WonCA » Jo-Ryan Salazar

Countdown To David Beckham’s Return Continues for Los Angeles Galaxy

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:51:00 +0000

It was a week ago that David Beckham made a promise to return to action for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy against Robert Warzycha's Columbus Crew on September 11, 2010.

Fast forward a week: it looks like he is set to make due on his guarantee after taking part in an accelerated training session on Tuesday.

“You can tell he has that competitiveness back,” Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant said. “When you come back from something that long, you’re kind of careful at first. Now he’s over that. It’s given us a boost. Anytime you can add someone like David Beckham to their team at this stage of the season is going to be a big plus for you.”

If Beckham does make his return to action against Columbus, it would be earlier than expected. During training, Beckham went through drills that restored his strength and agility while the rest of the team played short-sided games. Eventually, he participated in full training sessions with the club.

Arena, however, opted to ease him into action instead of rushing him in.

“Having a player of that quality around is huge. It makes a difference,” Arena said earlier this week. “Therefore, that’s why we’re hopeful we get him to a point where he can get on the field and help us this year.”

“I think it’s up to him and the coaching staff to realize where David’s at,” Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez said. “If it’s still hurting him, another game won’t hurt to sit him out but if he’s ready to go, it’s all up to him."

Beckham would be available on September 16 against D.C. United if Arena chooses not to place the England international on the bench this week.

“We’ve got to be good professionals and do our job,” Dunivant said. “If he does get some time, it will be great. If he doesn’t, he’ll be ready the next week I’m sure. David is the ultimate competitor and he’ll want to be out there.”

Kickoff for the match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT and can be seen on tape delay at 9:30 p.m. PT on Fox Sports West.

Ins and Outs

350 Minutes of Futility Down the Drain

Omar Gonzalez's goal on Saturday against the Chicago Fire ended a goalless streak that lasted 350 minutes.

This streak is the third-longest in MLS this year and the second-longest in club history; only the Kansas City Wizards (402 minutes) and D.C. United (352 minutes) have gone longer without scoring a goal in the league this season.

Los Angeles' record for the longest span without a goal in 525 minutes, from April 29 to June 3 of the 2006 season.

Juninho Is a Go

If Beckham is not available to be on the bench Saturday against the Crew, Juninho will definitely be available for action. Juninho has missed the last two games while attending to personal matters in his native Brazil.

Currently, Juninho has appeared in and started 18 games for the club. The 21-year-old Brazilian has a goal and two assists, while also adding a goal in the U.S. Open Cup win over AC St. Louis on June 29.

Over the four games missed, the Galaxy have only mustered a 1-2-1 record.

Could Another Dry Spell End on Saturday?

Victoria Street's home field advantage has been lacking in more ways than one for the G's.

The Galaxy are 0-3-1 at The Home Depot Center since a 3-1 win over Seattle on July 4, including 0-2-1 in the league.

With the defeats to Kansas City and Chicago, the Galaxy have now lost consecutive home games in the league for the first time since 2007.

The only time that LA dropped three or more consecutive home games was in 2006, where they lost four straight from April 22 to June 8.

Stephens on the Bench

Michael Stephens, after playing in LA's first 22 games of the 2010 Major League Soccer campaign, was an unused substitute. The 21-year-old rookie was the only player to appear in the Galaxy's first 22 games and was on track to become the second straight rookie to appear in all 30 MLS matches this season.

The UCLA graduate is now tied with Omar Gonzalez for the most games played on the team this season, each appearing in 22 games. Stephens has one goal and seven assists to go with 18 starts and 1,629 minutes, good for fourth-most on the team.

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Columbus Crew: In Remembrance of What is To Come

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:37:00 +0000

On the ninth anniversary of one of America's darkest hours, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy and Robert Warzycha's Columbus Crew clash in one of the most anticipated showdowns this season at the Home Depot Center.

Omar Gonzalez's equalizer against the Chicago Fire on Saturday at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois could be the spark plug the team needs to refuel their chances to win the Supporters' Shield.

“We’ve played with more intensity today, it was a better performance," Arena said on the draw. "Our last two to four weeks the performance wasn’t good. Our performance today was much better than it’s been."

The possibility of David Beckham returning to the field for this match is something the team can't pass up, especially captain Landon Donovan.

“We need to liven things up a little bit,” Donovan said earlier this week. “When David gets back—I think David will help a lot. We need some fresh energy.”

Donovan knows all too well the inevitability of parity playing a key role in the race for the Shield and the postseason.

“It usually happens this time of year in MLS," Donovan said after Saturday's match. "Teams that get out fast have a tendency to get complacent and then everyone else is fighting for playoff spots.

"It’s going to keep getting tighter and tighter, and that’s what happens when everyone else has the same salary to spend. It’s normal, but we expect it every year. This year is no different.”

The Galaxy and Crew are both 13-5-5 (44 points) and are at the top in the Western and Eastern Conference standings. While Real Salt Lake also has 44 points, a 12-4-7 record places them in second place heading into the week's matches.

Edson Buddle's 13 goals and Donovan's 12 assists are still best in the league. But their lack of production, combined with an underperforming backline, has seen Los Angeles's lead in the overall standings evaporate within the course of two months and change.

What will be a key talking point heading into this week's contest is the uncanny ability for its defenders to make costly fouls in their opponents' attacking third. In all honesty, Gonzalez should have paid the price with Chicago earning the victory, but his act of redemption will result in nothing more than a slap on the wrists from the coaching staff.

Still, the Galaxy must avoid giving up fouls near the penalty box and mark their men. Donovan Ricketts has done his part with a 13-5-4 record, 57 saves, a 0.77 goals against average and a 77 percent save percentage. However, he cannot do it alone, and it cannot be stressed any further: this defense must rise to the challenge.

And so should the offense. The Buddlevan Connection is still getting its wires fixed, and time is running out as the rest of the league catches up. Beckham's return could be the spark plug the Galaxy needs to get their season back into form.

