<p>Today we wrap up our “Three Questions” series with the defending MLS champions, the Los Angeles Galaxy. &nbsp;By any definition, they were the best team in MLS last season: they convincingly led the Supporters Shield’s race most of the season, looked like the best team in the playoffs, and won the MLS Cup. &nbsp;They did it with glitz and&nbsp;glamour&nbsp;(the three&nbsp;designated&nbsp;players) as well as grit and determination (best defense in MLS, good midfield play). &nbsp;In the end, they were possibly the most complete and dominant team in “modern” MLS history.</p>
<p>But the page on the calendar has turned and the team is facing a new set of challenges in 2012. &nbsp;Even with the good news of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16367775.stm" target="_blank">David Beckham’s return</a>, there have been some dark clouds this offseason that will push the team to see if it can repeat the success of 2011. &nbsp;Let’s take a look at the three questions that will define the rest of this offseason for LA:</p>
<p>(Additionally, use the comments section to give some feedback on the Three Questions series. &nbsp;Was it something you enjoyed? &nbsp;Was it something you’d like to see repeated or emulated during the season?)</p>
<p><strong>1. Will the midfield be as strong as it was last season?</strong></p>
<p>Casual soccer fans know about “bend it like Beckham” but the Galaxy midfield in 2011 was a key to their ability to create offense seemingly out of nothing. &nbsp;Whether it was Beckham’s storied free kicks or Juninho’s timely goals, the midfield came through in the clutch when it was needed. &nbsp;That midfield will look different beginning next season. &nbsp;Although there’s still a chance he may be loaned again to LA, Juninho has been <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/13299/galaxy-juninho-gone-gonzalez-going" target="_blank">recalled by Sao Paulo</a> and will leave a gap in the “clutch goal scorer” category. &nbsp;Miguel Lopez has also seen <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/13772/galaxy-lopez-returns-to-quilmes" target="_blank">his loan end</a> with LA and he has been called back to his home club of Quilmes.</p>
<p>The team has tried to replace Juninho with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2011/12/21/2651985/rumor-mill-la-galaxy-transfer-rumors" target="_blank">Marcelo Sarvas</a>, but the 30 year old is arguably a step down offensively. &nbsp;Having Beckham back does help cover this loss, but the team needs to take some steps to shore up a midfield that helps cover for a weaker forward position.</p>
<p><strong>2. Can the defense do it again?</strong></p>
<p>The <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=ycn-10803189" target="_blank">loss of Omar Gonzalez hurts</a>, badly, <del>but in the “silver lining” category he will be able to return at some point for the Galaxy this season, it looks like</del>&nbsp;(<strong>update</strong>: no silver lining, folks, <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/2012/1/11/2700656/arena-doesnt-expect-gonzalez-back-until-end-of-2012-la-galaxy" target="_blank">he’s gone for the whole season</a>). &nbsp;However, the team may need to spend some money on a replacement, or focus their drafting on this position. &nbsp;Bruce Arena also looked to keep key components of his defense by <a href="http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2011/12/la-galaxy-re-sign-three-players-ahead-2012-season#.TvS-QaAWNbw.twitter" target="_blank">re-signing Sean Franklin</a>, another defender who should be receiving more love from the USMNT. &nbsp;The keeper position also lost a little depth with the expensive Donovan Ricketts moving to Montreal, but the back-up duo of Nick Noble and U-23 player Brian Perk look quality.</p>
<p>This defense was incredibly dominant last season, and even with Gonzalez it would have been a challenge to repeat their suffocating style. &nbsp;With him gone for the<del> first half of the</del> season, seemingly, can the Galaxy&nbsp;approach&nbsp;the greatness they achieved last season a second year in a row?</p>
<p><strong>3. How big of a role will the three designated players play this season?</strong></p>
<p>Beckham is back, and he will be with the Galaxy a little longer. &nbsp;But that will be contractually, and how much he is physically there is an important question for a team that already suffered a hit in midfield. &nbsp;He will be playing in the Olympics and will miss time for that, as well as the usual jaunts across the pond. &nbsp;With a longer schedule that adds two CONCACAF Champions League tournaments, how much will he contribute during the season?</p>
<p>Then there’s Landon Donovan, who is finally getting another chance to play in England. &nbsp;He likes Everton, the team needs him, and we know his deal is only for a few months. &nbsp;But can the best known American MLS player force a longer loan or transfer if he wants to stay? &nbsp;My bet is yes. &nbsp;Regardless, the Galaxy will be without his services for stretches this summer as he reports to the national team for friendlies and qualifying.</p>
<p>Robbie Keane looks to be enjoying his time in LA, but with a<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/robbie-keane-set-for-aston-villa-loan-move-los-angeles-galaxy-010912" target="_blank"> loan to Aston Villa</a> and his Euro 2012 commitments, will his 31-year old legs be able to handle the travel and numerous competitions in which he will be competing?</p>


