The playoffs were on the line and LA Galaxy hadn’t been below the playoff line all season. Destiny was in their own hands. Win and you are in. This was the Corner of the Galaxy show broadcast a few days before the massive final home game vs Minnesota. Dare I say some of the truths discussed might seem even more valid now.
LA Galaxy is a five star shirt team. Mediocrity is too accepted across all facets of the club. Excellence has been replaced with complacency. The fans deserve more. Excuses are for start-ups. This is a globally renowned franchise. Time to re-ignite the team’s culture and DNA. This starts at the very top.
A five-star team always needs five-star calibre players.
The Galaxy have signed many great players over the years and these signings have resulted in a true evolution of Major League soccer at domestic and international level. The most notable of course is, David Beckham. He elevated and changed the game in the United States like no other football player. Beckham helped garner more eyeballs on Major League Soccer and was the nucleus to bringing in more sponsorships and collaborations with big brands that added commercial value to multiple cities and business across the country. He sold tickets. He put bums on seats. And when LA Galaxy signed him, it changed the game forever.
In addition to Beckham, there was of course homegrown talent like, Landon Donovan. Undoubtedly the poster boy for American soccer since his teens, he also became an LA Galaxy captain and legend. Donovan was the connectivity to American culture, the growth of the game and had a huge influence even when big name European players joined the club. He formed an incredible partnership with Robbie Keane and after a dodgy start with Beckham, they found their way and formed one of the most prolific on field relationships in MLS history. But all great things come to an end. And once again LA Galaxy found themselves in a place to to replace legends like Beckham, Donovan and fan favourite, Robbie Keane. Enter the era of Zlatan!
Zlatan arrived with huge fanfare. He even took out an entire page in the LA Times thanking himself and telling Angelinos they were welcome that he was in their city! The bravado was nothing short of what we would expect from the self-proclaimed lion. He lit up MLS immediately and he was the catalyst for infusing a true rivalry with noisy neighbours, LAFC. The lion roared and the Galaxy fans loved every second of it.
Zlatan however decided he had one more chapter to write in Europe. He had left such a huge footprint in Los Angeles that replacing him would probably be one of the hardest tasks of all for this great MLS club. Once again, they had a trump card to play, but this time, would it work?
Enter Javier Hernández, aka Chicharito, the beloved Mexican legend who could now become a new hero in Los Angeles, especially with the large community of Hispanic fans who adore the Galaxy. He had every ingredient to make this one of the most special signings in the club’s history. After all, he played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and other great clubs across Europe and has always been a star for country. But not all stars shine brightly right away. Sometimes it takes a journey in order to find a new place on this earth to shine.
As we look towards the new season, we couldn’t help but rewind to the excitement, hoopla and pizazz in LA when Chicharito did arrive. There was so much hope and many believed this signing was the right move to follow the legend that is Zlatan. With that said, not all moves are seamless or easy. It’s tough moving to a new country and team. When you’ve known something to be a certain way for years, it’s only human to feel challenged with a new environment. And imagine having the hopes of a nation and city on your shoulders too?
Everyone will agree Chicharito’s debut in MLS was hugely disappointing. But he’s been fighting his way back to fitness and form and has elevated his engagement in the task at hand during the off season. Can he dethrone the current golden boy and ex-Arsenal man, Carlos Vela? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure, we cannot wait for kick-off and everyone who is a part of the LAG community is rooting for Chicharito to shine as bright as the five stars on the Galaxy shirt!
I returned for my resident stint on the epic Corner of the Galaxy show. Tough conversations were had about star signing and Mexico legend, Chicharito. This is not an easy task, especially when all you want to do is wax lyrical about his performances since arriving in Los Angeles. The story hasn’t gone according to plan, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to change the narrative.
Like I mentioned on my Talksport segment last week, I live in hope that Chicharito will come good. Fitness is one of his biggest challenges and there is no doubt his transition to the United States from Europe has not gone as smoothly as he had hoped. Change in life is never easy and just because you’ve been a global athlete with huge success, doesn’t automatically mean everything falls into place immediately.
My honesty may seem harsh to some, but when you arrive with such fanfare, the fans expect to see an end product on the pitch. Whether or not the team around Chicharito is good enough isn’t up for debate right now, because he isn’t good enough…for now! With that said, he has played for some of the most revered clubs in Europe and been a star for his country. My money is on him having a resurgence and proving folks like me and many others wrong.
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It’s Landon Donovan’s last press conference. He has just won another MLS Cup with his beloved LA Galaxy. It’s a fairytale ending. He’s had a picture book career. He has given everything to club and especially country.
