Galaxy Still in Position
One-quarter of the way through the Major League Soccer season, the Galaxy has the look of a team that has come unraveled.
At 2-5-1, Coach Steve Sampson’s squad is off to one of the worst starts in the Galaxy’s 11-year history. A single victory in its last five games, combined with four shutout losses -- two of them at home -- has caused all sorts of head-shaking in Carson.
That said, however, all is far from being lost. In the parity-prone world of MLS, it takes only two or three wins to put a team right back in the running for a playoff spot.
What Sampson says he hopes, going into tonight’s game against the Colorado Rapids at the Home Depot Center, is that his team can stay close enough to Western Conference leaders FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo to be able to catch and overtake them once World Cup-bound Landon Donovan, Chris Albright and Cornell Glen return in late June or early July.
Currently, the Galaxy is tied for third in the conference with Colorado.
Last week’s addition of midfielder Kyle Martino and forward John Wolyniec, both acquired in a trade with the Columbus Crew, was intended to help the Galaxy stay within striking distance of first place.
“I think he’s a fabulous player,” Sampson said of 25-year-old Martino, who has played eight times for the U.S. national team. “I like what I saw in him” in a 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake last Saturday night. “I think he’s a great addition to this club.
“I think he can play underneath the forwards” as an attacking midfielder. “When we get everyone back, I think he’s going to compliment a number of players, as Wolyniec will. We’ve lacked a big striker.”
Martino and Wolyniec, 29, should have a greater impact tonight after a week of training. Last Saturday, both played virtually straight off the airplane.
Meanwhile, losing four of the last five games and being unable to beg, borrow or steal goals have put pressure on Sampson. The scoreless streak is now at 300 minutes. Alexi Lalas, the team’s president and general manager, has talked to Sampson about possible solutions.
“We’ve discussed strategy,” Sampson said. “Obviously, neither one of us are satisfied. We know we have to create a plan going forward in getting better.... The depth of the squad has to improve. So, yeah, we’ve had a number of conversations.”
Asked if further player cuts, trades and acquisitions are possible, Sampson said, “When we continue to play like this, certainly.”
GALAXY TONIGHT
vs. Colorado, 7:30, FSNW
Site -- Home Depot Center.
Radio -- 830, 1700.
Records -- Galaxy 2-5-1, Rapids 2-3-1.
Record vs. Rapids (2005) -- 2-2-0.
Update -- After splitting the regular-season series with Colorado last year, the Galaxy defeated the Rapids in the Western Conference final. Galaxy forward Herculez Gomez expects to return after sitting out two games because of a knee strain.
Tickets -- (877) 342-5299.
CHIVAS USA TONIGHT
at New York, 4:30 p.m., FSN Prime Ticket
Site -- Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Radio -- 1020.
Records -- Chivas USA 1-3-1, Red Bulls 0-1-5.
Record vs. Red Bulls -- 0-0-1.
Update -- Chivas USA, which tied the Red Bulls, 0-0, two weeks ago at the Home Depot Center, is coming off a 3-1 loss at the New England Revolution in a game in which midfielder Francisco “Panchito” Mendoza scored his first MLS goal. The Red Bulls will not dress former MLS most valuable player Amado Guevara after he stormed off the field and sat in the stands after being substituted by Coach Mo Johnston in a 1-1 tie with the Chicago Fire last week. Guevara, who was fined $4,000, is likely to be traded.
