Reports have been swirling on two continents that the Los Angeles Galaxy are about to sign Polish international Maciej Zurawski. According to Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, those rumors are completely false -- but it doesn't mean the Galaxy aren't looking to upgrade and add some depth as the 2008 season approaches.
Los Angeles missed out on the playoffs for the second consecutive year, and serious hints have been dropped that there will be significant changes to the 28-man roster before 2008 kicks off. The Galaxy have already added Clint Mathis to the squad, in what is likely to be the first of several moves made this winter.
"We're no different than any other team in that we're always looking to use the offseason to upgrade the individual positions that we feel appropriate," said Lalas. "We do have to upgrade and we do have to improve. Having said that, to a certain extent over the past several years, the Galaxy has lost some of the principles that have been fundamental to our success."
The Galaxy are certainly trying to turn the page on what has been, by far, the least successful two years in club history. For Lalas and the rest of the Galaxy organization, hopes are that 2008 will be the true beginning of a new chapter for the club.
Los Angeles has truly entered a new stage, becoming Major League Soccer's first globally recognized club. That is due in large part to David Beckham, who if healthy next year, might be able to guide the Galaxy out of the funk they have been in the past two seasons.
"I think our organization has been through an evolution, if you will, and a necessary transition. We are stronger and healthier for having gone through it, especially this past year," Lalas said. "It doesn't matter how big we get, we can never forget what has made us successful in the past."
It doesn't get much bigger than Beckham when it comes to names in soccer. That was made quite clear in the 115,000-plus people who came out to watch the Galaxy in Australia and New Zealand. The problem that faces the Galaxy is figuring out how to build a team around Beckham, within the league's structure, that can still handle a global spotlight.
"Because of the restrictions that we have, it's not necessarily a level playing field. We don't have the ability, the way that other "superclubs" have, to just go out and spend a bunch of money to get the best players and basically hedge your bets," said Lalas. "In a certain sense, having success within our restrictions is even more of an achievement."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
