You guys probably remember our defender of the year for 2007, rookie Ty Harden. He left to pursue “charity work” with his father, or so we were told.

Turns out that was a shade of the truth, but there’s more to the story. I was surprised to find an ESPN article on him in my inbox. He has an interesting story to tell, give it a read. He sounds like a young Chris Klein to me, and I love me some Chris Klein!

Eskandarian has been hobbled by injury for the past few years, and has yet to match the tantalizing promise of his 2004 season when he scored 10 goals for DC United and was the MLS Cup MVP. He was slowed by injury again this season with Chivas USA. He joined Chivas in January 2008 and has only appeared in 18 games, scoring six times in the process. This year he’s only started twice and seen the field in seven games.

Josh Tudela has been with the Galaxy since 2007 when he was drafted out of Indiana (Dema Kovalenko’s alma mater) and only recently moved off of the developmental roster. He was one of the survivors of the horrific 2007 campaign that saw a few games late in the season when only 14 players could dress because of numerous injuries. He held steady in the middle during the team’s improbable late season winning streak that almost saw them sneak into the playoffs. I thought he was improving this season, though I was never ready to label him ready to start regularly. I hope that some team picks him off the waiver wire – some place that needs a developing holding midfielder. The kid has heart, that’s for sure.

As for Eskandarian, I’ll take him over Jovan Kirovski in a minute, even if he can’t stay healthy, even if he’s been having trouble being dangerous since he was shipped out of DC. If nothing else he’ll bring personality. I will forever remember him scoring against New York after the rebranding as Red Bull, grabbing a can of the stuff from the sideline, swigging it, and spitting it back on the field. More of that please.

But this isn’t the last roster change in the offing. With David Beckham (and you saw this note about our sneak peek at the new book about the Beckham Experiment, right?) the current roster lists 25 players. The roster limit is 24 and it still seems like Chris Birchall is coming on July 15th. That leaves two more players to get the ax. I’ve been chatting with some folks over email about possibles. Names mentioned include: Yohance Marshall, Tristan Bowen, Julian Valentin, Leonard Griffin, and Kyle Patterson. I think that the rules say you can’t cut someone who is on the Disabled List, so Marshall is safe until he comes off. Valentin is recovering from a broken foot, so he’s on the DL. Tristan Bowen is Generation Addidas and thus doesn’t count against the salary cap, so there’s value in keeping him.

So, what do you guys think? Was getting Eskandarian the right move? What about Tudela? Will you miss him? And, finally, who are your candidates for the cuts needed for Becks and Birchall to be on the roster? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

After training with Seattle Sounders FC in the preseason, Ely Allen is now playing for USL’s (Premier Development League) Seattle Wolves FC. To date he has played in four matches and has recorded an impressive 2 goals and 2 assists. With more consistency, could he make it back to MLS?

Josh Wicks was signed by DC United in the off season and started the first two games of the season. He is currently one of three keepers who seem to be on a merry-go-round of starting line ups for DC. None of DC’s three keepers (Louis Crayton, Milos Kocic, and Wicks) have impressed Tom Soehn enough to earn the starting position. It’s a problem the Galaxy suffered last year, and I’m glad to be rid of!

Meanwhile, former Galaxy starting keeper Steve Cronin is the starting keeper for the USL First Division’s Portland Timbers. Perhaps he can make a case for remaining with the team when they join the ranks of MLS.

In Paraguay El Pescadito, Carlos Ruiz, is continuing to impress with his new club Olimpia Asuncion.

“If this doesn’t work out Ely, you could get work on Meerkat Manor.”

Laurie’s former love, Kyle Martino, is living in New York and working for Lenox Advisors while providing the occasional commentary for MLS matches on ESPN. I have to admit that I miss the guy. Not his playing so much as his entertaining personality.

Finally, after a brief trade to DC United and an appearance in 10 games, Quavas Kirk is now playing for the Minnesota Thunder in USL’s First Division. (A bit of trivia — Tony Sanneh was inducted into the Minnesota Thunder Hall of Fame in 1996.)

Does anyone have news on any other former Galaxy guys? Drop me a line at lagalaxy (dot) theoffside (dot) com.

Yeah, me neither.

