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Galaxy '08 Season Preview |
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Galaxy '08 Season Preview |  |
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Galaxy '08 Season Preview Mar. 25, 2008
David Beckham is finally healthy but Los Angeles still has a long way to go to become one of the top club's in MLS. The former English captain filled stadiums - even when he was just sitting on the bench - in an otherwise lost debut season in the league last year. After joining the team in mid-season, Beckham was limited to just five games - two starts - because of ankle and knee injuries and finished with two assists. Los Angeles finished with a 9-14-7 record. It wasn't the debut anyone anticipated when Beckham joined MLS for around $250 million. But if the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder stays healthy, there's arguably no better player in the league. But is Beckham enough for L.A. ? Sure, the Galaxy also feature United States star Landon Donovan and former MVP Carlos Ruiz but those three account for nearly half of the team's salary cap. Quick, name any other player on the Galaxy. Not that easy, is it? It's easy to imagine Beckham delivering one perfect cross after another to the dynamic tandem of Donovan and Ruiz. But if Donovan and Ruiz struggle to score, it won't make a difference. "When you don't finish chances," Beckham told MLSnet.com after a preseason 0-0 tie with FC Dallas, "it's always going to be a close game." In addition to Donovan and Ruiz - who was acquired from Dallas in an offseason trade - Los Angeles returns four other players who started at least 15 matches last season. Midfielder Chris Klein (21 starts) and Peter Vagenas (20), and defenders Ante Jazic (16) and Mike Randolph (15) were regulars for the Galaxy last year. Forwards Edson Buddle and Alan Gordon, midfielder Josh Tudela and defenders Troy Roberts and Abel Xavier also saw extended playing time. But that group is largely responsible for L.A. allowing 48 goals last season. Only expansion Toronto FC allowed more goals with 49. Other than Ruiz, the only notable move the Galaxy made in the offseason was to acquire veteran defender Greg Vanney, who made 24 starts between Colorado and D.C. United last season. The most stable part of the entire team last season was goalie Joe Cannon, who started 29 of the team's 30 matches. But he was traded to expansion San Jose , leaving Steve Cronin - who played in one game last year - as the starter. "The most important thing is to build a good foundation. It all builds up from the defense and midfield to up front," first-year L.A. coach Ruud Gullit told MLSnet.com. "We're not where we want to be but hopefully, slowly we will get there. "You want immediate results but that's something you can't get. The youngsters have to have experience the older players have to help them out a lot." That starts with Beckham and continues with Donovan and Ruiz. Donovan had eight goals and 13 assists last season and is capable of producing even more impressive numbers with Beckham healthy and Ruiz taking some of the pressure off. Ruiz had just seven goals last season, the first time since he joined MLS in 2002 that he failed to score more than 10 goals in a season. Remember, though, that in his debut season in the league, Ruiz scored 24 goals and was named the MVP when he led L.A. to the MLS Cup. Ruiz scored 15 and 11 goals in his next two seasons in L.A. before he was sent to Dallas for the rights to acquire Donovan. Ruiz kept scoring in Dallas with 11 and 13 goals, respectively, in his next two seasons. Donovan and Ruiz form one of the top scoring tandems in MLS - if not the best. Add Beckham to the mix, setting up scoring chances with his crosses, and there really is no telling just how many goals the duo will score. How much the international superstar improves the rest of the team will likely determine the Galaxy's success this season. "David played well," Gullit told MLSnet.com after the preseason game. "He's an excellent player and a great example for the other players ..., especially the youngsters. He has the experience we need to bring the youngsters to a new level." Otherwise, it will be another long season for the Galaxy.
MLS players vote to strike if no deal by March 25 (AP) Major League Soccer players voted to strike if a new labor contract isn't agreed to before the season opener on March 25. The league's first collective bargaining agreement, a five-year deal, originally was set to run out Jan. 31 but was extended twice while negotiations continued. It expired Feb. MF Victorine retires after 10-year career (PA SportsTicker) Chivas USA midfielder Sasha Victorine has retired from Major League Soccer after 10 seasons because of recurring injuries. FC Dallas acquires goalkeeper Hartman (PA SportsTicker) FC Dallas has signed goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, a four-time MLS All-Star.
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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