Major League Soccer: August 2008 Archives
Notable:
*Chivas USA was without seven players due to injury and suspension: Maykel Galindo (sports hernia surgery), Jesse Marsch (fractured jaw), Claudio Suárez (R hip strain), Carey Talley (L thigh strain), Raphaël Wicky (R ankle surgery), Alex Zotinca (R knee surgery) and defender Shavar Thomas (yellow card accumulation).
*Thomas has been called into the Jamaican National Team for its World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Honduras. He will miss Tuesday's game against Tauro F.C. in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round and Chivas USA's game at Toronto Saturday.
Quotable:
*Toronto Coach John Carver on his team's defending at the end of the game (he blamed goalkeeper Greg Sutton):
"You can't defend like that. ... It was suicide defending. And that's not good enough. ... For me that's the worst we've played since I've been here. ... I'm absolutely furious.
*On the return game with Chivas USA next Saturday where Carver will have 10 players away on international duty and another two long-term injuries - on an 18-man senior roster:
"We asked the MLS, because we thought it's an extreme circumstance, if we could postpone the game. They turned us down. ... On this occasion I don't think common sense has prevailed."I'm going to have to get kids and put kids in. It's that embarrassing. I may even have to go get kids who play in amateur teams.
If I'm a fan of Toronto FC, I don't think I'm getting value for money because I've paid good money for my season ticket - we've got fantastic support up there - yet we're not putting the product on the pitch.
"It's something they have to look at. I don't think there's another league in the world that would ask a team to play in these circumstances."
Preki on the debilitating injuries this season:
"We're having a tough time putting the same 11 out two weeks in a row. That's been the biggest problem for us."
Sacha Kljestan on their position now:
"It's good for the team. We're in the playoff spot. It's ours to lose.
On out-shooting Toronto 20-5, yet having a hard time scoring:
"It's easy to get frustrated. After the first 15 minutes it should have been 3-0 probably. To be fair they had some early chances too, but we really should have put the game out of reach in the first 20-30 minutes and not left it late like we did."
On the difference between Tuesday in Panama and Saturday against Toronto:
"Playing at home makes a difference for us. I think our confidence level is a little higher."
Former Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz, reportedly a transfer target for Chivas USA before he signed with Toronto, on former Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit with whom he reportedly had a rocky relationship:
"I didn't have any problems with Ruud. Maybe in the beginning it was bad communication. But we spoke about a couple of things and then everything was clear. ... It was not good for me to came to L.A. Galaxy for this season."
Highlights:
Or at least they are tied with the 2006 team as the worst ever.
By running their winless streak to 10 games with a 2-2 tie Saturday against the New England Revolution, the Galaxy tied the mark for the longest winless stretch in club history, first set in 2006 when the Galaxy went 0-8-2 from May 6 until June 24.
This time around the Galaxy are 0-5-5 and have been outscored 24-14.
It's instructive to compare the relative talent levels of the two teams.
Here's the Galaxy team that originally set the record: Kevin Hartman, Chris Albright, Ugo Ihemelu, Tyronne Marshall, Nate Sturgis, Josh Gardner, Quavas Kirk, Paulo Nagamura, Marcelo Saragosa, Herculez Gomez, John Wolyniec. (Cobi Jones came on as a sub and Landon Donovan didn't play).
Here's Saturday's lineup: Steve Cronin (GK) (Josh Wicks 46), Ante Jazic, Sean Franklin, Troy Roberts, Chris Klein, Eddie Lewis (Eduardo Dominguez 81), Greg Vanney (Mike Randolph 65), Peter Vagenas, David Beckham ©, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle.
Both teams were led by new coaches, the 2006 version by Frank Yallop (he had been appointed 18 days earlier) and the current edition by Bruce Arena, on the job 13 days.
Here's a recap of Saturday's game from a Boston perspective.
Notable:
*Saturday's attendance of 39,256 was the third largest of the season to see the Galaxy. The game in New York drew 46,754 and one in San Jose attracted 39,872. It was the largest crowd to see a regular season MLS game at Gillette Stadium. Becks was injured when the Galaxy played in Boston last year.
*Landon Donovan's two goals tonight extended his MLS goalscoring lead to 14.
*Eddie Lewis made his Galaxy debut in midfield and had an immediate effect, creating Donovan's second goal with a laser-like pass.
*Revolution officials (no word from the Galaxy as of this writing) said Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin broke his finger in the collision on Taylor Twellman's first half goal. He was replaced at the half by rookie Josh Wicks, who made his MLS debut.
The Galaxy actually looked better than they had in weeks giving one of the best teams in MLS real problems at times. Is Arena having an effect already?
Finally, it's an apt time to point out that now Columbus Crew Coach Sigi Schmid can officially begin worrying about getting fired.
His Crew moved past the Revs into the MLS lead today; the former UCLA coach you'll recall was infamously fired from the Galaxy job in a Manhattan Beach bagel shop while L.A. sat atop the MLS standings.
How much do you think Sigi would like to be at this year's MLS Cup - to be held at Home Depot Center?
Chivas USA are now sitting in the third and final Western Conference playoff spot after a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind victory with an Atiba Harris winner coming in the last minute of stoppage time.
The Galaxy's winless streak is up to 10, but Chivas USA stopped their own winless streak at six when Harris' shot squirted through the hands of Toronto goalkeeper Greg Sutton to break the 1-1 deadlock. A nice Bobby Burling dummy allowed the ball to come through to Harris.
Things were considerably quieter in the second half, but once again both sides squandered good opportunities.
Chivas USA though, won't rue missing their chances as much as Toronto after the victory.
Zach Thornton did well to come out to the edge of his penalty box to close down the angle on a Chad Barrett breakaway in the 63rd minute and stop a shot with his legs.
The Chivas USA defense stood and watched Marco Velez enjoy a free header within the six yard box from a corner kick immediately afterward.
Justin Braun couldn't finish Chivas USA's best second half chance in the 89th minute before the last-gasp goal sealed the win.
It was the second-ever come-from-behind victory for Chivas USA.
Two teams with shaky defenses=open, entertaining game.
The teams ended the first 45 minutes tied 1-1, but both could and probably should have had more goals than that.
Toronto FC opened the scoring when Rohan Rickets found a streaking Jim Brennan on the right wing with a piercing ball. The former Norwich City player beat Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton with a low shot.
Exactly 64 seconds later, Chivas pulled level with its first goal in four games, Alecko Eskandarian scoring from an Ante Razov pass.
Toronto's Chad Barrett had a couple of good opportunities, including when Bobby Burling missed a Jonathan Bornstein back pass in front of the goal that almost let in the former Chicago striker.
Chivas USA finished the half with 11 shots.
First off, the Galaxy has just drawn 2-2 with the New England Revolution, Landon Donovan getting both goals.
Sean Franklin and Troy Roberts started in the center of defense with Eddie Lewis on the left wing, by the way.
More on that game later, but for now....
Chivas USA has Zach Thornton in goal as usual, Lawson Vaughn is at right back, Jonathan Bornstein on the left and Bobby Burling and Jim Curtin in the middle. Claudio Suarez is out through injury.
Midfield: Atiba Harris, Sacha Kljestan, Paulo Nagamura and Francisco Mendoza.
Up front Alecko Eskandarian makes his first start ofn the season alongside Ante Razov.
Toronto starts a Southern California strike force (of a sort) with former Bruin Chad Barrett partnering ex-Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz in his first appearance for the Canadian outfit.
Ex-Chivas USA midfielder Amado Guevara is in midfield, while former Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall starts in the back.
I wote both the capsule previews for the Galaxy and Chivas USA games today. Read them here.
This is the view from Toronto.
I'll blog from the HDC tonight.
Carlos Ruiz, AWOL after his trade from the Galaxy to Toronto FC, (get used to it Canucks) has finally arrived in the Great White North.
This storymarks the first time I've ever heard a coach of Ruiz talk about cuddling him (!), but then if you were down to one healthy striker who is all of 16-years-old you'd probably have the same reaction.
More interesting to me is that we can add Ruiz to the list of Galaxy players who had major problems with the now departed Ruud Gullit.
Of course, considering his temperament that's not exactly a surprise.
But the more we learn about the Gullit era at the Galaxy, the more it sounds like a case of good riddance Ruud.
Too much soccer? Find it difficult to keep track? Me too.
Here's a cheat sheet:
Tuesday - The preliminary rounds of the CONCACAF Champions League, including Chivas USA playing in Panama, get under way in earnest. I'll have more in the morning both in my column and here. Four hours of live TV beckon for the hard-core.
Thursday - Cal State Dominguez Hills opens its season with a doubleheader, the women playing Grand Canyon at 4:30 p.m. and the men following at 7 p.m. at the Track & Field Stadium at Home Depot Center.
Friday - The women's college season got under way last weekend and now the men crank up again as well highlighted by a nationally televised (Fox Soccer Channel) No. 14 UCLA verses No. 8 Maryland encounter from Home Depot Center. (General admission tickets are $10 adults, $5 youth, while parking is free, BTW).
Palos Verdes Estates resident and Bruin playmaker Kyle Nakazawa has agreed to blog for 100 Percent Soccer again this year so hopefully we can coax a column out of him before the game. I plan to blog from the game.
Saturday - New Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena takes a second stab at moving the Galaxy toward the playoffs in a 4:30 p.m. game (live on Prime) in New England. Meanwhile, Toronto visits Chivas USA at 7:30 p.m. in Carson. I'll blog.
Headed out to Galaxy training today largely to see how new signing and former UCLA Bruin Eddie Lewis was doing after that ghastly looking head injury in Guatemala last week.
Turns out the 34-year-old Cerritos native was just fine - albeit with a chunk still noticeably missing from his head - and went through the entire 80-minute practice with no restrictions and no problems.
Highlights of the interview are below, but a couple of notes from training before I forget:
*Bruce Arena had pretty much his entire squad out on the field today including a presumably jet-lagged David Beckham fresh from his stint "driving" a double-decker bus in China at the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. As Becks ambled past after training he observed he had flown back into LAX at 8 a.m. today and then pretty much drove straight out to training at 10 a.m. in Carson. Brutal.
*Arena knows he has little margin for error if the Galaxy are to make the playoffs (they are just two points out of third and final guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference he reminded his troops today): "Everybody's brain has to be in the game every play," he said at the end of training.
