CARSON, Calif. – The reigning MLS Cup champions opened preseason camp Friday, and focus wasn't on those who were missing – one mammoth figure, especially – but rather on someone who was back.
Landon Donovan is gone, of course, and so is Marcelo Sarvas, but taking part in the action for the LA Galaxy was one Edson Buddle, who scored 15 goals one season and 17 in another during a five-year tenure with the club that closed in 2012.
Buddle, 33, was one of seven non-roster players on the field for the Galaxy, returning for a trial after he was released in November by the Colorado Rapids.
“We know Edson,” head coach Bruce Arena said following the session at StubHub Center. “Edson's a good player. We're hopeful he's a player we can fit into our team.”
Also in camp were midfielder Rafael Garcia, whose Galaxy option wasn't exercised in December; Galaxy II veterans Andre Auras, a midfielder, and defender Daniel Steres; two of the three players LA selected in the MLS SuperDraft, Iona midfielder Ignacio Maganto and Louisville defender Daniel Keller; and undrafted midfielder Ramon Martin del Campo, who played last fall at UC Davis. Drafted goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton, from Penn State, will arrive next month after recovering from a foot injury.
Donovan retired after LA captured their third MLS Cup title in four years this past season, and Sarvas was traded last week to Colorado for the No. 3 spot in MLS's allocation rankings and allocation money.
Captain Robbie Keane is due to arrive in camp Monday, forward Gyasi Zardes and defender Oscar Sorto are with the US national team, and winger Bradford Jamieson IV is with the US team at the CONCACAF qualifiers for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Donovan's absence made for a different vibe, especially with everyone knowing he's not going to show up later.
“I don't know if Landon's been in too many preseason camps, to be honest,” defender Todd Dunivant said. “He's always with the national team or with Everton or wherever. He's not coming, but he's happy, he's in a really good place, and we're happy for him. But yeah, you're not going to replace a guy like that.”
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It's similar to 2013, when the Galaxy began preparations without David Beckham, who had joined Paris Saint-Germain for the final months of his career.
“It's another obstacle, for sure ...,” Dunivant said. “It was talked about [when Beckham left the team] that that was the end of that team and the end of us being good, essentially, and the end of those championship teams, and two years later we won another one.
“You can't replace guys like that – like David, like Landon – but you have to adapt, you have to find ways to make your team better, and we've been able to do that throughout the years, and that's going to be the challenge again.”
English superstar Steven Gerrard arrives in July, and the Galaxy have that allocation spot that might be used on a top player – Sacha Kljestan, perhaps? – and Buddle, if he can make the team, is a proven goal scorer. He's got 100 goals in 13 MLS seasons, No. 8 on the all-time list, and netted 15 for the Galaxy in 2008 and 17 in 2010, when he went to the World Cup.
He scored just seven times in two years with the Rapids, just twice in 18 games last season.
“Very nice to see Edson,” Dunivant said. “It's a pleasant surprise. It would be a great pickup if it works out, and he's obviously motivated. He brings a lot to the team, so I'm hoping it works out.”
Defender A.J. DeLaGarza praised Buddle's qualities.
“For a big man, he's got good feet, he's strong, he can hold up the ball, he's got pace, even at 33,” DeLaGarza said. “And a goal scorer. And that's what we need. Someone who can start or come off the bench and give us some quality minutes.”
Scott French covers the LA Galaxy for MLSsoccer.com.
