Galaxy '08 Roster
Mar. 26, 2008
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Home Depot Center (Capacity: 27,000)
2007 Record: 9-14-7, 34 pts. (5th in Western Conference)
GF: 38 (8th in MLS)
GA: 48 (12th in MLS)
Finish: Did not make MLS Cup Playoffs
Head Coach: Ruud Gullit (first season with club)
Key Departures: Cobi Jones, Joe Cannon, Chris Albright, Ty Harden, Gavin Glinton
Key Additions: Carlos Ruiz, Alvaro Pires, Greg Vanney
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
GOALKEEPER
Steve Cronin: The departure of Joe Cannon opened the door for Cronin to become a starter for the first time in his career. Josh Wicks has pushed Cronin in preseason, but this is still Cronin's job to lose.
DEFENDERS
Chris Klein: Right back really isn't Klein's preferred position, but he did so well here last season, the Galaxy felt comfortable trading away World Cup veteran Chris Albright to New England this winter.
Abel Xavier: Mountains of experience make Xavier, a one-time Portugal international who played in the World Cup, an obvious choice in the center of the back line for the Galaxy.
Greg Vanney: The Galaxy didn't bring in a lot of new players via trade this offseason, but Vanney was one they did. The former U.S. international should have no problem locking down a place in the Los Angeles defense.
Michael Gavin: With Ante Jazic recovering from surgery and Mike Randolph struggling in preseason, Gavin has stepped in and take over the left fullback position.
MIDFIELDERS
David Beckham: Beckham's ability to serve in crosses is too valuable to not put him on the wing, especially with a player like Carlos Ruiz up top who is extraordinarily strong in the air for a player his size.
Alvaro Pires: The Brazilian has been one of the most consistent players throughout the preseason for the Galaxy. He played so well that the Galaxy had no qualms getting rid of Kelly Gray and Kevin Harmse.
Josh Tudela: It will be a trial by fire season for Tudela, who barely sniffed the field in his rookie season last year for the Galaxy.
Landon Donovan: Ruud Gullit experimented with Donovan on the left against Dallas in the preseason, and looked dangerous. Expect the experiment to continue until further notice.
FORWARDS
Carlos Ruiz: "Fish" returns to Los Angeles, with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. The Galaxy offense struggled for much of the year last year, and Ruiz will be expected to take a huge load off of Donovan's shoulders.
Alan Gordon: Staying healthy will be the only thing preventing Gordon from staying in the starting 11 this year. Gullit experimented with him in the midfield, but at 6-foot-3, he's just too big not to park in the box.
OUTLOOK
The Galaxy should be an improved team this year, but the West is improved overall as well. LA should be able to contend for a playoff spot, where as they proved in 2005, anything is possible.
GRADING THE SEASON
It would be a monumental failure if the Galaxy misses the playoffs for the third year in a row. Getting back to the postseason has to be considered a success, especially considering the down years of the last two seasons.
NEWCOMER(S) WITH THE BIGGEST IMPACT
If Carlos Ruiz doesn't have the biggest impact on the Galaxy this season, then something went terribly wrong with LA this season.
David Beckham: Sent Off for Wanting Kids to Have Fun (Yahoo! Contributor Network) Have you ever watched, played in, or coached a sports game where a referee went too far or did not go far enough? During a soccer match in Los Angeles, the home of the 2011 MLS Cup Champions the LA Galaxy, David Beckham sat with his son Romeo watching the match. Galaxy Defeat L.A. Blues, 7-2: Fan's Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network) The Los Angeles Galaxy started off their preseason matches with a bang, blowing out the Los Angeles Blues, 7-2. I know the Blues are a USL Pro side and that it was only a preseason match, but I don't mind one bit that the new offense was clicking. Los Angeles Galaxy Take Top Spot in Preseason Poll: A Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network) Not long into the 2011 season, the Los Angeles Galaxy took the lead in the MLS Power Rankings. After that, they became the team to beat. It's only February. However, in a preseason poll, Major League Soccer has already projected the Galaxy as the top team in the preseason... Edson Buddle Returns to the Los Angeles Galaxy: Fan’s Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network) On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy strengthened their squad by signing forward Edson Buddle on a free transfer. Buddle returns to the team after spending a year with Bundesliga 2 club FC Ingolstadt.
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The Galaxy opened their stadium, the Home Depot Center on June 7. But in order for their home to be ready, the team had to play a record 8 games to start the season and failed to win a game. In fact, the Galaxy finish the season without a win away from home the whole season. After the season's final game, the Galaxy had the final playoff spot in the West. In their aggregate series with the Earthquakes, they seemed well on to vindication for the MLS Cup loss 2 years earlier as they held 4 goals to 0 lead midway through the 2 nd game. A thing happened as the Earthquakes scored four unanswered goals to force a tiebreaker. In that session, the Earthquakes' Rodrigo Farina score to send the Quakes onto the next round.
In 2004 Looking to return to the top, the Galaxy would go through a mediocre 1 st half of the season before 3 straight wins over the summer. But from July 14 on, the Galaxy won only 2 more games, one in September and one in October. The Galaxy had a record of 11-9-10, good enough for 2nd in the West and the playoff, remaining the only club in MLS to have a playoff spot in every year of league in the playoffs, the Galaxy withstood an early challenge from the Rapids to win the aggregate goal series, 2-1, scoring 2 times in Game 2. In the conference final, the Galaxy's season would come to an end in Kansas with a 2-0 loss to Arnaud and the Wizards.
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