If the calf injury suffered just four minutes into the clash with the San Jose Earthquakes was considered a blow to the Galaxy, it didn’t play out that way

Scapegoats are objects of convenience. After all, it’s easier to blame one person for something rather than cite a mesh of different rationalisations, no matter how much more suitable that may be. Steven Gerrard knows this.



The former England captain was widely blamed for the LA Galaxy’s disappointing season last term, as Bruce Arena’s side put up a meek defence of MLS Cup. His arrival in Carson was billed as the franchise’s move into a post-Landon Donovan, post-David Beckham age, yet all it served to achieve was upset a previously functioning and effective midfield unit. Gerrard’s critics had a point, to a certain extent, even if LA’s failings were further reaching than that.

This season – most likely Gerrard’s last before retirement – was supposed to be different, however. Similar concerns persist, though, with injury to the 35-year-old in Saturday’s Cali Clasico only accentuating this. If the calf injury suffered just four minutes into the clash with the San Jose Earthquakes was considered a blow to the Galaxy, it didn’t play out that way.

Baggio Husidic was introduced as Gerrard’s replacement, with LA subsequently securing a comprehensive 3-1 win over their west coast rivals. It wasn’t that Husidic turned in a sparkling performance, it’s just that the Galaxy appear a more comfortable side without Gerrard. Sometimes certain players don’t fit certain systems, and that looks to be the case in this instance.

Last year Arena struggled to accommodate both Gerrard and Juninho in the same team, consequently forcing the latter into nosebleed territory higher up the field, where he was not at his very best. This year he has had a similar problem with Nigel De Jong. With both the Dutchman and Gerrard in the same midfield the Galaxy lack any real forward traction through the centre of the pitch.

That’s why with Husidic on against the Earthquakes things clicked into place for LA. Of course, the dismissal of Simon Dawkins was also a factor in the outcome and convincing nature of the Galaxy’s win, but nonetheless, evidence continues to pile high in the case against Gerrard. It’s not yet clear how long he will be sidelined for. His club, however, might not be waiting for news with bated breath. GR

Tim Howard’s return will highlight quality of MLS goalkeeping

When Tim Howard makes his MLS return for the Colorado Rapids this summer he will find a very different league to the one he left nearly 13 years ago. For starters, North America’s top flight was only America’s top flight last time he played there. The team he played for has since been rebranded and now play in a different stadium, in different colours. Howard’s return may not feel like much of a return at all, given how much has changed.



Some things haven’t changed though. Howard was one member of an American golden goalkeeper generation, along with Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller and Brad Guzan. Stateside soccer has struggled in the credibility stakes for time immemorial, but its goalkeeping ranks have long been among the world game’s best. That reputation has been sustained.

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Everton could do worse than looking to MLS for Howard’s replacement this summer, such is the standard of goalkeeping across the division. Bill Hamid, Nick Rimando, Adam Kwarasey, Sean Johnson, David Ousted among others are all exceptional shot-stoppers and could certainly command a place at a top European team if they so desired. Consequently, Howard’s return could throw a spotlight on the goalkeeping talent that still exists in the States.

Even at Colorado, Howard will have to justify his starting spot. At just 24 years old, Zac MacMath is already considered something of a league veteran, tallying 30 MLS clean sheets over the course of his still burgeoning career. He has improved markedly over the past year or so and has cut a commanding figure for the Rapids early on this season. Look past the mistake he made against DC United, and the Florida native is one of the most promising keepers in the division. Howard will have competition.

Of course, MacMath couldn’t have timed Sunday’s clanger any worse, coming just hours after the official announcement of Howard’s signing. But nonetheless, the latter’s arrival in Commerce City later this year will only serve to underline MLS’s proven goalkeeping pedigree. Context and comparison with a US national team legend should show the North American goalkeeping stock in a good light.

While American goalkeeping is revered, it’s been eight years since an MLS goalkeeper was plucked by an elite European team (when Guzan joined Aston Villa from Chivas USA in 2008). Inadvertently, Howard’s return could help push whoever’s next along the production line. GR

Crisis diverted for New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls came into their third game of the season without a goal, and having conceded five. By the time the final whistle went against Houston on Saturday night, they’d conceded three more, scored four and lost three players to injury, including both central defenders and the forward who’d been seen as their most potent weapon coming into the new campaign.

Under the circumstances, Jesse Marsch will take the win from a game he afterwards described as “a brawl”, even with the high personnel cost – mainly since locker room irritation at the team’s opening day loss to Toronto had all the potential to devolve into full grown crisis had the Red Bulls fallen to a third consecutive loss.

It could easily have happened. Houston continued their own free-scoring start by taking their total to 11 goals in three games and will take some heart from looking threatening throughout, even after giving up the opener. Last year, road form was the achilles heel for Owen Coyle’s team, and Sacha Kljestan’s 22nd minute opener might have been the signal for that team to fold, but Coyle has begun to build belief into his team. The Dynamo stayed proactive and enjoyed their best spell of the game in the wake of the goal.

