Galaxy Stacked But Reds Quietly Build
The two time league and reigning MLS Cup champion continues to get better.
Days after Los Angeles Galaxy announced that they have signed striker Edson Buddle, the club made arguably its second most important signing of the winter in the return of Brazilian central midfielder Juninho.
The Sao Paulo signee reunites with the club’s top returning player, David Beckham, in a midfield that also features Landon Donovan, and it doesn’t really matter who else (with apologies to Mike Magee and Michael Stephens – both very good players).
With centre back Omar Gonzalez out due to an ACL injury, LA decided to shore up the back with the popular defensive midfielder who also has an eye for goal. Juninho looked set to play in Brazili this year after signing a new deal with Sao Paulo, but the 23-year old was loaned back to LA after failing to win a place on the powerful South American side.
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Along with Juninho, LA acquired Brazilian defender Leonardo to fill the void left by Gonzalez, but injuries will likely force the centre back to sit until April, according to Bruce Arena.
For Toronto FC the task gets tougher again ahead of the two legged CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on March 7 & 14, though you wouldn’t get the sense they are worried at training. In Oakville this week Aron Winter has continued to fit his new pieces into areas that required attention.
New defender Miguel Aceval and rookie midfielder Luis Silva have looked particularly good in the early days of camp and both provide something Toronto lacked in the 2011/12 CCL run.
Aceval, along with Geovanny Caicedo, will provide defensive depth for the Reds while Los Angeles-born Silva could be the attacking midfielder Toronto missed with Eric Avila cup-tied and out of this Champions League campaign.
In addition, Toronto supporters will always stop to remind LA stargazers that the teams have an extremely close all-time head-to-head record, playing to two draws last season and that was before adding Torsten Frings, Danny Koevermans and Ryan Johnson to the team.
March 7 – the first engagement – is just four weeks away and Toronto has addressed several squad issues this offseason. What matters now is avoiding any preseason setbacks and then trotting out the best available side in a great test against one of the best clubs in the region.
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