Galaxy Soccer Online

If you're an LA Galaxy fan (you can pick up an LA Galaxy jersey here) than the one thing that has to have you irate is the fact that David Beckham will not be returning after this season. In fact he's going to be going back to Europe along with all of the other elite Major League Soccer players it seems.

As an LA Galaxy fan this season I'll be watching to see who the Galaxy brings in to take the place of David Beckham. Los Angeles is in the second-largest market in the US and it is unacceptable to not have one of the top players in the world playing here. This isn't so much about David Beckham because he obviously didn't do much in his short stint here but it's more about the LA Galaxy and MLS promoting themselves as a top level sports franchise and league when they clearly are not. On to the 2009 season preview...

New head coach Bruce Arena has made a lot of changes to the roster in an attempt to tighten up the defense which was arguably the worst in MLS last season... Gone are hard nosed and defensive minded mid fielders Joey Franchino, Alvaro Pires and Pete Vagenas. Defenders Ante jazic, Greg Vanney and Mike Randolph also left after last season as well as goalie Steve Cronin.

One key acquisition this off season for the LA Galaxy was the drafting of center defender Omar Gonzalez. Gonzalez was picked third overall in the MLS  Super Draft out of Maryland. Gonzalez measures in at 6'5 and should anchor the LA galaxy defense for years to come. To help expedite his progression the Galaxy brought in former US National teamer Tony Senneh. The question with Senneh is at 37 years old how much can you expect out of him on the field?

Other notable acquisitions are defensive mid fielder Dema Kovalenko formerly of Real Salt Lake. Coach Arena is hoping that Kovalenko can stop a lot of the easy attacks through the mid field that plaqued the defense last year. Greg Berhalter and Todd Dunivant are other notable defenders that were brought in in the off season to bolster the defense. Berhalter is returning from a 15 year career in Europe so like a lot of the other additions he brings in much needed experience but will he hold up on the pitch?

In goal this season for the LA Galaxy will be Jamaican goal keeper Donovan Ricketts.

The LA Galaxy has always had much more talent at the mid field and forward positions with players like Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, Chris Klein, David Beckham and Eddie Lewis suiting up for them. Alan Gordon has turned into a decent big forward for the Galaxy and gives them a good option when they need some size up front. No notable scoring threats were added to the roster this off season.

Probably the only positive about the roster turnover this off-season is that a lot of the players that Bruce Arena brought in have already played for him so they are already familiar with his coaching style. The biggest question for the LA Galaxy this season will be can they stop the other team from scoring goals and can they devlop any kind of chesiveness with all of the trunover?