Soccer By Ives

Eskandarian's dream volley

When Chivas USA was shopping around Alecko Eskandarian last month there were plenty of teams wary of taking a chance on an injury-prone player earning a six-figure salary. The Los Angeles Galaxy didn't worry so much, choosing instead to take a chance on a proven MLS goal-scorer.

Eskandarian has repaid that faith pretty quickly, scoring two goals in three matches since joining the Galaxy. His second goal for LA was a thing of beauty on Thursday night. After pulling off a Sombrero move on Albert Celades, Eskandarian unleashed one of his trademark left-footed blasts to score in what was likely his last game at Giants Stadium.

Here is the stunning strike, for those of you who missed it:

TGIF: Swagger like Landon

 

Maybe it was the goal vs. Brazil. Or maybe it was a stint with Bayern Munich that went better than previous German excursions. Perhaps it was simply enjoying a summer where he recaptured the form that has made him arguably the best player in U.S. national team history.

Whatever the reason, Landon Donovan has a swagger these days that he's never had before, a confidence and a belief that he can dominate any game and give any team he plays on a good chance of winning. This isn't the too young to know any better confidence of a 2002 Landon DOnovan. It is a swagger built on newly discovered self-belief, a swagger that should have U.S. national team and Los Angeles Galaxy fans very excited, and Donovan's future opponents very worried.

"I'm in a place now where it doesn't matter when I arrive or that the preparation is ideal," Donovan said after leading LA to a win vs. New York on Thursday, the same day he arrived via red-eye flight from Los Angeles.

"I know how I'm going to perform."

Donovan and Beckham hug it out, Galaxy roll to 3-1 victory

 

                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Landon Donovan and David Beckham embraced before Thursday night's match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, the gesture suggested that the two had put aside any issues that may have arisen from Donovan's comments about Beckham in the recent book, "The Beckham Experiment." After helping the Galaxy beat the Red Bulls, 3-1, it was clear that any issues between the two had been resolved and the pair are ready to play some soccer.

Play is what they did. Donovan scored a goal and set up another while Beckham played an effective but not overly flashy game as the Galaxy rattled off three first-half goals to down the hopeless Red Bulls, 3-1, at Giants Stadium on Thursday night.

A crowd of 23,238, a good size for a mid-week game, watched Donovan and Beckham control the midfield and help the Galaxy to a fourth consecutive victory. Alecko Eskandarian opened the scoring with a beautiful left-footed blast, while Donovan made it 2-0 with a right-footed shot from 30 yards out. By the time Eddie Lewis converted a Donovan pass to make the score 3-0, the Red Bulls were already finished.

Here are some observations, notes and quotes from Thursday night's match:

Red Bulls vs. Galaxy (Match Night Commentary)

 

The New York Red Bulls take on David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy tonight at Giants Stadium. The English superstar is set to play his first game for the Galaxy this season, which might explain the larger than usual crowd tonight (though not the usual crowd for a Beckham game).

The Red Bulls will be looking to end their own miserable winless streak and has the strongest lineup they've fielded in months. Mac Kandji is back in the lineup, as are Albert Celades and Alfredo Pacheco.

Will that be enough to stop a streaking Galaxy team that is welcoming back Beckham and Landon Donovan.

I will be providing commentary throughout the night so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Beckham Speaks

 

                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

David Beckham faced the New York (and some international) media on Wednesday. He got some softball questions, but also some tough questions, including one from Grant Wahl, author of the controversial book "The Beckham Experiment."

Here is the video from today's press conference, and it begins with Beckham's answer to Wahl's question:

What did you think of Beckham's answers? Could you hear him sounding a bit shaky as he answered Wahl's question? Are you planning to go to the Red Bulls/Galaxy game?

Share your thoughts below.

Mid-Day Musings: On Beckham, Copa Libertadores and the 2009 MLS Draft

 

                                                                 Photo by ISIphotos.com

In case you didn't know, the Beckham Circus has arrived in the New York area, and while there isn't exactly the type of buzz that existed during his first visit to the area with the Galaxy, there's still some excitement in the air.

Okay, so maybe not THAT much excitement.

Perhaps it would be different if the New York Red Bulls, Beckham and the Galaxy's opponent on Thursday night, weren't a dead team walking, and if Beckham hadn't already come through three times in the past few years (once with England, twice with LA). There'll be some media hysteria, but in terms of local soccer people really getting worked up about his visit to the area? Not so much.

Does that mean there won't be thousands and thousands of non-soccer types and casual soccer fans making the trek to Giants Stadium on Thursday night? No, there'll still be a horde of fans who don't normally go to MLS games, but palpable energy felt around previous Beckham visits is lacking these days.

'The Beckham Experiment' hits stores today: Will you be reading?

 

                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

David Beckham took part in his first practice with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday, and while one might have expected him to be taking questions about his time in AC Milan and his return to LA, all anybody wants to talk about his Landon Donovan.

Specifically Donovan's comments about Beckham in the book "The Beckham Experiment", which comes out today. The book, written by Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl, chronicles Beckham's first two seasons in MLS and provides tremendous insight into not only Beckham's time here, but also the inner-workings of American soccer.

You have surely seen the excerpts from the book already, but you must also read this interview with Wahl by fellow Designated Player Adam Spangler of This is American Soccer.

Morning Ticker: City closes in on Adebayor, Beckham open to EPL return and more

 

Manchester City keeps on spending.

The best team oil money can buy is set to land yet another key weapon ahead of the upcoming EPL season by acquiring striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal in a 25 million pound transfer.

The move for Adebayor comes in the same week Manchester City completed the move for Argentine striker Carlos Tevez, who now means City boasts a strike force of Adebayor, Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz.

