Same old Galaxy, same old failures

by Sounder At Heart on Jan 25, 2009 2:04 PM PST in Major League Soccer Comment 4 comments

Super Clubs aren't built on pretty boys, and they aren't built on goals scored. Quite simply, the Super Clubs around the worlds leagues are built on consistent winning. I'm starting to think that the problem in Los Angeles was not Alexi Lalas, but instead the higher ups like Anschutz.

You see after the Galaxy were rebuffed by Alessandro del Piero, they have set their sites on another stud striker from a top league.

This time former English national team star, Micheal Owen.

Owen isn't the answer. Even if the Galaxy could get the second DP slot that he would require (likely from Red Bull NY) he wouldn't solve their problems. They scored 1.83 goals but gave up 2.06 goals per match. Even if Owen goes on a tear and the Gals retain Donovan and Beckham, would they really be addressing their primary issue in their lack of defense? Buddle would almost certainly be the one dealt to have a pair like Owen and Donovan up top.

The defense is the issue, and no one really gets it.

Sadly it would seem that Califf and Cienfuegos care more about the club than their ownership does. Cease with the high turnover; end the beauty school projects and return to winning football - only then will the LA Galaxy become the Super Club they desire.

Right now they are just a joke, and a poor one.

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Agree, but I think Bruce Arena will do a good job making this team respectable again, he just needs time.

by Enrique on Jan 26, 2009 9:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

“The Bruce” has already begun to address the Galaxy’s defensive problems of the past few seasons. We have signed an international-level goalkeeper, shipped out a lot of dead weight (Greg Vanney, Joey Franchino, Alvaro Pires, Pete Vagenas, etc…) and we have a 25-year-old South American defender in pre-season camp. I know the new lineup hasn’t been tested in MLS yet, but you have to like their chances at being at least a touch better than last season.

At the same time, everyone has to understand that Landon Donovan will not be returning to MLS this year. I’m 100% sure of it. So if that is indeed the case, wipe 20 goals off last season’s total. The full effect of losing Donovan is – of course – more than 20 goals because defenses often had to collapse on him and double- and triple-cover him, allowing guys like Buddle to produce more. Without Donovan, Buddle won’t score more than 6 or 7 goals next season. So who is going to step up and fill the hole in the G’s offense? Why not Michael Owen? Anschutz certainly has the money and the pull with the league to make it happen, as long as the player is willing.

Personally, I’d like to see Shevchenko come over instead. The bottom line is that the G’s will need SOMETHING to plug the offensive hole that will be formed when Donovan leaves. The only thing more pathetic than a team that scores 3 goals a game and gives up 4 is a team that scores 1 goal per game and gives up 4.

by TJ on Jan 27, 2009 1:28 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Man if michael Owen comes to play here it’s going to be mistake, but if he decides to come he should play for NY Red Bulls instead of the LA Galaxy, their over-rated anyways.

by Kevin D on Feb 12, 2009 9:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs