Beckham´s Galaxy battle to reach MLS title match

November 12, 2009


The Los Angeles Galaxy, with David Beckham on board and Landon Donovan on song, battle for a berth in Major League Soccer’s championship match on Friday when they take on Houston in the Western Conference final.

It seemed an unlikely scenario early in the season for a club that equalled the league’s worst record in 2008, and started 2009 with 11 draws in their first 13 matches.

England star Beckham was at the centre of a storm as he stayed on at Italian club AC Milan four months beyond his original loan period, provoking the ire not only of Galaxy fans but also of teammate Donovan – who questioned Beckham’s commitment to the US league in a book.

Thanks in part to the intervention of coach Bruce Arena – named the league’s coach of the year on Wednesday – the two mended fences.

With a shored-up defence and newfound confidence, the Galaxy had seven clean sheets in their last nine matches of the regular season and earned the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

“Even in the beginning part of this year, we went a bunch of games without winning and it became frustrating,” said Donovan, a candidate for MLS Most Valuable Player honours. “Once we got that taste of victory and realised what it took, everybody grabbed a hold of that and we’ve maintained that the rest of the year. Now, I think we’re playing as well as we have all year.”

One of Beckham’s trademark crosses to Donovan helped create the winning goal in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Chivas USA that sent the Galaxy into the Western Conference final.

Donovan fed Mike Magee, who was fouled in the penalty area. Donovan then converted the penalty and the Galaxy return to the Western final for the first time since winning the MLS title in 2005.

The Dynamo, meanwhile, are in a familiar spot. The 2006 and 2007 MLS champions, Houston ousted Seattle on Sunday thanks to a goal from Brian Ching in extra time.

The Galaxy beat the Dynamo 1-0 in June before the teams played to a scoreless draw on October 18 in a contest that Ching called “feisty”.

Beckham earned a yellow card and Ching was also cautioned after a heated exchange with the English midfielder.

“We’re expecting the same kind of a matchup, the same kind of intensity,” Ching said.

The Western Conference winners will play the winners of Saturday’s Eastern Conference final between Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup championship match on November 22.

LOS ANGELES (AFP)

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Galaxy´s Arena named MLS manager of year

November 12, 2009


Los Angeles Galaxy’s Bruce Arena was named the 2008 Major League Soccer coach of the year Wednesday, after guiding the club to its first playoff berth since 2005.

Arena, now in his second season as Galaxy head coach, led Los Angeles to one of the most dramatic single season turnarounds in MLS history.

In 2008, the Galaxy finished at the bottom of the Western Conference, surrendering a league-high 62 goals.

One of Arena’s biggest priorities during the 2009 off season was to solidify the club’s defense.

Arena drafted University of Maryland star defender Omar Gonzalez with the third overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and brought in US national team veteran Gregg Berhalter at centreback.

Arena also handed the netminding duties to first-year MLS goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, a 32-year-old Jamaican international who spent most of his career in Europe. Berhalter, Gonzalez and Ricketts were a big reason the Galaxy cut their goals-against average in half from 2008 allowing just 31 goals this season.

In addition to shoring up the defense, Arena also brought in a host of new players, meshed them together, and helped reconcile the highly-publicized differences between star players Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

Los Angeles opened 2009 slowly, but after Beckham returned in midseason from a loan spell with AC Milan the Galaxy began piling up victories. On Friday, the Galaxy host the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Championship match.

NEW YORK (AFP)

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Beckham raring to play Champions League

November 7, 2009


England midfielder David Beckham is relishing the chance to play Champions League football again once he returns to AC Milan on his second loan spell in January.

Milan missed out on Champions League qualification last season but are on course to progress from the group stages this time around, allowing the 34-year-old to be eligible for the start of the knockout phase in February.

“I’ve not been involved for a few years now but I always enjoy Champions League games,” said Beckham, who first joined the Serie A side from the Los Angeles Galaxy at the start of 2009.

A Champions League winner in 1999 with Manchester United, Beckham’s last appearance in the competition came for Real Madrid in 2007, prior to joining the Galaxy that July.

“They’re different from playing the majority of league games,” he said.