City may not be finished yet as it continues to pursue Chelsea captain John Terry

Here are some other news and notes from Europe and MLS to get your day started:

Beckham addresses Donovan criticism

 

                                                                            Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Landon Donovan's comments bashing LA teammate David Beckham were released in excerpts from the upcoming book, "The Beckham Experiment" you just knew Beckham wouldn't be happy. Well, it didn't take long for him to respond.

Speaking to media during a charity event in California, Beckham addressed Donovan's comments, calling them extremely unprofessional.

"It's unprofessional in my eyes," Beckham said of Donovan's comments. "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.

Donovan: "I should have talked to Beckham"

 

                                            Photo by ISIphotos.com

Landon Donovan raised plenty of eyebrows with his comments about David Beckhamin the upcoming book "The Beckham Experiment". Now, Donovan is admitting that he probably should have made his comments directly to Beckham.

Donovan told the LA Times that, while he doesn 't regret his feelings about his Galaxy teammate, he regrets expressing them to 'Beckham Experiment" author Grant Wahl rather than directly to Beckham.

"I'm not going to apologize for the way I felt," Donovan told the LA Times. "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.

"David and I will sit down when he gets back and just talk it through. 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.

"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."

What do you think of Donovan's comments? Still shocked that Donovan ripped Beckham so publicly? Think Beckham and Donovan can salvage their relationship as teammates? Which of them do you see leaving the Galaxy first?

Share your thoughts below.

You write the caption: The Beckham-Donovan edition

While nobody ever accused Landon Donovan and David Beckham of being best friends, their already awkward relationship isn't likely to ever blossom into BFF status after Donovan's revelations in Grant Wahl's soon-to-be-released book, the Beckham Experiment.

We will have to wait a few weeks before Beckham returns to the Galaxy and the awkwardness reaches record heights at Home Depot Center, there is no reason we can't begin to have some fun with it now.

With that in mind, here is the newest You Write the Caption: The Donovan-Beckham Edition:

Chivas USA ships Eskandarian to Galaxy

 

                                               Photo by ISIphotos.com

The Los Angeles Galaxy was in the market for a forward and Chivas USA was trying hard to unload one of its surplus of forwards, so the Home Depot Center neighbors reached yet another deal, with Alecko Eskandarian heading to the Galaxy for allocation money.

Chivas USA had shopped Eskandarian to several teams, including the New York Red Bulls, but most teams were scared off by Eskandarian's high salary (more than $140,000 in 2009) and his inability to stay healthy. The Galaxy, in dire need of some goal-scoring help, decide the risk was worth it and made the deal for the former MLS Cup MVP.

Do you think Eskandarian can help the Galaxy make a successful playoff run? Think Chivas USA was wise to deal with a Western Conference rival (and supposed arch-rival)?

Share your thoughts below.

An in-depth look at the Beckham-MLS experiment

                                                                             Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you ever wondered what David Beckham's arrival in Major League Soccer, and his impact on the Los Angeles Galaxy, was really like, wonder no more.

Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl has written a book, titled The Beckham Experiment, that gives us a detailed behind-the-scenes look at Beckham's arrival in America. The book isn't out yet (it comes out on July 14th), but  the first excerpt from the book was released today by Sports Illustrated. In short, it is a must-read.

Give the excerpt a read and feel free to share your thoughts on it below.

Galaxy's Franklin to miss 4-6 months with torn hamstring tendon

Reigning 2008 MLS Rookie of the Year Sean Franklin is set to miss between four and six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right hamstring tendon. The Los Angeles Galaxy right back suffered the injury during the Galaxy's 1-1 tie vs. Columbus on May 17th. He underwent successful surgery on Tuesday.

What do you think of this news? Think the Galaxy can keep pulling out these results, or will losing Franklin, and losing Landon Donovan to national team duty, ultimately doom the Galaxy to the Western Conference basement?

Share your thoughts below.

SBI's Mid-Day Musings (Notes on the U.S. Open Cup, Red Bulls and other MLS moves)

Today is one of those days where you watch the clock and count the minutes until game-time, making almost everything else you do in that time just a tad bit more difficult to do.

It's okay, we are all in that boat. I am trying to finish up the Bext XI, Worst XI, Team of the Week this afternoon, but am having a hard time getting it done. I will knock it out before 2pm for those of you who haven't abandoned your computers for a watch party by then.

If you're struggling to get through the day, here are some news, notes and soccer thoughts for you:

The Seattle Sounders defeated the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, in U.S. Open Cup play-in action in Washington. The victory helped the Sounders join D.C. United, Columbus, Chicago, Houston, New England, Chivas USA and Kansas City in the full U.S. Open Cup field. Kevin Forrest scored the lone goal for Seattle. The schedule and opponents for the eight MLS teams should be released today.

Mid-Day Musings (Notes on Philly Union, Eddie Lewis and Zak Whitbread)

   

                                                                 Photo by ISIphotos.com

Good afternoon all. It was another exciting week of soccer action, both in MLS and abroad, and there are plenty of topics to discuss, so here are a few I wanted to touch on:

As we head stand almost a third of the way through the MLS season, these are the playoff match-ups if the season ended today:

• Chicago vs. Toronto FC

• D.C. United vs. Kansas City

• Chivas USA vs. Colorado

• Seattle vs. Houston

Folks, if you're team isn't listed above, you can take heart in the knowledge that five of the seven teams currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in are just three points away from a playoff spot. If you're a fan of FC Dallas or San Jose I'd say take heart in knowing you will have a good chance at the No. 2 pick in the 2009 MLS Draft (Yes, Philly will have the first pick, darn expansion team).