For Columbus, the Crew come off a 1-0 win against D.C. United. Guillermo Barros Schelotto will be a target for the Los Angeles back line to solve.

This season, Schelotto leads the team with seven goals and eight assists. He can score, and he can also play the provider to other options in the Crew arsenal like Steven Lenhart (five goals this season) and Emilio Renteria (four goals this season).

On defense, look for Andy Iro, Chad Marshall, Frankie Hejduk and Danny O'Rourke to pack the house tight against the Galaxy forwards and midfielders.

A key factor in the outcome of Saturday's contest is Columbus goalkeeper Will Hesmer. With a 13-5-5 record, a 71.6 percent save percentage, a 0.87 GAA and 63 saves to his name, Hesmer is as competent a keeper as you will see in MLS. Keep an eye out for the Crew's No. 1.

Prediction:

Originality and creativity on offense are what separate decent teams from MLS Cup challengers. For the Galaxy to fall with the ranks of the latter, Bruce Arena has to draw up a variety of looks that are more technical, less direct, and high on creativity and originality.

We have been seeing too much of the predictable from this Los Angeles Galaxy side, and if we were to see this again on 9/11—especially with David Beckham making a possible return to the lineup—LA will lose this important contest.

I'm putting my money on the Galaxy playing with the two intangibles on their side right here.

Los Angeles Galaxy 2, Columbus Crew 1

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be televised on tape delay by Fox Sports West at 9:30 p.m. PT.

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

Zero To Hero: Omar Gonzalez Bails LA Galaxy out in 1-1 Draw with Chicago Fire

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:05:00 +0000

We learned a few things from the Los Angeles Galaxy's 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire. We learned that Bruce Arena's men ended their scoring drought. We learned that Tristan Bowen played one of the poorest games of his career as a member of the G's.

But most importantly, we learned that Omar Gonzalez, like a song from Walt Disney's adaptation of "Hercules," turned from zero to hero in a matter of a few minutes.

In the 87th minute, he was stoppage time away from being labeled the goat for the Galaxy with a rash challenge on the Fire's John Thorrington. That allowed Collins John to convert a free kick near the 18-yard box to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.

This is what I don't get about Ricketts. He gave so much space to his left on that free kick that you could literally convert that blind.

It was a freebie waiting to happen. I'm still waiting for him to maintain a shutout after a continuous habit of giving up bad goals left and right. Just unacceptable.

Deep into stoppage time, Gonzalez made up for his costly tackle by scoring on a header from Landon Donovan in the 91st minute. Hello, hello, hello; there's another thing we learned on Saturday: they can still score off of set pieces.

Another things we learned: even with 10 men, Chicago can still lead a match. And shame on you, Landon Donovan. This should have been 2-1. But failing to capitalize on a red card to Gonzalo Segares for the elbow to Leonardo just won't cut it.

Donovan has been struggling to find his scoring form, and he and Edson Buddle will continue to do so as long as they provide unimaginative looks on the attack.

Tristan Bowen...oh dear, what a letdown. How dare you fail to get the fundamentals down pat when connecting on a pass, making a pass.

This young man would have made an impact if the basics had already registered. Bowen was a flat-out embarassment on Saturday.

His replacement, Bryan Jordan, didn't fare any better with his bad touches. As the Offspring song title puts it: "The Kids Aren't Alright."

I do appreciate Dema Kovalenko's toughness and Sean Franklin's grit near the end. We would love to see more of this as the rest of the regular season unfolds.

My man of the match goes to Todd Dunivant: the only consistent player on the pitch donning the white strip of the Galaxy at Toyota Park.

This just makes you wonder: if David Beckham returns to help finish off the rest of the season, can he be the spark plug this reeling Galaxy team needs? I would hope so.

Give him 15-20 minutes to generate some production as a provider, and I would imagine things will change.

And Juninho, please, for the love of all things Bruce Almighty, get your family business finished out. This team misses your presence.

Finally, to Edson Buddle, I say this: snap out of your funk. Now. There is no need for you to quit near the end of the second half. Edson Buddle's intensity has been on the downswing, and it showed on Saturday.

Holy Daughters of El Kabong, that is another team that the Los Angeles Galaxy failed to do well against. At least the losing streak is over; will the winless streak follow suit when the Crew come to Victoria Street?

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

Score First, Win Sooner for Los Angeles Galaxy

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:04:00 +0000

As Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy prepare for Saturday's match with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, the mindset has been one of the straightforward variety: Score First.

“We’ve given up way too many early goals this year,” Galaxy midfielder Chris Klein said after Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards. “What that does to us is it ends up making us chase the game and allowing teams to sit in and counter against us.”

Los Angeles is 0-5-1 when they allow the first goal this season. All of the six first-half goals allowed this season came in the first 20 minutes of each game.

Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant gave a concise explanation regarding the goals given up early.

“A lot of it’s coming from the midfield, we’re up and they’re breaking on us and it’s some freak play in behind,” Dunivant said. “It’s not like [opponents] are getting in behind and breaking us down so we need to adjust to that. It is the common theme.”

For Klein, Los Angeles's nasty habit of chasing the game is simply unacceptable.

“It’s more indicative of our style of play and when we go down early and we have to chase the game and chase the game and chase the game, it allows teams to sit in and be tight against us,” Klein said on Saturday. “Usually teams have to come out and spread themselves out and that’s when we can catch them.

"When you give up that early goal you’re not able to do that.”

Midfielder Landon Donovan was quick to note that the difficulty for teams to come from behind after getting scored on early was a common theme in Major League Soccer.

“In this league, it’s hard to chase any game because we don’t have enough talented players,” Donovan said. “There aren’t enough talented players around the league to do the things to make plays when the other team has 10 guys behind the ball.

"When you see Chelsea or Man U or Arsenal or Barcelona play, they have enough quality players where they can play against 10 guys behind the ball and still create really good chances. That’s always going to be hard for us. We need to get back to the things we’re good at and if we do that, we’ll win.”

