Blue and Gold Standard

The Galaxy announced today that they will be playing Club Tijuana (Liga MX) on February 9th at StubHub Center and their Northern California rivals, San Jose Earthquakes, on February 13th at Cashman Field in Las Vegas.

Adding to their recent additions this week, LA announced yesterday the signing of defender Daniel Steres. Along with Clement Diop, Steres spend last year with LA Galaxy II where he also captained the USL side. 

The Galaxy just announced that they will be decline options on eight players - forward Edson Buddle, defender Tommy Meyer, goalkeeper Brian Perk, goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, forward Charlie Rugg, midfielder Mika Vayrynen, midfielder Kenney Walker, and goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton.

. @fccincinnati first signings: Kenney Walker, @awiedeman3

By Jamie Pham 

The LA Galaxy travel to Seattle to face the Sounders tonight at 7PM PST for the Western Conference Knockout Round. It’s a one game, do-or-die, playoff with the winner going on to face either the Vancouver Whitecaps or FC Dallas.

LA could have avoided all of this if they would have beaten Sporting Kansas City last week to lock down the second seed but instead, they fell 2-1. 

The two teams faced off in the final game last year with Seattle coming out victorious and winning the Supporter’s Shield. They faced off again the Western Conference Final with the Galaxy winning 2-2 on aggregate and away goals. In fact, LA has eliminated Seattle from the playoffs three times in the last five years. 

Key points

-The Galaxy have won only one in their last five league games with the only win coming on September 27 when they beat FC Dallas 3-2 at StubHub Center. 

-Seattle are on the opposite end of the spectrum with no losses in their last eight games (4-0-4). 

-LA has given up seven goals in the past two games, which is very concerning when looking at the all-mighty Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins duo. The backline, especially Omar Gonzalez, must step up and take control of the game.

-Juninho and Steven Gerrard haven’t been playing well together and balance is needed for the team to move forward. Without it, the lack of midfield creativity will be the death of the LA Galaxy. 

-Robbie Keane and Giovani Dos Santos is pretty much the exact same player and this is a problem if they are going to be playing together up top. Both players tend to drop back to gather the ball and then try to create plays but this doesn’t work if both players are doing the exact same thing. Bruce Arena needs to move Gyasi Zardes back to his natural role as a forward and drop Dos Santos to the wing. 

-While were on the topic of offense, more players need to step up and help Keane. He is their lone point of attack lately and he needs help. Zardes hasn’t done anything as of late while Gerrard missed an easy goal last week that would have drawn the game level. 

-Goalkeeping wise - Donovan Ricketts has been shaky the last few games but he is LA’s only option right now because even though Brian Rowe has experience, he doesn’t have that much in big games like this one. Where’s Jaime Penedo when you need him? 

Last game: May 9th, 2015 - LA lost 2-1 at Toyota Stadium

Temperatures will reach almost 100 degrees at in Frisco, TX.

Robbie Keane will be making his 100th appearance in MLS.

LA earned their first road win against the Colorado Rapids two weeks ago, can they win another one on the road?

Dallas is two points behind LA in the Western Conference and have three games in hand on LA.

Bruce has trotted out 31 different lineups in 31 games this year in all competition.

Carson, Calif. — More than 13,000 fans at StubHub Center were on hand to witness the LA Galaxy beat Trinidad and Tobago’s Central FC 5-1 in their opening game in the CONCACAF Champions League. 

They were also treated to something extra as Giovani Dos Santos made his debut in the 57th minute. And the crowd went WILD to mark the occasion. 19 minutes later, he took a pass from Rafael Garcia and slid home his first goal in a Galaxy kit and genuinely smiled as his teammates started to surround him. In only 33 minutes of play, he registered five shots (two on goal), a goal, and an assist.   

"I am happy for the team and to debut with a goal. It was a dream match," Dos Santos said. 

Might this be the sign of things to come?   

“He did a good job,” Bruce Arena said after the game. "He's obviously going to get better. He's only in training a couple days and he's missed the last couple weeks. But it's good to get him on the field, and I'm sure that in a short amount of time he'll be back to his full fitness.” 

The Galaxy easily tore apart Central FC’s defense (it was their first ever appearance in the CCL) but the team were without nine of their regular starters. It will be interesting to see how Arena will utilize Dos Santos along side Sebastian Lleget, Juninho, and Steven Gerrard come Sunday when the Galaxy face Western Conference rivals, Seattle Sounders.   

After failed attempts in 2011 and 2013, the Galaxy got their man but it did not come without a little controversy.   

The Galaxy faithful have been vocal about Dos Santos taking over the number 10 jersey from the retired Landon Donovan ever since the Mexican international signed with the team a few weeks ago. While there is no denying what Donovan has done for the Galaxy and the sport of soccer during his 15 year career, the number 10 shouldn’t be retired from the Galaxy because of its importance.   

Captain Robbie Keane came to his defense and said “That's not Gio's fault. You should speak to someone else; it's not Gio's fault. Gio's the No. 10. I guarantee you one second Gio does not care. I'm telling you right now: He does not care what people say. And the reason why: He has nothing to do with it. It's for other people to decide if they're going to retire a number. Are they going to retire No. 7 when I finish? I wouldn't want them to.” 

Cobi Jones’s number 13 hasn’t been worn by another Galaxy player ever since his retirement in 2007 but that doesn’t mean it has been retired. The number is also not part of the 1-11 squad number assigned to specific roles within the lineup.   

Before Donovan signed with the Galaxy and after a short stint by Andy Herzog, El Salvadorian legend Mauricio Cienfuegos wore the number 10 jersey from the league’s debut in 1996-2003.   

The LA Galaxy takes on the Seattle Sounders for the second time this season on Sunday, August 9th at StubHub Center. 

LA have won five of their last seven league games while Seattle are on a four game losing streak. They are currently without a goal in league play in 362 minutes, a club record.   

The last meeting was also at StubCenter where LA won 1-0 on Alan Gordon’s header in the 23rd minute. As a matter of fact, Seattle hasn’t won at StubHub Center in ten regular season games since 2009.   

Seattle will be without their new DP signing Nelson Valdez as well as Osvaldo Alonso. Obafemi Martins is listed as doubtful.   

LA will have Giovani Dos Santos available but Bruce Arena hasn’t said if he will be starting. Dos Santos played 33 minutes on Thursday night against Central FC in CONCACAF Champions League and tallied a goal and an assist.   

It took Gyasi Zardes only one minute to provide Clint Dempsey with an assist for the United States Men's National Team to take the lead over Haiti.

Since coming into the January camp, Zardes has made 11 appearances for the senior team this year with nine starts and one goal.

Hailing from Hawthorne, CA, the 23 year old has been preparing for that moment for quite sometime now. He led the Galaxy's U-20 side to a championship in 2010 and scored 23 goals in 39 games for Cal State Bakersfield before signing a Homegrown Player contract with the Galaxy. He made his first appearance (a sub) in April 2013 and scored his first goal two weeks later.

In his third year with the LA Galaxy, the youngster has scored 24 goals in 58 appearances. He holds the scoring record for Homegrown players and even scored in last year's MLS Cup final, which he also won. Along with his confidence, his size and pace is what made him stand out for his club and country. He isn't afraid to go right at defenders on his way to goal or to set up another teammate. While he is a forward, he has been predominately featured on the wings for the USMNT and even had a stint in that position in his first year with the Galaxy.

“I love playing up top,” Zardes said. “To be able to be up top at the end, that’s a bonus. But playing out wide, I love that as well, just trying to be an attacking threat. That’s what I’m really trying to accomplish.” Having Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane as a mentor definitely helps out a little bit. 

“I learned so much from Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan," Zardes said. "I’d always pick their brains and they give me helpful tips. That’s what really helped me feel at home with these guys with the national team as well. It’s just phenomenal being in the same atmosphere with all these top talents.” While last year's LA Galaxy team is arguably the best attacking team in MLS history but Zardes still has room to improve. Off the ball, he is great but there are times where he needs to work on his passing and possession. So far this season, he has scored four goals and notched two assists because there hasn't been quality service from the midfield since Donovan retired. The addition of Steven Gerrard will hopefully change that and help Zardes return to his goal scoring form from last season. 

It has been a decent Gold Cup for Zardes overall. He still needs time to improve and time is something he certainly has. 

Road woes continue for the LA Galaxy as they are still winless in MLS play since August of 2014. Aside from their recent victory at Ayala Stadium against the San Jose Earthquakes in the U.S. Open Cup, they are coming up on the one year mark without any wins away from StubHub Center.

The heat played a factor has the sweltering temperatures and humidity took it’s toll on the LA Galaxy. Steven Gerrard also got his first taste to feel what it’s like to play in the heat in the middle of summer in Texas.

Sloppy defending lead to the first two goals. On the first goal, Leonardo took a whiff at a cross into the box and missed letting Will Bruin score the opening goal. The second goal came from Nathan Sturgis dribbling through four Galaxy defenders before giving the ball to an open Brad Davis at the top of the box and Davis drilling the ball into the back of the net.

LA controlled over 60% of the possession throughout the match but it was the Dynamo who scored three goals.

Robbie Keane was seen wearing an arm sling after the game sand said he suffered a slight shoulder injury in the first half and it stiffened throughout the game.

This was the first game that two LA Galaxy II members played in. 22 year old David Romney started at left back for the suspended Robbie Rogers and Ariel Lassiter came on as a substitute for Kenney Walker in the 71st minute.