Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, May 25, 2011

No Beckham? No problemBruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy understand the importance of the bonds between a player and a former teammate.Just ask Juan Pablo Angel and Landon Donovan, who, along with the G's, saw David Beckham off for a testimonial match for fellow Manchester United legend Gary Neville."That's what I've been talking about the whole year—the team is the whole squad, the 28, 30 players we have," Angel told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. "Those kinds of circumstances appear throughout the season and we have to have players that will step up."Beckham and Neville were part of the Manchester United side that won the Treble of the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League in 2000, along with a plethora of other silverware.“For the rest of the world, testimonial games—especially for players who won everything for the club—are very, very important,” Ángel added. “It means a lot.“Sometimes friendships don't come very often in this sport. You move back and forth to teams, you move from place to place and it's hard to just make friends. I believe that Gary is one of those close friends to David. Rightly so, he's going to be part of an important time and moment of ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo: Aiming for 3 Straight

 Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy have another grueling week ahead of them as they take on Dominic Kinnear's Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, May 28.The Galaxy currently sit first in the league with a record of 6-2-5 (23 points). As for the Dynamo, they are third in the MLS Eastern Conference with a record of 3-3-5 (14 points).One of the players that will be looking to produce for the Galaxy is Chad Barrett, who scored the game-winner against Chivas USA on Saturday at the Home Depot Center.“It was great to score the goal tonight,” Barrett told LAGalaxy.com's Larry Morgan, “but all in all the three points is what’s important.“I did pretty much everything right [regarding the goal]. There are things I would have changed. I would have gone more to the middle of the goal and given myself two opportunities instead of just one.“As a forward you’re always taught to overcorrect and I didn’t do that. Keep in mind your momentum and I didn’t do that. Luckily the team defense really shut them down and we got a 1-0 win.”“He’s a good soccer player,” team captain Landon Donovan said. “We’ve got a number of guys on the field now who understand ...

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 10

The end of the world is near! The end of the world is here! We're all gonna die, say your prayers, everyone!Wait a minute, that's not right. The world is still the same, no one has died yet (save for maybe a few people), we're good. Whew.What a relief.Then again, the sky might as well be falling for Sporting Kansas City, who are running into a huge quandary in this week's Power Rankings. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Union make a huge jump in this week's Major League Soccer Power Rankings, while the Los Angeles Galaxy return to the top position.Let's take a look at this week's power rankings.Begin Slideshow

LA Galaxy’s Chad Barrett, David Beckham Silence Chivas USA 1-0

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy shut out Robin Fraser's Chivas USA 1-0, thanks to a textbook goal from Chad Barrett via the English magic man known as David Beckham.Seriously folks, this story of deal is becoming old hat for a certain team in blue and gold. Now contrary to what people believe, LA vs. Chivas is still Major League Soccer's derby. Or, for you noble Cascadiaphiles (yes, I'm talking to you in the Pacific Northwest), this is Major League Soccer's first derby. See? I'm a nice guy to you lot, too.Unfortunately, sad to say, this is becoming more like a one-team race. I repeat, a one-team race.Zoom zoom.Chivas USA had, I believe, two or three opportunities to get one through the line. But when you can't break through the chaos in your attacking third, and you even have a shot hit the post...mercy, you will not gain any ground on the rivals that continue to make this derby more and more decisive.Now, even though the Manchester Derby is longer and more storied, I think it draws parallels to the Honda Superclasico. They involve two teams from the same town, and the two cities are sister cities. (Yes, you can look ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chivas USA: Live Blog, Play-by-Play Analysis

The Honda SuperClasico returns! Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy look to continue their dominance against Robin Fraser's Chivas USA in Major League Soccer's derby.The Galaxy are 5-2-5 (20 points) and are hanging on to their top ranking in the MLS standings by a needle. Chivas USA are currently 3-3-3 (12 points) and are seventh in the MLS Western Conference.Keep it here on Bleacher Report, the open-source sports network, for continuing coverage of the 2011 Major League Soccer season.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs: May 18, 2011