Los Angeles is 13-0-0 when they score first. They will look to make it 14-0-0 when they take on the Fire.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT and will be televised by Fox Sports Prime Ticket and TeleFutura.

INS & OUTS

Solving the complacency dilemma:

“I wish there was a simple answer,” Donovan said during training this week regarding Los Angeles's complacency issues. “If there was, we’d have figured it out. We’re doing our best to get back to basic things again.”

After a 11-1-3 start, LA's skid has hit a decrepit 2-4-1, with consecutive defeats for the first time in what has been a forgettable couple of months.

“We have to figure out who we are and what we’re all about and if we can do that we’ll have a chance,” Dunivant said. “If not, and we continue getting through these games like this, we’re not going to win the championship—and that’s obviously our goal this year.

“We haven’t responded well enough," he said. "I think that’s something we did very well last year, coming back. Especially in a lot of the early results, we were coming back and getting draws, fighting and scrapping. Our mentality has to change a little bit. We have to be more of a scrappy team. We have to be more of blue-collar team.

“Maybe we’ve listened to too much of the hype about being in first place and gotten a little complacent and thought maybe we could change our style of play or whatever. All that feeds into your mentality and you’re seeing the results and it’s not good.”

Donovan knows this all too well.

“There’s a natural tendency in sports when you get a big lead to take your foot off the gas a bit,” Donovan added. “We’re certainly at fault for that. But now, we’re right in the thick of it.

"Now, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to be in the playoffs, it doesn’t mean that we’re still not going to have a good year, but if we’re going to be as good as we can be, we need to be a lot better.”

And if it starts with the first match in September, more power to both Donovan and Dunivant. So the story goes.

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire: Feeling The Heat From Bridgeview

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:04:00 +0000

In the continuous quest to track down their lost wheels, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy wander into Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, like a pack of Angelenos on a road to nowhere. On September 4, they face the Chicago Fire in their penultimate road trip.

It's a Major League Soccer contest that will have significant implications in the dynamics of the MLS Western Conference Standings, as well as the wide-open supporters Shield race.

“Obviously the results the last two weeks are not good,” Arena said after the match against Kansas City. “You can term it however you wish. I won’t dispute history.

“It’s disturbing. It was not a good performance on our part. I think those things never surprise you in MLS. I think we’re getting the best shot of every team we play, and that requires that we be, game in and game out, ready to compete. And if we’re not, we’re going to have problems.”

“It’s a wake-up call for us,” said defender Todd Dunivant when reflecting on Saturday's game. “We have to pick it back up. It’s been a good couple of months now where it’s really been a slump. The fact that we are still in first place is a testament of how good our start was.

"We have to get it right at the right time and the only silver lining is that the slump is happening now and not at the end of the year.”

Even Landon Donovan admitted that the G's were still looking for their wheels.

“We’re struggling,” Donovan said. “We’ve gotten away from what we’re good at. Part of it has to do with being at the top of the table and relaxing a little bit. We put a lot into the first half of the season to get where we we’re at.”

“I wish we didn’t lose in that fashion,” Edson Buddle said on the defeat, “but we just have to forget about it.”

Out for the match against the Chicago Fire due to suspension is midfielder Chris Birchall.

“Being outcompeted, where you’re not winning your individual battles, (is a serious problem)” Birchall said. “You can’t always say the effort is there when you’re getting outcompeted. I think it was more alarming than the other (losses), and we just have to put it behind us.

“We need a performance where we play hard, grind out a one-nil win and put points on the table. We need something.”

Chicago comes into this week's match at Toyota Park also off a defeat, a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders. Carlos De Los Cobos's club will look to build on their recent success against the Galaxy through Marco Pappa, who leads the club with seven goals.

Other key scorers for the Fire include Baggio Husidic and Brian McBride with four goals, and Calen Carr and Collins John, both with two goals each.

Patrick Nyarko leads the club in assists with seven and is the team's main playmaker. Husidic and Pappa have also proved valuable in setting up the finish with four assists. The addition of Freddie Ljungberg has injected new life to this club, with three assists to show for his young career with the Fire.

Watch for the trio of C.J. Brown, Krzysztof Krol and Wilman Conde to neutralize the slumping Galaxy forwards. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson has done his part relieving season starter Andrew Drykstra, with a 1.80 goals against average and a 67.9 percent save percentage.

As for the Galaxy, Edson Buddle's 13 goals and Landon Donovan's 11 assists are still the best in the league, but both need to amp up their production on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts's GAA and save percentage dropped to 0.76 and 77.8 percent, respectively.

Juninho was unavailable for last week's match against the Kansas City Wizards due to personal issues but should be back in time to make the trip to Bridgeview.

No explanation is needed regarding the Galaxy's inept form the past two months: a decrepit back line susceptible to lose the intensity to neutralizing attacks from its opposition, and an attack delivering looks as bland as traditional English cuisine.

The time is now for this team to spice things up. And it has to start now.

Prediction:

Take a back seat, boys. This prognosticator is throwing caution to the wind in the Windy City and is calling for...a draw.

Los Angeles Galaxy 1, Chicago Fire 1

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT and will be televised by Telefutura and Fox Sports Prime Ticket.

INS & OUTS

In search of Miss LA Galaxy

The Miss Universe Pageant may have ended a week or so ago in Las Vegas, but another pageant is on the books. It's the 2011 Miss LA Galaxy contest, presented by COVERGIRL.

This pageant dates back to 2002. During the next two months, ten of Southern California's best women who span professions ranging from coaching soccer to neuroscience to the pursuit of a graduate degree will be vying for the honor of Miss LA Galaxy. One of those contestants is Valencia, California's Megan Lacina.

"Today was wonderful, it's been a great bonding experience between all the girls," Lacina said after the contestants took the time to soak in the sights and sounds of Newport Beach. “We are capable of doing so much. I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to be part of something that is helping so many people in the community.

