So it’s the day after the Los Angeles Galaxy’s awful 3-1 loss to Chicago on Thursday and you’re probably wondering where the Galaxy will go from here. I can tell you where at least one of their players is.
None other than David Beckham is in New York City today along with wife Victoria to promote their fragrance lines. I’m not sure what the name of David’s cologne is but Eau De No Playoffs has a nice ring to it.
As will hopefully become a weekly or bi-weekly routine, I will look to touch on subjects at the end of the week that I haven’t been able to get around to during the week. Whether they are unused quotes, tidbits of information I’ve stumbled on but haven’t gotten around to, or just stories that didn’t make it onto the site this week, I will try to throw it all in here.
So let’s take a look at some information that should be of interest:
LA Galaxy fans asking themselves how their season rested on the shaky hands of goalkeeper Josh Wicks should know that Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena was feverishly trying to acquire a goalkeeper before the roster freeze date. Free agent Matt Pickens and Colorado Rapids back-up Bouna Coundoul were both on the radar but neither deal materialized.
There are rumors circulating that Toronto FC has reached an agreement on a contract extension with embattled head coach John Carver. The word I’m getting is that no such agreement has been reached and both sides may be wary of committing at this point. Carver has strong ties to Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, who has long been linked to eventually becoming the club’s head coach. When Newcastle is sold, and if Shearer joins Kevin Keegan’s staff (as is being rumored), you could see Carver making a move. If Shearer becomes head coach outright, you could bet a pretty pound that Carver would bolt back to Newcastle.
You may have heard Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka in a recent interview said that he would consider coming to MLS. You shouldn’t rule out the New York Red Bulls. Why? Anelka developed a very good relationship with Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio when both were at Manchester City (I saw this first-hand during a visit to Manchester back in 2003. While Thierry Henry is obviously at the top of the Red Bulls’ wish-list for its vacant Designated Player slot in 2009, Anelka just might wind up being a back-up plan.
None other than MLS commissioner Don Garber reached out to Red Bulls youth prospect Johnny Exantus about Exantus’ potential move to Belgium. According to Exantus’ guardian, Jules Gama, Garber spoke to Exantus back in 2006 when the young prospect was first identified as a potential New York signing, and reached out again to discourage Exantus from leaving the United States.
Wonder who the next Exantus might be in the Red Bulls system? remember the name Saint Cyr Widner. The former Haitian Under-17 national team player was impressive in Red Bulls training earlier this week. As a playmaking midfielder playing against Red Bulls first-teamers, Widner set up recent Red Bulls signing Sainey Tourey on at least two goals that I saw.
Wondering how former D.C. United draft pick Andrew Jacobson is doing with French club Lorient? Well, he’s not in France now. Jacobson is actually in Brazil with the U.S. national Futsal team at the Futsal World Cup. Yes, he is still under contract with Lorient, but was granted a release for the tournament.
That’s all for now. Share your thoughts on any of these notes in the comments section below.