Farewell to First Place... As you know by now, the Galaxy lost their battle against Gamba Osaka last night (1-0). There were plenty of chances for recovery, mostly courtesy of a very hardworking Becks, but the boys in white simply couldn't convert David's stellar service to goals. Gullit's got his work cut out for him, but don't count the Galaxy out yet! They could surprise us all with a wonderful season...there are a lot of rookies on the side now, and I think the chemistry hasn't gelled. Here's what ESPN had to say.



The Galaxy will get a chance at the third place trophy on the 23rd. I will post more information about how to watch the match closer to the time.


The Fresh Faces of LA
Speaking of rookies, Andrea Canales has taken a look at the fresh faces on the Galaxy side in this article. Mostly college kids, they've never had pro soccer experiences, and having those experiences with David Beckham must be a daunting idea! Ely Allen, who put in an initially shaky performance but ended up one of the stronger players on the side last night, was interviewed thusly:

"Balls coming in from Beckham are a lot different from a college team," rookie Ely Allen said. "You have to get used to how to hit the ball. You have to get used to the positioning and the timing."

Josh Tudela, who's not quite a rookie but certainly still a young and formative player, had this to say:

"Beckham brings out the best in everybody," Tudela said. "He's an amazing player. You know if you're in trouble, you can always get him the ball and he'll make something happen."


The Gullit Effect
And while we're on the topic of Beckham and the Gullit effect, soccer365.com has a brief piece about David's confidence that Gullit has what it takes to improve the Galaxy.

Becks said:
"Many things have already changed, definitely for the good, and we want to build momentum and start winning things."


Mixed Blessings...
The defeat to Osaka is proving to be a blessing in disguise. Check out this article. People are looking at how hard David played in a frustrating match, realising he played the full 90, and that he played it all on artificial turf...and suddenly Beckham's stamina is no longer in question! In fact, he's being given something of a hero's treatment for going the distance, even when it was clear Galaxy would not recover/win. Pundits are even interpreting glances and body language to suggest David's knee was bothering him towards the end, and yet he soldiered on. Could this turn Capello's head? Unlikely with one match, but by the end of this 5 game flurry, Capello's attention will no doubt be tuned in.


The Other Galaxy Seeks Beckham
A new A-League team, Gold Coast Galaxy, will soon debut on the Aussie soccer scene. Talks are underway to christen the team at a match against Beckham and the LA Galaxy in Australia, at the team's home of Skilled Park. They're aiming for June or July--but don't look for tix just yet. This is all in negotiations. Find out more about this new Galaxy here.


Experience the Action!
Feel like you were right there in the thick of the action with this brief video clip taken by a fan during Wednesday's PP Cup match. Watch as Becks rushes towards you, with a vantage point right on the sideline!


8 more seconds of similar close-up action here.

Posted by Dina Ely, soccer editorial/commentary writer. Blog: Eleven Men