“They’re always special nights and there’s always a different atmosphere, especially at big clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Milan.”

Beckham has been keeping an eye on Milan’s early season form in Serie A under new head coach Leonardo.

“Unless I’ve been playing or training I’ve watched every game,” he said.

“I watch every Milan game, every Manchester United game and every Madrid game being an ex-player and a fan of all three teams. It’s great to watch teams like that and learn from players and teams.

“It was a tough start (for Milan) but that was going to happen but Milan are a great team and it was never going to be a problem.”

Beckham must firstly try to help the Galaxy reach the MLS Cup final, which determines the American league champions and he is committed to the cause, even it means missing out on a 116th England cap later this month.

Should the Galaxy defeat Los Angeles rivals Chivas USA in their Western Conference semi-final second leg on Sunday night, the next round of the play-offs will clash with England’s friendly against Brazil in Doha on November 14.

“Of course I’d a lot rather the Galaxy progressed in the play-offs more than anything,” Beckham said.

“We’ve got to this stage and done well so far this season but everybody knows how proud I am about playing for my country.

“Ideally it would be great if they were separate but they’re not so it will be good if we progress.”

Beckham said he and his team-mates would have to step up their game from last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Chivas.

“We know we can play better than we did in the first game and we have to if we want to progress. We have to play a lot better,” he said.

LONDON (AFP)

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LA Galaxy Bruce Arena relieved over Beckham-Milan resolution

November 5, 2009


LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena is glad David Beckham’s return to AC Milan is out in the open as it allows his team to fully concentrate on their approaching fixtures.

Beckham moved to the San Siro during the Major League Soccer off-season last January, initially on a three-month loan deal, but impressed so much his stay was extended until the end of the Serie A campaign.

He returned to Galaxy in the summer after helping Milan to fourth in Serie A with two goals in 18 league appearances.

The Italians announced on Monday that the former England captain would return to the San Siro on a six-month loan deal leading up to the 2010 World Cup.

However, the 34-year-old has been warned by England boss Fabio Capello to remain in top shape by playing at the highest level if he wants to be in the world cup line-up.

Arena is relived that the announcement has been made and said, “It’s been publicised for two months now.

Our team has been well aware of it but we just want to put that to bed and get it over with.”

“We think it’s the right thing for David to do given the circumstances with England for the next World Cup and we would rather get that taken care of now and move forward,” he told, quotes sky sports news.

LA Galaxy will face Chivas USA over the weekend in the second leg of the Western Conference semi-final series following a 2-2 draw earlier.

David Beckham will make his return to the fashion capital of Europe in January.

Anurada Bhat

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Beckham dedicated to US impact and World Cup dream

July 16, 2009


David Beckham swears he is back with the Los Angeles Galaxy to help boost football in the United States even though his desire to play for England in the 2010 World Cup might draw him back to Europe.

The 34-year-old midfielder who spent six months on loan to AC Milan this year spoke here on Wednesday ahead of his first match of the season with the Galaxy, which faces Major League Soccer strugglers New York Red Bulls on Thursday.

A whirlwind media blitz to launch his third partial season in a row included Beckham saying he is committed to giving his best for the Galaxy this season and sees no need to apologize to supporters of the MLS club.

“Not at all,” he said. “I’ve been very dedicated to the Galaxy, dedicated to the fans. I’ve always been very positive and very honest with my play here and when I went to Milan I explained to everyone the reason behind me going.

“I always said to the manager and the players that I would be coming back. Maybe one or two didn’t believe me but at the end of the day I’m here, I’m committed to the team and we’ll see what the first game back will be like.

“I don’t feel like I owe an apology, but I don’t know.”

Beckham is expected to buy out his US contract or secure another loan deal for a European club, possibly AC Milan again, once the MLS season ends in November.

But he noted that not even that will assure him a place in England manager Fabio Capello’s squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

“The England manager has made it very clear to me I need to be playing at a European level,” Beckham said. “I?ll always regret it if I didn?t do everything to give myself the chance to be involved in that.”

Beckham said he jumped at a chance that any player would have taken when AC Milan came calling.

“I was given to chance to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world,” Beckham said.