*Two members of the Under-20 Gambian National Team - 17-year old defender Amadou Sanyang and 16-year old forward Ebrima Bojang - entered their third week of training with the Galaxy today. Under FIFA rules neither is permitted to sign with the Galaxy until they hit 18 years of age so this is really just an opportunity for Arena to take a longer term view of the pair, as well as see how they adjust to living away from home in a foreign country.
Now, here's what Eddie had to say:
Q: First off, how's your head?
A: Not too bad. To be honest my ribs are probably a more tender than my head. It was an open cut, but it's a tough part of your head. It was a split and a few stitches, but I'll be fine.
Q: Did you see video of the incident?
A: I actually did for the first time this morning. I hadn't seen it and my sister had it and she showed it to me. I was a little bit hesitant to watch. I probably don't need to see it again - that's enough for me. It was a good hit.
In a lot of ways it represented what the qualifiers are all about. If everything that was going on off the ball could be documented you'd think it was more of a wrestling match than a soccer game. It's how it goes, but certainly there were a lot of Guatemalans upset about Ruiz going in and me coming the other way so there was a lot going on that night. It was a tough hit and probably there was a little bit more going on behind it than just going for the ball.
Q: By the way, is that a slight bit of a Yorkshire accent I detect?
A: My accent is so mangled I can't tell you. I've been from London to Manchester to Yorkshire. Half the time people think I'm South African. I don't even know. I'm sure after a few weeks back home here I'll get the California slang back.
Q: Did playing in England (for four different teams) meet your expectations?
A: For me the whole point of going over there was that the sky's the limit. If you were the best of the best you'd be at the top of the top. If you were not good enough, you'd be sent home right away. I loved it, the whole eight years I was there. There were some great moments, I played in some great games against a lot of good teams. For me it was the memory of a lifetime. As a professional soccer player that's about as good as anywhere to play.
Q: What was your best on-field memory?
A: It's hard to say. I thought about that a few times. Certainly, the Premier League and playing at the big clubs is always exciting. Believe it or not probably both (Championship) playoff finals (at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium) probably had an atmosphere I'd never been a part of my entire life. They were better than the World Cups. Two teams split down the middle, 40,000 (fans supporting) on each side - it was an amazing, amazing atmosphere. And my last game in England was against England at Wembley. That's a memory I'll always have. ... I loved Leeds (United) as a club - I thought that was just an amazing time. Great people.
Q: What prompted the move back to Southern California?
A: I had one more year (on my contract) at Derby and I planned to see that out before making my way back. But they bought 13 players in the off-season and basically had a wage bill they said was out of control. They thought it would be easier to shift some of the players, so they sort of started from the top down. They started with Robbie Savage and started coming at everyone offering them deals to come home or to go saying 'we've got to get rid of this wage bill. It was just too much. We've got to cut down some of the earners.'
At that point I talked to (MLS), didn't really think much of it, but all of a sudden it just fell into place. Derby gave me a great opportunity to come back a year early. I wasn't going to miss that.
Q: I suppose of all the places in MLS this was the place you wanted to be?
A: Exactly - it was probably the only place. This is an amazing opportunity.
Q: After enduring the year Derby had (unsuccessfully struggling against relegation from the EPL), you come here and the Galaxy are struggling.
A: I should be quite comfortable (laughs). This league is entirely different. Someone said today we're two or three points off second place (actually third, but close enough). It's so tight that (if you go on) a small run you're right in the middle of the playoffs.
The last few games they've been having a bit of trouble getting results, but it won't take long before Bruce's influence on the whole team improves.
Q: Glad to hook up with Bruce again?
A: Yeah, he's a fantastic manager, his record speaks for itself. I'm just hoping to fill whatever role he wants to make the team a bit better.
Q: Would you rather play left back or left midfield?
A: We haven't had a chat. He said we'd sit down at some point during the week, but he probably knows the team a bit better than me at this point. I think really we'll just see what works best for everybody. For me it's about trying to help the team get back on track. I'm certainly far along in my career that I just want to do what's best for the team and enjoy the soccer. Wherever Bruce sees me (doing that), I'm happy to do it."
Q: How much longer do you want to play in MLS?
A: I'd like to play the rest of this (season) and a couple more. It's similar to the U.S. team - I've never really put any time lines on anything. ... As soon as someone tells me I'm not good enough any more or they're not happy with me, that will be the end. But at this moment I feel good and I'm having fun and playing well so that's really it.
Check out the effort by the Palos Verdes Peninsula's John Thorrington (Chadwick School) and the other contenders over the weekend:
Not the most stirring of games.
But both teams got a valuable point.
And Chivas USA pulled into a tie with the Galaxy in the standings with an identical 6-9-6 record.
Preki wasn't happy:
"I'm disappointed we didn't get three points. I thought we were the better team on the night."
It was good to see Chivas USA striker Alecko Eskandarian back on the field. He played the last 31 minutes - which doubled his playing time over two other games this season:
"It definitely felt good just to be on the field with the guys," he said when asked about his health. "I'm getting there. The other two games I played I played without a groin (muscle). It was completely torn off. We just didn't know it. It just didn't show up on the MRI until I got into the surgery and found out it was completely torn off at the bone. It was a miracle I even played those games, let alone scored a goal. So now, everything got fixed, hopefully. I've just got to start from step one, strengthening and work on my fitness.
On coming on as sub:
"As a striker any time you come into a 0-0 game you know there are chances there that are waiting for you. I just wanted to help make an impact. We definitely had chances to score and put the game away. In the end it was a little disappointing, but at the same time it was good to be a part of it and create some chances."
On his injury ordeal:
"These last five months with this mystery injury, not knowing what it is and then surgery and then no surgery. I could probably write a book about the frustration I've had and gone through, but I don't want any sympathy and I 'm not going to sit here and cry about it. I'm just going to put it behind me. I'm going to focus on right now. The team has nine or 10 games left and we have to get results."
I spoke with the Earthquakes' Darren Huckerby, the star player at former team Norwich City. I wore my yellow and green City jersey for the occasion (full disclosure - I grew up in Norwich and remain a huge fan) eliciting a "what the bloody hell are you wearing?" comment from Hucks (I like to wear it when Frank Yallop comes to town; he was a long-serving Ipswich Town defender, the team considered Norwich's biggest rivals. And Frank did a double take and rolled his eyes.).
Huckerby probably had the quietest of his five MLS games so far, with Chivas USA doing well to cut off service to him:
"As a team we didn't play well, we didn't pass the ball well today. As a winger you kind of rely on everybody else getting you the ball so .... we'll take a point and move on."
(Incidentally, the Earthquakes didn't get their first shot on target until the 63rd minute; Hucks took it).
On any comparison between MLS and the Championship, the division Norwich play in:
"It's a different standard of play to be honest. They've got me good players here. It's probably not as physical here. It's a lot more rough and tumble over there."
On how teams deal with him over here compared to England:
"I got double-teamed a lot in England. Not many teams played me one on one. Its been a little bit different here they kind of play me one on one.
He finished the game with two shots, one on goal, four corner kicks and one offside call.
Here's Yallop on Huckerby:
"He's dynamic. Tonight for some reason we couldn't really get him the ball in the right areas. Chivas did a good job of shutting him down. They did a nice job of sort of denying him the ball. But when he did get it, it was exciting for us and everything good came of that when we did get him the ball in space. But we didn't play well, we didn't really get him the ball. But having said that when he did get it I thought he was dynamic and had a chance to win the game at the end. He's a player who's exciting to watch, but he's good to have on your team because he stretches teams.He's very direct, that's one of the reasons I've really liked him. I've seen him for years. He gets it and goes straight at the defender and tries to get in a cross or a shot. He's not looking to keep the ball, he's looking to go at people and he wants to make the difference in games and I love that."
Notable:
*Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton got his first shutout in his fifth appearance for the club.
*Jonathan Bornstein played on the right side of defense for the first time since last season.
*Chivas USA departs LAX at 8 a.m. Sunday for Panama City, where they play the first match of their home and away CONCACAF Champions League qualifying series against Panamanian club Tauro F.C. at 5 p.m. Tuesday live on Galavision.
This was a yawner of a scoreless game punctuated by a few - I stress few - scoring opportunities, mainly for Chivas USA who had the better of the play for much of the game.
Still, the Earthquakes probably had the best chance of the game, Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton saving with one hand a Ronnie O'Brien shot in the 86th minute from the top of the box that appeared destined for the back of the net.
Chivas USA's best move came in the 76th minute, when a build-up that began deep in their own half produced two scoring opportunities one after another.
Goalkeeper Joe Cannon parried an initial Atiba Harris shot, while a Alecko Eskandarian follow-up shot went wide of the far post. Incidentally, it was only the third appearance of the season for Eskandarian, who nonetheless brought an attacking verve to the game when he came on as a substitute.
Chivas USA actually had the ball in the net in the 73rd minute, but the effort by Esky was ruled offside.
San Jose finally began to threaten at game's end, but it was too little, too late.
An unfortunate 12,209 sat through this one.
There's not many talking points in the game, so I don't expect to write much in the way of post-game notes.
Besides, I'll be collecting material for a CONCACAF Champions League preview for Tuesday's column.
No goals in a rather uneventful first half that saw few clear-cut chances for either team.
Wide open Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan had the best opportunity, receiving a nice lay-off from Ante Razov, but shooting straight at goalkeeper Joe Cannon from about 12 yards with the net yawning before him.
Atiba Harris also shot wide in stoppage time, but for drama that was about it. San Jose finished the half with no shots on target
The Earthquakes' Ramiro Corrales was replaced in midfield by Kelly Gray in the 15th minute after spraining his left knee while tackling Harris.
Five changes for Chivas USA tonight with a CONCACAF preliminary round game looming Tuesday in Panama as Coach Preki tries to rest some starters, while defender Cary Talley is the latest to join a long injury list with a thigh strain. Six players are still out including striker Maykel Galindo
Zach Thornton is in goal, while Jim Curtin replaces Claudio Suarez as the long defensive change. The rest of the back four: Jonathan Bornstein, Shavar Thomas and Francisco Mendoza.
Kraig Chiles gets a start in midfield, while Sacha Klejstan returns from the Olympics to start along with Paulo nagamura and young Jorge "Sueno" Flores.
