Galaxy happy for the assist
David Beckham’s arrival with throngs of reporters in tow and huge expectations is something of a relief for Galaxy players.
It marks the beginning of a new part of the season for the Galaxy, after a first half marked by inconsistent play, a lengthy series of roster moves and nervous anticipation ahead of Beckham joining the team.
The Galaxy struggled to a 1-4-3 start before going 2-1-1 on a four-game homestand that ended last weekend. During the weeks leading up to Beckham’s arrival, Coach Frank Yallop said the team wished it could add the midfielder immediately.
“Definitely excitement,” Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon said of finally having Beckham. “The team’s starting to play a little bit better, but I think a player like Beckham and a player of his caliber can hopefully push us to the team we need to be. Obviously, it is a relief because it’s been such a huge anticipation.”
Veteran defender Chris Albright said Beckham’s arrival comes at the right time in the Galaxy’s schedule. The Galaxy has five non-league games, including four in which Beckham is expected to play, before its next Major League Soccer match.
“I think that the schedule sets up real nice for us right now ... where the results don’t really matter as far as league points and where we can kind of build some continuity,” Albright said. “Hopefully in August and September we can go on a nice run and solidify ourselves in the playoffs.”
The most pressing issue for the Galaxy, however, might be the continuity in the locker room. The Galaxy has shed seven players during the season and added six others, including Beckham. In an interview with the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., midfielder Santino Quaranta, who was traded to the New York Red Bulls two weeks ago, said the Galaxy was in “chaos” and that President Alexi Lalas was not on the same page as Yallop. Albright disputed that and said Beckham’s arrival will only further unite the organization.
But it also brings unprecedented attention to the league as a whole and the team as a unit.
“We’re just going to be ourselves as we are with any new player that comes in,” veteran Cobi Jones said. “The young players ... obviously they’ll be a little more off-put by the situation, but they’ll slowly get into it as well and treat him as another player on the team.”
Jones, who made sure to tell Beckham that Jones’ physical therapy bed is off limits, said his new teammate seems “laid back.”
That was the consensus of the few Galaxy players who were still at the Home Depot Center after Beckham’s news conferences, which occurred while the rest of the team trained.
Albright, who is sidelined because of a torn right hamstring, said Beckham seemed a little overwhelmed by all the attention. Beckham’s entourage included MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Tim Leiweke, chief executive of AEG, the Galaxy’s parent company. That was a far cry from the usual introduction for a new player.
“It was definitely different, but obviously, with so much hype around it, I don’t think you can try to downplay it,” Albright said. “I think that would have been a mistake.”
Even so, Albright said, fourth-year striker Alan Gordon lightened the mood by introducing himself to Beckham and asking the superstar’s name.
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