With J Hutcherson -- Can you feel the excitement as the Los Angeles Galaxy once again have a mid-season debut for David Beckham? Rather than focusing on things that have already happened for a team that couldn't make the playoffs, what can we realistically expect from the reloaded version of our Classico winners?
Easy answer: a lot. This is a squad with a good goalkeeper and the addition of someone who should be able to turn a few more chances into goals. Spread those out over a few games, and the Galaxy's record improves dramatically. If this hadn't been a Confederations Cup summer, LA might already be in second or third.
As it stands, they're tied on points with fourth-place Colorado, fifth on goal differential with an extra game played. They're level on games played with Western Conference leaders Houston and second-place Seattle. The difference between fifth and first is eight points. The Galaxy no longer leads the league in ties, but they do lead their Conference. In a single-table, the Galaxy would be tied with DC and Columbus on points and goal differential, filling in slots seven through ten.
It's basic and not all that original, but goal keeping is going to decide the Western Conference, and LA is one of the clubs with that advantage. Donovan Ricketts is better than good in a Conference stressing quality keeping. He's in the discussion with Kasey Keller and Zach Thornton for Keeper of the Year. What he lacks is a strong defensive stop in front of him.
Galaxy management have given on indication that they'll be pushing for a quick fix, but they've got until September 15th to work something out. They don't need an MLS Best XI centerback. They just need an upgrade on what they have.
It would be easy to decide the backline has gelled, getting shutout wins in front of Ricketts and now Josh Saunders with Ricketts playing for Jamaica in the Gold Cup. That could end up being the story for '09. Ride a defense that's doing just enough, and every game ends up a struggle. Well, every game where the Galaxy offense isn't connecting.
That's the other story for the Western Conference contenders. Aside from Houston at full strength, Seattle and LA need things to sync to really work the offense. Their weapons are obvious, not in and of itself a bad thing. But there's the sense that when it doesn't work, it's hard for any of the other players to be the difference.
For Seattle, this isn't as much of an issue because they have a better defense. For LA, it's the risk of setting the squad up for issues all over the field.
Riding that out is very last season. The Western equivalent of those Eastern squads that went with a backup keeper for long stretches rather than spend. As long as the results are there, it's justified. Most of us get how quickly that can turn.
Fortunately for LA, they get the Beckham reintroduction against the worst team in the League. We won't have a good look at what this version can do until the middle of August when they start a run that has them home to Seattle, away to Chicago and DC, and then hosting the next edition of the Battle of Carson.
Those four games should determine their season. Anything less than 35 points at the start of September, and it's going to be a struggle.
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