"If I were to win it would be a huge honor, but I think any of these girls would deserve to win equally and I would be just as happy for any of them.”

The ideal candidate is someone who takes pride in making a difference in their community, enjoys doing volunteer work, demonstrates extraordinary academic and personal achievement and, of course, supports the LA Galaxy and its commitment to making the sport of soccer grow in this country.

The final day of this contest is scheduled for October 24, on the final home game of the season against FC Dallas.

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

LA Galaxy Still Search for Their Wheels in 2-0 Kansas City Wizards Loss

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:08:00 +0000

Holy Daughters of El Kabong, I have to wonder if I am seeing a broken record unfold before my very weary eyes at Victoria Street these past several weeks.

It's a broken record of wasted set pieces, wasted corners, and wasted deliveries inside the six yard box.

It's a broken record of botched marking and blown assignments, a gluttony of space surrendered to the opposition, and a back line that even the best of English non-League teams could run rings around.

It's a broken record of sloppy execution, decrepit pace, and poor passing to go with finishing that deserves its share of howlers and hisses.

It's a broken record of dysfunctional play that only Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy could deliver. Two months of this broken record that I speak of has culminated with their latest setback—a 2-0 shutout loss to Peter Vermes's Kansas City Wizards.

For someone who has been following this team since we first started this season, I am wiping my hard-earned frames and making this declaration: the wheels are still off, and the Galaxy are searching in vain for them.

For some odd reason unfamiliar to me—maybe it's just divine intervention or just the fact that these teams shot blanks on Saturday—the Galaxy still have the best record in Major League Soccer.

I don't know what has gone wrong for this side. Bruce Arena continues to make up excuses, excuses, and more excuses for the lack of production from everyone on the Galaxy side.

Here's something that I have been chewing on the past few days like Trident: I have been pondering the possibility of the Galaxy using the 4-5-1 formation instead. It's a definite shakeup from the 4-4-2 diamond formation preferred by Arena, but it's a system that my good friends from the BigSoccer forums have been touting. So, dearest Bruce, you might want to consider going with a 4-5-1 for the rest of the year and see where this leads you.

Something needs to change from the Galaxy team—and fast. They need to get some new wheels, some new motivation, anything to give them a jump start. On Saturday, this Los Angeles team had none of those, and you can't win without fuel for your fire.

And speaking of fire, LA travels to Toyota Park in Bridgeview next week to take of the Chicago Fire in the penultimate road outing.

Make you wonder if they will find their wheels by then. Will they? Stay tuned...

INS & OUTS

Chicken Thief No. 7: Davy Arnaud

Our next heister of the fowl with foul intentions is the Wizards' captain, who received a pass from Kei Kamara on the transition to earn his third of the year in the 12th minute.

Nothing fancy, just proof that the Los Angeles Galaxy backline is THAT bad. Now I have been following non-League football in England for some time, and I actually think that with the way the Galaxy's backline is performing...even the likes of AFC Wimbledon could shred this team. It's just inexcusable to give up goals in that fashion.

But to Davy Crockett's defense, you have to say...Very. Well. Played.

A Salute to the Youth Academy

The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Academy Under-20 side were honored at halftime for their runner-up finish in the USL Super-20 League to the Columbus Crew (who, ironically, the Galaxy will face in two weeks' time at the Home Depot Center on the ninth anniversary of the Twin Towers crumbling down).

You wonder if the first team might have wanted to use the services of some of the best players from that side on Saturday night.

The Galaxy Youth Under-16 and Under-18 sides begin their 2010-11 season in October. Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and the View from Victoria Street for all the updates on the Journeys to Be of the Young G's.

A New Galaxy Tradition?

An interesting selection of music was played after Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Kansas City. "All The Right Moves" by OneRepublic is a song foreboding certain doom and failure. It was played just before the PA system shut down for the night.

Hey Galaxy FO, can you make it a tradition to play this song after every defeat before you turn off the PA? It would give all the fans enough closure before they make the long drive home.

Just a suggestion...

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Kansas City Wizards: A Play-By-Play

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:34:41 +0000

T-180 minutes to kickoff: After a scoreless draw several weeks ago at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy and Peter Vermes' Kansas City Wizards are ready to clash here at the Home Depot Center.

T-150: It was a miserable outing for Major League Soccer at the CONCACAF Champions League. Arabe Unido of Panama shut out Toronto FC 1-0, Santos Laguna defeated Columbus Crew 1-0, a goal festival forged by a boggy pitch and poor goalkeeping saw Cruz Azul top Real Salt Lake 5-4, and at Qwest Field, the Seattle Sounders were shooting blanks against Monterrey 2-0.

Is it just me, or are we really that bad? The Galaxy were the last team to have ever won the CONCACAF Champions League (back then it was called the CONCACAF Champions Cup) in 2000, and by the looks of things, it's set to stay that way, I'm afraid...

T-120: Time for the lineups.

LOS ANGELES GALAXY

Manager: Bruce Arena

Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond

Colors: White tops with blue and gold accents, white shorts, white socks

1 Donovan Ricketts

28 Sean Franklin ---- 4 Omar Gonzalez ---- 22 Leonardo ---- 2 Todd Dunivant

11 Chris Birchall

10 Landon Donovan (C) ---- 26 Michael Stephens

7 Chris Klein

14 Edson Buddle ---- 18 Mike Magee

Substitutes:

12 Josh Saunders GK

20 A.J. DeLaGarza DEF

88 Alex Cazumba MID

21 Dema Kovalenko MID

6 Eddie Lewis MID

17 Tristan Bowen FWD

9 Jovan Kirovski FWD

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS

Manager: Peter Vermes

Formation: 4-4-2

Colors: Light blue tops, light blue shorts, light blue socks

1 Jimmy Nielsen

2 Michael Harrington ---- 6 Shavar Thomas ---- 12 Jimmy Conrad---- 17 Roger Espinoza

23 Kei Kamara ---- 4 Craig Rocastle ---- 8 Stephane Auvray ---- 22 Davy Arnaud (C)

11 Ryan Smith ---- 27 Birahim Diop

Substitutes:

18 Eric Kronberg GK

3 Korede Aiyegbusi DEF

25 Jonathan Leathers DEF

7 Chance Myers DEF

14 Jack Jewsbury MID

28 Graham Zusi MID

9 Teal Bunbury FWD

T-90: Los Angeles's next three games include a Sept. 4 road trip to Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., to face the Chicago Fire, a Sept. 11 home tie with the Columbus Crew, and a Sept. 18 home showdown with D.C. United at the Home Depot Center.