“If you ask any player in any league in the world, if they were given the chance to finish the season with one of the biggest clubs in the world, they would have said, ‘Yes.’

“I’m a very honest person. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be here. I’ve always been committed to every contract I’ve ever had, and that hasn’t changed.

“If people want to question my commitment and my professionalism, the fact I’m willing to travel thousands of miles to play for my country says it all.”

The Galaxy have missed the playoffs for the past four seasons but at 5-3 with nine drawn are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff hunt. That, not dealmaking for Milan, is what Beckham says is now on his mind.

“I’m not even thinking about that. I’m back with the Galaxy,” Beckham said. “I have to think about the rest of this season and reaching the goal we want to reach which is the playoffs and hopefully further.

“I’ll worry about whatever else happens once the season’s ended but it’s important that people realize I’m here to play for this team.”

Beckham and Landon Donovan, the Galaxy scoring leader with six goals, have talked and eased tensions that were high after excerpts of a new book quoted Donovan ripping Beckham’s effort.

Beckham said Donovan was unprofessional for not talking to him first.

“He apologized for everything that went on and the position we were in,” Beckham said. “We’re both men. We don’t take it onto the field. That’s when it will disrupt us.”

Donovan said he regrets not talking to Beckham first about his complaints.

“He’s a good man and he cares about this team,” Donovan said. “It was a frustrating time last year but we are completely past it this year and I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be a lot of fun.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AFP)

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Beckham and Donovan settle squabble

July 14, 2009


English football icon David Beckham and Landon Donovan practiced together for the first time this season on Monday, saying their war of words is over as they settle down to focus on football.

Beckham said he and Donovan had a good talk before he rejoined the Los Angeles Galaxy for his first workout as the English midfielder prepares for his return to Major League Soccer on Thursday against the New York Red Bulls.

Galaxy manager Bruce Arena, who formerly coached Donovan on the US national team, was also involved in the talk, which came after Donovan criticized Beckham in comments from a book about Beckham that will be on shelves Tuesday.

“I’m not going to talk about what was said,” Beckham said. “That was between me, Landon and the manager.”

Beckham had criticized Donovan at a public appearance on Saturday as “unprofessional” for going public with his problems before speaking to him.

“I said the other day everything that was needed to say,” Beckham said.

Donovan had already said he had regrets for not speaking with Beckham first and repeated that sentiment on Monday.

“We’re getting past it. We’re moving on,” Donovan said. “There are a lot of things I regret. I regret the way that I went about this process and I also regret some of the things I said.”

Donovan indicated that he was not shocked when the excerpts from “The Beckham Experiment” published last week in Sports illustrated caused a stir.

“There were no surprises,” Donovan said. “I’m generally a pretty honest person, but that doesn’t mean I need to share things with everybody.”

Beckham and Donovan handled inter-galactic matters without incident at practice.

“I don’t know if it’s buried or not, but for them to carry any of that is silly,” Galaxy midfielder Chris Klein said.

Beckham went on loan to AC Milan for five months of last season and will meet his former Italian side here on Sunday in an exhibition match.

“It’s going to be strange, funny and exciting,” Beckham said. “It’s good when teams of that class, and the players that they have, come over. It’s about preparing yourself and it’s about also the excitement of having such great players here.”

Beckham, who can buy out the remainder of his US contract after this season, said that talks about a return to AC Milan will begin in the next few months.

“Obviously Milan expressed that they want me to go back so I don’t see any reason why that would change,” Beckham said. “We’ll have to wait and see. I hope to be going back there.”

The Galaxy, on a three-match win streak, has a record of 5-3 with nine drawn for fifth in the Western Conference and hope that Beckham’s return can help the team reach the playoffs after missing out the past three seasons.

LOS ANGELES (AFP)

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Beckham fires back at “unprofessional” Donovan

July 12, 2009


England star midfielder David Beckham ripped Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan as unprofessional ahead of his return to the Major League Soccer squad on Monday.

US star Donovan criticized Beckham as stingy, selfish and a poor captain in book excerpts published last week in Sports Illustrated, with Beckham answering Saturday that Donovan should have come to him with the complaints first.