What an honor to see him play his last professional game. What a privilege to be at his last LA Galaxy presser. He looks tired. He’s ready to walk off into the sunset as a champion.
I was given the opportunity to ask America’s greatest ever footballer a question. What would it be? Everyone is focused on questions about his game in the US. Why wouldn’t they be? This is America! But what about the Toffees? Everton fans fell in love with him. British football dug him. I had to ask. I had to represent. Everton fans…this one is for you!
This week, David Beckham made a huge announcement that will shape the story arc in the final chapter of his exceptionally successful football career. On December 1, Beckham will play his last competitive game for LA Galaxy, and there’s no doubt he has divided opinion since his arrival to Major League Soccer in 2007.
Sometimes, the opinion of Beckham has little to do with him as a football player and more to do with him as a person. Despite the fame and fortune, Beckham has always remained a passionate football player. Ultimately, he just loves to play. He wishes he could play forever. And surely, the game would be better off with him prolonging his career for as long as he could, right? You would think so.
There seems to be an unnecessary undertone to some of the dialogue related to Beckham. Upon his announcement, fans took to social media to voice their opinions, and he is definitely a polarizing figure who can bring out the ugly in some people.
But why is this the case when Beckham has always been a solid professional, a great role model for kids and is generally a very good bloke?
Is there a tinge of jealousy in the air? Read my latest article on Bleacher Report. It’s definitely brushed with a little fun!
Many in the media had suggested that Landon Donovan couldn’t hack playing football in Europe. And you really couldn’t blame the media for doubting the American star’s potential.
After a disappointing 4 years at Bayer Leverkusen and an unsuccessful loan spell at Bayern Munich last season, the hope for Donovan’s talent to transcend to the European game were all but over. But as we all know, anything is possible in the funny old game of football.
In the MLS season that just ended, Donovan led the LA Galaxy to the championship game and even though they were defeated, his MVP performances throughout the year grabbed the attention of Europe’s elite clubs once again. Donovan was being given another chance to prove himself on the big stage of European football and he was determined to make the most of his opportunity, especially heading into a World Cup year.
This time, the American chose the right club and the right country to play his trade. Everton are one of the most famous, traditional and prestigious clubs in England. And they have a great manager who is able to identify talent when he sees it. David Moyes didn’t hesitate in signing Donovan on loan to Everton. He needed him. With Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and a host of other fantastic players on the injury list, it seemed a perfect fit for both club and player. Sure it was a risk based on Donovan’s past European experiences, but Everton’s injuries meant they had to gamble. Donovan was given the famous #9 shirt by the club and he has certainly worn it proudly.
There’s no doubt Donovan has been inspirational at Everton. He has risen to the occasion, taken his opportunity with both feet and has starred for the Premier League team in many games, including victories over Chelsea and Manchester United. Donovan was just voted Player of the Month and a certain love affair might be brewing between the American and the Toffees faithful. His performances have engaged the British media and many are seeing Donovan as a completely different player. In fact, some Brits are a little more afraid of facing the United States team in their first game at the World Cup because of how Donovan has played!
Donovan now faces a very difficult decision. He finds himself in a similar situation to David Beckham following his successful loan deal at AC Milan last season. When football superstar Beckham extended his loan deal with the Italian club, Donovan was a huge critic as he questioned Beckham’s loyalty and dedication to the LA Galaxy team. After being quoted in the book “The Beckham Experiment”, Donovan made his feelings about his teammate’s contributions or lack thereof crystal clear. With things going so well at Everton, should Donovan follow in Beckham’s footsteps and extend his deal? If I were an Everton fan, I wouldn’t want to lose him. If I were David Moyes I wouldn’t want to lose him. If I were the LA Galaxy, I would want him back. But what does Donovan want? After all the criticism of Beckham, would he even consider staying with Everton until June?
As Donovan continues his preparation for the World Cup, surely staying in Europe is best for him and the United States team. Right now, it’s great to be in the land of Donovan…
There was an earthquake in Southern California today. Let’s hope that jolt will wake-up the LA Galaxy. Becks and Donovan need help. They can’t be a two man team. Buddle has pulled his weight too, but the other guys need to start mucking in.
Their start to the season was exceptional, but recently their performances have been woeful and they have been unwatchable at times. Looks like they are playing in a galaxy far, far away…
Many in the media had suggested that Landon Donovan couldn’t hack playing football in Europe. And you really couldn’t blame the media for doubting the American star’s potential.
There was an earthquake in Southern California today. Let’s hope that jolt will wake-up the LA Galaxy. Becks and Donovan need help. They can’t be a two man team. Buddle has pulled his weight too, but the other guys need to start mucking in.