Los Angeles midfielder David Beckham (#23, left) and Portland's Eric Alexander challenge for a header during the Galaxy's 3-1 win against Portland at the Home Depot Center April 14. The Timbers will try to capture their first-ever win at Los Angeles Sunday afternoon. Lori Shepler/Special to The Oregonian
The Galaxy are winless in their last seven games and sit in last place in the Western Conference. Poor performances by star players, a sieve-like defense, injuries and general lethargy are threatening to prevent the Galaxy from defending their championship even before the playoffs begin.
"You would think L.A. would be doing better right now, with the budget that they have and the players that they have," Portland defender David Horst said.
The 2012 version Galaxy (3-8-2, 11 points) bears little resemblance to the squad that rolled through the 2011 season on its way to the MLS Cup championship. The team is searching for the chemistry of last season and the players who fostered that togetherness aren't performing very well this season. Â
"You don't know if it's a matter of complacency or what it is," Portland defender Jack Jewsbury said. "But I'm sure they've taken this break as a time to reflect on things and go into this last two-thirds of the season and start firing on all cylinders."
The Galaxy, who are coming off a two-week break, see Sunday's game against Portland (3-5-4, 13 points) at the Home Depot Center as a chance to restart their season and make another championship run.
"We're looking at this game on Sunday against Portland as a huge opportunity to put things right," Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant told MLSsoccer.com. "You don't change everything overnight, but we need to start getting wins."
If the Galaxy are going to start clicking as a team, Landon Donovan will be the catalyst. The captain, who rejoined the team after missing the Galaxy's last two MLS games while playing for the U.S. national team, has scored two goals in 10 games this season. He scored eight goals in his first 10 games in 2011.
The team's other two superstars also need to perform better.
Forward Robbie Keane, who is with Ireland's national team for Euro 2012 and will not play Sunday, has scored three goals in nine appearances and is lacking the pace he displayed in 2011. Midfielder David Beckham has two goals and four assists, but he is 37 years old.
Defensively, the Galaxy have allowed 21 goals this season. Los Angeles didn't allow 21 goals last season until September. The defense hasn't been the same without centerback Omar Gonzalez, the 2011 MLS defensive player of the year, who remains sidelined after tearing knee ligaments in January.
The most pressing and disturbing problem may be boredom. Donovan, one of the most intense players in MLS, admitted as much in a very revealing manner.
"I think all players reach a point in their career where it's natural to lose some of that hunger, that desire, to sort of break out or be a star," he told reporters May 23. "My mind-set now is I want to be successful, and I realize now that as I'm getting older I'm not going to be the guy who's scoring goals every game or making a great impact all the time."
Â
The 30-year-old Donovan, playing in his 12th season, then went out and scored three goals and added an assist in the national team's 5-1 win against Scotland three days later.
"I don't want to be mistaken for not caring," Donovan told reporters after the game. "I care, and I like being a part of this team. I'm a professional, and I know how to do my job."
The Galaxy need Donovan and the rest of the stars to do their jobs much better if they expect to reach the playoffs. But with 21 games remaining on the regular season schedule, no one is writing off the Galaxy.
"You still can't underestimate them at all. They're still a very good team," Horst said. "We have to go out there and bring our 'A' game. That's what it takes to beat those guys."
Notes: The Galaxy scored three unanswered goals and beat the Timbers 3-1 in Los Angeles April 14. Kris Boyd scored in the 23rd minute to give the Timbers the lead, but the game turned when Donovan scored the equalizer just before halftime (44th minute) and the momentum shifted. "You don't let them get a chance. As soon as they start believing in themselves, they become dangerous," Portland goalkeeper Troy Perkins said. "We gave them too many opportunities and they capitalized." …Defenders Steven Smith (married Friday), Futty Danso (national team) and Eric Brunner (concussion) along with midfielders Lovel Palmer (national team) and Rodney Wallace (ankle) are out. …Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders is expected to start in his first MLS first-team game since rejoining the team May 22 after reportedly spending a month in the league's Substance Abuse and Behavorial Treatment program. …Donovan has scored three goals and added two assists in the three games against the Timbers. …The Galaxy will be missing forwards Edson Buddle (right knee surgery) and Adam Cristman (concussion). In addition, midfielders Hector Jimenez, Mike Magee and Michael Stephens will serve a MLS imposed one-game imposed suspension. …Former Southridge High star Chad Barrett will likely start at one forward spot. …The winner in each of the first three regular season games in the series has scored exactly three goals.
Â
-- Geoffrey C. Arnold; follow him on Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment