Myers Gets in Groove After Move
Ask Roy Myers about the Galaxy’s recent turnaround--three wins in three games--and the lanky midfielder laughs. “I hope it’s because of me,” he says.
Myers is only joking. He’s that kind of person, easygoing, quick to smile. But there is truth in his jest.
The team’s unbeaten streak coincides with his arrival, by way of a trade, from the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. Going into today’s match against the Tampa Bay Mutiny at Raymond James Stadium, Myers is on a roll with two assists in the last two games.
“He can obviously play a technical game, a short-passing game,” Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid said. “He finds people very well.”
That makes for a dangerous combination with Mauricio Cienfuegos, the Galaxy’s resident playmaker. Both are passers with quickness and vision who have found a way to work off each other.
Witness the flurry of passes that led to Carlos Hermosillo’s goal against the Chicago Fire on June 12. Or the give-and-go that led to another Hermosillo goal in Washington last week. This is precisely what Schmid had in mind when he traded forward Welton, one of the team’s leading scorers last season, to get Myers.
The Costa Rican native has 13 years of experience in first division soccer throughout Central and South America. Brought to Major League Soccer this season, he displayed his offensive skills while playing beside former Galaxy star Eduardo Hurtado at Giants Stadium.
But while the MetroStars used Myers as a forward, he longed for a switch.
“As a midfielder, I feel better,” he said. “That’s the position I love to play.”
Schmid knew that. He also knew Myers was a veteran of six years in the Mexican League, where Cienfuegos spent a few formative years too. The players faced each other numerous times in international competition.
“His background wasn’t that much different from Cien’s,” Schmid said. “It worked out pretty well.”
Myers agreed: “[Cienfuegos’] characteristics are similar to mine.”
All of which has made it easy for Myers to blend with his new team, moving quickly into a starting midfield that includes Danny Pena and Simon Elliott. Their success means he can continue to smile and laugh.
“When I came here, it was much better for me,” he said. “We have such good players. That makes it simple to play.”
