For the Los Angeles Galaxy, it's almost as if their season is finally starting.
As the 2007 Major League Soccer season enters its second month, most teams have played five or six games. But the Galaxy have played just three so far.
"It's like we're not even a part of the season when they talk about the teams at the top of the league," said fullback Ante Jazic. "We've played three games, some have already played six. It's like we haven't even started our season officially. Nobody talks about the Galaxy and where we fit into the grand scheme of things."
Having those games in hand is the Galaxy's biggest asset at this point of the season, as they begin a nine-week stretch where they will play eight games. Half the teams in the West have played twice as many games as L.A., but with one win, the Galaxy will catapult right to the top of the standings.
"The good thing about (having games in hand) is if we win this weekend and some other results go our way we're going to be right there in the front with games in hand on a lot of teams," said Landon Donovan. "It's kind of a good position to be in."
Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop echoed his captain's assessment of the situation. Regardless of how many fewer games his team has played to this point in the season, by the time October rolls around everyone will have played the same amount of games, so winning games early is tantamount to the Galaxy's success.
"Everyone knows that you have to play 30 games in a season," said Yallop. "We've only played three. Having said that, we have to win the games that are in hand or at least get points out of them to make them worth what they are."
Possibly bigger than even having a chance to catch up to the pack is the opportunity for Los Angeles to establish some sort of continuity. With a consistent schedule of games, the Galaxy can get players healthy, stay fit and maintain the run of form that has seen them win three games in a row in all competitions, outscoring their opponents 7-2 in those games.
"Hopefully we get on a little bit of a roll and at least there's some normalcy. I know a few of us go away for Gold Cup, but at least we have game after game after game," said Donovan. "We can get guys fit too. You kind of lose a little fitness when you don't play every week."
From training sessions this week, there quickly comes the impression that the Galaxy are chomping at the bit to get things going too. In addition, nobody is satisfied with the current winning streak. The Galaxy know that there is still a lot of work to do, but with a number of games on the calendar, there is a chance that can all turn around quickly.
"I think it's great," said Yallop. "Now we can develop some kind of rhythm and get in proper form. Now we can get a series of games in and hopefully keep on winning."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
