In 2009, the Los Angeles Galaxy’s goal production was top-heavy.
Landon Donovan led the team with 12 goals. Next on the list was Edson Buddle, who had less than half of Donovan’s total. In fact, the second- and third-leading scorers combined for just eight goals.
Mike Magee is in the mix to contribute goals for the Galaxy this year and could help take some of the scoring load off Donovan’s shoulders.
“I think the biggest problem last year was at the beginning of the year,” Magee said. “Obviously, at the end of the year we weren’t pumping them in but at the same time we were winning a lot of games 1-0. That was just the style we played - counterattacking soccer.”
Entering the 2010 MLS season, the Galaxy’s biggest need appears to be in the goals department and finding a consistent scorer not named Donovan.
Magee showed he can be a threat during MLS Cup ’09 when he scored the Galaxy’s only goal in the match. But during the regular season, Magee scored just twice and joined a group of five Galaxy players with two goals.
Still, Magee insists the club’s scoring totals are related to the team’s commitment to team defense. Without the necessity to score more goals, the Galaxy was able to kill off games in which they took the lead. In fact, Los Angeles earned shutout victories in five of their last nine matches in 2009.
Conversely, when the need arose,the Galaxy responded.
“In games where we needed to score more goals, we did,” Magee said. “I’m not too worried about it.”
Donovan will miss part of this season due to the World Cup, but Magee says there is plenty of quality behind Donovan to make up for his absence. The back-up plan starts with Buddle, who netted 15 goals two years ago, his third straight season with double-digit goal totals.
As for Magee, he is just looking to find his niche to contribute.
“We’ve got a great group of guys and a lot of good players,” Magee said. “I hope I’m not battling Edson [Buddle] because he’s a ridiculously good player. But I’ll find my spot somewhere.”
