Back in Training

The Galaxy went through a complete training session under cold and grey skies this afternoon at The Home Depot Center. Despite a growing injury list that has no fewer than eight players listed, the team went through an intense and strenuous training as they continued their preparation for Thursday's game against FC Dallas.

Eddie Lewis (above) and A.J. DeLaGarza (below) were each back out on the field as they continue to come back from their injuries. Lewis, who has been out since suffering a foot contusion early in the first half of the season opener against New England, returned to training last week while DeLaGarza on the field for the first time since missing the last two games because of back spasms.


The team played a series of small-sided games during the day's session, making sure that every player on the field got plenty of touches in various positions throughout the day. With Landon and Edson now in New Jersey with the National Team, there are at least two open spots in Bruce Arena's starting lineup and the Galaxy coach has plenty of options to chose from. Arena has already started 21 of the 25 players on the club's roster (including the injured David Beckham) at least once this season, with only Beckham, the on loan Yohance Marshall (more about him later), Tristan Bowen and Clint Mathis not making their way into the starting lineup yet this year.

That is the very definition of depth, something that Arena spoke to Jackie Pickering about for Galaxy Live, which will air at 8:30 p.m. prior to the game on Thursday night.


But that depth will be tested over the coming weeks as the Galaxy play four of their next five games on the road. LA is 3-0-1 away from The Home Depot Center this season and have yet to allow a goal, a mark that they would like to keep intact as they take on a team that put up six the last time these two sides met in September 2009.


Josh Saunders could be given the task of doing just that after he extended his streak without allowing a goal in the regular season or postseason to 397 minutes with his clean sheet against Toronto FC on Saturday. If Saunders gets the start on Thursday and plays 58 minutes without allowing a goal, he will become the 10th goalkeeper in league history to play 400 or more straight minutes in the regular season without allowing a goal. Saunders last allowed a goal in MLS competition on April 4, 2009 in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rapids.


Finally, we told you that we would have more for you about second year defender Yohance Marshall, he will join the Galaxy at their team hotel ahead of the game against FC Dallas on Thursday. Marshall has appeared in five games so far this season with the Austin Aztex who currently sit at the top of the USSF Division 2 standings with a 4-1-1 record for league-best 13 points. He will be in action for the Aztex at home on Wednesday night against Tampa Bay before flying to Dallas on Thursday morning. He will then accompany the team back to Los Angeles for training and Sunday's game against Boca Juniors before returning to Austin on Monday.