As for Kansas City, the Wizards' next three home games include a Sept. 4 road trip to PPL Park in Chester, Pa., to take on the Philadelphia Union, a Sept. 11 home tie at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan., to face the Houston Dynamo and a return trip to the Home Depot Center on Sept. 19 to take on Chivas USA.

T-60: An hour to go as the grounds crew lubricate the lawn. Other games going on today include Columbus vs. FC Dallas, Toronto vs. Real Salt Lake, New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo, and Seattle Sounders vs. Chicago Fire. Tomorrow at the HDC, Chivas USA vs. DC United will clash.

T-45: And both teams take the pitch for warm-ups.

Final scores: Columbus finished in a scoreless draw with FC Dallas, Toronto FC also held RSL to a scoreless draw, Philadelphia defeated New England late in stoppage time 2-1 and New York shut out San Jose 2-0.

T-30: Due to personal matters, Juninho will not be in the starting lineup today due to commitments in Sao Paulo.

T-15: Yader Reyes is our match official today. Linesmen are Fabio Tovar and Frank Anderson. Our fourth official today is Ricardo Salazar.

T-0: National anthem by California High School Marching Band of Whittier, Calif. All right, it looks like we're set to begin. Let's see if the Galaxy can get their late-season mojo going.

FIRST HALF START: 7:36 P.M. PT

1' - We are underway! Todd Dunivant with the throw-in. First foul to KC. Donovan Ricketts, the big cat from Montego Bay, starting the next sequence.

2' - Here comes KC. The Wizards will need to compact defensively and attack on the flanks. Sturdy defense and improved transition will help Los Angeles tonight. The backline has been very porous, and Kamara almost capitalized.

3' - This is excellent possession from the Wizards. Here is a free kick for Vermes's club.

4' - Talk about a scramble in the box. Well done from Chris Klein. On the transition go the G's. Pass for Birchall misses.

5' - Well marked. Back come the Wizards. Leonardo walks a fine line on the back line.

6' - Leonardo with another rash challenge. Free kick to the Wiz. The Wiz was the former name of the team before their current moniker. It remains one of the nicknames.

7' - Not sure where Chris Birchall was passing that one.

8' - Leave it to Ricketts to set up the next sequence. Ugh, and the passing inside the box leaves much to be desired.

9' - Corner for the Galaxy. Here's Landon Donovan with the set piece. Too short. Here is Dunivant with another throw. The percussion of Cal High on display.

10' - Too long a pass for Sean Franklin.

11' - Stephane Auvray starts the next sequence for the Wiz, and there goes the next sequence for the Wiz. Long ball forward, and that was another breakdown in the back line that leaves much to be desired.

Goal kick, Ricketts. They're just asking to be exposed, the G's are.

12' - Dunivant should have done better...here comes KC.

GOAL! Kansas City Wizards 22 Davy Arnaud Assist 23 Kei Kamara

Hah! I told you they were asking to be exposed. No excuse for Dunivant to miss his marker. Arnaud is the Chicken Thief tonight. Kamara is the Thief's accomplice. Very well played.

15' - Corner for the Galaxy. Birahim Diop clears. Take two. And again, they are shooting themselves in the foot with the lack in form.

16' - Seriously, am I seeing a broken record here with the poor form by this Galaxy back line?

17' - Here's Kei Kamara, the Sierra Leone international.

18' - Not a fan of the passing by this Galaxy side. Here's a throw-in for Dunivant.

19' - More shoddy passing. Communicate, Michael Stephens!

20' - Diop is shaken up on the challenge from Leonardo. He is up, though. Not sure what Jimmy Nielsen was doing. It's going to be a corner.

21' - Terrible corner. The horror stretch of this Galaxy side continues.

22' - Here is Leonardo. Good challenge, but the ball will go to the Wiz on the throw.

24' - The G's are letting KC hold on to the ball too long. Good mark by Michael Harrington on Michael Stephens. A battle of the Michaels.

25' - Bloody oath, this passing is lousy as you loathe. Here's Kamara, and that shot will roll out for a goal kick.

26' - Edson Buddle is jammed, and it will be a free kick to the G's just outside the box.

27' - I just don't get Landon's loss of mojo tonight. That is easily cleared.

28' - Offsides, Los Angeles. 28 minutes into the match, and the Galaxy are still searching for their wheels, trailing the Wizards 1-0.

29' - Goal kick to Jimmy Nielsen, and the Angel City Brigade expresses its disgust. Another one from the Danish international.

31' - Landon Donovan tries to do something here. KC hasn't won here since 2004. Give them another hour and that streak will be gone.

33' - LA is still looking for someone in the front to pass the ball to. Well-organized defending from the Wizards. Here's a corner.

34' - Too low a corner. You can't explain this ineptitude with set pieces, you just can't.

35' - Good marking from the KC defense.

36' - Sliding clearance from Ricketts.

37' - I have nothing but rave reviews on the pace of this Wizards side. Goal kick, Big Cat from Montego Bay, on the Kamara handball.

38' - ACB sways from to side as the Wizards give different looks.

39' - Ryan Smith with some pace. Here's a goal kick for Donovan Ricketts. Speculative shot from Birchall. As expected for a midfielder playing on rusted wheels.