LA senses danger around the cornerBruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are aware that there may be danger up ahead in the form of Chivas USA on Saturday at the Home Depot Center.“They’re probably full of confidence,” Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall told LAGalaxy.com's Larry Morgan. “We see them every day and speak to a couple of their players, and from what (Chivas defender Ante) Jazic said to me is they’re feeling more of a team every weekend.“That’s good. We want to play any team when they’re at their best. At the moment Chivas is playing really well and it should be a great game and hopefully a lot of fans will turn out.“They have a lot of confidence right now, they have a new direction and they’re buying into it. That makes for a dangerous team.”Arena has a lot of respect for Chivas's new manager, Robin Fraser, a former Los Angeles Galaxy standout during the club's early years.“What always impressed me about Robin was the kind of character he had,” Arena said. “He wasn’t one of those players where you had to measure every word when you spoke to him. He wasn’t a guy with a major ego or attitude about ...

This Is the Los Angeles Galaxy: Sean Alvarado

This is Part 12 in a series of articles on the players who will be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy this season.Sometimes you have to get your share of knocks in order to come back stronger and develop a higher sense of resolve. For defender Sean Alvarado, he knows the feeling very well.During an MLS Reserve League match against Chivas USA this season, he suffered a torn ACL and is currently recovering from surgery. It does not take away from a young career with promise, highlighted by an outstanding career with Jorge Salcido's UCLA Bruins.Sean Alvarado, who claims Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as his role model, was born on September 20, 1987 in West Orange, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City. Alvarado graduated from St. Benedict's Preparatory Academy in Newark under head coach Rick Jacobs.He led the Gray Bees to a 16th consecutive state title and a No. 4 national ranking in his final season while earning first-team All-American honors. As a player in the youth club circuit, Alvarado led Casa Mia to national titles between 2003-2005, an U-15 State Cup title with PDA Cantona and more State Cup titles with the Montclair Eagles.Alvarado's success led him to ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chivas USA: Major League Soccer’s Derby Continues

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy continue their 2011 Major League Soccer season when they take on Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for the renewal of the Honda Superclasico, Major League Soccer's only city derby to date.Yes, the one-sided Honda Superclasico. The Superclasico that has seen the Galaxy dominate with a record of 12-3-6. Chivas USA have yet to get their hands on the prize since 2007, the only year they dominated the rivalry.But with the Goats issuing a warning with a 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls, this may have all the makings of a scintillating contest.The Galaxy are currently 5-2-5 (20 points) and are first place in the league, while Chivas USA are 3-3-3 (12 points), good for seventh in the MLS Western Conference.Los Angeles are coming off a 4-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, May 14 at Victoria Street."We just said that if we passed better we were going to create chances," Arena said earlier this week. "We continue to grow as a team and our passing is improving."Team captain Landon Donovan leads the league with seven goals this season.“It feels good to be on top of the league ...

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 9

In this week's edition of the 2011 Major League Soccer Power Rankings, Schellas Hyndman's FC Dallas shoot to the top after a couple of impressive victories this week.Meanwhile, the New York Red Bulls take a tumble after Chivas USA sends them crashing down to earth.All this and more as Bleacher Report presents you with Week 9 of the 2011 MLS Power Rankings.Begin Slideshow

LA Galaxy Rediscovers Scoring Form in 4-1 Rout of Sporting Kansas City

Perhaps Sporting Kansas City should change their poseur-oriented moniker and revert to the good old "Kansas City Wizards."I mean, it sure helped Peter Vermes's men last season at the Home Depot Center, when they laid the hammer down on Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy by the tune of 2-0 on Aug. 28 of last year.My, my, my, how the times have changed.Sporting were taking on a Galaxy side desperate for a return to form. It didn't help matters that a certain Omar Bravo would be sidelined for a while due to sports hernia surgery.Nor did the situation get ameliorated by the fact that Sporting was riding a three-game losing streak.Make that four.In spite of a 39th-minute howler from the Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez, who becomes Chicken Thief No. 3 (yes, even the home team's players can be held liable for stripping the fans of their well-deserved poultry from Pollo Campero), the tandem of Landon Donovan, Juan Pablo Angel and David Beckham bailed the defender out en route to a 4-1 victory at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on a cool May evening.If it weren't for that own goal, it could be considered the most comprehensive performance by the Galaxy ...