Recently in Chivas USA Category

I'm under a directive to burn some vacation hours so will take an extended break through next Tuesday.

That means no column next week, but one of this country's best soccer writers has stepped in with an apt Galaxy-centric column that breaks down the past and, hopefully, future sucess of the club.

In other local soccer news:

*No fewer than seven - yup, seven - MLS teams including the Portland Timbers, Houston Dynamo, Montreal Impact, Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire (I'll let you guess the other two) are training at Home Depot Center this week.

Want to see some upcoming scrimmages?

Here's a (partial) schedule:

*10:30 a.m. Friday HDC Portland-Montreal
*Noon Saturday Oxnard College Chivas USA-Chicago Fire.
*10:30 a.m. Sunday HDC Portland-Houston
*11 a.m. Wednesday HDC Portland-Chicago.

Games involving the Galaxy are open to the media, but remain closed to the general public, BTW (the Galaxy and Dynamo meet at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the HDC).

*Rolling Hills Etates' Robbie Rogers reflects on signing for Leeds - and then seeing the coach that signed him promptly getting fired.

*No, Aston Villa you don't get to keep the Galaxy's Robbie Keane until a couple of days before the March 7 CONCACAF CL quarterfinal season opener (which isn't mentioned in this story). Villains, indeed.

*Guess which Galaxy player just got picked for their national team?

*If you only watch one game this weekend...make it Manchester United-Liverpool (4:30 a.m. Saturday ESPN2).

Also of note:

Landon Donovan and Everton against Chelsea (6:30 a.m. Saturday Fox Soccer)
Robbie Keane and Aston Villa against Manchester City ( 8 a.m. Sunday Fox Soccer)

*Finally, The U.S. exhibition game against Brazil will be played May 30 at Landover, Md., U.S. Soccer announced today.

*Despite the presence of watching projected NFL top draft choice Andrew Luck in Carson today, the Galaxy lost 4-1 to the Portland Timbers at Home Depot Center.

Dan Keat had a goal on a bicycle kick in the losing cause.

The Galaxy starting lineup: Saunders; Jordan, Meyer, DeLaGarza, Dunivant; Franklin, Beckham, Sarvas, Stephens; Buddle, Cardozo

Second half: Noble; Davies, Boyens, Gaul, Murray; Jimenez, Walker, Keat, Nakazawa; McBean, Cristman

Highlights:

Also: It's two more EPL games and done for Landon Donovan.

*Chivas USA lost by a lone goal to the Colorado Rapids at the HDC.

Players used (not all at once): 1-Dan Kennedy (GK) Tim Melia (GK), 13-Ante Jazic, 3-Heath Pearce, 5-John Valencia, 7-James Riley, 8-Oswaldo Minda, 6-Peter Vagenas, 11-Michael Lahoud, 15-Alejandro Moreno, 22-Ryan Smith, 9-Juan Pablo Angel. Brian Rowe, RJ Allen, Rauwshan Mckenzie, 19-Jorge Villafaña, Kennedy Chongo, Markie Delgado, 16-Laurent Courtois, 27-Chris Cortez, 59-Cesar Romero, Daniel Steres, Keven Venegas, Mario Ledezma

Tweeted Kyle Martino: "Chivas starting with Moreno & Angel up top. Is there a slower pair of forwards in the league? Sure can finish if they get there though"

Here are the highlights of that one:

As the Galaxy's leading scorer for four consecutive seasons, which was topped off with a career-best 17 goals in 2010 before his departure overseas, Edson Buddle will go down as the best goal poacher to play for the club since Carlo Ruiz.

Well, now Edson Buddle is back - and he only needs 10 more goals to overhaul the Guatemalan on the all-time Galaxy scoring list.

You can read more about Buddle's return - and learn about Coach Bruce Arena's regrets over his exit - in today's column here.

