Chivas USA: February 2012 Archives

The Italian Job: U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley, right, seen here playing for Chievo, is the lone American national team player in Serie A; Italy hosts the U.S. Wednesday in Genoa (AP Photo).

*Injuries threaten to derail Coach Jurgen Klinsmann's plans to have the U.S. primed and ready for World Cup qualifying this summer; he has just three games left to prepare beginning Wednesday in Italy.

In other soccer news:
*Chivas USA fell to Sweden's AIK Monday in Portland, where staggering numbers of Timbers fans turned out to watch a pre-season exhibition doubleheader.

Chivas USA lineup: Dan Kennedy, James Riley, John Valencia, Heath Pearce, Ante Jazic, Michael Lahoud (Laurent Courtois, 58), Alejandro Moreno (Casey Townsend, 63), Oswaldo Minda, Ryan Smith (Alan Souza, 46), Miller Bolaños (Ben Zemanski, 55), Juan Pablo Angel (Cesar Romero, 71).

Substitutes Not Used: Tim Melia, David Jr. Lopez, Rauwshan McKenzie, Scott Gordon, Jose Najera.

*It looks like the Seattle Sounders Women were always going to have the inside track to sign Diamond Bar's Alex Morgan. Here's why.

*In what is clearly a money-saving move, more details are emerging of the recent layoffs within Galaxy parent company Anschutz Entertianment Group and the realignment of its management structure to operate its 11 sports entities.

The No. 1 priority for the Galaxy: "dramatically" increasing season ticket sales.

"We are No. 1 in Major League Soccer with our jersey deal, with our naming-rights deal, with our sponsorships, with our premium-seating revenue," AEG President TimLeiweke told SportsBusiness Daily. "We are No. 1 straight across the board. We are not even top three in season-ticket sales. This is all about season-ticket sales for the Galaxy."

Leiweke said McGowan has added about 1,000 season tickets over the past month, since joining the Galaxy, to bring the club's number to around 7,500.

*The Galaxy play their second game of the Desert Diamond Cup Saturday in Arizona against Real Salt Lake, which will be streamed live here at 5 p.m. (but is apparently not available on iPads and other mobile devices).

Here's an update on the club's Arizona camp:

*Injured defender Omar Gonzalez is making four separate appearances over the weekend, starting in San Pedro Saturday morning before heading to the annual Cal South Soccer Expo in the afternoon.

*Chivas USA, meanwhile, announced their television schedule on Friday.

*Lastly, if you watch one game this weekend .... I recommend little Norwich City taking on mighty Manchester United (but then I'm a biased Canaries fan) at 5:23 a.m. Sunday on Fox Soccer Plus, which has a free trial that ends Sunday. Arsenal-Tottenham is on at the same time Sunday over on Fox Soccer.

*If, like me, you were unable to watch the Desert Diamond Cup opener Wednesday between the Galaxy and Revolution on your iPad/smartphone because the MLS stream apparently doesn't support mobile devices, check out the highlights below.

Benny Feilhaber's smooth bicycle kick just 90 seconds in got things started, while Edson Buddle also scored to get his second Galaxy stint rolling:

Here's the Galaxy lineup: Josh Saunders, Todd Dunivant, A.J. DeLaGarza, Tommy Meyer, Dan Keat, Mike Magee (Paolo Cardozo 46), David Beckham ©, Marcelo Sarvas, Pat Noonan (Hector Jimenez 57), Adam Cristman (Juninho 46), Edson Buddle (Jack McBean 79)

Here's the Galaxy reaction to the game:

*Chivas USA came off second best in San Diego last night, losing to Club Tijuana's reserves.

Here's the Chivas USA lineup: Dan Kennedy, James Riley, John Valencia, Heath Pearce, Ante Jazic, Oswaldo Minda, Nick LaBrocca, Michael Lahoud (Casey Townsend, 69), Miler Bolaños, Ryan Smith (Alejandro Moreno, 69), Juan Pablo Angel (Cesar Romero, 69).

Substitutes Not Used: David Jr. Lopez, Rauwshan McKenzie, Patrick Mclain, Ben Zemanski.