Up front, Ante Razov returns for his first MLS start since July 10 to partner Atiba Harris.
Defender Bobby Burling is on the bench, alongside Suarez, Lawson Vaughn, Alecko Eskandarian and Roberto Nurse.
The Earthquakes have former Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon between the posts and former Chivas USA defender Jason Hernandez in the back four.
Former Norwich City star Darren Huckerby makes his Home Depot Center debut in midfield, while the attackers are Scott Sealey and Arturo Alvarez.
No local TV for tonight's game.
With our Chivas USA beat writer out with pneumonia (it seems sort of fitting given the team's list of casualties) this was the preview in today's print edition (in its entirety):
San Jose (5-9-6) at Chivas USA (6-9-5)
*WHEN - 7:30 p.m.
*WHERE - Home Depot Center
*RADIO - 690 AM
*OUTLOOK - The teams are separated by just two points at the bottom of the Western Conference. Chivas comes into the game with three losses in its last four games, while the Earthquakes have won two in a row and are unbeaten in their last five games. The teams are coming off opposite 4-0 results: the Earthquakes beat New England, 4-0, at home last weekend, while depleted Chivas USA lost to Houston on the road by the same score Wednesday.
And that's it.
So let's fill in the blanks.
First, here's the injury report:
CHIVAS USA -- OUT: FW Justin Braun (R ankle sprain); MF Jesse Marsch (fractured jaw); DF Lawson Vaughn (R knee sprain); MF Raphaël Wicky (R ankle surgery); DF Alex Zotinca (R knee surgery); QUESTIONABLE: FW Maykel Galindo (sports hernia surgery); PROBABLE: DF Jonathan Bornstein (R hip strain); FW Alecko Eskandarian (sports hernia surgery); MF Jorge Flores (R ankle tendonitis); FW Ante Razov (L knee sprain); DF Claudio Suárez (concussion) ... SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - OUT: FW Gavin Glinton (R adductor strain).
Here's the view from San Jose.
But for me the main reason to go to today's game is to check out the skills of former Norwich City forward Darren Huckerby (full disclosure: the Canaries are my English team).
Here's a sampling of what Hucks is capable of (as Galaxy fans already know):
Incidentally, Chivas USA is offering a special Internet ticket deal for the game with seats starting at $10.
Women's college scores Friday:
USD 0 USC 1.
Cal State Northridge 2 San Diego State 1.
Long Beach State 4 Gonzaga 0.
Bruce Arena
Photos by Scott Varley
Watched and blogging my fourth game in 24 hours or so.
Stand back and no one will get hurt.
This was one of those nights when the press conference was more interesting than the actual game.
We had a local lad having a great night, a new famous coach at his first game and Brian McBride back in MLS.
Here's Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena on his first game in charge against the Fire:
"I think they're one of the better teams in the league and I thought they came out well and put us under a lot of pressure early. It took us about 20 minutes to get settled."
On the Galaxy and what the team needs:
"The effort for 90 minutes was good. The organization of the team was improved, but certainly not good enough. We're missing a few players at the attacking end of the field to help make us a little bit better and that was pretty obvious."
On the goal:
"We lost the ball in a bad spot on the field and did not react well as a group. Give Thorrington credit, It was a very good finish."
Arena on the Carlos Ruiz transfer:
"My preference would be to have Carlos here as well as Eddie Lewis. ... Some moves had to be made. We talked to a number of teams not only on Carlos, but some other players. But in order to to be able to sign Eddie Lewis - who is a player I think this teams needs and will help us make better - we had to make a roster move. And there were certain financial implications involved with it. The other part of that equation is you need to look at that as not only a short term move, but a move that allows you more flexibility in the off-season as you try to improve this roster."
On Eddie Lewis, who Arena had observed earlier was out indefinitely after the World Cup qualifying lunge he suffered in Guatemala until he had some tests:
"He'll need some tests to make sure there aren't any issues so we need to wait and see," he said. "We want to take the right precautions to make sure they're aren't any issues you can't tell by touching, feeling. I think he's got to have a scan."
Brian McBride on Bruce Arena: "He's a great coach. If you look at his record everywhere he's went he's made a team better. When given time he's done some amazing things. So I expect him to succeed greatly. I have the utmost respect for him as a coach, as a person and I wish him the best."
Goalkeeper Steve Cronin on the goal:
"Some goals are saveable, (Yes, he said that) some aren't. I felt I did everything I could on that one. I saw it fine and everything. It's disappointing to give up a goal that started with a bad pass in midfield and a guy comes 30 yards down the field and finishes it and nobody steps to him."
The Palos Verdes Peninsula's John Thorrington played a starring role in the game before South Bay family and friends.
Here's Thorrington on how his career has turned around after getting waived by the Fire and having tryouts with the Galaxy and Chivas USA:
"I had some time away from the game last year when I wanted to come back and play at home and it didn't work out," he said, adding Coach Dennis Hamlett gave him another chance toward the end of last season. "As soon as Dennis got the job he was very clear with me with what he expected and put some faith in me and I think we've got a team where I can play a role that suits me. ... It's a nice phase in my career right now."
On how the Fire play without Blanco: "We're obviously a bit younger when he's not on the field (laughter all around the press conference). We do miss his playmaking ability and his ability to make passes out of nowhere. We become so reliant on him because he is so good so I think it's a good exercise for us."
Highlights:
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
What's that noise? Ah, the final whistle thankfully is here. This was one of those nights to stay home and watch synchronized diving or dressage rather than endure a game of over hit crosses, flubbed back passes and inaccurate shots.
John Thorrington of the Palos Verdes Peninsula saved the game from complete non-event status with a swerving shot from 19 yards served to him on a platter by Brian McBride to give the Fire a 1-0 win.
It was his fifth goal of the season and some will recall it was the former Manchester United youth player who ensured the Galaxy didn't make the playoffs last year, scoring the winning goal for the Fire in the last game of the season.
Thorrington tried out for the Galaxy (and Chivas USA) after the Fire initially waived him before picking him up again so maybe he's motivated or it's all those friends and family in the crowd.
Take a bow, John (actually he did - two of them - in his goal celebration).
Apart from that there was little to recommend this game. It was one of those you want to keep Eurosnobs away from so they don't rail against MLS.
It was as if, said a press box joker dryly, both teams had a player of two missing.
Yes, quite.
If Bruce Arena had any illusions about the enormity of the task facing him he surely didn't after an ill-advised Sean Franklin back pass was missed by Greg Vanney in the 78th minute right in front of goal. Chris Rolfe pounced upon it, but didn't make the Galaxy pay. Goalkeeper Steve Cronin appeared so amazed as Vanney shuffled off I don't think he knew which defender to yell at.
For those keeping count at home, the Galaxy winless streak is now up to nine games.
Back with more later.
This is a game stunning in its mediocrity and as one press box wit pointed out if you change the names this could be Scunthorpe verses Grimsby. And that's probably being unkind to Grimsby.
The first half highlights consisted of a wide open Alan Gordon missing a header from all of five yards out (never seen that before have we?) and a great Steve Cronin fingertips save (how many times have I written that this season?) that pushed a Chris Rolfe shot onto the outside of the far post.
I'm off to get a coffee so I can stay awake.
Turns out Bruce Arena's first Galaxy team looks a lot like Ruud Gullit's last team - not that he's got many options of course.
David Beckham is on his way to China for the Olympics closing ceremonies, Landon Donovan is recovering from last night's Guatemalan hackfest, um, game, Carlos Ruiz is now a Toronto player, eh, and new signing Eddie Lewis has the evening off too, recovering from the nasty blow to the head he took, no doubt.
Arena's big change - moving Chris Klein off the back four and into midfield.
The Galaxy lineup: Cronin, Franklin, Roberts, Vanney, jazic, Klein, Pires, vagenas, Allen, Buddle and Gordon.
Chicago is without Blanco, too, Rolling Hills Estates John Thorrington (Chadwick School) starts in midfield and Brian McBride leads the attack.
Back later with more.
Ruiz is on the run; we won't be seeing him in a Galaxy jersey again.
The short second stint of striker Carlos Ruiz with the Galaxy is officially over, paving the way for the team to sign U.S. international Eddie Lewis.
Presumably Lewis could play tonight against the Fire.
Ruiz had just one goal in 10 appearances for the Galaxy this season and missed almost two months of the season after undergoing knee surgery.
The two official press releases are below, but for me the most interesting thing about the Ruiz move is that it's an essentially an admission by the Galaxy that their "risky" move of signing a handful of expensive, big-name players this season was a failure. Did they make a similar mistake to Real Madrid in signing their version of the Galacticos?"
I asked David Beckham about that on Monday and he stiffened, looked peeved, folded his arms and said:
"I don't see the mistake, personally - We're good players. ... It's up to other people to make their comments about whether it's a mistake or not."
Here's the Toronto press release on Ruiz' signing:
Toronto FC announced Thursday that they have acquired forward Carlos Ruiz from the L.A. Galaxy in exchange for a first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2009 MLS Supplemental Draft and salary budget considerations. As per team regulations contract details were not disclosed."We're looking forward to bringing in another quality striker," said manager, director of soccer Mo Johnston. "We've now got Barrett and Dichio who is on the road to getting healthier and this will also help bring young Ibee (Ibrahim) along properly. We're very excited to get Ruiz in here - he holds the ball up well and is a clinical finisher."
Ruiz, 28, is known as the best pure goalscorer in MLS history. He leaves L.A. as the second leading scorer in Galaxy history with 50 regular season goals for the club, and helped the team to victory in the MLS Cup in 2002. The forward is the all-time leader in postseason goals in MLS, and is currently 8th on the All-time goals list with 82.
Ruiz began his professional career with his local club CSD Municipal in Guatemala City in 1995. In 2000 he went to Europe and signed with PAS Giannina of Greece on loan but returned to Guatemala the following year. In 2002 he joined Major League Soccer signing with the Galaxy, and in his first season he scored 24 goals and adding one assist in 26 games. That year he was named to the MLS Best XI and named league MVP. Ruiz set a new MLS record that season for game winning goals with nine. He registered seven multi-goal games that year.
In 2005 Ruiz was traded to FC Dallas for a 2nd round draft pick and an undisclosed amount of money. After spending three seasons in Texas, Ruiz returned to the Galaxy, and in exchange, FC Dallas received allocation money and L.A.'s natural second round draft pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. The forward injured his knee in the season opener in 2008 keeping him out of the lineup for the better part of a month. His first goal of the season came July 19 in a 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls.
