Amid rumors of unrest, Galaxy tries to break out of funk
By Scott Wolf scott.wolf@dailynews.com Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 08/02/2008 11:43:19 PM PDT
When the usually optimistic David Beckham says the Galaxy played with “no fight or passion,” in last week’s 4-0 loss to Dallas, it’s a troubling sign.

When you consider it’s been six weeks since the Galaxy won a game, it’s even worse.
But as L.A. plays at San Jose today at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, a bigger question is whether anyone in this organization even likes each other enough to snap out of the current slump?

According to sources, general manager Alexi Lalas and Coach Ruud Gullit do not enjoy a good relationship, which is not surprising because Gullit was not hired by Lalas. Instead, it was Beckham’s soccer advisor, Terry Bryne, who made the hire.

Byrne is best known in England as the former Chelsea equipment manager. He was also the masseuse for the England national team in 1998 and consoled Beckham in the locker room during the second half of the Argentina match, where Beckham famously received a red card.

Around the MLS, there is question about who really runs the Galaxy? Sources said the team pondered trading midfielder Peter Vagenas and forward Carlos Ruiz in recent weeks but then changed its mind.

“Ruud Gullit cannot have the power that he has in the club because no club can give that much power to the coach,” said defender Abel Xavier, who was recently released by Gullit. “You take the risk of losing your identity when you give one person so much power.”

Gullit took offense to criticism by Xavier and struck back on Friday.
“It’s bad for a player to point the finger at somebody else,” Gullit said.
“(Xavier) doesn’t stay long with many teams.
“I asked him an interesting question. Can you do what I ask you to do? He couldn’t answer that. It’s nothing personal. But he is a bad apple.”

Xavier said he confronted Gullit in the locker room after the Galaxy’s 4-1 loss at D.C. United in June because of the way he criticized the team.

“Ruud Gullit needs to understand he cannot treat players the way he does,”
Xavier said. “Many things, the players don’t agree with Ruud Gullit’s actions.
The way he expressed himself and conducted himself and the way he treats players with a lack of respect.
“Most of the players are not happy to be coached by Ruud Gullit. They are afraid to talk back because they have non-guaranteed contracts and can be traded.”

Are the Galaxy players afraid? Defender Chris Klein said he did see any discontent with Gullit but acknowledged, “in general, the security of our players is not there.”

Gullit said his treatment is nothing personal and he also clashed with star forward Landon Donovan at halftime of the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory over Kansas City in May. But unlike the headstrong Xavier, Donovan did not push the issue.

“I asked Landon to do certain things and he wanted a different way,” Gullit said. “He did it and acted as a real pro. He scored a goal on a penalty kick and had an assist.”

It should be noted that Gullit is known for disagreements with players. When he coached Newcastle, he stripped midfielder Rob Lee of captain’s duties, took away his jersey number, sent him to the reserve team and forced him to train alone.

“At the start I thought Ruud liked me, we seemed to get on, but he didn’t like being disagreed with and, as captain, my job was to put forward the players’ viewpoint,” Lee told the Sunday Times of London in 2000. “By the end, he didn’t speak to me at all. He didn’t want me anywhere near the training ground.”

Four months later, Lee’s career at Newcastle flourished under new coach Bobby Robson.
“I don’t know how anyone could have left Rob Lee out of this team; he’s England class,” Robson told the Sunday Times.
Gullit recently put his Hollywood Hills home for sale at $4.25 million but said he will return next season.
“For sure, I’m not going anywhere,” Gullit said. “My wife did not like the house.”
Meanwhile, the Galaxy need to find a way out of their slump, going 0-3-3 since June 14. It’s more magnified because of the higher expectations with Beckham and Donovan.

“Yeah, candidly (I’m worried),” Donovan said. “Hopefully, some guys figured out what needs to be done. You have to show you care.”

Or as Beckham said, “We can’t keep relying on other people’s results.”
No Solano
Gullit said he was unlikely former Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano would join the team because of salary cap and other obstacles. “He’s not coming, I don’t think he’s coming,” Gullit said.

“… the honeymoon been over with a tyranial coach makes sense.”

Maybe, but is that really all that bad?

You think Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t have favorites at Man U? Heck, Fergie sure isn’t buddy-buddy — remember the time after a match that he kicked a boot on the floor of the locker room and hit Beckham above the eye? The spike hit Becks and made him bleed — but Fergie didn’t even apologies when questioned by the press.

But would anyone argue he’s not a good coach?

I thought the Beckham Camp was responsible for picking Ruud, if they were maybe that’s the problem. Ruud should be a success he has the pedigee, but if you think about the fall off in the standard of play recently, the honeymoon been over with a tyranial coach makes sense.

I was very dissapointed with Xavier this season but he was good last season and bad this season with a new coach, the math does add up.