CARSON, Calif. -- A look at the MLS standings reveals the Los Angeles Galaxy are sitting in third place in the Western Conference with two wins, two losses and two ties on the season.
Take a closer look, and you'll see the 13 goals the Galaxy have scored this year are the most of the 14 clubs in the league.
Unfortunately, the 13 goals they've given up is also the most in the league thus far, which goes far in explaining why the Galaxy have only a .500 record for the season.
Coming into the season, most everyone expected the Galaxy to be potent on offense. Backstopped by a first-year starter in goal in Steve Cronin, the defense was questioned. While Cronin's goals-against-average might not reflect it, there have been very few goals he's given up this year where one could say the goalkeeper should have done better. Breakdowns in the back and sloppy clearances have led to several of the Galaxy's conceded goals.
"I think a lot of our goals haven't directly come from set pieces, but shortly after. It has to do with us not clearing the balls that are played into the box," said Cronin. "We're worried about passing the ball out of the back in those instances instead of just kicking it up to our forwards or another end of the field and working out from there. It just comes back to being as safe as possible in the defensive third."
Part of the problem is the fact that Los Angeles is playing such an aggressive style of offense. The back four often tries to facilitate the attack by passing out of the final third, sometimes leading to careless turnovers in dangerous areas.
Add to that the fact that the Galaxy likes to get numbers forward offensively and the defense can get a bit stretched. Finding that balance, and staying compact and defending as a unit, will be the key to LA keeping the ball out of its own net.
"I don't think we have a very aggressive attack mentality, but that doesn't matter. You still have to be able to withstand pressure. You still have to be able to prevent goals and not give up easy goals," said Greg Vanney. "Back four plus a couple defensive midfielders should be able to hold most teams off and get you plenty of shutouts. Defending is a group effort. Right now we're having too many moments where we're defending as individuals."
The defense certainly isn't going to be getting any breaks this week, as the Galaxy welcomes Juan Pablo Angel, Jozy Altidore and New York Red Bulls to The Home Depot Center this week. New York has gotten off to a sluggish start this season, but will no doubt test LA's defense.
"We give up goals when we get divided up and get separated, we're not able to cover each other and we're not in good positions," Vanney said. "That's sort of what happened this weekend (in a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake). We allowed midfielders to find space, and defensively we're just not a cohesive unit right now. Part of that is the mixing and matching of guys and injuries. Part of it is just training and getting ourselves on the same page."
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