So instead, I’d like to say that anybody who’s in New York on Oct 2 can stop by and see former Galaxy guy Kyle Martino playing in a fundraiser game for a

Green’-Carpet Event and Live Auction to Benefit Nonprofit Grassroot Soccer and its Mission to End HIV/AIDS Using the ‘Power of Soccer’

Other players will include:

WHO: Michael Strahan (frmr NY Giants) ** Anthony LaPaglia (“Without a Trace”) ** Brandon Routh (“Superman”) ** Jimmy Jean-Louis (“Heroes”) ** Gilles Marini (“Sex and the City”) ** Annie Churchill ** Skeet Ulrich (“Jericho”) ** Donal Logue (“The Tao of Steve”) ** Costas Mandylor (“Saw”) ** Richard Gough (frmr Scotland National Team) ** Frank LeBoeuf (frmr France National Team) ** Kyle Martino (frmr LA Galaxy) ** Lydia Hearst ** Brian Dunseth (FOX analyst) ** Ethan Zohn (Survivor: Africa) ** Heather O’Reilly (Gold-Medalist, 2008 Olympiad; U.S. Women’s National Team) ** Marcelo Balboa (frmr captain, U.S. Men’s National Team; Hall-of-Famer) ** Tony Meola (frmr U.S. Men’s National Team) ** ** Gillian Hearst Simonds ** Steve Jolley (frmr NY Red Bulls; FC Dallas) ** Shep Messing (NY Cosmos) ** Leslie Osborne (U.S. Women’s National Team)

Yeah, that Shep Messing.

I know most of you don’t share my Martino fandom, but the way Kyle was dumped by the Galaxy still causes me great pain in my maternal area, and I want to hear about good things for him. From what I hear, he did an awesome job commentating on MLS games during the Olympics, so that’s something. (Is he still doing that?)

So my point here is, if you’re in NYC this week, be sure to stop by and help them kick AIDS. And while you’re at it, tell Kyle that LA Galaxy Offside says Hi.

Alexi Lalas‘ firing was at least a year too late and was a laughably inept hire in the first place. Lalas was good at many things, like being a salesman extraordinaire, doing color commentary, creating funny ESPN Sportscenter promotional spots, even defending for the US MNT. But his history of running teams in MLS was about as lustrous as the attempts to market the Ford Edsel to Americans or the Chevy Nova to Mexicans (Nova = no va = it doesn’t go).

Perhaps AEG thought he didn’t have enough time in San Jose because it became Houston or in NYC during the run-up to the Red Bull acquisition to be accurately evaluated in terms of his GM-quality. However, I would say that the sacking of Bob Bradley was a flare-lit tip-off that Lalas’ personnel acumen was as sharp as a soup spoon made of soap. About the only good thing Lalas accomplished was firing Steve Sampson.

Now, in fairness, a GM, unless s/he’s a brilliant soccer mind, should probably not be dicking around in personnel matters. That’s what a Direct of Soccer/Futbol is for. And I suspect that Lalas was fairly adept at actually selling tickets, elevating the Galaxy brand, and managing sponsor relationships. If only he didn’t have to have left a trail of smoking landscapes and twisted wreckage to get to that point.

And at this point we find ourselves. As Tim Leiweke said in the Daily Breeze,

“I think because of the Ruud situation, it was an opportunity to once and for all look for a fresh start,” Leiweke said. “Alexi’s been with us a long time. I’m very appreciative of everything he’s done for the Galaxy. That one is painful. We haven’t made the playoffs for two years running, and we’re headed for a third year. You can’t blame Alexi entirely. I do think we need a fresh start.”

Fresh start indeed.

Which brings me to AEG. Who, exactly, was responsible for bringing Lalas to San Jose, New York, and Los Angeles? Who, exactly, dealt with the crew that brought Ruud Gullit on board? (And who, exactly, has final responsibility for the skating abmomination masquerading as an NHL team called the Los Angeles Kings?) In short, when, exactly, does Leiweke get the ax as well? If you can’t blame Alexi entirely, can you also blame Mr. Leiweke?

Anyway, if the idea from AEG’s point of view is to have a global brand and therefore global brand-type revenues from the Los Angeles Galaxy, maybe they should concentrate on putting a product on the field that people will actually want to watch. Having David Beckham and Landon Donovan on the same team is great! Having them play on a team that plays enough eye-bleeders to require me to have a standing appointment at the optometrist after Galaxy games is a sure way to become a global laughing stock.

So maybe what they do is get away from this star-struck notion that a global brand deserves a global coach and understand what works in MLS. The foreign coaches who win in MLS are intimately familiar with the American game and with MLS itself. They know how to operate within its constrictures, they understand the personnel, they understand how to build a stable team. Gullit, with an impressive player pedigree, but a decidedly mixed history as a coach, was simply not the right guy for this job.

On the other hand, I think Cobi Jones will make an excellent head coach in MLS. I even think he’s ready enough to be able to have an impact over the next 11 games. If he does, I bet he stays for next season. But if, for whatever reasons that isn’t in the cards, then there are other guys who are good options. Paul Mariner at New England. John Spencer at Houston. I hear Bruce Arena’s free. (Joking. Sort of.)