“It’s unprofessional in my eyes,” Beckham said. “In every soccer player’s eyes throughout the world it would be unprofessional to speak out about a teammate, especially in the press, and not to your face.

“But I’m going to turn it on a positive spin because that’s what this needs. In 17 years, I have played with the biggest teams in the world and the biggest players and not once have I been criticized for my professionalism.”

Beckham rejoins the Galaxy for practice on Monday ahead of his return match Thursday in New York and a home exhibition July 19 against AC Milan, the team for which Beckham was loaned for five months during the Italian season.

“It’s important to get this cleared up and I will be speaking to Landon… over the next couple of days,” Beckham said. “Me and Landon will talk, but that will be a private conversation.”

Donovan told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that he wished he had spoken to Beckham rather than reveal his feelings to a reporter.

“I’m not going to apologize for the way I felt,” Donovan said. “What I feel badly about is that I should have been a man and told David how I felt as opposed to telling a reporter.

“Obviously, the lesson I learned is that it’s not something that needs to be public. It’s something we need to figure out within the team and it will get solved.”

Beckham said he does not see any problem in working with Donovan, whose finishes would be vital to Beckham’s precision centering kicks.

“I’m personally very professional when I am on the field,” Beckham said. “I don’t care what people say about me off the field Once I’m on the field I’m professional and if there is a chance for him to score, I’ll be giving him the ball.”

The book, “The Beckham Experiment”, hits shelves on Tuesday. Beckham said that he will not be among those reading it.

“This is an unofficial book that I have not participated in,” Beckham said. “I haven’t sat down one to one or spoken about the book so there is not comment where I have sat down with the journalist. There are many unofficial books that have been published about me, so this is just another one on the shelf.”

Donovan said that reading the book would provide a better context for his criticism.

“What you don’t get from reading a few excerpts and what you do get from reading the whole book is that we all want David to be here, we all want him to succeed, and he wants to succeed,” Donovan said.

“Something happened at some point last year where a switch went off, and that’s what I want to talk to him about, and we’ll figure that out man to man.

“I think David’s going to come back and play well regardless of what happens. I think he’s motivated. I think he seems like he’s rejuvenated and he’s excited to come back.”

Beckham could buy his way out of his US contract after the MLS season but said he would seek a loan to AC Milan again if need be so he could be fully prepared to play his best for England in next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

“To be involved in the World Cup and to be involved with this England squad, I have to give myself the chance to be at that top level,” Beckham said.

“I’ll do that personally and anything to do that. It’s just saying that for the moment, this is what I need to do. It doesn’t mean I’m running away from a project I believe in.”

Beckham hopes to help the Galaxy improve from their fifth-place standing in the Western Conference and reach the playoffs after missing them for the past three seasons.

“That’s the important part. Now we want to move forward,” said Beckham, who expects little trouble adjusting to his MLS return.

“It isn’t going to be difficult because we’ve got talent on our team,” he said. “It’s just about confidence. It will be different coming back, but I don’t see any problems.”

Beckham arrived in Los Angeles late Friday and stayed awake until 5 in the morning to visit with wife Victoria, his first visit with his family in six months.

On Saturday, Beckham and French legend Zinedane Zidane played with youth in a ceremony to launch a program to create youth football fields.

LOS ANGELES (AFP)

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LA Galaxy sign keeper Donovan Ricketts

December 27, 2008

LOS ANGELES (SW) – Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy have secured the services of Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, whose task is to significantly reduce the amount of goals the team concedes.

The club that hoped to reach the top by signing David Beckham hasn’t been able to do so and instead finished second bottom in this year’s Western Conference. Moreover, it conceded by far the most goals of all MLS teams with 62 against in 30 games. The fact that Galaxy also scored the most goals, turned out to be of little help.

Rickets, 31 years old, spent a short while at Bolton Wanderers in 2004 but never actually made an appearance with the club as he was soon loaned out and then sold to Bradford City where he played until this year.

The keeper has earned 67 caps with the Jamaican national team, and was selected for the 1998 World Cup squad. He didn’t get any playing minutes in France though.

In Los Angeles, Ricketts is to compete with fellow keepers Alamo, Cronin and Wicks.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

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