More from Buddle's press conference and first practice upon his return to Home Depot Center is here:

Also, I spoke Monday to reserve striker Chad Barrett - who is a week or so from returning to full training after recovering from the broken foot that kept him out of MLS Cup - about what Buddle's return might mean for him. The UCLA product made $225,000 in guranteed salary last year - pretty expensive for a backup, especially on a team with plenty of other big salaries that likely needs a starting center back to replace the injured Omar Gonzalez - and conventional wisdom suggests he could become trade bait.

Here's what he said:

"Obviously it affects my playing time on this team," he said of Buddle. "You've got a guy who made the national team and did very well in his last three years.

"Obviously I'm not penciled in as a starter any more," he added. "That's unfortunate for me, but it makes me fight that much harder to get minutes and try to get playing time.

"For the team you couldn't have a better situation; they've got their top scorer back - he was easily the best forward the last two years before he left.

"It happens that way. You see a lot of people come in - I haven't heard anything yet (about a trade), but it might happen it might not. That's something that has to be decided by the coaches, but nobody has come up to me and said anything to me."

Yet.

The Galaxy scored seven goals in their win at Home Depot Center, while Chivas USA managed five goals.

Both wins came over minor league opposition.

More on the Galaxy game is here.

Highlights:

Chivas USA beat Conejo Valley-based FC Hasental 5-0 with goals coming from Michael Lahoud in the 22nd minute and Juan Pablo Angel coverting a spot kick two minutes later for the second. English newcomer Ryan Smith got the third five minutes before halftime with forward Chris Cortez and Tijuana native Cesar Romero rounding out the scoring in the second half.

Will you be there?

Class move by the ACB.

Also:
*Chivas USA and presumably Blair Gavin play their second preseason game of the season at 11 a.m. Friday at Home Depot Center against FC Hasental. Fans are welcome to attend.

Here's an updated Chivas USA preseason schedule.

*It's the Yanks verses the Canucks.

*Rolling Hills Estates' Whitney Engen has been called into the upcoming U.S. Women's National Team camp in Texas.

Disher Donovan: The Galaxy's Landon Donovan, seen here tackling Manchester City's Aleksandar Kolarov, led Everton to another victory with yet another assist today against the Mancunians in England (AP Photo).

You remember that old "Seinfeld" episode about the proctologist with the license plate that read "Assman"? Maybe Landon Donovan should consider getting that vanity plate after his stellar goal-creating performances in England with Everton, although, of course, that would stand for Assist, in this case.

Former Manchester United man Darron Gibson, who left Old Trafford in January, scored the game's lone goal in the 60th minute off a short pass from the Galaxy playmaker. The MLS loanee has assisted on Everton's last three goals and four in seven games. Don't get too attached though Liverpudlians, the Galaxy want him back.

*Another Galaxy player making headlines in Europe is Edson Buddle, given his unconditional release by his second tier German club today in a money-saving move. The Galaxy still hold his MLS rights and if you follow my Twitter feed @LAsoccerblog you would have learned that former Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas tweeted earlier this afternooon: "I'm hearing Edson Buddle is coming back to @LAGalaxy."

Well, the Galaxy could do with offensive cover what with Robbie Keane heading off for what he hopes is a long time at Euro 2012 next summer and David Beckham presumably playing in the Olympics. Buddle, incidentally, has failed to hook on with a couple of European clubs who took a look, including West Ham United.

No word from the Galaxy yet on Buddle.

BTW, A.J. DeLaGarza, Brian Perk and Michael Stephens have returned to camp from national team duty meaning only Donovan and Robbie Keane are missing. The club has 34 players in camp.

*Former Galaxy defender and now Chivas USA assistant coach Greg Vanney and Los Angeles/Fontana native Ante Razov, who starred for Chivas USA before slouching moodily off into what turned out to be an unannounced retirement, are among a dozen former players eligible for the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, it was announced today. Among the veterans on the ballot: late former LA Aztecs ball wizard George Best.

