CARSON, Calif. – With Steven Gerrard five months away from his MLS arrival, the LA Galaxy have a big question on their hands: Who will pair Juninho in the central midfield until the English DP arrives in July?
There's a battle going on in preseason camp to snag the role that was vacated when Marcelo Sarvaswas traded last month to Colorado, and head coach Bruce Arena and his staff have several options and enough patience with two-and-a-half weeks until their opener to see who steps up and takes the job.
The primary contenders are Baggio Husidic, a natural central midfielder who played primarily on the flanks during his first season with the Galaxy, and Kenney Walker, a fourth-year pro who teamed with Juninho four times last year while Sarvas was dealing with injuries.
Stefan Ishizaki, a first-choice flank player; fourth-year midfielder Rafael Garcia, who can play in a number of roles; Galaxy II standout Andre Auras, a Frenchman on trial; and Daniel Keller, a draft pick from Louisville, are also possibilities.
“[We want someone] just to play well and complement the team,” said Arena, who will lead the Galaxy against Swedish club Hammarby in a friendly on Monday in Stockholm. “We're not asking people to do things that they can't do, and whoever plays in that midfield position will have qualities that obviously are different than Marcelo's, and that doesn't mean that's bad.
“That simply means we have a team that understands the different strengths and weaknesses of each player, and we accommodate that in our style.”
Husidic, more attack-minded than his competition, started three games in central midfield last year, partnered with Sarvas in two late-summer outings and with Juninho in a mid-October loss to FC Dallas. He and Juninho have been paired for the first half of LA's last two preseason encounters, victories over Georgetown and the Seattle Sounders. Walker, a true holding midfielder, and Juninho were together for the first two preseason games.
“[Husidic] is a box-to-box type of midfielder, good in the final third as a passer, and he has scored goals,” Arena said. “Walker's a good player; it's a big year for him. He's a very good passer, technically good. I think it will be interesting to see if he gets a run in that position.”
The Galaxy could fill the role by committee.
“It's just going to depend on what Bruce deems fit for the team and what qualities we need for certain games,” Walker said. “It's not going to be the same game every week – you need different qualities for different weeks – so it will just be the best fit for the team when [the next game] comes up.”
Come July, Gerrard will step in. Those who fill the role before are, in a sense, place-holders.
“You'd like to think [Gerrard plays immediately],” Husidic said. “One of the best English midfielders in the world. I think no one's going to take it personally when he comes and steps in there.”
Arena isn't thinking along those lines, not yet at least.
“You're looking well down the road,” he said. “I can't do that. I don't think you worry about that stuff at this point. Steven Gerrard, when he arrives, if he's healthy, fit and all of that, he's going to play.”
