New England Soccer Today

Scouting the Opposition: Los Angeles Galaxy

(Editor’s note: Prior to each Revolution match, New England Soccer Today will invite a reporter who covers the Revolution’s upcoming opponent to provide greater insight on what to expect on gameday.)

This week, Scott French from ESPN Los Angeles was kind enough to share his insight on the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy and what the Revolution can expect when they face them at The Home Depot for Saturday night’s game.)

***

New England Soccer Today: Although it may be early, what is L.A.’s form through its first two games? How do you think the early losses in the season opener vs. RSL and the CCL tournament have affected them?

Scott: I think the Galaxy was still very much in preseason mode during the first two weeks of the season, and four games in 12 days (and eight in 25, including the tournament in Arizona just before the season began) was too much too soon. This team started preseason late (after playing until the first week of December), lost its most important defensive player to a knee injury (and still is figuring out how best to replace him), and had two of its three DPs off in England on loan until the start of the regular season (Landon Donovan came back earlier, but illness kept him off the field until days before the first Toronto game).

Thing is, they dominated Toronto in Toronto from the 30th minute on, were the better team until the final 20 minutes against RSL and absolutely owned Toronto at Home Depot Center in the second leg. Defensive errors were costly, including several by the guys replacing Omar Gonzalez (Andrew Boyens and rookie Tommy Meyer). Chemistry was lacking up front (Robbie Keane and Edson Buddle had never played together), and Bruce Arena should have rotated his lineup more through the four games.

The win over D.C. was impressive and any confidence Keane had lost in the first three games was restored with two goals. L.A. didn’t have a game last week, so the past 10 days have been used to regroup, work on areas that need work and get everybody refreshed, so in some ways Saturday’s game is a restart to the season.

What things have the Galaxy done particularly well so far this season?

They’ve played at a decent level for most of every game, just haven’t been as sharp as Galaxy teams usually have been since Arena took charge, mostly for the reasons above. Donovan has been increasingly dynamic as his health improved, and David Beckham’s ability to serve from distance creates so many opportunities and makes every dead-ball situation dangerous. In his role with the Galaxy, he reminds me a lot of Pirlo — there were times against D.C. that he was deeper than the deepest defender, and his ability to play-make from so deep gives L.A.’s attack a very different flavor to those around the league. Beckham’s still working on his sharpness, and finishing could be better given the number of chances created, but the attack shouldn’t be an issue.

Which areas still need improvement?

The biggest hole is at the back, with Omar Gonzalez’s absence. Part of what the Galaxy has been working on the past couple of weeks has been defensive shape and communication, and set-piece defending. But better integrating Boyens and Meyer onto the backline, and getting them up to speed, is crucial.

Are there any key injuries affecting the Galaxy?

Gonzalez is the biggest. His absence casts a long shadow over everything L.A. does, and Boyens and Meyer can’t be expected to do the things Gonzalez does. The backline has been OK. Momentary stumbles have cost them heavily, and D.C. was pretty toothless in the last game — although L.A.’s defensive approach (always the defining aspect of this team, no matter who’s getting the headline) had a lot to do with Dwayne De Rosario’s and Chris Pontius’ ineffectiveness.

The big question mark this week is Donovan, who hasn’t trained since Saturday because of a calf strain. Arena says he’s uncertain, and my gut says he doesn’t play. But the Galaxy have done things like this before, and, voila! There he is on the field. So we’ll see. The other injury issue is Mike Magee, who is dealing with an unidentified situation that we’re told is not serious. Arena says he thinks Magee will be likely to play.

Obviously, L.A. has a number of talented players on the team, but which “unsung hero” could make an impact on Saturday’s game?

The Galaxy’s success last year was, in part, because so many “unsung heros” stepped up. Almost everyone’s praises has been sung by now.

But those likely to have the biggest impacts are Juninho, who does all the little things, both sides of the ball, that enable Beckham to run the attack. That he can create and score from distance is added profit.

A.J. DeLaGarza has the biggest job, leading a backline missing its most important piece. He’s been well under the radar the past two seasons, and if he can provide the kind of leadership L.A. needs in the back, they’ll be in contention again for all the trophies. After the defensive problems in the first three games, everyone will be watching him and the backline against the Revs.

What are some things that the Galaxy will try to do on Saturday to stack the odds in their favor?

The Galaxy will have immense respect for New England, for Jay Heaps, for all the players (and especially Matt Reis and Shalrie Joseph, and a number of them know Kelyn Rowe pretty well, too), but they’ll feel the odds are in their favor to start with. They’re looking to really impress after the poor start, and on paper (Gonzalez’s absence aside) this is a better team, a better roster, than the group that won MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield last year. If they’re on their game, they believe, they win.

What is their likely starting 11 on Saturday?

Depending on Donovan’s status, it’s the usual XI (or usual X plus who will fit into Omar’s spot): Josh Saunders in goal; backline, right to left: Sean Franklin, Andrew Boyens (in the Omar role), A.J. DeLaGarza and Todd Dunivant; David Beckham and Juninho in central midfield and Mike Magee on the right; Robbie Keane and Edsob Buddle up front. If Landon can go, he’s at right midfield. If he can’t, it could be Paolo Cardozo or Marcelo Sarvas, or Sarvas could be on the right and Magee on the left.

Magee also isn’t certain (but apparently is more likely than Donovan), so Sarvas could be in his spot if he can’t go.

***

Scott French covers the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA for ESPN Los Angeles and is Vice President of the North American Soccer Reporters.

Leave a Reply