*The Galaxy announced their English-language and Spanish-language radio schedules today, which can be found here.

From the Galaxy press release:

KTLK 1150 AM, the sister station of Fox Sports Radio, AM 570 KLAC, will return for their fifth consecutive season of broadcasting Galaxy games in English. Joe Tutino and Ralph Perez will once again call the games for KTLK, who will broadcast 24 of the club's 34 regular season games. In addition to being able to hear all games on KTLK across the Southland, the Galaxy will also make those games available to stream online at lagalaxy.com. Through their website, the club will also stream the 10 games that KTLK are not slated to cover this season, meaning that fans can listen to every Galaxy MLS game all season long in English either on the radio or online.

*Chivas USA announced today that they will will unveil their 2012 jersey on Feb. 12 - at 30,000 feet while flying between Guadalajara and LA on a flight by Mexican airline Volaris.

*San Jose announced Monday that former defender Chris Leitch, who retired rather than join the Galaxy, which took him in the Re-Entry Draft, has been named technical director of the Earthquakes' youth development academy.

And let's face it, it's the back four that is the club's biggest problem.

So the signing of 30-year-old defender John Alexander Valencia, who has made 112 starts in 114 games for Colombian champion Atletico Junior since 2007, sounds exactly what the club needs.

"John is a player we have been scouting for some time now," said Chivas USA General Manager Jose Domene in announcing the signing today. "He is a great defender (with a team) that just became champions in Colombia and will help reinforce our backline and help our team win."

The club also announced the signing of 19-year-old Salvadoran midfielder Marvin Iraheta; he arrived at the club via its youth academy after it merged with Cosmos Academy West last year.

Chivas USA is training up in Oxnard and plays a friendly Friday against the PDL Ventura County Fusion.

*Post updated

Adman: Because, after all, if you had an H&M underwear ad running Super Bowl Sunday would you want to be stuck in France? (AP/H&M Photo).

*David Beckham has reportedly reached terms on a new contract with MLS and the Galaxy.

It's probably no coincidence the news comes ahead of Beckham's live interview on his YouTube channel at 9 a.m. Thursday, which also precedes his first Google+ "hangout."

*Update

Beckham's new contract is for two years.

"This was an important decision for me," Galaxy midfielder David Beckham said. "I had many offers from clubs from around the world, however, I'm still passionate about playing in America and winning trophies with the Galaxy."

"I've seen first hand how popular soccer is now in the States and I'm as committed as ever to growing the game here," he added. "My family and I are incredibly happy and settled in America and we look forward to spending many more years here."

*Two suspects were arrested in the murder of El Camino High School goalkeeper Francisco Rodriguez.

*Former Real Salt Lake goalkeeper goalkeeper Tim Melia, 25, has signed with Chivas USA.

*Former Chivas USA striker Maicon Santos continues his grand tour of MLS, joining D.C. United, the club announced today. The 27-year-old Brazilian scored one goal and an assist in nine matches with Chivas USA in 2010 before moving on to Toronto and then Dallas.

* Fox formally announced today that the network will lead off NFC Championship Sunday with its first-ever live EPL game on a U.S. broadcast television, showing Arsenal and Manchester United from the Emirates Stadium. Coverage begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday from Los Angeles with former ESPN commentator Rob Stone making his debut with Fox accompanied by analyst Eric Wynalda and CNN talk show host and Arsenal supporter Piers Morgan.

Among the notable locals, the Galaxy took Cal State Northridge product Rafael Garcia, who finished his college career with six goals and nine assists in 68 matches for the Matadors, and Chivas USA took UCLA goalkeeper Brian Rowe.

Here's the complete list of players taken by the Galaxy in the four-round draft:

*Forward/defender (!) Bryan Gaul, Bradley University, 19th overall.

*Midfielder Rafael Garcia, Cal State-Northridge, 38th overall.

*Forward Yuri Gorentzvaig, a Brazilian youth international, 57th overall.

*Midfielder Stephen Posa, San Diego, 62nd overall. Posa had six goals and 10 assists in 75 games during a four-year career with the Toreros.

*Defender Justin Davies, San Diego State, 76th overall.

Here's the corresponding list for Chivas USA:

*Defender RJ Allen, Monmouth, fifth overall.

*Goalkeeper Brian Rowe, UCLA, 24th overall. He had a dozen shutouts for the Bruins last season.

*Calabasas High product Defender Daniel Steres, San Diego State, 28th overall

*Defender Fabian Kling, Ft. Lewis, 30th overall. He was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II Player of the Year.

*Defender Kevin Vanegas from Lakewood, Cal State Fullerton, 37th overall

Here's the complete list.

Noted: Loyola Marymount University products Logan McDaniel of Palmdale and Tyler Krumpe (son of Coach Paul Krumpe) of Torrance were selected by the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes respectively.

I'll have more from the respective clubs later.

"The challenge for these players short-term is to make our roster," said Galaxy GM and Coach Bruce Arena. "We return a fair amount of our roster so it's not going to be easy for anybody. It's a challenge for anyone so we'll see what these players do in preseason."

*Arena said the 6-5 Gaul can play forward or center back -- and the Galaxy scouts saw him play both positions at the combine. He finished his college career with 31 goals and 13 assists in 83 games.

"We think he has a chance (of making the team)," Arena said. "That's why we drafted him."

*Gorentzvaig, from Sao Paulo, "looked like a player who could be a good second forward," Arena said.

Updated

In addition to Rowe, other UCLA products taken in the draft were English midfielder Andy Rose, an All Pac-12 selection taken sixth overall by Real Salt Lake; defender Shawn Singh, a former walk-on from Bakersfield drafted No. 16 by Sporting Kansas City; and Eder Arreola, taken No. 18 overall by the Houston Dynamo.

*If, like me, you took advantage of the holiday break and headed for areas of the state less traveled this weekend, here's a quick look at local soccer happenings over the long weekend:

*First off, the MLS Supplemental Draft gets under way at 11 a.m. today.

*The Galaxy's Landon Donovan got an assist in an otherwise dreary 2-0 win Everton-Aston Villa 1-1 draw this weekend, in a game that also saw teammate Robbie Keane make his loan debut fo Villa as a sub. Former Galaxy striker Edson Buddle is also joining Donovan at Everton, albeit on a week-long trial.

*The Galaxy also confirmed Friday that defender Omar Gonzalez will miss seven to nine months after undergoing ACL surgery Friday in Santa Monica, an injury sustained in his first training session on loan in Germany.

*Meanwhile, fellow Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza is in camp with the U.S. National Team, which played the senior squqad in a Home Depot center scrimmage this weekend:

*USWNT Coach Pia Sundhage named 19 players from the World Cup squad to the 20-player Olympic qualifying roster announced this weekend, adding WPS top draft pick Sydney Leroux of UCLA to the mix.

*Chivas USA, which begain pre-season training Monday, announced the rest of their pre-season match schedule before heading to Portland for a previously announced tournament Feb. 27 through March 4:

*Friday, Jan. 27 vs. Ventura Fusion, Time TBD, Oxnard.

*Friday, Feb. 3 vs. FC Hasental, Time TBD, Home Depot Center.

*Tuesday, Feb. 7 vs. Colorado Rapids, Time TBD, Location TBD

*Saturday, Feb. 11 vs. Chicago Fire, Time TBD, Location TBD

*Thursday, Feb.16 vs. Galaxy, Time TBD, HDC.

*Wednesday, Feb. 22 vs. Club Tijuana Xolos, Time TBD, San Diego.

*Lastly, apologies to those of you who follow me at Twitter.com@LAsoccerblog and were subjected to spam this weekend after my account was hacked. Hopefully that has now subsided.