Internationally, Ruiz has been a member of the Guatemalan National Team since 1998 and is their current leading goal scorer. He has over 70 caps for his country and was a member of the squad during World Cup qualification campaigns in 2002, 2006, and is presently involved in 2010 qualification. In 2002 he scored eight goals in nine matches during qualification and again led the team in scoring in 2006, helping Guatemala reach the final phase of qualification but narrowly missing out on a chance to travel to Germany for the 2006 World Cup. However, Ruiz did make history in 2008 when on June 14; he broke Juan Carlos Plata's all-time individual goalscoring record for Guatemala, by scoring four goals against Saint Lucia in their 2010 World Cup qualifying opening match. That feat made him the first Guatemalan player to score four times in a match as he surpassed the old mark of 39 goals set by Plata.
And here's the (edited) Galaxy press release on Lewis:
The LA Galaxy today signed U.S. National Team midfielder Eddie Lewis. The Galaxy held the top spot in the MLS Allocation Table and have used that position to acquire Lewis, a Cerritos, Calif. native who played for the U.S. National Team in their 1-0 road win over Guatemala last night in a World Cup Qualifier. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed."I strongly believe that Eddie Lewis will be an outstanding addition to the Galaxy," Galaxy General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. "He brings great experience to the club and will be a wonderful addition to our locker room and is a player that the fans are sure to support. I have known Eddie for a number of years, I rate him as a first class player and person and I'm honored to welcome him to the Galaxy family."
"Unfortunately, the sport of soccer is also a business and in order to bring Eddie to the Galaxy we were required to make salary budget space available and our only available option was to move Carlos," Arena added. "Carlos is proven to be one of the great goalscorers in the history of this league and I have the highest regard for him. We wish him the very best in the future."
A veteran left-sided player with both MLS and European playing experience, Lewis comes to the Galaxy following a one-year stay with Derby County of the English Premier League. Prior to joining Derby, the 34-year old had stints with fellow English sides, Fulham, Preston North End and Leeds United, as well as a four-year stay with San Jose of Major League Soccer, with who he began his professional career in 1996.
After playing four years at UCLA and helping the Bruins to a 67-14-4 record during his time in Westwood, Lewis was selected by the San Jose Clash (now Earthquakes) in the Third Round of the 1996 MLS College Draft. In four years with San Jose, Lewis became an integral member of that club, appearing in 115 of the club's 128 games, scoring nine goals and adding 35 assists. He set a career-high with 14 assists in 1997 and matched that figure in 1999 when his four goals and 14 assists in 29 games earned him a spot on the MLS Best XI.
Following the 1999 MLS season, Lewis signed with Fulham of the English First Division (now English Championship). He appeared in a handful of games in his two and a half seasons at Craven Cottage before signing with fellow First Division side Preston North End in the summer of 2002. He appeared in more than 100 games for Preston, during his three seasons with the club and narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League in 2004-05, when his side were knocked off by West Ham United in the Championship Playoff Final. After that season, Lewis joined Leeds United of the League Championship and helped that club reach the Playoff Final, only to fall one step short of qualifying for the Premier League.
After two seasons at Leeds, Lewis signed with Derby County, who had just been promoted to the Premier League. He played 27 games in all competitions for Derby last season, and left the club by mutual consent earlier this month in order to sign with the Galaxy. He will join up with the rest of his new teammates in Los Angeles today after retuning from National Team duty.
A true left-sided player who is capable of playing both in midfield and at left back, Lewis has also made his mark with the U.S. National Team, with who he appeared in both the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. In 81 career appearances with the Red, White and Blue, Lewis has 10 goals and 16 assists, including an assist on Landon Donovan's goal in the 2-0 win over Mexico in the Round of 16 at the 2002 World Cup. He scored his 10th National Team goal in July when he captained the U.S. to a 1-0 win in Barbados.
Claudio Reyna and Bruce Arena in happier times when first reunited as player and coach with the Red Bulls.
Photo by Bruce Hazleton
The one thing players stress about new Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena is his man management skills:
"His best quality is as a man manager and as a team manager," said defender Chris Klein, who has had stints under Arena with the national team. "He's always gotten the most out of players and if you ask guys who played for him many more times than I have, they'll say the same thing - when you play under Bruce, he's going to get the most out of you."
Still, it was notable that a widely reported player revolt in New York likely played a role in his firing from the Red Bulls.
So it will be interesting to hear what former Arena favorite Claudio Reyna - one of the chief revolters, who publicly fell out with his former coach - has to say about him in the ESPN2 booth before tonight's game (live at 7 on ESPN2) against the Chicago Fire.
The former U.S. National Team captain will make his ESPN studio debut as a guest analyst during the pregame show.
It's a game notably short on star power, but Galaxy fans will be more concerned whether Arena can break the team's eight game winless streak.
I will blog from Carson as usual.
I'm getting up to watch the 6 a.m. U.S.-Brazil Olympic women's football final.
So briefly:
*The U.S. continued its domination of Guatemala Wednesday with a 1-0 win in the first game of the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying.
Notable:
*Seven yellow cards, two red cards and 40 total fouls kept the referee busy.
*Galaxy target Eddie Lewis needed five stitches to close a head wound sustained in a particularly nasty challenge with Guatemala's Gustavo Cabrera who earned a red card for using his body as a missile.
*Steve Cherundolo's red card means he misses the next U.S. World Cup qualifier in Havana vs. Cuba on Sept. 6.
Quotable:
"It was a very hard fought game, and for us a hard earned three points," said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. "The win is based more on the determination of our team. Sometimes it's necessary to win games in that way. It was a game where we relied on the effort, team spirit, and the mentality of the group.
U.S. lineup: 1-Tim Howard; 15-Heath Pearce, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra, 6-Steve Cherundolo; 10-Landon Donovan, 12-Michael Bradley, 4-Pablo Mastroeni (13-Maurice Edu, 78), 7-Eddie Lewis (17-DaMarcus Beasley, 65); 11-Brian Ching, 8-Clint Dempsey (2-Frankie Hejduk, 65)
*Chivas USA discovered what happens when a team missing 10 senior players or so meets one of the best teams in the league: they are hammered 4-0.
How bad was it? Lawndale's Kei Kamara, (and these TV announcers have got to decide whether his surname is pronounced "camera" or "Kamara" and not use both) who was punted from San Jose for his dismal goalscoring record, got two goals. Nate Jaqua, similarly dismissed from the Galaxy for not recognizing a net, got another.
The Chivas USA lineup: - Zach Thornton, Carey Talley (Keith Savage 13), Claudio Suarez (Eric Ebert 46), Shavar Thomas, Bobby Burling, Paulo Nagamura (Kraig Chiles 46), Daniel Paladini, Jonathan Bornstein, Francisco Mendoza, Roberto Nurse, Atiba Harris.
Highlights if you dare to watch:
Wonder what Preki thought of Sacha Kljestan sitting on the U.S. bench Wednesday unused?
*The U.S. women will face the flamboyant Brazilians at 6 a.m. on USA in the Olympics women's football final.
From U.S. Soccer:
This will be the fourth meeting between the U.S. and Brazil since the USA's crushing loss in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal, a match in which the U.S. scored an own goal and saw Shannon Boxx sent off at the end of the first half ... All three previous matches have been played during the past two months ... The U.S. has won all three of those matches by the score of 1-0, with the first meeting at the 2008 Peace Queen Cup in South Korea on June 17, followed by two Send-Off matches in Commerce City, Colo., on July 13 and San Diego, Calif., on July 16 ... All three of those wins were against an under-strength Brazilian team that was missing their top European-based players including 2007 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Marta, who was in Sweden playing for her club team Umea
The importance of USC's Amy Rodriguez to the team is explained here.
Apologies for the late blogging since I am somewhat under the weather today (and, no, that's not because of all the soccer on TV).
Still, there is a lot.
First up at noon on Fox Soccer Channel is David Beckham and England taking on the Czech Republic in London.
Then at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, the U.S. plays Guatemala in World Cup qualifying.
U.S. Soccer observes there are plenty of MLS-Guatemala connections:
Carlos Ruiz and Landon Donovan share the same locker room at the Los Angeles Galaxy, while midfielder Guillermo 'Pando' Ramirez also used to ply his trade at The Home Depot Center. Marco 'Loco' Rodriguez and Fredy Garcia once wore the same uniform as Frankie Hejduk in Columbus. Gustavo Cabrera left Real Salt Lake for AGF Aarhus in Denmark, the club that just signed U.S. Olympic Team midfielder Benny Feilhaber. Finally, 20-year old uncapped midfielder Marco Pappa recently moved to the Chicago Fire, where he has assumed a starting role as a wide midfielder.
The Galaxy's Landon Donovan will equal Kasey Keller's U.S. caps total in today's game. Here's the top 10 players in appearances for the U.S:
Name Caps Goals (SO) Era
1. Cobi Jones 164 15 1992-2004
2. Jeff Agoos 134 4 1988-2003
3. Marcelo Balboa 128 13 1988-2000
4. Claudio Reyna 112 8 1994-2006
5. Paul Caligiuri 110 5 1984-1998
6. Eric Wynalda 106 34 1990-2000
7. Kasey Keller 102 (47) 1990-
8. Landon Donovan 101 36 2000-
9. Earnie Stewart 101 17 1990-2004
10. Tony Meola 100 (32) 1988-2006
There's plenty of other CONCACAF action today, too.
Finally, a crocked Chivas USA (6-8-5) will try to snap a four-game winless streak against a healthy Western Conference-leading Houston Dynamo (7-4-8). in a game that conveniently (for those watching the U.S. game) starts at 8 p.m. on FSN (tape delayed). It's also live at 6 p.m. on KAZA.
A bright spot for Chivas USA: Due to World Cup qualifiers, Houston is without its two leading scorers, Brian Ching (U.S. National Team) and Dwayne De Rosario (Canadian National Team).
Now excuse me, I'm going back to bed.
Bruce Arena gets down to work at his first Galaxy coaching session.
Photo by Sean Hiller.
The former U.S. National Team coach was officially introduced as the Galaxy's coach Monday.
It's a move that suggests more than a few parallels with Arena's last MLS coaching job in New York, an angle I explored in Tuesday's column.
