Galaxy Deal Plays Into Rookie Hands
Being traded can be a disheartening experience, especially if the season is only four games old and you’re a rookie.
But Galaxy midfielder Winston Griffiths is taking a recent swap in stride.
“It was a bit of a surprise for me, knowing that I had to come out here,” said Griffiths, a Jamaican international who began his Major League Soccer career with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, then was sent to the Galaxy on April 20 for a conditional superdraft pick. “But it’s been great so far. Having a teammate from Jamaica, Tyrone [Marshall], and another Caribbean, Ezra [Hendrickson, from St. Vincent & the Grenadines], has helped. I think I fit in pretty well.”
So well that Griffiths should get significant playing time today against the Wizards at Kansas City and could start.
Of course, the Galaxy having been hit so hard by so many early-season injuries helps Griffiths’ case.
Midfielder Simon Elliott went down Friday during practice, after rolling his right ankle, and is out for today, as are Hendrickson, a defender, who has a hamstring strain; forward Chris Albright, who has a broken right foot; and midfielder Peter Vagenas, who has a lower back strain.
Rookie forward Gavin Glinton is nursing sore ribs and is available for limited minutes only, and Cobi Jones, having joined the U.S. national team for the World Cup, is gone for at least seven MLS games. Playmaking midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos, though, is back after sitting out last weekend’s 1-0 overtime loss to Colorado because of a sprained left ankle.
“Not since I’ve been with this team have we had this kind of an injury run,” said fourth-year Coach Sigi Schmid. “Early in the season is better than late in the season, better than having it happen in the playoffs for sure.”
Kansas City, meanwhile, will be down two starters. Goalkeeper Tony Meola is with the national team, and midfielder Kerry Zavagnin is sitting out a red-card suspension.
“It’s a good test for our young players, and that’s why they’re on the team,” Schmid said. “That’s why they’re pros. We feel they can play.”
Among them, Alex Bengard and Jesus Ochoa, who Schmid hopes will spell Elliott in the back-middle, and Griffiths, who Schmid said would play as a wide midfielder.
“The style that he wants, I’ve played it before as an outside left wing, so I’m comfortable with it,” said Griffiths, who made his Galaxy debut in the 87th minute against Colorado on Saturday.
“The greatest thing is that I’m still able to be in the league. So when I get a chance to play I’ll do my best.”
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
GALAXY TONIGHT
at Kansas City, 4:30, Channel 9
Site--Arrowhead Stadium.
Radio--KSPN (1110), KTNQ (1020, Spanish).
Records--Galaxy 2-1-2, Wizards 1-1-2.
Record vs. Wizards (2001)--3-1.
Update--Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid said he would start Matt Reis at goalkeeper after giving him last weekend off in favor of Kevin Hartman. “We wanted to get Kevin a game.... That was important for us to keep him in the rhythm of things,” Schmid said. “But at this stage, we’re undefeated with Reis, and he knows the error that he made in the Dallas game and he worked hard.”
Paul Gutierrez