*Former Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan has been playing more regularly in England so he is duly recalled (for the first time since late 2010) to the U.S. squad announced today for the upcoming game against Italy, along with Galaxy pair Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle. More here.

*Former Galaxy midfierlder Chris Birchall has rejoined lower division Port Vale in England.

*Finally, here's an update on how former Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is enjoying the weather in Montreal.

Which is about time because Pasadena native Pete Vagenas has only been in camp a month or so - and has already seemed an integral part of the Goats' squad.

The other signings: San Diego striker Cesar Romero, 22, who most recently played for Murcielagos FC de Guamuchil in Mexico's second division, and defender Rauwshan McKenzie, 25, who Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser was familiar with from his stint at Real Salt Lake where he made nine starts over the last two seasons.

Romero is perhaps the biggest prize of the three.

"He is a young player who has come in and done quite well in pre-season," Fraser said. "He's got good pace, he's got a good nose for the goal, he has proven to make himself difficult to be marked by opposing defenses and we think that he has a bright future."

Romero most recently played indoor soccer with Revolucion Tijuana where he scored 33 goals in four games, including a nine-goal outburst in one game.

Chivas USA play an exhibition game in San Diego tonight against Mexican top tier team Club Tijuana.

*The Galaxy are in Arizona for the four-team Desert Diamond Cup, which kicks off at 5 o'clock tonight with the opener between LA and the New England Revolution that will be streamed live here.

Here's a video update from the Galaxy on the importance of the preseason tournament:

And here's more on the Galaxy travel roster via the club:

Of the six players that did not accompany the team to Arizona , only Landon Donovan and Michael Stephens are scheduled to join the club for a portion of the trip. Robbie Keane remains in England to finish out his loan with Aston Villa while Omar Gonzalez, Kyle Nakazawa and Jose Villarreal are all recovering from injuries.

Donovan is scheduled to arrive in Tucson on Wednesday ahead of the tournament opener against New England, while Stephens is scheduled to arrive on March 1 after representing the U.S. Under-23's in a friendly against Mexico.

Keane was named in the Republic of Ireland squad that faces the Czech Republic Feb. 29.

*Meanwhile, Chivas USA find themselves playing one of the best teams in Mexico tonight, - CD Guadalajara remains rooted to the foot of the Mexican first division, BTW - Club Tijuana in San Diego, which the latter club considers their home market these days.

Robin and his merry men: Chivas USA Coach and former Galaxy defender Robin Fraser has turned to a familiar face to provide stability in midfield for the Goats (Photos by Staff Photographer Steve McCrank).

When former Galaxy midfielder and captain Pete Vagenas contemplated an offer from Chivas USA, it's fair to say he thought long and hard about the decision given his history with the first MLS team in the market:

"I'm honored to be here playing for Robin and Greg Vanney and I'm honored to be playing for Chivas," he said. "I understand the issues from my past. I wasn't insesnsitive to that when this decision was being made. I wanted to make sure I was making it for the right decisions and at the end of the day I want to be here and I want to play for these guys and I can't wait to get started.

"Robin was Obama before Obama to me, in the sense of I had so much respect for him," Vagenas added. "Not only was he a great player he was a great leader and he put the team first and sometimes that led to confrontations with our coach. But he said what needed to be said and I remember thinking specificallty as a young kid if I ever had the opportunity to be a leader I want to do it in that similar way."

Incidentally, Vagenas laughed when I asked him about his old "Pass Back Pete" nickname - and he made no apologies for it:

"It's a very possession oriented game and we have to establish that rhythm, but at the same time like Robin said this morning in the preseason we're trying to maybe play a bit too much. That leads to costly turnovers and before you know it you're down one nothing. Nobody want to play a prettier game thah I do, but at the end of the day you've sometimes got to play ugly because you're trying to win games."

And somehow you've got to think that with the presence of Vagenas in midfield, Chivas USA stands a better chance of exceeding their win total over last season.

For more, here's today's column.

Pete's Prayer: Former Galaxy midfielder Pete Vagenas wanted to finished his career in Southern California where he grew up; this year his wish came true when Chivas USA came calling.

I headed out to Chivas USA preseason training at Home Depot Center Monday and was joined by staff photographer Steve McCrank, whose work is seen below

Familiar Face: To Galaxy fans, if not in this jersey. Pasadena's Pete Vagenas has returned to Southern California with Chivas USA - even if the club has yet to formally get around to announcing his signing, despite the fact he's been in camp a month.

