Start of MLS off-season calendar will keep teams extremely busy

It  has already been a busy off-season for the Galaxy and it will only get busier with the official start of the MLS off-season calendar.

Here is a quick primer of what’s ahead for MLS for the next 10 days.

Sunday, Dec. 11
  • Half-Day Trade Window from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
  • No trades involving players will be permitted after 12 p.m. ET up until the conclusion of the Expansion Draft
Monday, Dec. 12
  • Expansion Draft Protected Player List and eligible Free Agents made public
Tuesday, Dec. 13
  • Expansion Draft held at 2 p.m. ET
  • Beginning at 5 p.m. ET, Free Agents may engage in negotiations with all MLS clubs.
Wednesday, Dec. 14
  • List of players eligible for selection in the Waiver Draft made public
Thursday, Dec. 15
  • Waiver Draft held at 2 p.m. ET
  • Beginning at 5 p.m. ET, clubs may no longer sign or trade their own Re-Entry eligible players (player-trade blackout window)
  • List of players available in Stage One of the Re-Entry Draft made public
Friday, Dec. 16
  • Stage One of the Re-Entry Draft held at 3 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Dec. 21
  • Starting at 11 a.m. ET, clubs may no longer sign or trade their own Re-Entry eligible players (player-trade blackout window)
  • List of available players in Stage Two of the Re-Entry Draft made public
Thursday, Dec. 22
  • Stage Two of the Re-Entry Draft held at 3 p.m. ET
January 7-12, 2017
  • 2017 adidas MLS Player Combine
Friday, Jan. 13, 2017
  • 2017 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas
Monday, Jan. 23, 2017
  • 2017 MLS preseason begins
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Galaxy approaching final weeks of regular season with new focus

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Galaxy returned to the practice field Monday with a clearer focus.

The Galaxy can’t finish in top 2 spots in the Western Conference, but could still host the knockout round game, if they’re able to finish either third or fourth.

“We got a lot of good work in,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said of last week. “I think we

Photo by Steve McCrank // Staff Photographer

Photo by Steve McCrank // Staff Photographer

made a lot of progress with our team. There were definitely some things we wanted to work on, just getting our team better and having a clearer understanding of what we want to be about as we close out the regular season.”

The road to either the third or fourth place spot will be interesting. The Galaxy will go in Sunday’s game at Houston with 48 points. Real Salt Lake has 45. Seattle (44) has a midweek against Houston, so if current form holds, the Sounders would be expected to win, giving them 47. Sporting Kansas City has 43.

“Our success has put us in a difficult position,” Arena said. “Every game we play is a big game for our opponents. The game in Houston is going to be a difficult game and we know that.”

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All of the Western Conference games on Sunday will start at 2 p.m. (PST).

Galaxy at Houston; Sporting Kansas City at Real Salt Lake; Vancouver at San Jose; Colorado at Portland and Seattle at FC Dallas.

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There is a good chance that the Galaxy could have three consecutive home games to start the playoff run. They host FC Dallas (Oct. 23) in the final game of the regular season. If they finish third or fourth, the Galaxy will host the knockout round game (Oct. 26 or 27) and if they’re successful, they would host the first leg of the conference semifinal against Colorado or FC Dallas.

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Galaxy preview: Galaxy faces Real Salt Lake in key showdown

The Galaxy snapped its six-game winless streak with its 2-1 victory over Columbus galaxy1Crew SC, Saturday. Now, on a short turnaround, Bruce Arena and company are in Utah to face Real Salt Lake (TWCS; 6:30 p.m.)

Both teams and Colorado are tied for second on 43 points in the Western Conference.

The teams met earlier this season with the Galaxy winning 5-2.

RSL, Galaxy and Colorado are eight points behind leader FC Dallas. The Galaxy returns home Sunday to take on Orlando City SC, while FC Dallas takes on Colorado on Saturday.

Things are getting interesting in the Western Conference.

Game day preview: Bruce Arena focused on RSL; not No. 200

 

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Forbes ranks Galaxy as second most valuable MLS franchise

Forbes announced franchise valuations for Major League Soccer Wednesday. According to the report, the Galaxy is valued at $265 million, second to the Seattle Sounders ($285 million).

The report also stated that the Galaxy has the highest revenue from 2015 with $58 million.

Here is the complete top 10:1. Seattle $285 million; 2. Galaxy $265 million; 3. New York City FC $255 million; 4. Toronto FC $245 million; 5. Orlando City FC $240 million; 6. Houston $215 million; 7. Portland $210 million; 8. Sporting Kansas City $195 million; 9. New England $185 million; 10. San Jose $180

Forbes’  valuation estimates are based on multiples of revenue, as well as projections of future growth for the league. According to the report, the average MLS team is worth $185 million, up 18 percent from last year and 80 percent from 2013.

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Galaxy recap: One goal is all it takes to sink Galaxy

It was an early goal, one that probably shouldn’t have counted, but that was all it took for New York City FC to defeat the Galaxy, 1-0, Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC’s David Villa scored his 16th goal of the season in the sixth minute. He appeared to be in an offside position when Ronald Matarrita sent in a shot that deflected off of Galaxy goalkeeper Clement Diop.

