Steven Gerrard linked to Liverpool return, Klopp denies coaching role

AR-150709751.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667Steven Gerrard’s first MLS season ended with a flop in a 3-2 loss to Seattle, and since the Galaxy bounced out of the playoffs, the 35-year-old midfielder’s name has been linked to his old club Liverpool.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp denied a potential coaching position for Gerrard with Liverpool, telling the Guardian he has talked with Gerrard, but that only training is on the table.

“He is a legend,” Klopp said. “If he’s in Liverpool and wants to train ahead of next season in L.A. that’s absolutely no problem. Nothing else.” Continue reading “Steven Gerrard linked to Liverpool return, Klopp denies coaching role” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Robbie Keane on Ireland, LA and his career

Galaxy captain Robbie Keane.  (Photo by Brittany Murray / Daily Breeze)

Galaxy captain Robbie Keane. (Photo by Brittany Murray / Daily Breeze)

 

As Robbie Keane leads the team into the playoffs, I wrote about the Galaxy’s captain’s life in L.A. and just how a kid from Dublin becomes the king of the Galaxy.

An excerpt:

Even now each goal, each assist feels just as sweet as it did when Keane was a 17-year-old making his professional debut.

“I think that (feeling) is why things have gone well for me here,” Keane said. “That’s why I continue to want to score goals, wanting to do well for the team, wanting to get assists. If I continue to keep doing that, I can play here for a long time, there’s no question about that.”

 

Continue reading “Robbie Keane on Ireland, LA and his career” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Galaxy game day: Playoff seeding comes down to Decision Day

Graphic by Thuc Nhi Nguyen // LANG

Graphic by Thuc Nhi Nguyen // LANG

It all comes down to this.

It’s Decision Day and by 6 p.m. tonight, we’ll finally know how the playoff seeding shakes out. The situation remains the same for the Galaxy: Win and you’re in. A win at Sporting Kansas City gives L.A. the No. 2 seed and that coveted first-round bye. A win could drop them as far as fifth.

Continue reading “Galaxy game day: Playoff seeding comes down to Decision Day” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

(VIDEO) Bruce Arena on 5-2 Portland loss: “We were purely, physically dominated at every position”


Watch Bruce Arena’s press conference after the Galaxy’s 5-2 loss to Portland on Sunday.

Hit the jump for a transcript provided by the LA Galaxy of what he said.

Continue reading “(VIDEO) Bruce Arena on 5-2 Portland loss: “We were purely, physically dominated at every position”” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

LA Galaxy game day: Fight for playoff seeding in full force

Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff photographer

Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff photographer

The Galaxy control their own destiny when it comes to clinching a first-round bye in the MLS Playoffs. If they win at least one of their final two games, then they will avoid a knockout round. But after that, getting that second seed in the Western Conference gets complicated.

Continue reading “LA Galaxy game day: Fight for playoff seeding in full force” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Morning after: Galaxy draw with Sounders, clinch playoff spot

Robbie Keane's goal in the 37th minute was enough for the Galaxy to clinch a playoff berth against Seattle on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Robbie Keane’s goal in the 36th-minute was enough for the Galaxy to clinch a playoff berth against Seattle on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A stoppage-time goal from Chad Barrett buried the Galaxy’s chances at a crucial road victory on Sunday at Seattle, as the Sounders equalized in the 93rd minute to salvage a tie against the Galaxy.

Despite the 1-1 draw, the Galaxy still clinched a playoff spot with forward Robbie Keane’s 36th-minute goal. But as the captain said, it’s was “definitely two points dropped” instead of one won.

“I am disappointed we didn’t win the game,” Keane told reporters after the game. “It is as simple as that. Hard work that everyone put in to get a clean sheet. The effort we poured in to win that game.”

The point also puts the Galaxy back in the top spot for the Western Conference and in a tie with the New York Red Bulls for the lead for the Supporters’ Shield.

Hit the jump for more from Sunday’s game: Continue reading “Morning after: Galaxy draw with Sounders, clinch playoff spot” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Galaxy game day: Juninho’s greatest hits always seem to come against Seattle

Juninho celebrates after scoring against the Sounders in the 2014 Western Conference Finals. Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Juninho celebrates after scoring against the Sounders in the 2014 Western Conference Finals.
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The Galaxy can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a draw against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday at CenturyLink Field. There have been plenty of big games between the two Western Conference foes, including last year’s Western Conference Finals when Juninho sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup with an amazing goal from distance.

Long-distance shots have become a trademark for the Brazilian midfielder, and he seems to be especially accurate against the Sounders. Hit the jump to see all of Juninho’s greatest hits against Seattle and for all other necessary pregame reading:

Continue reading “Galaxy game day: Juninho’s greatest hits always seem to come against Seattle” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Galaxy game day: LA hosts FC Dallas in critical matchup

Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer

Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer

The Galaxy face FC Dallas in a big MLS matchup today (6:30 p.m., FOX Sports 1) for potential playoff seeding as both teams are tied for second in the Western Conference. Many players, including A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez and Sebastian Lletget, called it a “must-win.”

The team is on a four-game winless streak, having not won since the star-studded affair that was the 5-1 drubbing of New York City FC. The Galaxy have four games remaining in the regular season, with all four games against current play-off bound teams.

Here’s everything you need to know for game day:

Continue reading “Galaxy game day: LA hosts FC Dallas in critical matchup” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Is Steven Gerrard more approachable than David Beckham?

AR-150709751.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667

L.A. Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard waves to the fans as he is introduced during halftime against Toronto FC. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Steven Gerrard is making a great first impression on teammates, fans and staff.

The 35-year-old Englishman will naturally draw lots of comparisons with David Beckham, the Galaxy’s first Designated Player who helped the club win two MLS Cup titles and is also from England. So, it’s no surprise that some at StubHub Center on Saturday were comparing Gerrard to Beckham, even pointing out that Gerrard “is more approachable” than Beckham. They are not the only ones who feel this way, the paparazzi would agree.

That is not to say Beckham was not approachable, or nice. It probably means people were more in awestruck or intimidated by his star-power more than anything else. After all, Beckham was an almost mythological figure who everyone had heard or read about. It could also mean that the club learned from its mistakes with Beckham.

For his part, Gerrard is doing his best to fit in and is getting along great with his new teammates and fans. The Liverpool legend began training with Robbie Keane, Juninho and Co. last week. He also endeared himself to his new fan base by buying them beer, or as he wrote, “4th of July refreshments.”

“I’ve been looking forward to him coming – he’s been here the last 10 days or so. He’s been absolutely brilliant with the players and he’s a great lad on and off the field,” Keane told SkySports. “We’re excited to have him here and he’s going to be a huge addition to this squad. Stevie has that hunger and desire to always do well … he wants to come here and win things.”

Club president Chris Klein, who played with Beckham, also provided an upbeat report of Gerrard’s first week with the Galaxy to this publication.

“It’s been good to get him in (training) and have a little run up until we actually start and until he actually plays,” he said. It allowed him to “get comfortable with our coaches, the different players and he got to meet everyone.”

And just as important, everyone got to meet him.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email