I'll have more in Tuesday's column on Pete Vagenas and his return to the Home Depot Center with Chivas USA, a team that has more associations with the Galaxy than you first think - especially when you see Coach Robin Fraser, Assistant Coach Greg Vanney and former Galaxy defender Dan Calichmann talking to each other at the end of practice.

Incidentally, Chivas USA has three new trialists in camp, although reporters today were asked to hold off until later Tuesday until naming two of them until the club registers them with the league as discovery players. Coach Robin Fraser has not been reticient about bringing in new faces.

I can tell you that one, however, is former Houston Dynamo draft pick Karo Okiomah, a striker.

Did you know department: Striker Juan Pablo Angel has not actually finalized a contract with the team, with an unspecified, but minor point apparently remaining. No one seems particularly concerned.

In Control: Yet another former Galaxy player - Alejandro Moreno - trains Monday under gloomy skies at Home Depot Center.

Lastly, the MLS Reserve League schedule was released today - and the first game has the Galaxy playing Chivas USA at 11 a.m. March 12.

*Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens and Chivas USA utility man Jorge Villafaña were both named today to a 10-day training camp in Frisco, Tex., involving 23 players that begins Sunday.

Senior squad regulars Dallas' Brek Shea and New York Red Bull Juan Aguedelo are among five newcomers to the roster.

The camp and a Feb. 23 game against their U-23 Mexican counterparts marks the final chance for players to impress Coach Caleb Porter ahead of Olympic qualifying, which begins March 22.

"I think Mexico is going to be about as close to a qualifying atmosphere as we can possibly get," Porter said. "We're going to have, for the most part, our entire group together for the first time."

The roster:

Goalkeepers - Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)

Defenders - Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Ike Opara (San Jose Earthquakes), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact), Jorge Villafaña (Chivas USA)

Midfielders - Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Gent), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union), Michael Stephens (LA Galaxy)

Forwards - Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union), Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Tony Taylor (Estoril Praia)

*The Galaxy beat Chivas USA 3-2 this morning in Carson. Pat Noonan, Adam Cristman and Dan Keat scored for the Galaxy as LA sprinted to a 3-0 lead at the half; Trialist Cesar Romero and Michael Lahoud replied for the Goats in the second 45 minutes.

*Single game Galaxy tickets went on sale today for the club's 17 home MLS games starting at $30. Call 1-877-3GALAXY.

However, tickets for mini-plans, for as few as three games, start at $22 a game.

The Galaxy went undefeated at Home Depot Center last season.

*Landon Donovan was named Everton's Player of the Month after assisting on five of Everton's eight goals in January, and added another lovely dish against Chelsea last weekend. Donovan returns toi the Galaxy after Saturday's fifth-round FA Cup match against Blackpool (live 6:30 a.m. Fox Soccer).

*The Premier Development League, which includes five teams in Southern California, released its 2012 season schedule today.

The season begins April 22 when the newly-named LA Misioneros (formerly LA Legends) visits the Fresno Fuego.

*Loyola Marymount University announced today its 11-member 2012 recruiting class, highlighted locally by Bay League Player of the Year Michael Meissner of Palos Verdes High.

"Michael is a very versatile and talented attacking player," said Coach Paul Krumpe. "He is one of the top players in the South Bay, which is an area that has produced some of our best players. I expect him to be able to contribute in our midfield in a variety of positions."

That apparently is what the club is aiming for, according to this Spanish-language report.

The club sounds no further along in figuring out exactly where it is going to play beginning in 2013, however.

A potential, although unspecified, five different locations are still mentioned as possibilities for a new or refurbished stadium including, apparently as a last-ditch option, the LA Memorial Coliseum.

The club's small crowds, already dwarfed by the 24,500-capacity HDC, would be swallowed almost entirely by the cavernous 90,000-seat Coliseum, likely giving its games an atmosphere closer to a women's college game than an MLS one.

Supposedly the club, which unveiled the 2012 version of its jersey on a commercial flight between LA and Guadalajara Wednesday, will make a decision by this summer.

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 Estates' 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.