40' - We are now 40 minutes in, and it is 1-0 KC. A familiar scenario.

41' - Free kick for Kansas City.

42' - Back come the Galaxy. Arnaud with the mark on Stephens.

43' - Cannot believe the lack of communication from this club. Magee's finishing again showing its lack of form.

44' - Some chippiness as we approach halftime. Unoriginal look on the transition from LA.

45' - This is Birahim Diop with the next sequence of passing. Couldn't connect with Kamara.

Let's see how many minutes of stoppage time. None. The first half ends. And the adage, "Here we go again..." comes into play here.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 0

Kansas City Wizards 1

Davy Arnaud 12'

Halftime Stats

Shots
Kansas City Wizards 3
Los Angeles Galaxy 4

Shots on Goal
Kansas City Wizards 1
Los Angeles Galaxy 0

Saves
Kansas City Wizards 0
Los Angeles Galaxy 0

Fouls
Kansas City Wizards 9
Los Angeles Galaxy 5

Corner Kicks
Kansas City Wizards 0
Los Angeles Galaxy 6

Offsides
Kansas City Wizards 2
Los Angeles Galaxy 1

SECOND HALF START: 8:36 P.M. PT

46' - The second half begins. Let's see if any adjustments are made for Los Angeles. The LA Galaxy Academy's Under-20's were honored at halftime. Perhaps Arena could use some of these people right about now...

47' - There's a foul on Roger Espinoza. Too short a free kick from Donovan. Ambitious volley from Edson Buddle. Goal kick, Nielsen.

48' - Too strong for Ryan Smith.

49' - Not sure where Omar Gonzalez was throwing that one to.

50' - Nielsen with his best save of the game. Unimaginative look from Birchall.

51' - Arnaud is a bit shaken up. The home fans won't buy it, and the boo birds rain down on the Nielsen goal kick.

52' - Another great save from Nielsen. And Arnaud is feeling the pinch. His jaw took a shot.

53' - Oh, if only Juninho didn't have his issues this week...Goal kick Ricketts.

54' - Bad pass. Auvray taking advantage. This Wizards side has done a good job neutralizing Edson Buddle tonight. Kudos. Offsides, Kamara.

55' - Offsides, Landon Donovan. So far, Los Angeles is in a rut right now.

56' - Back come the G's.

57' - No foul on that Buddle tackle. Jimmy Conrad gets a reprieve. Mike Magee is a stooge right now for giving that ball up to KC.

58' - My inner football manager says, "Bring in Bowen."

59' - Another save for Nielsen. When will this team, specifically one Chris Birchall, learn to be more creative with their shot selection?

60' - Ambitious shot from Diop.

61' - Great attempt from Diop. And Ricketts with the save. Here is a corner for KC.

62' - Initial clearance. But I wonder if Omar Gonzalez is not pulling his weight?

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 17 Tristan Bowen
OUT 7 Chris Klein

64' - Heads-up clearance from Jim Nielsen. Corner for the G's. Too long. I must be seeing a broken record with the poor finishing.

65' - This is predictable, direct football from Los Angeles. It's the reason, this team's wheels are off.

67' - Kansas City Wizards
IN 14 Jack Jewsbury
OUT 4 Craig Rocastle

We are now 67 minutes into the match, and it is still 1-0 Kansas City. Though to be honest, it should have been more.

68' - Tristan Bowen will need to do better with his marking.

69' - Chris Birchall shows his frustration...and there's the card.

Yellow card 11 Chris Birchall
Los Angeles Galaxy

70' - Ryan Smith is shaken up on the field. A sigh from yours truly is exhaled. Free kick, KC.

GOAL! Kansas City Wizards 12 Jimmy Conrad

I don't know about you, but this Galaxy side's season is continuing to go south. You can expect another rant later tonight. Ay, ay, ay.

71' - And why is Bruce Arena still running a 4-4-2? Can't this embattled manager run a 4-5-1, as the people on BigSoccer have suggested?

73' - 73 minutes in, and it's 2-0 KC. THis will be a corner to the Galaxy.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 88 Alex Cazumba
OUT 18 Mike Magee

74' - We have been inconsistent for two straight months now. Not good...

75' - The connection on the Donovan corner is not there.

76' - Here is another free kick. And a foul in the box. Leonardo with the challenge again. 20,112 in attendance tonight.

77' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 9 Jovan Kirovski
OUT 11 Chris Birchall

78' - Horrid pass to Bowen. He takes it all in stride and hands it to Roger Espinoza for a throw-in.

79' - Oh, Alex Cazumba, what happened to your cleats!

81' - Substitution Kansas City Wizards
IN 9 Teal Bunbury
OUT 20 Kei Kamara

Here comes Teal...

The fans have seen enough and head for the exits.

82' - Well, we're still at the top of the table...but only because Columbus and Real Salt Lake took one point on the weekend.

83' - That free kick from Davy Arnaud goes wide right for a Ricketts goal kick.

84' - The Wizards are still going to be on the outside looking in, but they will get motivations in whatever ways possible.

85' - Kansas City's defense holds once again, goal kick to Jim Nielsen.

86' - The road trip to Chicago will hold that much importance for Galaxy. They will need this more than ever now.

87' - Arnaud with the challenge on Buddle.

Substitution Kansas City Wizards
IN 28 Graham Zusi
OUT 11 Ryan Smith

88' - The touch from this side is atrocious.

89' - Let's see what Mr. Ricardo Salazar (who shares the same last name as me) does with the stoppage time.

90' - Set piece for Los Angeles is squandered.

Four minutes, says Mr. Salazar to Mr. Salazar and the others in the box. Got it, chief.

90' + 2' - Alex Cazumba couldn't hold on to that one.

90' + 3' - And that shot is just an example of the mess that is the past two months.

Yellow card 1 Jimmy Nielsen
Kansas City Wizards

Damn time waster. Consolation, that, in what has been another forgettable outing for the embattled Los Angeles Galaxy.