What do you guys think? Who should be the next head coach? What makes a good MLS coach? Is Cobi ready? Will this have a salutary effect on the team heading into the last 11 games? Let it rip in the comment!

KAREN- What happened to Kyle Martino? In light of all the midfielder injuries, could he help the Red Bulls as an option in central midfield? What would the Red Bulls lose by giving him a shot?

IVES- The last I heard Martino had left the game to work on Wall Street or some other corporate sector in New York. The Red Bulls had some interest, but wouldn’t have wanted to spend too much on Martino, probably not enough to stop him from retiring.

What do you think? True? False? Partly true? Galaxy Offside gold stars to anybody who can give me more details.

And double gold stars for news on Ty Harden. I got some fourth-hand info a month or so ago (somebody who’d talked to somebody who’d talked to somebody who probably had a connection — you know, one of those) that said he was doing something he just had to do. If that’s the case, go Ty! But you should drop us a postcard, just to let us know you’re okay. We worry.

Remember Nate Jaqua? Dumped by the Galaxy in the run-up to Beckham? He’s playing for SCR Altach Red Bull Salzburg and has scored five goals this season, helping them to avoid relegation. Most recent was the game-tying goal last weekend against Red Bull Salzburg.

And I mentioned this earlier today, but Santino Quaranta is my feel-good comeback story of the year so far. He got cut by Red Bulls last season, worked his butt off in the off-season and managed to get a trial with DC. He took a huge pay cut — going from around $100,000 to $35,000 — but he’s playing. And his goal is up for goal of the week this week. Good on him. He’s twenty-three years old — far too young to be washed up.

Any other former Galaxy guy news? Drop me a note in the comments or at lagalaxy[at]theoffside[dot]com or laurie[at]theoffside[dot]com.

Fear not.

While our Galaxy boys have been freezing their heinies off in icy cold Asia, Chris has been lounging in Cancun hot tubs. Clad in what we hope are swim togs of some sort, surrounded by beauties in bikinis, bathed in pink light and bubbles.

Giggle. You go, Chris!

Thanks to my favorite guilty pleasure Kickette for the find.

(P.S. A HUGE thanks to Jen for filling in while I was gone!!)

After five years as a key player with the Galaxy, Albright signed a new contract with LA in January, even taking a lower salary. Such a move seemed to make sense, as the team was working to squeeze under the salary cap, but the Galaxy then turned around and traded him to New England.

While he would not comment on the details of the move, Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas said that, “Whether for us, or for another club, Albright is being compensated at the level which a top player at his position gets in this league.”

What is becoming clear, though, is that players are increasingly aware that loyalty to a club, or even the league in general, is perhaps a sentimental luxury they cannot afford as professional sportsmen with a limited playing career.

“It was tough, because he’s been a player here for so long,” said Galaxy midfielder Pete Vagenas of Albright’s trade. “He’s contributed immensely. He’s part of what has got this franchise to this point.”

And my understanding is that because the players technically contract with the league and not with the individual teams, the contract terms are still binding even though he’s not playing with the team he signed on for. If he’d known he wasn’t going to stay at the Galaxy, he might have negotiated a better deal.

Way to treat your players right, Galaxy management.

And in other Galaxy news, remember the other day when I told you former Galaxy guy Joseph Ngwenya was going to Austria? Well now former Galaxy guy Nate Jaqua is apparently headed there too. Or at least that’s the rumor reported on an Austrian website. Different teams — Nate is reportedly heading to SC Rheindorf Altach — but same country. What’s up with that? Why Austria?

(And how much do you want to bet they meet over drinks to gossip about Landon Donovan?)

Oh, and in more Beckham news, Alexi says David is absolutely, positively not going to Newcastle. He’s not for sale. The end, EPL. Get over yourselves.

Back to normal soon, especially with the preseason starting…when? Very soon, right?

And this isn’t technically Galaxy related, but if you haven’t seen the news, former Galaxy guy Joseph Ngwenya has headed to Austria. Specifically to the team SK Austria.

If he were still playing for the Galaxy, I’d say, This sucks. But since he’s not I can say, Best of luck Joseph! Make lots and lots of money! We’re still waiting from that postcard from Clint Mathis, but we know YOU’LL come through for us.

(Let’s look at the big picture, though. Is this a Beckham side effect? The fact that European leagues are willing to consider MLS players? We’re seeing a whole slew of them heading to Europe this off season. Ngwenya, Eddie Johnson, Pat Noonan, probably Brad Guzan. And maybe a few more who are slipping my mind. What’s your opinion on this?)