It was one of the worst-kept secrets ever, but Bruce Arena is officially the new coach and general manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy. This makes him the third former US National Team boss to helm the Gals (after Steve Sampson and Lothar Osiander - what, Bora wasn't interested?). I've long defended Arena against the slings [. Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA-Galaxy is a big game. We all are pretty much aware of that.

But it's also a game that can cost people their jobs.History dictates as much.


In trying to figure out a different angle for this match, I decided to pursue the high-stakes angle. Click to continue reading...

Now that it is The Day After, I have a few thoughts on what just happened.

Alexi Lalas' firing was at least a year too late and was a laughably inept hire in the first place. Lalas was good at many things, like being a salesman extraordinaire, doing color commentary, creating funny ESPN Sportscenter promotional spots, even defending for the US MNT.

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I had set out to write some of my column on the Chivas USA-Galaxy match and how the luster was off from this game. Then, I scrapped it and decided to write an all-Olympics column. I filed it, and then the Galaxy story about Ruud Gullit and Alexi Lalas broke.

We're still going with the Olympics stuff for tomorrow but when I follow up on the Galaxy and the Super Clasico later in the week, it will be with today's news in mind. Click to continue reading...

Peter Nowak's decision to adjust his tactics (ironically enough in line with what most American Soccer Spot readers suggested the other day) shows a tactical savvy and willingness to take chances that many American coaches have quite frankly lacked in big competitions. Since the debacle of Steve Sampson 3-6-1 in the 1998 World Cup, American managers have implemented a very basic tactical structure one which is based on counter attacking and generally does not consider the strengths or weaknesses of the upcoming opposition.

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Sam, commenting in this post, reprints portions of an SI.com article from Jonah Freedman, which goes in-depth on some of the goings-on in the wake of the recent miserable performance of the Los Angeles Galaxy on the field. I figured this kind of this deserves its own posting.

Here's how the article starts:

The soap opera that is the Los Angeles Galaxy just gets weirder and weirder.

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