Fellow columnist Steve Dilbeck, meanwhile, articulates what many of us are thinking: Is this the prescient Bruce Arena of World Cup 2002 or the questionable coach from World Cup 2006?
One thing that struck me Monday about Arena (as well as other members of the press corps who know him) was the absence of the antagonistic Arena of the past.
He may have been on his best behavior on his first day on the job, but Associate Head Coach Dave Sarachan, who has worked with Arena for more than two decades said he is a changed - if not more mellow - coach.
"I think he's a little more patient with things, he's in a better place now," Sarachan said. "He has perspective."
Yes, this a more giving Arena after his months relaxing at a home as a self-described "couch potato."
"This game has been more than fair to me and I'm at the point now where I want to give back because this game has been so good to me."
Here's Sarachan on what the new coaching staff needs to change about the Galaxy:
"You change a mentality. If you have the right mentality as a collective you can defend better than what we've seen. ... It's unfair to say (the Galaxy's poor defensive record) is a product of bad goalkeeping or bad defending. It's a mentality of the whole group."
So what did the Galaxy work on at the first practice directed by Arena and Sarachan? Thankfully, defense.
I reminded Arena that he once derided Home Depot Center as a "glorified amusement park" because of all the activities held there. He took the question in stride:
"This is one of the reasons I'm here - because we have an outstanding (practice) facility."
At the Red Bulls, the team didn't have one, he observed.
Finally, Galaxy midfielder Chris Klein said the Galaxy's most inexperienced players will benefit the most from Arena:
"His best quality is as a man manager and as a team manager - he's always got the most from his players," he said. "We have some special players, but it's the younger guys who have to carry the day."
*While I've been columnizing much of the day, plenty of other stuff is going on in the soccer world with one highlight being former Galaxy defender Chris Albright slamming departed Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit at SI.com:
"My thought was that he'd be gone by midway through this year - I thought that two days after meeting him," said the 29-year-old defender, who was part of the Galaxy squad that made preseason trips to Australia and New Zealand.What was the problem? "Lack of respect for the players. No real concern about wanting to know MLS or caring to know MLS. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff [he did]."
I would. Dish, Chris, dish.
*Talking about knifing, (how's that for a segue) David Beckham is spending part of his time in England where he is ostensibly on national duty Wednesday playing in his nation's friendly against the Czech Republic (live noon on Fox Soccer Channel) taking part in an anti-knifing campaign.
Handguns are banned in England so they're stabbing each other instead. Nice.
By the way, Becks will fly to China after the game where he will take part in the Olympics closing ceremonies (London has the games in 2012).
*Fontana's Maurice Edu has apparently completed his $5 million move from Toronto FC to Glasgow Rangers.
*Meanwhile, former UCLA and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor has surfaced in the Bundesliga second division. From the U.S. Soccer Players newsletter:
Surprise signing Matt Taylor started and went 62 minutes for new club TuS Koblenz. Taylor, who only signed three days before the game, scored the second Koblenz goal in their 3-0 win over RW Oberhausen in 2Bundesliga action.
He didn't score, naturally.
*You really got a sense of the extent of the injuries Chivas USA is grappling with when the club released its injury list on Monday.
The latest to go down is defensive midfielder Jesse Marsch with a broken jaw suffered in Thursday's game against the Galaxy. His jaw was wired shut on Friday (which may be the only way to shut Marsch up) and will remain so for the first four weeks of his recovery. Reminder to self: send Jesse an e-mail and ask if he wants to blog. Give the man a voice!
Here's a telling stat from Chivas USA:
Through the first 19 games of the season, the Red-and-White have missed a total of 91 man-matches - or an average of to 4.79 players missing per game due to injury (not counting international absences).
And here's their (lengthy) injury report:
INJURIES (11):
Justin Braun Right ankle sprain Out
Jesse Marsch Fractured jaw Out
Lawson Vaughn Right knee sprain Out
Raphaël Wicky Right ankle surgery Out
Alex Zotinca Right knee surgery Out
Maykel Galindo Sports hernia surgery Questionable
Jonathan Bornstein Right hip strain Probable
Alecko Eskandarian Sports hernia surgery Probable
Jorge Flores Right ankle tendonitis Probable
Ante Razov Left knee sprain Probable
Claudio Suárez Concussion Probable
Oh, and Sacha Kljestan is on international duty with the U.S. National Team.
*On Saturday, Hayley Bolt scored two second half goals to lead Long Beach State to a 2-1 exhibition win over San Diego State. The 49ers open the regular season Friday against Gonzaga.
*The U.S. Under-15 Girls' National Team will play three matches at the 2008 Women's Nike Friendlies Wednesday through Sunday at Home Depot Center against Under-17 FC DELCO Thursday, Under-17 Irvine Strikers Friday and Under-17 Real Colorado Sunday.
The U.S. squad includes: defender Loeau LaBonta (Rancho Cucamonga), midfielders Haley Rosen (Palos Verdes), Marie MacKenzie (Palmdale) and Christina Murillo (Ojai).
Check back in the morning for more on Bruce Arena's appointment to the Galaxy coaching job.
Here's Bruce.
Photo by Sean Hiller
It was a more relaxed-looking and less intense-sounding Bruce Arena who was introduced as the Galaxy's new general manager and coach this morning at Home Depot Center.
The former U.S. National Team coach and two-time MLS Cup winner with D.C. United was under no illusions about the scale of the task facing him to get the Galaxy into the playoffs.
"There's a lot of issues we've got to deal with on the personnel side," he said.
"We're not in a great position right now," he added. "We can turn this around. (Galaxy owner AEG) realizes it's not going to happen overnight."
"I told the team the team is not about Landon Donovan or David Beckham," he said. "It's all of us."
Also:
*Cobi Jones will stay with the team as assistant coach.
*Former Chicago Fire coach Dave Sarachan has joined the team as "associate head coach."
*Arena said he is looking at bringing in Eddie Lewis.
The new Galaxy coaching regime: Sarachan, Arena and Jones.
Photo by Sean Hiller
No prizes for guessing my column topic Tuesday.
Back with more later.
Jesse Marsch feels the effects Thursday of Sean Franklin's elbow.
Photo by Scott Varley
Veteran Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch, a team leader and defensive stalwart, is out for six to eight weeks with a fractured jaw suffered in Thursday's game against the Galaxy, the team confirmed today.
He joins an ever-growing injury list at the club that has hampered its effort to match last season's performance when Chivas USA was Western Conference champion.
Marsch sustained the injury in the 78th minute of the game - forcing Chivas USA to play the rest of the game with 10 men since they had used all available substitutes - after a collision with Galaxy defender Sean Franklin.
Franklin called his flying elbow that connected with Marsch's head "inadvertent," but Chivas USA Coach Preki was furious about the incident after the game.
"I saw it out of the corner of my eye," said Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling. "I'm not sure how deliberate it was, the extent of it. I remember him walking by him and just dropping. That's all I saw out of the corner of my eye."
From the (edited) Chivas USA press release:
Marsch is the only player to have appeared in every game of the season for Chivas USA, starting all 19 games and is tied for second on the team in goals, with four. With Marsch's injury, Chivas USA now has a total of 11 players listed on its injury report.
The injury comes at a particularly inopportune time for Chivas USA - the club is embarking on a busy stretch of four games in 11 days beginning Wednesday in Houston.
Photo by Sean Hiller
Other media outlets are confirming this afternoon what Phil Collin wrote in his Galaxy-Chivas USA game story last night that many of you read here: "Sources said the Galaxy are expected to have a press conference next week to announce the hiring of Arena."
I'm betting the press conference is Monday.
Confirming the story are blogs like Soccer Insider and Soccer By Ives.
The latter notes former Chicago Coach Dave Sarachan will be Arena's assistant, leading one to wonder whether the Galaxy will retain Cobi Jones as well, if only for the sake of much-needed continuity.
Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas pulled quite a stunt after last night's game, when he took the SuperClasico Trophy and walked directly to the Chivas fans and held the trophy aloft.
Vagenas was asked if he meant to ``stick it'' to the fans?
``Yeah, I did,'' he said. ``The bravado needs to get back on this team.''
After speaking with the Galaxy's Landon Donovan and Greg Vanney about Bruce Arena tonight it's clear Arena is perceived very differently by the players he coaches than the public face fans and the media see.
Here's what the pair, who have both played extensively for Arena as members of the national team, had to say about him taking the Galaxy helm. (Rumors were swirling in the Home Depot Center corridors Thursday night that Arena has already signed a contract with the Galaxy).
Donovan:
"In my opinion Bruce is a great coach. I have a lot of respect for Bruce. I always hold a place in my heart for Bruce because he gave me my first chance with the national team at a time when he didn't really have to. So I think there's always been mutual respect there."He manages games, he manages situations, he manages teams, he manages administration, he's always ahead of the curve, he always knows what's coming next, what to expect, so you never worry about that from a preparation standpoint - you're always prepared. Bruce is as hard-working and dedicated to what he does as anybody I've ever met and he takes pride in it. ... He has everyone's respect always. ... You didn't always have to like his decisions, but you respected them and that's not always the case with coaches.
"You guys probably see a different Bruce than I've always seen. He's always been very respectful of me and vice versa. If he's been critical at times (of me), he's usually right."
Vanney:
He's going to bring experience and experience in this league. He knows the players, he knows the league. He's managed at the highest level so hopefully he'll bring some expectations, some experience, everything he's learned from the day this league started to now. And we need a little bit of that. Maybe the previous coach didn't know a lot about this league. .. I think he'll be stepping into a job where his skill sets, his knowledge and his coaching ability should probably be felt pretty quickly."Potentially he's a stabilizing figure and again given his experience and stature he comes in and he immediately garners a certain amount of respect.
"He was a player's manager. He would stick up for his players. And he would work with his players. ... He was just a guy people genuinely liked to play for. He was a good manager. I don't know if that's something he slipped away from in some of those latter stages with the Red Bulls and in the (2006) World Cup.
