CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy's terrific summer run was built around a dynamic front six that poured in so many goals – some 27 in six successive MLS home games – that any defensive liabilities escaped serious scrutiny.
They've not been so productive the past six weeks, not until scoring three times in last weekend's triumph over FC Dallas that followed three successive goalless games, and the defensive miscues are starting to add up again.
LA have fallen behind in the first dozen minutes four times in their last nine matches – they rallied twice for victories – and conceded the only goal in an Aug. 28 loss at San Jose in the 18th minute.
They've given away five goals in their last two MLS games and have posted just three league shutouts since late May and only one, in a Sept. 12 scoreless draw with Montreal, since July 4.
Things have to be better, they know, if they're going to have a real chance to win the Supporters' Shield and progress toward a fourth MLS Cup title in five years.
What's not working?
“You know, we talk about it a lot,” associate head coach Dave Sarachan said as the Galaxy prepared for Sunday's Western Conference showdown at Seattle (9:30 pm ET, FS1 and FOX Deportes). “It's really having your antenna up with the bells and alarms go off in danger, and sensing danger and reacting to plays that aren't always right in front of you.
“These are challenges that we've faced, and the goals we've conceded, we can live with teams out-soccering us and being clever, but the plays where the concentration-slash-risk vs. safety factor and just relying on whatever it takes, we need to tighten that up.”
The responsibility is shared by many all over the field. The Galaxy is still adjusting to Steven Gerrard's presence in central midfield, and he took on more of a defensive role against Dallas. Defenders have been caught out of position in critical moments, and Omar Gonzalez– considered among MLS's elite backliners – has been caught ball-watching twice on opposing goals in recent weeks. Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts seems to make one questionable decision each game, and too often those have led to balls into his net. They've struggled to adequately deal with opposing set pieces.
Head coach Bruce Arena called it a “comedy of errors” after a 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake two weeks ago.
“We're too soft – we've said that about ourselves – and we're not winning tackles,” right back A.J. DeLaGarza said. “You can see on every goal is a couple guys who are doing things wrong, and it's like a trickle-down effect. We know we're capable of [playing strong defense]; the guys we have have been here for quite some time, and it's just a matter of doing it and getting it right.”
Arena says the errors are more mental than technical – this caused havoc early in the season, when LA lost successive games at D.C. United and FC Dallas on end-of-game goals – and his players agree.
“I think there are points in the game where there's been some mental lapses,” Gonzalez said. “Not from any individual player, but it's been sort of a domino effect. One thing happens that leads to another that leads to another that leads to another, and then the final product is them scoring a goal.
“We just need to be focused every time there's a stoppage in play, get reenergized, focus on the play, and make sure they don't score.”
That's the aim against the Sounders, a vital game if the Galaxy, who entered the weekend atop the Shield standings but not in command of their destiny, are going to win regular-season hardware. And they must be more stingy in the playoffs.
“Clean sheets are always very, very important. It breeds confidence through the team,” captain Robbie Keane said. "As a group and as a team, we have to defend better and be a bit shrewder, certainly away from home, in terms of not conceding goals early. But it's a group effort, it's not just about the defensive shape, it's from myself up front to Ricketts at the back.”
Gonzalez notes that it's “something we've been working on, and our defensive shape is getting better weekly, and it seems to me that everyone is on the same page.”
Keane agrees.
“We've been working on things,” he said, “and if we can continue to work on them and try and relay them into a game, I think we'll be OK.”