90' + 4' - That is a wrap.

FINAL

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 0

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 2

Davy Arnaud 12'

Jimmy Conrad 70'

It been a lousy past couple of months for this Galaxy side; will there be more on the way?

Stay tuned for my take on this match on the View from Victoria Street and on Bleacher Report.

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy Look To Turn Up the Grill at Victoria Street

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:11:00 +0000

It won't be long before tailgaters turn up the grill for the college football and National Football League seasons. As for Major League Soccer, the race for the Supporters' Shield is heating up, and in the middle of it all are Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Galaxy are currently MLS's best team with a 13-4-4 record (43 points) and will have seven of their final nine games at home.

“It’s good,” Arena said during practice. “It’s been a long haul. We’ve been on the road a lot this year. It’s been tough and hopefully we can take advantage of our home games and win [them].”

Since early June, the Galaxy have been 2-3-1, and the need for consistency could not be emphasized any further.

“We’ve just got to tighten up the screws, I guess,” said forward Edson Buddle. “We have some time to get things right before the playoffs.”

"One of our advantages all year is being able to just look at the game that’s ahead of us. For us, that puts the most emphasis on Kansas City,” midfielder Chris Klein said during training. “When you look at the schedule and see the amount of games at home, I think that makes this game that much more important … to gain that confidence at home.

“Where we are right now, one of our clear goals is to win the Supporters’ Shield. When you do that, if you get out of that first round of the playoffs, you’re guaranteed home-field advantage again. The time is now for us to start establishing the Home Depot Center as a place where no team wants to come and play.”

With Columbus and Real Salt Lake having playing 11 home games in the 2010 MLS regular season, all signs point to the G's taking advantage of a golden home-cooking opportunity. But will it pay off this time? Stay tuned.

INS & OUTS

Michael Stephens...the next great Rookie?

Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens may be on the outside looking in when compared to Philadelphia’s Danny Mwanga, New England’s Zack Schilawski, D.C. United’s Andy Najar and New York’s Tim Ream in the race for the MLS Rookie of the Year Award.

But don't tell that to his peers.'

“It wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone to see him get it,” midfielder Chris Birchall said.

Forward Mike Magee echoed the same sentiments.

“One hundred percent,” Magee said. “I’ve known what kind of guy he is and what kind of player he is. For him to come in right away and do what he’s done is pretty freakish.

“It’s a good time for him.”

As for Stephens, all the right chips seem to fall in all the right place.

“Coming into the season my first goal was to get playing time,” Stephens said. “You never know what’s going to happen when you go into a new environment, especially such a big jump from college to the professional game, but I’ve worked hard and prepared myself very well and I’m happy with where I’m at right now.”

As the old Spanish adage goes, Que sera, sera.

Donovan close to another milestone

Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan is one goal away from tying the club record for most regular season goals in Galaxy history.

Current assistant coach Cobi Jones had 70 goals in his 12-year career. Since 2005, Landon has scored 69 in the regular season. However, when including the MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup, the Champions League/Champions Cup, the SuperLiga, and the U.S. Open Cup matches, Donovan already has scored the most goals in club history with 87.

Here's hoping for a penalty conversion, No. 10.

Dunivant is back...and Bowen too!

Not only was defender Todd Dunivant back training with the Galaxy after suffering neck and back spasms, but so was forward Tristan Bowen, who recovered from flu-like symptoms.

“I had a rib out of place and I couldn’t breathe the last two weeks,” Dunivant said on his injury during training. “I had a little bit of it before the (Real) Madrid game but I kind of played through it. It finally got to the point where it was so bad I could hardly lay down.

“Something like this makes you appreciate your health. You take it for granted sometimes, but it’s our livelihood and if you don’t have it, it makes all the difference in the world. It was difficult watching the two games."

“I still have a little shortness of breath,” Bowen said, “but you just have to keep going at it. I haven’t been sick in about six or seven months. I guess it just caught up with me.”

Midfielder David Beckham will be removed from the Disabled List after Saturday's match against the Kansas City Wizards at the Home Depot Center. Also out this week is defender Gregg Berhalter, who is also recovering from a viral infection.

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Kansas City Wizards: A Late August Barbecue

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:37:00 +0000

The search for a winning consistency continues for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy as they end their month of August with a home date on the 28 against the Kansas City Wizards.

Arena was searching for answers regarding the lack of communication that led to their latest defeat against the San Jose Earthquakes on August 21.

“It bothers me,” Arena said after Monday’s practice at the Home Depot Center. “I think it’s a game where at the worst we leave with a point. That bothers me.

“Gift-wrapping the game, giving away a goal. I don’t want to take any credit away from San Jose, but it’s as bad a goal as we can give up. We helped manufacture a goal for them.”

Defender A.J. De La Garza was also searching for an explanation when asked about the goal scored by the Earthquakes' Chris Wondolowski.

“One mistake cost us and I was a little bit part of that,” De La Garza said. “We dominated that game. That’s what happens to us when we win, we might be the team that gets dominated but we win. That’s what we were doing early in the season, like in Columbus. We won (2-0 on May 29) but they say they dominated.

“It doesn’t matter who dominates, it’s who wins at the end of the day. We didn’t get that victory.”

Others, like midfielder Chris Klein and defender Sean Franklin, joined the inquisition party.

“It’s a game on the road maybe we should have gotten a point out of and maybe we should have won, but we didn’t," Klein said during training. "Those are games we can’t let down; we have to prove we’re going to be a consistent team. On a day when you give up a mistake, you gotta get a draw out of that game.”

“That’s how a lot of our losses have been this year," Franklin added. "We’ve made some kind of mental mistakes and given up goals in the first five minutes. That’s not like our team to do that, and we know that.

“It was a tough one to swallow.”

The holidays won't be for several weeks, so gift-wrapping is a habit they will look to avoid as LA looks to better the scoreless draw they had against the Wizards on April 24 at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Galaxy are still Major League Soccer's best team, with a 13-4-4 record (43 points), while the Kansas City Wizards are on the outside looking in with a 6-9-5 record (23 points).