"He likes to play with the media. I think it's a mind game with him. ... He doesn't necessarily enjoy the media game, it's fun for him to do that kind of thing. He doesn't bring that sarcasm and that approach to the training field. He's very straight forward and cut and dried, very respectful of the players and the players' position and the work they're doing. ... His (training) sessions are usually short, sharp and to the point, very competitive. He's a good defensive coach, which will be good for us in terms of working our back four and getting our team defending on the same page and that was one of the highlights, I think, of the early D.C. teams. People obviously recognized the Etcheverry's and Moreno's, but they were a great defensive team in terms of team pressure and being on the same page and I think that's something we desperately could use.
"He's respectful and he's fair. Bruce does not have a problem telling you like it is and he's not going to tell you just what you want to hear, but that's all we ask as players that you're 100 percent honest with us.
"Bruce in the past hasn't been a West Coast guy. He's always tried to keep the national team away from the West Coast. ... This isn't really his lifestyle. I don't even know if he knows what guacamole is."
Blogging could be problematic tonight because of problems with the tubes and wires of the Internet thingie here at the Home Depot Center so bear with me (hey, it's only a $150 million stadium).
But former U.S. Coach Bruce Arena is in the building this evening so you know what that means. He didn't come all the way out from the East Coast just to watch. And the rumor is former Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos quit his coaching job in El Salvador today. I haven't been able to confirm that yet so if anyone knows, chime in.
Here's the Galaxy lineup: Cronin, Klein, Franklin, Jazic, Vanney, Beckham, Pires, Vagenas, Allen, Buddle, Donovan.
Carlos Ruiz is on the bench.
It appears Vanney has been moved to full back and Jazic is in the middle.
The lineup for Chivas USA: Thornton, Talley, Burling, Thomas, Mendoza, Savage, Marsch, Nagamua, Paladini, Braun, Harris.
Lawson Vaughn is out injured, although Maykel Galindo is on the bench.
Back later, the HDC Internet connection willing.
As expected, the Galaxy today dealt the rights to former striker and noted head case Clint Mathis to Real Salt Lake.
In return, they got a conditional fourth round pick in the 2010 draft.
From the (edited) Galaxy press release:
Mathis, who began his career with the Galaxy in 1998, was re-acquired by the club in November 2007. He accompanied the club on its tour of Australia and New Zealand, scoring in the 4-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix, but did not sign a new contract, electing to join Greek SuperLeague side Ergotelis. Mathis returned to the U.S. after the completion of the Greek season and trained with the Galaxy for a month, but did not sign with the club.
Oh, and if you were planning on heading out to the 10 a.m. Friday Galaxy-Chivas USA reserve team game - don't. Its been postponed.
Two former opposing players are now opposing coaches.
Photo by Juan Miranda
The still stunned LA Galaxy (6-8-5, 23 pts.) faces still injury-ravaged Chivas USA (6-8-4, 22 pts.) live at 8 p.m. (pre-game show starts at 7:30 p.m.) on ESPN2 with, um, fourth place in the Western Conference on the line.
This is the 15th time the two intra-stadium rivals have met. The Galaxy won the first five meetings between the teams; since then (June 2006) the series has been even at 3-3-3.
Landon Donovan believes the Galaxy can win despite the events of the past few days:
"They're not exactly flying right now," he said of Chivas USA. "Maybe playing a game (for us) would be a little therapeutic."
Given the tight race in the West - just six points separates the top six teams - Donovan said he was looking forward to the remainder of the season with optimism, despite the turmoil:
"We could be top of the league in three weeks, so there's no reason to be pessimistic. A little reality check is good though."
Phil Collin provides the game preview.
Incidentally, thanks to all of you who voted in our on-going poll regarding who should replace Ruud Gullit as coach.
You can still vote here, but it's pretty clear the people have spoken.
Cobi Jones received more than twice the votes of the next nearest candidate (wonder if that will change depending on the outcome of tonight's game?), Olympic Coach Peter Nowak.
I'm guessing that represents a desire for stability from fans (you can tell me if I'm right by leaving a comment below) who respect a figure who has been the face of the Galaxy for so long.
He may be inexperienced, but Cobi has always been a class act and that seems to be something missing from the organization in general right now.
Wonder how Donovan would have voted?
Here's Donovan on whether he would like to see Cobi take over for the rest of the season:
"I don't know, I haven't thought about it. But if we do well and he leads us the way we need to be led, then I don't see why not. But I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about trying to win a game."
I'll blog from Home Depot Center as usual.
If you're going to the game get there as soon as you can; the game is expected to be a sellout or close to it so traffic could get nasty as kickoff nears.
Almost forgot to mention: Your pregame entertainment at the HDC is famed Mexican folk band Banda el Recodo.
Have a good day.
Cobi Jones faced the media for the first time Tuesday as the Galaxy's interim coach.
Jones said kinder things about predecessor Ruud Gullit than some of the players I talked to Tuesday. And he was saying all the right things as far as former GM Alexi Lalas was concerned, too:
"It's a loss of someone that was very dedicated to this club and this organization, not only the Galaxy but AEG. It's a huge loss and he will be missed within the club and organization but for the players and everything, it's something else along with Ruud they have to put that behind them and move forward."
(Incidentally, Soccer By Ives is speculating the Galaxy have targeted Eddie Lewis.
It could be a short stint for Cobi; his status is in effect for just one game - Thursday's SuperClasico against Chivas USA.
So with speculation already mounting over who the identity of the next Galaxy coach, who do you think should take over the reins?
Does Jones represent the stability the Galaxy needs for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond?
Should AEG raid their most successful MLS club - the defending champion Houston Dynamo - and install Dominic Kinnear as head coach of the Galaxy?
With the Olympics over for the U.S. men, does the Galaxy need a defensive-minded, no-nonsense disciplinarian like Peter Nowak to whip them into shape?
Or should the ever-popular Sigi Schmid return?
Tell me who you think should be the next Galaxy coach in the poll below.
And if the name you want isn't listed, add a comment to this post.
It took a bit of reading between the lines, but it's clear more than few Galaxy players did not see eye to eye with now former Coach Ruud Gullit and were not unhappy to see him go in the least.
The players I talked to after practice today were circumspect and chose their words carefully, but it was obvious players were not prepared to fall on their swords, as it were, for Gullit.
The usually candid Pete Vagenas simply said to me he didn't know how to answer that question when I put it to him.
But there seemed to be an almost palpable sense of relief the brief Gullit era was over, even if Interim Coach Cobi Jones insisted Gullit had not lost the team.
Here's Vagenas on the situation:
"In the end I think things will be revealed. It will be clearer what happened. ... My differences with Ruud have been well documented."Players need to understand whether you like the coach or not the only reason you're here is Ruud wanted you and Alexi wanted you. Once they're gone all bets are off.
"A lot of people were maybe waiting for something like this to happen, which is not necessarily the best scenario. The best scenario is to turn things around because that guarantees you'll be part of it.
"Waiting for things to get to the point they've got to now, there's such uncertainty. I hope we can do a good job of keeping it out of the group. There's blood in the water now and teams know it.
Maybe guys are a little bit more comfortable (with Jones as coach). But in the end I don't know whether it was a comfort issue. ... It's very difficult to adjust - in the way a club has been going - over such a quick period of time. So I think there was conflict and I think specifically Alexi and Ruud will probably answer that better than I."
Landon Donovan had also clashed with Gullit, but said their relationship had improved of late:
It was actually okay. It was, believe it or not, better toward the end. Initially, he was a little hard on me. I was alright with that as long as it was respectful and at times it was a little disrespectful and that bothered me. Toward the end I think he figured out as he long as he treated me respectfully he could say things to me and I could get on with it.There was times he was disrespectful to people and I think that's where you rub people the wrong way. But to his credit I think he figured it out towards the end - probably too little, too late.
Even goalkeeper Steve Cronin, who had Gullit to be thankful for his starting job did not offer a suitable eulogy:
"His personality as a coach was very different from what a lot of us were used to and he wasn't used to us and it was a tough blend. ... I read a quote from him yesterday that said the job was tougher than he anticipated it was going to be when he came in. ... At the end of the day it just wasn't the right fit. When we started to get on a little bit of a slide and things didn't work out for his family it was time for him to move on."
Vagenas believes Jones is the best man to lead the Galaxy out of this mess:
"As things have gotten - I'll use Ruud's word - unstable - the more unstable they get the better Cobi seems to get. He's taken on a persona and a personality that I've never seen before.He's always one that got it done and people followed. He wasn't the most vocal person in the world he just did his work.
It's his club. And if he doesn't take ownership of it who will? Nobody in the entire world has more right to say what should be done than Cobi Jones."
To sum up just how dysfunctional the relationship between Lalas and Gullit was, it's instructive to note both addressed the team after their respective departures. Gullit spoke to the team today, Lalas on Monday.
Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit, a distant and cold figure to players and media alike, is gone.
GM Alexi Lalas, witty and personable, but ultimately self-defeating, overly manipulative and simply too clever for his own good has followed him.
"I think very highly of Alexi", AEG President Tim Leiweke told the LA Times. "But I think as an organization we need to go in a different direction here. We need to get rid of the tension and the stress and the issues that we have had."
Interim Coach Cobi Jones will try to hold things together beginning today. He won't receive much empathy. Many in the league who believe there's one rule for the Galaxy and another for the rest of MLS will enjoy this enforced lesson in humility.
Here are the basics on what went down Monday from Galaxy beat writer Scott Wolf.
Here's my take on the drama in today's column.
Updated: Interview with Tim Lieweke is here.
I'll have more later today from the SuperClasico press conference.
Where did it all go so wrong, Becks?
Photo by Scott Varley
Coach Ruud Gullit has resigned for alleged "personal reasons;" GM Alexi Lalas is out the door as well:
AEG head honcho Tim Leiweke: "There are two good people that for different reasons aren't part of this organization today, and that's a shame. The fact is, the players have to look deep inside themselves and understand they have to be responsible for some of this.
Updated:
The Galaxy just issued a press release on Lalas' firing and Gullit's departure.
Here it is in full:
Ruud Gullit, the head coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer (MLS) club, will leave the team for personal reasons it was announced today."Both parties have agreed on mutually-agreeable terms to part company," said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO AEG, investor/operators of the Galaxy. "It is an amicable arrangement and we appreciate and respect the issues that Ruud has highlighted with the club and are very grateful for all the hard work he has contributed while with the organization. Hopefully, he has laid the foundations for future success for the Los Angeles Galaxy."
