Galaxy Needs to Get Defensive
In the Galaxy’s Major League Soccer opener, a 3-0 loss at Columbus last Saturday, there were holes in the Los Angeles defense big enough to accommodate the proverbial snowplow.
The Crew took advantage, scoring against a four-man Galaxy back line that floundered in the wind and cold.
“There was some horrendous man-to-man marking,” said assistant coach Billy McNicol.
Tonight, the Galaxy plays its home opener, against Real Salt Lake at the Home Depot Center, and whereas the expected sellout crowd of 27,000 might be focusing on the debut of midfielder Landon Donovan and forward Naldo, the coaches will be as interested in how the defense responds.
The week has been spent trying to shore up the starting back line of Chris Albright, Michael Umana, Tyrone Marshall and Todd Dunivant.
Will there be changes?
“Possibly,” said Coach Steve Sampson. “If not in personnel, then definitely in attitude....
“We have too much talent on this team to take the kinds of goals that we took against Columbus. Regardless of what elements we had to fight, it was just inexcusable.”
What went wrong?
McNicol said, “One of the beautiful things about the modern game is, there are videotapes and CDs and you can analyze it and break it down....
“I don’t think there was any one guy to blame. If you look at the tapes, we’ve got plenty of men in the right area, we don’t have enough individuals saying, ‘He’s mine and he’s yours.’ ...
“Communication is a vital ingredient in successful defending, and also you need to have people who are willing to take one for the team. It’s OK to [commit] a professional foul now and again.”
Salt Lake might be an expansion team, but it has plenty of offensive experience in forwards Jason Kreis, Clint Mathis and playmaking midfielder Andy Williams.
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GALAXY TONIGHT
vs. Real Salt Lake, 7, FSN
Site -- Home Depot Center.
Radio -- 830, 1540.
Records -- Galaxy 0-1, Salt Lake 0-0-1.
Record vs. Real -- First meeting.
Update -- Real Salt Lake Coach John Ellinger groomed Galaxy standout Landon Donovan when Ellinger had charge of the U.S. under-17 national team. “Landon has always been about his state of mind,” Ellinger told Utah’s Deseret Morning News. “If he’s happy, he’s focused and he plays well. It’s a much more exciting league with him in it than with him out of it.” The Galaxy reserve team will play its first match, against Real Salt Lake’s reserves, at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Home Depot Center’s track and field stadium. Admission is free.
Tickets -- (877) 342-5299.