If anything it was New York who looked like coming apart at the seams. In the remainder of the first half they lost Gonzalo Veron to a recurrence of his hamstring injury and Gideon Baah to what looked like a similar problem. In and around that they gave up two soft goals to Will Bruin, whose resurgence under Coyle is one of the early stories of the season.

Even as the Red Bulls pushed to get back into it in the second half, the setbacks weren’t over. Now their other center-back Ronald Zubar left the game injured, and while their attackers were buzzing about the Dynamo box with intent, the nagging unease home fans felt every time the ball crossed into their half was palpable. Rightly so, it seems – having hauled themselves level, a distracted Red Bulls allowed Alex to put the visitors back in front just three minutes later. Enter Felipe and a beautiful pair of goals to redefine the story of the game and New York’s start to the season.

Where that season goes from here is anybody’s guess. The central defense has already lost Matt Miazga, and as of Saturday night, the next three preferred options are all injured. The Red Bulls have guts, but there’s a crisis in the heart of defense, whatever the scoreline. GP

Sounders stuck in the long grass

There’s something uncanny about watching games this year at CenturyLink Field, replete with freshly laid field turf of the variety Portland Timbers also use (though you suspect that wasn’t considered as a particularly attractive selling point by the Sounders hierarchy).

Watching balls bounce and roll with something approaching recognizable physics is something of a novelty for those of use who’ve watched the ball zip around the old, deservedly-maligned surface for the past few years – and it’s a welcome alteration to one of the truly impressive gameday experiences in MLS that the centerpiece no longer resembles air hockey.

And yet, the feel and pace of the new turf has also served as a reminder of Seattle’s own ponderous play early in the season. Coming into this weekend, the Sounders were in surprisingly illustrious company in having lost their opening two games. By the end of the weekend Columbus had at least picked up a point on the road against a stubborn Chicago side, the Red Bulls had scraped past Houston in a gut check thriller, and Vancouver, the final member of the quartet of 2015 playoff teams turned 2016 slow starters, had got their first three points by winning on the road in … Seattle.

To be clear, Seattle weren’t bad as such and could feel unfortunate to go down to defeat on the basis of two penalties, They scored a spectacular free kick and were inches away from Clint Dempsey drawing them level.

But they look some distance from replacing the thrilling directness of the Dempsey/Martins partnership – Jordan Morris is an intelligent player learning his trade, and Dempsey in turn is learning where the young striker will pop up. By Dempsey’s own admission, Seattle are having to work more for openings, and as yet he’s not taking the gamble on the types of runs that have been the hallmark of Seattle at their best in the last couple of seasons.

Nobody misses the old turf in Seattle, but the memories of it will include several goals where a green shirt was first to a bounce, freakish or otherwise. Right now, there’s a kind of plodding earnestness to Seattle’s approach play as they dutifully rather than artfully switch the point of attack. It’ll get better, but having lost the first three games, two at home, the Sounders have to play their way back out of the long grass. GP

Results don’t reflect how well Toronto FC have started

Perhaps Greg Vanney expected it. Baldomero Toledo holds a certain reputation in MLS circles, so maybe Toronto FC were prepared for the referee to drop a blunder at some point of their road game at Sporting KC. It would explain why Vanney cut such a resigned figure post-match, with sighs and shrugs the most explicit of his body language.

Indeed, Toledo’s botched call to wave play on for a foul on Justin Morrow in the build-up to Brad Davis’ winning goal proved the difference, as TFC suffered their first loss of the season to the league’s only undefeated team. For Vanney – whose side have now paid the price for poor refereeing decisions in back-to-back weeks – MLS’s trialing of in-game instant replays cannot come quick enough.

The result leaves Toronto FC with the ultimate mixed bag from their opening three matches of the campaign – a win, a draw and a defeat. That result doesn’t quite reflect the positive start the BMO Field side have made. They should have more to show for their efforts, with their display for 70 minutes of Sunday’s game particularly impressive. If Vanney attempted to address his side’s defensive deficiencies over the winter, then their performance at Sporting Park was the clearest illustration of progress in that regard.

Of course, they still lost the game, despite Sporting KC finishing with 10 men following Roger Espinoza’s dismissal six minutes from the end.

But for the most part TFC found a way to smother one of the league’s most dangerous outfits on their own turf, with Damien Perquis, Josh Williams, Steven Beitashour and Morrow all impressing. Even without Drew Moor – Vanney’s defensive figurehead – there was a stability to TFC’s backline. They might finally have a basis on which to build the rest of their team.

In contrast to last season, it’s in attack where Toronto FC still haven’t found their groove. Sebastian Giovinco is still Sebastian Giovinco, but with Jozy Altidore only just starting to find match fitness TFC have lacked a frontman to lead the line. Mo Babouli made an impression on his MLS debut, coming off the bench in the loss to Sporting KC, but he remains raw and in need of refinement before he can truly become a difference-maker. The real difference-maker for TFC this season, though, might be found in their development at the back. GR