Gullit, 45, the world-renowned soccer player who was named world player of the year in 1987 and 1989, joined the club in November last year. He commented: "In truth, it has proved a lot more difficult than I anticipated for my family to settle in the area and the club has been very supportive and understanding of my decision. I would like to thank the players and the fans for their fantastic support and I wish the LA Galaxy much success in the future. I would now like to spend some time with my family before considering any other position in football."
Galaxy assistant coach Cobi Jones will serve as the club's interim head coach while a search for a new head coach is undertaken. He will be assisted by current Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development Trevor James and Goalkeeper Coach Ian Feuer.
Jones, 37, an original member of the Galaxy, is in his first year on the team's coaching staff. A Los Angeles native, Jones played more than 300 games for the Galaxy during his 12-year MLS career (1996-2007). Before joining the Galaxy, Jones played college soccer at UCLA as well as playing professionally abroad with Coventry City of the English Premier League and Brazilian side Vasco de Gama. Jones was also a member of the U.S. National Team with whom he appeared a record 164 times. He played in three FIFA World Cups for the Red, White and Blue (1994, 1998 and 2002), twice helping his country advance past the tournament's group stage.
Jones is the Galaxy's all-time leader in nearly every statistical category, including goals (70), assists (91) and games played (306), making him one of just four MLS players to have appeared in more than 300 games and one of three players to have both 70 goals and 90 assists.
His first game in charge of the Galaxy will come on Thursday, August 14 when the Galaxy take on intra-city rivals Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center in a game that can be seen live on ESPN2 starting at 8 p.m. (PT).
It was also announced that Galaxy President and General Manager Alexi Lalas has been relieved of his duties effective immediately. Lalas joined the team in April 2006 after serving in the same capacity with the New York Red Bulls (formerly MetroStars).
"With Rudd moving on, we believe that this is the right time to make more sweeping changes throughout the organization," said Leiweke. "Our commitment continues to be focused on not only winning the MLS Cup this and every season but to build a club capable of competing at the international level. This decision is the right one for the organization, the right one for the players and the right one for our fans. We thank Alexi for the tremendous hard work and dedication he brought to his job each and every day."
Paul Bravo, the Galaxy's Director of Soccer, will continue in this role overseeing all issues related to the Galaxy's roster including scouting and evaluating players (collegiate and professional), overseeing the club's development system and other team administrative functions.
Assistant General Manager Tom Payne will continue to oversee the Galaxy front office, including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, marketing, programming, communications, operations and community development. Payne has been with the organization for six seasons.
No Ante Razov. No Maykel Galindo. No win. But a valiant effort.
Notable: For the first time this season Chivas USA wore its second uniform: white and red stripes with white shorts and white socks.
*Chivas USA Coach Preki, on tonight's match:
"There were a lot of positives. I thought we played a decent second half given all the circumstances. We had two or three really good chances to tie the game. (Wizards goalkeeper) Kevin Hartman made a couple of good saves, and we didn't get the tie. We showed a lot of character in the second half after getting down 3-0. We never quit. But you have to give (Kansas City) credit. They created good chances, they put three of them away and they got a win."
Question: What did Preki et al see in Roberto Nurse? (The new Mexican forward was hauled off again after just 55 ineffective minutes).
Are they relieved in KC? Yes.
Highlights:
First off, the U.S. Women defeated Japan 1-0 overnight at the Olympics.
USC's Amy Rodriguez got her surprise first start of the Olympics over Natasha Kai. Here's Coach Pia Sundhage on why she made the move:
"The reason for A-Rod instead of Kai was her speed. That was crucial when we looked at the way Japan plays. We talked about playing them both, but if you look at the game today, Angela Hucles, her possession and her game today was good ... We didn't want to play them both at the same time, but that is an option of course, depending on who we play."
Back in the U.S., Chivas USA (6-7-4) plays at 5 p.m. in Kansas City on Prime.
The team is without Coach Preki (suspended) for the second consecutive game and defender Claudio Suarez (concussion).
Panchito Mendoza, the lone Chivas USA player left from that horrible first season now that Brad Guzan has gone to England's Aston Villa, will play his 100th game for the club today. He becomes the first Chivas USA player to reach that milestone.
The game preview is here.
Not so coincidentally, the Wizards (5-6-7) are using the opportunity to reach out to Latino fans.
The Wizards have had trouble scoring this year. The top scorer: defender Jimmy Conrad with four goals.
In other Chivas USA news:
*Chivas USA midfielder Gerson Mayen has been called into the United States Under-20 Men's National Team for a five-day camp that runs Sunday through Thursday and includes two games against Guatemala. Mayen had previously been with the Under-20 team in April.
*Think you're the next Jorge Flores? Chivas USA is hosting two open tryouts this month, one from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 22 for adults, the other a mini-camp that runs from Aug. 29-30 and doubles as a tryout for the Under-18, Under-16 or Under-15 youth teams at the Bell Gardens Sports Center.
Register at the club's Web site or by e-mailing tryouts@cdchivasusa.com
This puts things in perspective.
While I was relaxing by a San Diego pool much of this week, a member of the LA Riot Squad was dying so I could do that.
My condolences to Gunner and the Riot Squad.
The memorial service is Tuesday.
Soccer goes on:
Saturday
2 a.m. U.S. Women's Olympic Team-Japan on USA
5 p.m. Chivas USA-Kansas City Wizards on Prime
Sunday
4:30 a.m. U.S. Men's Olympic Team-Holland on USA
7 a.m. Charity Shield Portsmouth-Manchester United on Fox Soccer Channel (can you believe the English season is cranking up again already)?
A few days after Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas tells me Carlos Ruiz is not going anywhere, Steven Goff supplies the trade rumor of the week.
Have a safe weekend.
RIP Private Jair De Jesus Garcia
Good morning from the 10th floor of the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, which sports a lovely view of the bay and where the wife is attending a convention. Me? I'm here to slum by the pool for a couple of days.
Before I do, here's today's column.
Were these normal times for the Galaxy I would be writing an Olympics preview for a column instead. But these are not normal times and so the pressure being applied to Galaxy General Manager Alexi Lalas was an obvious topic.
On a personal level, I like Alexi Lalas.
He's approachable, witty and accessible (Monday's interview was conducted on two hours notice).
But I, like many fans, have more than a few reservations about his ability as a general manager.
I suspect it's Lalas rather than Coach Ruud Gullit who could pay the price if AEG decides things don't unfold the way the company suits believe it should as the column points out.
Here are a few nuggets left over from the interview that didn't make it into the column for space reasons:
*On the possibility of the Galaxy coming to an agreement with defender Cory Gibbs - "He is a person of interest as they say," Lalas said. "He would be a welcome addition not just because of his ability, but because of the position that he plays and our obvious need to upgrade our defense."
*On whether Landon Donovan will head to Europe:
"At the end of the season we'll see what's appropriate for the Galaxy and Landon."
*On whether Carlos Ruiz and Pete Vagenas remain trade bait:
"I don't look for us to be making any changes with those players for the rest of the season unless something incredible (is offered) to us."
*On what the team needs -
"It doesn't need to be blown up. It doesn't need major reconstruction. Does it need an attitude readjustment? Absolutely. The sky is not falling no matter what people write or say ... We are going to need more men and less boys."
*On the fact the league's most potent offense can't keep up with the league's worst defense in terms of scoring more goals than are conceded -
"We need to get to a point with the Galaxy where we are able to score one goal and win the game. We're not there yet. If we hope to make the playoffs and take another run at an MLS Cup, we need to get there."
*So what is the answer? -
"We have set about from the start recognizing our ability to attack is an incredible weapon and also recognizing it will lead to times it can hurt us. We're still trying to find the proper balance."
*On the reaction he expects from players - and himself -
"Ultimately I think the players that we have here now - stars and non-stars alike - have to take ownership and take responsibility," he said. "I have confidence in my abilities and I have confidence in who I am. I don't feel it's appropriate for a GM to run around and try and qualify everything and quantify everything."
On what he would say to fans:
"I know people are frustrated. I know people are angry. They expect and deserve better than what we are giving them especially in recent performances ... Everyone from myself on down in this organization are doing everything possible to have this team succeed."
Enjoy your day. I'm off to the pool, but will be back later for a look at the busy soccer week ahead.
This is one of these games that could represent turning points in the season - for both teams.
Will Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas have a job come Tuesday?
The final score was 3-2 Earthquakes, with the winner coming from Ryan Cochrane in the 89th minute.
While the timing of the goal must have felt like a knife in the gut to the now 6-8-5 Galaxy, the winner was no more than San Jose deserved.
The Galaxy chased the entire game with Steve Cronin's failure to hold (yet again) two shots in quick succession leading to the deciding goal.
Virtually all the familiar Galaxy foibles were on display in fact:
*A failure to play a complete (or even half) a game.
*Few offensive ideas (and can Alan Gordon get any slower?).
*A static defense with Greg Vanney culpable on the opening goal, Chris Klein (did he slip?) and Sean Franklin at fault for the second and half the team scrambling to no avail to keep out the chaotic third.
*And a failure to close down attackers, especially a rampant Darren Huckerby, who scored on a superb individual effort just before half time and also created the fine first goal after just four minutes by Arturo Alvarez.
The Galaxy, as unlikely as it seemed, came back two minutes later via a Landon Donovan header from a David Beckham cross, while Edson Buddle supplied the 76th minute equalizer, a lovely cutback leaving two defenders sprawled in his wake before he buried a 19-yard shot.
Galaxy PR folks indicate they'll call me back in an hour or so from the reserve game that's on this afternoon, so hopefully I can talk to a player or two then.
A couple of notes while I wait for a call back:
*Eduardo Dominguez, the new Argentine defender who is the replacement for the waived Abel Xavier and then proceeded to have a nightmare in his debut against Dallas, was benched.
*Ex-Chivas USA midfielder Mike Munoz (who played all of five minutes with the team, but is perhaps best known for his girlfriend - a producer on Ryan Seacrest's show - waging a campaign to get him re-signed) was on the Galaxy bench.
*Donovan's goal was his league-leading 13th of the campaign; Buddle's was his 12th and he's second in the league in scoring.
Back with more later.
Updated:
Guess not.
"No one really wants to talk right now," said a team spokesman in response to my request for an interview with a player or two.
I don't blame them.
Updated:
David Beckham in the post-game press conference:
"It was disappointing to lose right at the end, but I think that what we can take from this game is that it was 100 percent better than last game. We showed some character. We fought back so that's what we need to take from this game. It's always disappointing to lose any game especially when you lose in the last couple of minutes."
