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MLS West Notes: San Jose looking for scoring touch, Harris has surgery & more

Chris Wondolowski 1 (ISIphotos.com) 

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

BY ADAM SERRANO

The early season has not been kind to the San Jose Earthquakes. 

The Earthquakes fell to Chivas USA on last Saturday, giving up an early lead and allowing the Rojiblancos to earn their first victory of the season. Following the match, head coach Frank Yallop was furious with his team questioning their "fight and endeavor" after the defeat, leading the team to call a players only meeting.

As the Quakes look to find the "fight" that took them led them to being only a win away from MLS Cup, the 2010 Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski admitted that the team must find the spirit of last year as they look to return to prominence.

"We have to put a full 90 minutes in, that's what we did last year, this year we play well for 60 minutes or 70 minutes and that's just not a good thing," said Wondolowski following the match last Saturday."This game is a funny sport, last year we got a lot of lucky in results and this year, we may have out played some teams and just not gotten the results."

More news from around the Western Conference after the drop:

CHIVAS USA

Jimmy Conrad, Paulo Nagamura and Michael Lahoud will not feature for the Rojiblancos in their match against the New England Revolution this week. Conrad and Lahoud are still undergoing concussion symptoms and did not train much this week. Nagamura, who re-injured his calf strain on two weeks ago has not trained at all this week.

COLORADO RAPIDS

The Colorado Rapids are intending to stand by the ten match suspension and 5,000 fine that MLS levied on Brian Mullan, but they by no means agree with it. In an official statement, Rapids managing director Jeff Plush stated that they will not appeal the ruling, but  disagree with the severity of the ruling. 

FC DALLAS

The injury to David Ferreira will likely lead to major line up changes for FC Dallas on Sunday when FCD faces the LA Galaxy. Another change that may also occur is the formation. Analysts in Dallas seem to be in favor of a change to a 4-4-2, which may help them utilize new DP Fabian Castillo. 

LA GALAXY

Much of the news surrounding the LA Galaxy this week has not been surrounding the actions on the pitch at the Home Depot Center, but the halls of Westminster Abbey, where Galaxy midfielder David Beckham will attend the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday morning.

The wedding takes place just two days before the Galaxy take on FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday afternoon. While this may travel may be a hindrance to some, Beckham has assured the Galaxy that he will be in Dallas on Saturday, prior to the arrival of the full team. 

PORTLAND TIMBERS

The Timbers plan to honor Timbers Army "matriarch" Gisele Currier at their match on Saturday against Real Salt Lake with an elaborate pregame ceremony. The 55-year-old woman died last Sunday and was one of the longest standing members of the famed Portland group.   

REAL SALT LAKE

In light of RSL's crushing defeat in the CONCACAF Champions League Final, head coach Jason Kreis admitted that one person could have made the difference on Wednesday night: RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman. The midfielder was suspended due to yellow card accumulation after picking up a yellow in the first leg in Monterrey. Kreis stated post game that he may have made the difference for RSL on the night. 

SEATTLE SOUNDERS

The Sounders are looking to move on after the crushing loss of Steve Zakuani, but had little emotion to the Brian Mullan suspension. Speaking to MLSSoccer.com, Sounders head coach stated that his team does not believe in revenge, but is simply moving on from the action. 

“I’m not a big believer in that,” Schmid said. “We’re not here for ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ That’s not our philosophy.”

In other injury news, the Sounders will be without striker O'Brian White, who has been sidelined indefinitely after surgery to remove a blood clot from his left leg.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

The Whitecaps forward Atiba Harris underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee that he suffered the injury in training several weeks ago. The Whitecaps stated that Harris will be out indefinitely.

To make up the numbers in light of Harris' injury, the Whitecaps signed MLS veteran Peter Vagenas. Vagenas spent the last two seasons with the Seattle Sounders and has trained with Vancouver since last week. 

Comments

  1. he’s actually saying “if you just sign up for Amway’s amazing products you too can be just as hyper and crazed-looking at me. plus you’ll have awesome hair, but just do it now! call now! right this very moment!”

    Reply
  2. Agree with 20. I don’t think he’s blaming Beckerman, but praising him. He’s saying “if our captain could’ve been there, maybe we would’ve won.” Given how close the game was, his presence definitely could’ve made the difference.

    Reply
  3. I’m not worried about Beckham’s jet lag. When you’re sitting in coach with three inches of leg room and a 6 year old kicking your seat, you end up with jet lag. But when you’re sleeping in a lay-flat bed in first or business class, with peace and quiet, jet leg is much less of an issue.

    Reply
  4. I will be interested to see how Dallas manages without Ferreira. What a huge blow to everything they do. If they can get results in his absence, I will be very impressed.

    Dallas folks – who replaces Ferreira? This new DP? Avila?

    Reply
  5. Wondolowski could be a saint for all I know, but he’s got one of those faces you just want to punch when he’s playing.

    Reply
  6. The sounders are cursed this season:

    Zakuani: Tib-fib fracture out at least the rest of the season.

    Montero: Wrist surgery missed two games and is playing with a cast.

    O’Brian White: Blood clot will be out for a long time.

    Jaqua: missed all of preseason and isn’t 90 minutes fit.

    Fucito: hamstring injury followed by ankle injury still hasn’t played and is not match fit.

    Nkufo: cut hours before the season started

    Reply
  7. I hope Kries is not putting blame on Beckerman. I know he could have made the diff. But really does it need to be stated, unless Kries was trying to send a message.

    Reply

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