Edson Buddle's 13 goals and Landon Donovan's 11 assists remain best in Major League Soccer. But the key to Los Angeles winning on Saturday isn't so much a question of offensive production as it is one of defensive communication.

The Galaxy's defensive backline—which has been a topic of major scrutiny this season—must bail goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts out of trouble. With Gregg Berhalter sidelined due to the flu, the return of Todd Dunivant to the lineup will be crucial to preventing the Kansas City forwards from setting the pace and tempo.

Ricketts has a 0.70 goals against average, a 79.7 save percentage and a 13-4-3 record to go with 55 saves and 10 shutouts. A clean sheet on Saturday will give Ricketts a tie for the club record for shutouts in a single season.

The current record is set by current FC Dallas goalkeeper and former G's netminder Kevin Hartman. Hartman currently has a 0.69 GAA this season.

Among the midfielders for Los Angeles, Juninho will be the X-factor for the Galaxy on Saturday. He will need to utilize his field vision to help set up plays for the Buddlevan Connection in Arena's 4-4-2 Diamond system. Michael Stephens and Chris Birchall need to up their production, as they have underperformed the past several weeks—more so for Stephens.

The Galaxy's finishing has been another weakness. The G's will need to complete their offensive sequences and become more fluid with their looks in the front.

As for the Wizards, Kei Kamara and Ryan Smith are two players who will make things tough for the Galaxy defense. Kamara would be on nine goals for the season had his best chance on April 24 gone through.

Kamara currently has eight goals to lead the team this season and will be an important forward to mark. Birahim Diop, Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury, and Teal Bunbury all have two goals each and will look for a breakout performance.

Ryan Smith is the playmaker to keep an eye out for. He has eight assists to lead the team this year and, with the offensive options at his disposal, limiting his ability to spread the ball around will be a priority for the midfielders and back line of LA.

Jimmy Nielsen has a 6-9-5 record in the net, with 60 saves, a 1.15 GAA, and a 72.3 percent save percentage.

Prediction:

The return of Todd Dunivant to the lineup could prove crucial to the chances of the Galaxy on Saturday. Expect the home side to make up for their setback last week, as well as the setback on August 1 at the HDC against the Chicago Fire, who they take on next week.

Los Angeles Galaxy 2, Kansas City Wizards 1

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be televised locally by Fox Sports PrimeTicket.

INS & OUTS:

Beckham and Berhalter still taking it easy?

Galaxy midfielder David Beckham continued to train with the side, and while it looked like he would be ready to go for the match against the Chicago Fire on September 4, Arena thought otherwise.

“He’s making progress but he’s got a way to go still,” Arena said. “We’re not ready to think that he can play yet.

"I think every week we just have to follow his progress and see how he’s doing. There’s no way of telling how he’s going to be.”

Defender Gregg Berhalter missed Saturday's game against San Jose due to the flu, and his symptoms will likely carry over to the match against Kansas City.

"I don’t know exactly what it is,” Arena remarked. “I don’t think the doctors know either.

“Nothing has changed since the last time we’ve seen him. He’s ill. We don’t know exactly what it is. That’s the job of the doctors.”

Get well soon, Gregg. After all, as the time-honored adage goes, "Your team needs you."

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy Lose Their Wheels Again on Way From San Jose

Jo-Ryan Salazar — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:37:00 +0000

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy needed to get continuity from their 1-0 victory against the New York Red Bulls last week as they took on the San Jose Earthquakes.

Instead, they saw their wheels fall off as they left Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus on Santa Clara University.

A 1-0 defeat came as a result of the one main culprit that has plagued their season as a whole: the defensive back line.

It was another atrocious performance that made you wonder, hey, this team may not win the Supporters Shield and could burn out in the MLS Cup Playoffs. It's been that bad.

And just as bad was the tandem of Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle. Even with just one game per week these two are struggling to get their finishing touch.

Landon and Edson, I'm gonna let you know this: in this league, running on kryptonite is the last thing that you want to do, and yet you do it anyway against your NorCal rivals. Where is the touch? Where is the consistency?

Aside from that, I wanted to go ahead and call out a few more while I'm at it:

Michael Stephens has not been much of a contributor to the team. Ever since the match against the Columbus Crew on May 29, I can't think of a single time where he has made a key contribution to Los Angeles.

A.J. De La Garza should have done better marking Chris Wondolowski in the fourth minute, but Donovan Ricketts clearly blew up his chance to make a key save. Instead he goes off his line and leaves himself vulnerable.

Finally, Mike Magee shattered the chances of LA getting back into this game. He had two opportunities to not only tie the score, but give Los Angeles a lead if he had made the first. And they were from close distance.

I believe it's supposed to be textbook finishing. You're supposed to bury those. How Magee, Donovan, and Buddle failed to bury their shots is beyond me. It makes me doubt if they will hold off the likes of the Columbus Crew or Real Salt Lake in the ongoing race for the Shield.

So there you have it. Horrid back line defense and non-existent finishing. You know, this is becoming the story of the Galaxy's setbacks this season. For all of what this team has accomplished, it's a broken record. They just haven't figured out how to be more crisp in their passing and touches in the attacking third. The backline feels as if they haven't gelled yet, and we are in the home stretch of the season.

But to put this loss in perspective, the Los Angeles Galaxy made two critical mistakes as a team: they underestimated their opponent and they underestimated the importance of beating their opponent.

And the fact that they lost the California Clasico in this fashion just proves my point: on Saturday, the Los Angeles Galaxy lost their wheels on the way back from San Jose.

Better call some taxis to bring the boys back home while you still can, Bruce. They need all the help they can get when the Kansas City Wizards come to town. And you won't find those wheels anywhere in sight. No, sir.

Read more Los Angeles Galaxy news on BleacherReport.com