Highlights:
More on the Galaxy's ultimatum and the possibility of signing defender Cory Gibbs here.
The Galaxy are ugly and getting uglier.
Sniping. Name-calling. Signs of locker room discontent. Is the Galaxy big enough for all this?
This is a team whose confidence looks shot and whose players are riven with doubts.
The basic question: how can a team with David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Carlos Ruiz in the line-up not only look so bad in Sunday's tortured 4-0 loss to Dallas, but have failed to win in the last six games?
The last time the Galaxy won a game was June 13 against the San Jose Earthquakes so you might think Ruud Gullit and Co., would relish meeting them again at noon (live on FSN and Telefutura). Especially since San Jose hasn't won in eight games.
But this Earthquakes team is a different proposition. The biggest change: Lawndale's Kei Kamara was banished for his inability to score, veteran Norwich City star Darren Huckerby was brought in and San Jose now actually look dangerous in attack.
Huckerby scored his first MLS goal in his home debut against Toronto with a typically opportunistic strike and was a threat throughout the game:
But Huckerby is much more than that. He possesses blinding pace that could shred the slow Galaxy defense, is capable of taking on defenders with a delicate touch and has a blazing shot.
Huckerby was beloved in Norwich (full disclosure: City are my English team) and this tribute video shows why. His last goal for Norwich at the end of the clip is vintage Huckerby:
Even worse, the last-place Earthquakes are motivated, desperate and smell blood in the water. This a must-win with the faltering Galaxy coming into Oakland and one of the largest crowds of the season urging the Earthquakes on.
With the pressure growing on Gullit and GM Alexi Lalas, this could be a pivotal game in terms of their Galaxy careers.
Goalkeeper Zach Thornton made his Chivas USA debut a day after being traded by New York, striker Ante Razov was out injured and the Fire's John Thorrington (Chadwick School) was man of the match as Chicago Saturday downed an unconvincing Chivas USA, 1-0.
How much did Chivas USA miss the midfield creativity and spark of Sacha Kljestan? But at least Maykel Galindo returned from injury and came on as a sub and Alecko Eskandarian saw some minutes, too.
Still, the only stat to reach double figures in this unspectacular game (Chivas USA had just two shots in the first half): fouls.
Highlights
Game story from a Chicago perspective.
Zach Thornton has landed in Chicago and Jesse Marsch looks pretty happy to see his former Fire teammate (and an experienced goalkeeper). Do we assume Thornton plays today? I think we do.
Two who won't play a part in today's Chivas USA-Chicago Fire game (5:30 p.m. live on Fox Soccer Channel) are Preki (at least on the bench-he's suspended) and Blanco. (ditto). Also absent: Sacha Kljestan (Olympics).
But Maykel Galindo and long-lost Alecko Eskandarian are probable.
Chivas USA, playing their first MLS game in a month, is 6-6-4 and fourth in the Western Conference; Chicago is 7-5-5 and third in the Eastern Conference.
Chicago haven't lost in five games, but that includes four draws; Chivas USA beat the Fire 2-0 at Home Depot Center in June.
Phil Collin has a game preview.
Also:
*Cameroon beat the U.S. Men's Olympic Team 2-0 early this morning our time on a penalty kick. It was the last game for the U.S. before the Olympics.
*Brad Guzan wasn't the only Southern California goalkeeper on the move this week. Loyola Marymount goalkeeper Patrick Lane signed a pro contract with Belgian club Cercle Bruges.
*Southern California could have two women's teams crowned national champions this weekend. Rolling Hills Estates-based Ajax America Women is in Sacramento for the Women's Premier Soccer League's Final Four.
The Sacramento Bee used the occasion to provide an update on the Women's Professional Soccer league, but managed to get the wrong name (and city) for Ajax.
Over in the W-League, the unbeaten Pali Blues play the Indiana Lionesses (how many of those do they have in Indiana?) in Virginia Beach, Va., for the championship. The game is on at 8 tonight on Fox Soccer Channel.
Chivas USA wasted little time once Brad Guzan's transfer to Aston Villa was confirmed today, trading for former Chicago Fire MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Zach Thornton.
They had only the inexperienced Dan Kennedy and Lance Parker on the roster.
The 34-year-old former U.S. international (eight caps), has been on the downside of his career ever since moving overseas for an unsuccessful stint in 2004 with Portugal's Benfica.
He has played sparingly for the Colorado Rapids and New York Red Bulls the last couple of seasons. But Chivas USA was desperate; all the Red Bulls got anyway was "future considerations."
"Zach is an experienced goalkeeper who has played in big games and won championships in our league," said Chivas USA Head Coach Preki Radosavljevic. "With the departure of Brad Guzan, we hope Zach will help Chivas USA both on and off the field as we make our push for a playoff spot."
Here's the rest of the (edited) Chivas USA press release:
In his 13-year MLS career, Zach Thornton has earned many accolades, including being named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 1998, the year he helped the Chicago Fire to two championships, the MLS Cup and a U.S. Open Cup. He is a five-time MLS All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003), and won two additional U.S. Open Cups with Chicago in 2000 and 2003, as well as the Supporters Shield with the Fire in 2003. A fixture in Chicago from 1998-2006, Thornton played a total of 215 games with the club (starting 212), and was named the team's MVP in 2002 and the Fire's defender of the year in 2001 and 2002.In 222 career MLS matches, Thornton has posted 57 shutouts and a goals-against-average of 1.28. Prior to the 2008 season, Thornton had played in MLS in every year of the league's history except 2004, when he was a member of the Fire but did not play a match with the team due to his joining Portuguese club Benfica in February of that year. He first came into Major League Soccer as a member of the MetroStars, as the New York club was known, prior to Major League Soccer's 1996 season, and played six games (starting five) in two seasons with the team before moving to Chicago.
Born October 10, 1973, the Edgewood, Md. native has also made eight appearances for the United States National Team. He attended Loyola College in Maryland, where he was a two-sport standout, earning All-America honors in lacrosse.
Galaxy coach Rudd Gullit said it was unlikely the club would sign former Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano, citing salary cap and other restrictions.
``He's not coming, I don't think he's coming,'' Gullit said. ``I have to accept it.''
Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit said the fact he is selling his Hollywood Hills house should not be interpreted as a sign he will quit after the season.
``For sure, I'm not going anywhere,'' Gullit said. ``My wife did not like the house.''
Brad Guzan finally secured the work permit he needed today to join Aston Villa of the EPL.
Chivas USA this morning posted a tribute video to Guzan:
"Brad was the first goalkeeper to defend the colors of Chivas USA in Major League Soccer. This organization has seen him grow from a 20-year-old rookie to a U.S. Olympian, the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and now a member of one of England's great clubs," said Chivas USA President and CEO Shawn Hunter. "We trust that Villa supporters will soon see what Chivas USA fans have known for some time: that this is a very special young man with the potential of becoming one of the great goalkeepers in the international game."
With all the money flowing into the game in England these days, Guzan has hit the proverbial jackpot, although he won't make as much as the 25 richest young footballers in England.
Closer to home, with the Galaxy and Chivas USA on the road there's no live local top-class soccer (I'll have a best of what's on the box below), but this is always a fun event:
And yeah, Rod will really be there this year.
Nansen Field is a gorgeous little private facility where you can sip a beer on the sidelines while watching the games (bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic lunch).
I wrote about this event three years ago and it's pretty much the same. Here's a reprint of the story from the Daily Breeze archives:
Pop star Rod Stewart performs in concert in Manchester, England, tonight, but his heart will be in Rolling Hills Estates.
A group of English expatriates take on their Scottish counterparts today in a fifth annual soccer game at Nansen Field with the Bob Stewart Caledonian Trophy at stake. Bob Stewart, Rod's father, died in 1990.His singer son customarily plays in the game -- for Scotland against the nation known as the "auld enemy"-- and his picture usually adorns posters advertising the game. As many as 800 people have watched the game in past years.
"The majority of people do come out to see him and take pictures," said Keith Wales, the event's chief organizer for Brits at Nansen, one of several groups of various nationalities who share the venue. "It's a tradition now and he wouldn't want us to not have it."
Stewart has played at Nansen, a secluded, superbly maintained field with a clubhouse on aptly named Hidden Valley Road, for about four years, his touring schedule and 60-year-old legs permitting.Stewart has contributed several signed items, including a soccer ball, hat and T-shirt, that will be sold at a silent auction.
Proceeds from the auction and event itself go to pay off legal bills incurred when in 1989 the Norwegian government, which contended it owned the 9.5-acre property, moved to sell it.
Locals balked and Norway sued. A judge eventually ruled that the true owner was a nonprofit group founded in 1952 so taxes didn't have to be paid on the property.
But the group was left with a $320,000 legal bill; that's now down to about $121,000.
To compensate for Stewart's absence, organizers have made the event a doubleheader.
A U.S. team will take on a team of German expatriates in the opening match.
Several well-known former soccer players have been invited to take part in both games, including former English international Gary Mabbutt.Thomas Dooley, a German native who made 81 appearances for the U.S. National Team, will line up for the Germans against Hall of Famer Paul Caligiuri.
"What a little traitor, huh," laughed Dooley's former national team teammate who coaches at Cal Poly Pomona. "It's going to be a nice reunion with some of the guys."
But it's the world's oldest international rivalry between England and Scotland, which dates back to 1872, that is the main draw.
A piper leads the teams onto the field, British food is the order of the day and spectators are encouraged to wear their national colors.
"At the moment (the series) is tied at two apiece," Wales said. "People like to come to this game whether (Rod) is there or not. Families come with kids."
The trickiest thing about the event for newcomers is finding the field. You basically just head out of Torrance and up the hill to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Here's a Google map:
View Larger Map
Finally, here's the highlights of the weekend TV schedule:
Today - CD Guadalajara-Tecos (delayed) 9 p.m. KAZA
Saturday- Chivas USA-Chicago Fire 5:30 p.m. FSN
W-League Championship Pali Blues-FC Indiana 8 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel (delayed)
Sunday - Galaxy-San Jose Noon FSN
4 p.m. Chivas Guadalajara- Barcelona 4 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel
Have a great weekend and I'll let Rod serenade us toward quitting time today.
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.
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