Steve Davis of ESPN Soccernet points out that July was a month to savor for MLS — and not just because of David Beckham’s arrival, which has yet to have any tangible affect on the league. Davis points out that now is not typically a stressful time for MLS clubs: those comfortably positioned for the postseason often take their foot off the pedal (read: D.C. United last year) while everyone else notes that there’s still plenty of season left to make up for lost time. However, it’s particularly tight at the top this year — only Houston can feel somewhat comfortable about its status — and the need for the Galaxy to kick into a higher, post-Beckham gear only adds spice to a thickening plot.
Then there’s the SuperLiga, whose matches “have been spirited and tightly contested, spun with quality and layered with just the right amount of acrimony,” bringing much-needed life to the mid-season doldrums. And for the Galaxy, SuperLiga glory may well be the club’s best shot at a title this year, given the team’s status in the West.
Even so, Beckham is already changing things. Now, each time the Galaxy goes to a different town, Becks will be faced with new pressure from local media, who, in some cases, never used to bother with MLS but will now be forced to. Indeed, even sleepy Kansas City is responding, having sold 20,000 tickets at always-empty Arrowhead Stadium for the icon’s September arrival. And while Davis’ column appeared before L.A.’s 6-5 win over Dallas, you can bet that that result will reverberate across the media landscape too, bringing the added pressure of goals and excitement to the Galaxy’s traveling circus.