The Galaxy record is now 9-4-11 with 38 points, tied with Sporting Kansas City for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Arena on what went wrong:

“Well, there wasn’t a whole lot of quality to our passing in the last third today. And then you look at the game, it was a tight game, we concede a goal early. In the first half, Nigel has an open goal that he misses. Second half, Robbie Keane has an open goal with his header. [He was] probably a little hesitant to head the ball coming off a concussion and fractured orbital bone, but those chances, they’re not going to come that often. They kept their players in pretty tight at the end of the game, and took out some players in the midfield and really clamped down. The couple of chances we get, we have to put one in the back of the net. That’s the name of the game. The conditions were tough for both teams, and that’s that.”

What’s next: The Galaxy remains on the road and heads to Chicago, Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) The Fire is in last place in the Eastern Conference.

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Reunion weekend for Lampard, Cole and Gerrard in New York

Former teammates, close friends, this weekend is a reunion of galaxysorts for Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard.

The trio were fixtures on the England National team and Lampard and Cole were teammates at Chelsea FC.

Saturday at Yankee Stadium, Gerrard and Cole will try and slow down one of the league’s top scoring teams in Lampard’s New York City FC.

I’m going to try and see Ash and Stevie at the hotel,” Lampard said to NYCFC.com. “I’ve got a couple of Chelsea friends over from London as well for the game. We might go and see them if I have the chance. But we’re focused. We’re friends, but in the buildup to games I like to keep my head down and Ashley is the same. If they stay over after the game then maybe we’ll share a dinner or a beer afterwards.”

Lampard has scored nine goals this season and David Villa has 15. Cole and the Galaxy defense will have to be on top of their game to slow down the duo.

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Galaxy morning recap: Galaxy comes away with a point against Colorado

It wasn’t pretty, it was sometimes frustrating, but the Galaxy wakes up today with a point galaxyfollowing Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Colorado.

The Galaxy is now on 38 points in the Western Conference.

Against any other team and goalkeeper, the Galaxy would have had two or more goals. However, in goal for the Rapids stood Tim Howard and he was on top of his game.

Colorado’s Pablo Mastroeni: “Obviously I think we’ve been a  pretty good defensive team this year. Everything we do is predicated upon our defense. It ignites our attack. It keeps us in games. And when that hasn’t been the case, Tim Howard has come up huge and tonight he had a great game for us.”

Colorado didn’t create many chances, but had one and Shkelzen Gashi buried it in the 51st minute for a 1-0 lead.

The Galaxy, without Robbie Keane, went searching for at least the equalizer. Emmanuel Boateng was effective firing up and down the wings. In fact, it was one of his runs, that set up the corner kick that led to Daniel Steres’ goal.

Yes, Daniel Steres. The center back got on the end of a Steven Gerrard kick and scored in the 62nd minute.

Steres: He (Gerrard) puts in a great ball and I thought over the course of the night that we had a pretty good advantage on set pieces. We were getting our heads on a lot of things; Jelle (Van Damme) had one off the post. A few others, so I think it was bound to happen and that was the one.”

Howard on the goal: “We had given away too many corner kicks all game and it was difficult to defend. Obviously Steven (Gerrard) whips some really good balls in and the big fellas are always getting their head on it. I think when you give LA too many of those they are bound to score.”

My man of the match: Emmanuel Boateng – His work rate was impressive throughout the night and with his speed, was able to get into open spaces and put the Colorado defense in difficult situations.

What’s next: So that ends a strange three-game homestand for the Galaxy where the club only secured two points (2-2 draw against New York and 1-1 against Colorado) and was eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup thanks to five-minute blip against FC Dallas.

In league play, the Galaxy is still undefeated at home (6-0-6). The next two games are on the road.

Up next for the Galaxy: at New York City FC, Aug. 20 (ESPN)

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Saturday Galaxy preview: Western Conference showdown with Colorado on tap

The Galaxy didn’t have much time to shake off the sting of Wednesday’s collapse in the GalayU.S. Open Cup semifinal. Tonight, the Galaxy is back at it again, this time against Colorado in a Western Conference showdown.

The Rapids are on 41 points. The Galaxy has 37.

These are two of the toughest defenses to score against. Colorado has allowed the fewest goals and the Galaxy the second fewest. Will anybody score? Tune into Time Warner Cable Sports Net at 7:30 p.m. or join us at StubHub Center to find out.

Here are some game day links:

Galaxy concludes home stretch with Colorado

Midfielder Jeff Larentowicz suspended for tonight

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Galaxy morning recap: Wild night at StubHub Center

It was a wild and crazy night at StubHub Center last night. New York went up 2-0, Galaxy rallied for the 2-2 draw thanks to late goals from Mike Magee and Ashley Cole.

New York coach Jesse Marsch was sent off, but hugged the fourth official before taking his coat off and walking off.

There were a couple of fouls that could have led to penalties for New York, but also the Galaxy should have received a penalty in the first half, but none were called.

Fun times.

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Sunday Galaxy preview: Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls

The Galaxy kicks off August with a home game against the New York Red Bulls (6:30 p.m.; Fox Sports 1). NYRB enters the game fourth in the Eastern Conference (9-9-5, 32 points). The Galaxy is now fourth in the Western Conference (9-3-9, 36 points). Here are your pregame links:

Galaxy

Galaxy moves quietly before close of Transfer Window

Bruce Arena sees room for improvement

Emmanuel Boateng taking advantage of playing time

 

 

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