez, 21, played one game for Chiapas last year

*Forward Mike Matt McManus is a San Diego State product.

*And yeah, that's former Galaxy defender Michael Umana, hoplessly out-matched in six starts during the Steve Sampson era.

At about 11 a.m.

MLS has already released clubs' home openers.

From the MLS press release:

Each MLS team will play 30 games - one home, one away, against each of the other teams - for a total of 240 games from March 25 to Oct. 24. Wednesday's announcement will include the national broadcast schedule for the 2010 season including games on ESPN2/ESPN Deportes, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Español and TeleFutura.

Who should be familiar to Southern Californians.

Romero has eight goals in 37 appearances for his country, including five last year in Southern California, according to the Chivas USA press release: One in a Feb. 6 friendly against Peru at the Coliseum, two in a 3-1 friendly victory over Ecuador on May 27, also at the Coliseum, and two in the 2-1 Gold Cup win over Costa Rica on July 3.

"Osael is a perfect fit for our club this season, and we're excited to have him at Chivas USA," said Chivas USA Coach Martín Vásquez. "He's a young, talented player, and we've all seen his accomplishments with the El Salvador National Team. We look forward to having him play a big part for us in 2010."

Romero, 23, is on loan from Vista Hermosa in El Salvador and was acquired from FC Dallas, who held a discovery claim on the player, in exchange for an unspecified amount of cash.

"I'm happy to have this opportunity with Chivas USA," said Romero. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing in MLS, which is a very competitive league. I'm familiar with the Los Angeles area, where I had the opportunity to score with the El Salvador National Team in tough international matches. I'm excited to be back in a community that has always supported me and my national team."

Marketing is also a consideration in the deal, not coincidentally:

"Osael is an exceptional player, and his presence will be great for our club both on and off the field," said Chivas USA President and CEO Shawn Hunter. "He can make the difference as a player, and his importance for his national team will help us connect with Salvadoran fans across Southern California."

Check out the YouTube complilation here:

I've been under the weather the past couple of days, so unless I hear of something major going on in the next hour or so I'm planning to skip Tuesday's column and crawl back into bed.

But here's a couple of quick updates to get your week under way:

*Chivas USA defender Ante Jazic played 90 minutes Sunday as Canada lost 1-0 to Jamaica.

*Chivas USA will scrimmage against the PDL's Ventura County Fusion at 11 a.m. Tuesday on field 6 at Home Depot Center and scrimmage again at 11 a.m. Thursday in Carson against LMU.

*The Galaxy's new Brazilian trio have joined preseason training.

*And here's your deal o' the day - both the Galaxy and Chivas USA are offering ticket specials that went on sale today in conjunction with the March 3 Mexico-New Zealand game at the Rose Bowl that's part of Mexico's six-game pre-World Cup tour in the U.S. between Feb. 24 and May 13. (Mexico also plays Bolivia Feb. 24 in San Francisco, the road trip inclined should know).

For $30, Chivas USA fans can purchase a general admission seat for both the Mexico match and Chivas USA's Home Opener on March 26 against the Colorado Rapids.

For $75, fans receive a midfield seat to the Mexico-New Zealand game as well as sideline seats for the first two Chivas USA home games of the season.

Galaxy fans have a similar choice.

For $30 fans get GA seats for the Mexico game and the Galaxy's March 27 season opener at the HDC against the New England Revolution OR the April 1 SuperClasico against Chivas USA, while $75 gets you the same choice of games, but with sideline seats.

For the Chivas USA offer call 1-877-CHIVAS-1; for the Galaxy offer call1-877-3GALAXY.

More on the Galaxy's Mr. Klein later in this post, but you should know:

*The Galaxy had their first general media availability Wednesday (although loyal 100 Percent Soccer readers got the inside scoop here a couple of days ago). And while the waived Tony Sanneh and Leonard Griffin weren't around to answer questions, plenty of other players were to reflect on the coming season.

*That Chivas USA will host a benefit event for Haiti tonight at Grunions in Manhattan Beach.

*What the English papers are saying about Landon Donovan's stellar performance Wednesday for Everton courtesy of the Soccer Insider blog.

*One game stands between the U.S. U-20 Women and a World Cup berth, an 11:30 a.m. clash against Costa Rica live on Fox Soccer Channel.

*About that promised Klein item. Here is an exchange between Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena and an apparently hard of hearing reporter at Wednesday's training session regarding veteran Klein via colleague Phil Collin:

Arena: It still demonstrates a guy who's been a good player, a durable player, a fit player and a good player.

Reporter: Adorable player? I've never heard that adjective used.

Arena: Durable.

Reporter: Oh, durable! I thought you said adorable, I apologize.

Arena: Adorable, wow. Well, he is that as well, I might add.

Chivas USA announced today its season opener against the Colorado Rapids has been switched from Sunday, March 28 to Friday, March 26 at Home Depot Center.

The date was changed because Telefutura would not have televised Sunday's game anyway, due to changes in its schedule and Chivas USA officials believe the game would be a bigger draw on a Friday evening. MLS clubs - and especially Chivas USA given its fan demographics - have historically had a tough time drawing fans on Sundays.

Kickoff for the Friday game, the second of the MLS season, is at 7:30 p.m. A complete MLS schedule will be released next month.

Also, Chivas USA, which began preseason training Tuesday, has waived veteran defender Jim Curtin and Serb Bojan Stepanovic.

Stepanovic made seven starts for Chivas USA after arriving in mid-season, scoring one goal and recording two assists.

Curtin, 30, a nine-year MLS veteran, made just two starts last year.

Read the story from reporter Phil Collin here.

Listen to veteran Cary Talley, top draft pick Blair Gavin and new Coach Martin Vasquez from a soggy Home Depot Center here: