It’s no surprise we haven’t heard much from the Los Angeles Galaxy now that the media hubbub surrounding David Beckham’s sprained left knee has died. After all, Becks may be out of the picture for the rest of the season and the team is unlikely to make the playoffs. In fact, a kind of “weary calm” has settled over the club, says Andrea Canales, writing for USSoccerPlayers.
Perhaps the suspension of the media frenzy has been a good thing, as the Galaxy played some of its best soccer of the season in brushing aside the Colorado Rapids — one of the hottest teams in MLS recently — 3-1, on Saturday. Even so, Canales says Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas is already training one eye on next season.
But Lalas must surely make (if not head) the list of replaceables for 2008. He makes no excuses for the Galaxy fans’ disappointment: “It’s completely expected and justified,” he said, “they expect and deserve much more” — especially from a general manager who touted his team as becoming a “super club.” Canales points out that Lalas, AEG and MLS all underestimated the fatiguing effect a backlogged schedule and a string of meaningless friendlies would have on the team. The Galaxy GM admits as much, but insists, “We’ve dealt with it…better than other clubs would have,” adding that management must learn from its mistakes next season. That is, if there is one.