The Los Angeles Galaxy's winless streak has now stretched to 10 games, their last win coming on April 29 against Salt Lake, more than two months ago. With the Galaxy reaching the midway point of their season after Saturday's game at Kansas City, they must start making a move now in the Western Conference if they are to make a playoff push.
Head coach Frank Yallop and general manager Alexi Lalas have already made some changes to the Galaxy roster, trading Todd Dunivant to New York and waiving Marcelo Saragosa. The moves were intended to free up space so Yallop can bring in his own players. But with the opening of the transfer window still a couple weeks away, Yallop is going to have to start winning with the pieces he has for now.
Still searching for his first win since taking over the Galaxy, Yallop is hoping to pick up the full three points in Kansas City this week. He knows that his team is primed and ready to do just that.
"We know anyone can win on any given day," said Yallop. "Our guys are ready to win. It's not like we've got our heads down. Everyone has a feel that it's going to happen soon."
Helping to add to that optimism is the return of Landon Donovan from the World Cup. Donovan is L.A.'s best offensive weapon and will try to jumpstart a Galaxy offense that has only managed two multi-goal games all season long. One thing that Yallop feels has been missing during the winless streak is the quality of the final pass and the finishing. Both are qualities that Donovan will improve.
"I think our last pass in the final third hasn't been there, and that's what's hurt in the games we've had," said Yallop in training earlier this week. "We're going to have to work on that the rest of the week and hopefully on Saturday we can right that."
It hasn't been all bad though over the last two months for Los Angeles. Last weekend, the Green-and-Gold posted their first shutout of the season, thanks in part to Chris Albright, who was making his first start since returning from the World Cup.
"We kept a clean sheet last game. I think that's one of the things that helped us in our playoff run last year," said Albright. "If we continue to do that we're going to get a goal. A 1-0 game is certainly something we'd be looking for right now."
In addition to Donovan and Albright, Kyle Martino and Kyle Veris have returned to training, getting the Galaxy that much closer to full strength. But Los Angeles isn't the only team this weekend to have received reinforcements. The Wizards welcomed back their top two strikers, Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff, as well as reigning MLS defender of the year Jimmy Conrad.
"The rumor is that they're worse off with those guys," joked Albright about his national team teammates. "(Johnson, Wolff, and Conrad) are all good players and (Kansas City) is a good team. We have our hands full. But we've had our hands full for the past two months."
Jet lag might also play a factor in Saturday's game. Kansas City is coming off of a midweek game against D.C., and the three U.S. internationals for the Wizards might have some travel weary legs, though only Conrad played in the 3-2 loss to United. The Galaxy, on the other hand, have had a week to prepare for the match, and Donovan hasn't played in nine days since the USA was eliminated by Ghana in the World Cup.
In their last win, Donovan had a goal and two assists. Since then the Galaxy have scored only four goals. Los Angeles will need some more offensive heroics from their No. 10 if they are going to return to the winning ways of the past, and it will need to start this weekend in Kansas City.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
