DUBLIN – Time is running out for MLS coaches to fine-tune their squads ahead of the new season kicking off, but Bruce Arena is relatively pleased with his situation.
Ready to return to Los Angeles after a preseason trip to Ireland and Sweden, the LA Galaxy head coach admitted that there is still some work to be done. Yet, they have made a huge amount of progress.
A lot of that was down to the training sessions that his team had in Dublin’s Gannon Park as well as the friendly games against Hammarby and Shamrock Rovers – LA overcoming the latter 1-0 on Saturday in Tallaght Stadium.
The decision to visit Ireland – on the back of a recommendation from captain Robbie Keane – has proved to be a wise one. Arena declared himself happy with how it went and how it helped his squad to improve their fitness levels.
“It was a very good trip,” Arena told reporters after the Shamrock Rovers game. “We had a couple of days in Stockholm as well. We’ve moved our team forward. Obviously we’re not ready yet, but we still have two more weeks to prepare before we start our season.
“I believe that we’ve moved forward and we now have another two weeks to get our a team a little bit sharper.”
Arena opted not to risk striker Edson Buddle against Shamrock Rovers as he was carrying a slight injury, although he did get a chance to assess former PSV Eindhoven midfielder Mika Vayrynen after the trialist initially appeared in the loss to Hammarby.
A hard-working midfielder with a good range of passing, the Finland international could be seen as a natural replacement for Marcelo Sarvas, who departed for Colorado Rapids, and his goal against Rovers will have helped his case.
“We’ve not made any decisions with Mika at this point. I’m going to get that sorted out over the next couple of days,” said Arena, who is close to finalizing his roster ahead of the season opener against the Chicago Fire on March 6 (10 pm ET, UniMas).
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While Vayrynen would be an obvious candidate to partner Juninho in midfield, Galaxy do have other options in Baggio Husidic and Rafael Garcia – while Stefan Ishizaki could even switch across from the wing.
It is a similar predicament up front for Buddle, who would be contesting a spot with Gyasi Zardes, Alan Gordon, Jose Villarreal, Jack McBean, and Bradford Jamieson IV, giving Arena some potentially tough decisions to make in the coming weeks.