Three Offseason Questions for the Defending Champs: LA Galaxy

Three Offseason Questions for the Defending Champs: LA Galaxy - World Soccer Talk

<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-354" href="http://www.serieatalk.com/?attachment_id=354" title="FourFourTwo-July2008"></a><a rel="attachment wp-att-351" href="http://www.serieatalk.com/juninho-puts-on-free-kick-scoring-clinic-lyon-3-2-nice/352/ligue-one-lyon-vs-nice-crests/" title="Ligue One-Lyon vs Nice crests"></a></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-360" href="http://www.serieatalk.com/juninho-puts-on-free-kick-scoring-clinic-lyon-3-2-nice/352/juninho-lyon-v-nice/" title="juninho-lyon-v-nice"><div><figure class="external-image"><img src="/files/2008/09/juninho-lyon-v-nice.jpg" alt="juninho-lyon-v-nice"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>On Saturday Juninho showed why he is the master of the free kick after bringing Lyon single-handedly back into this one, with&nbsp;a clinical display of scoring from the deadball situation.<br>
<a rel="attachment wp-att-353" href="http://www.serieatalk.com/juninho-puts-on-free-kick-scoring-clinic-lyon-3-2-nice/352/353/" title="ligue1talk190x80sm.jpg"></a><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" border="0" vspace="10" width="177" src="/files/2008/09/ligue1talk190x80sm.jpg" hspace="10" alt="ligue1talk190x80sm.jpg" height="66"></figure></div></p>
<p>While waiting for&nbsp;Inter –&nbsp;Catania&nbsp;to&nbsp;start I decided to turn the dial&nbsp;to TV5 and&nbsp;have a look-see&nbsp;of&nbsp;French&nbsp;Ligue One&nbsp;with Lyon vs. Nice. I&nbsp;wasn’t disappointed&nbsp;as everything wasn’t going&nbsp;Lyon’s way&nbsp;early on and made for&nbsp;entertaining viewing, especially after the home side would need&nbsp;a come from behind win with a Benezma penalty in extra time and some Juninho magic&nbsp;on the other&nbsp;goals.</p>
<p>&nbsp;Nice&nbsp;had the lead early in the 3rd minute on&nbsp;a ball played behind&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympique_Lyonnais">Les </a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympique_Lyonnais">Gones</a>&nbsp;center defense&nbsp;where Habib Bamago was perfectly positioned&nbsp;to run unto leaving&nbsp;only the keeper to beat.&nbsp;The&nbsp;visitors would strike again&nbsp;with&nbsp;a second goal in the first 25 minutes, before <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juninho_Pernambucano">Juninho</a> and his deadball magic&nbsp;caused French announcers to cry out “très fantastique”.&nbsp; After winning a free kick&nbsp;just outside the visitor’s 18 yard box Juninho stepped forward&nbsp;and scored his first goal&nbsp;by cooly bending the ball round the wall of&nbsp;players and watching it dip into the top corner. Absolutely no chance for keeper <a href="http://www.frenchleague.com/joueur/index.asp?no_joueur=2004">Lionel Letizi</a>, 1 – 2 Nice at the half.</p>
<p>Second half play was end-to-end&nbsp;but the&nbsp;score wasn’t equalized until the 71st minute when once again Juninho was called upon to weave his magic this time from&nbsp;distance (almost the centre circle area).&nbsp;Off another free kick&nbsp;by&nbsp;the Brazilian the ball was played with height and first looked likely to be headed or redirected at goal by a teammate but&nbsp;instead bounced once off the pitch and past the stunned keeper.&nbsp; The final winner&nbsp;for&nbsp;Lyon&nbsp;would come in extra time after a penalty was awarded&nbsp;for a handball in the box. Karim Benezma&nbsp;made no mistake on this one and Lyon walked off the water&nbsp;logged pitch relishing a great victory over their south coast rivals.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For any Serie A fans who are unfamilar with Juninho (very <a rel="attachment wp-att-355" href="http://www.serieatalk.com/juninho-puts-on-free-kick-scoring-clinic-lyon-3-2-nice/352/fourfourtwo-july2008/" title="FourFourTwo-July2008"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" border="0" vspace="10" align="right" width="153" src="/files/2008/09/fourfourtwojuly1a.jpg" hspace="10" alt="FourFourTwo-July2008" height="201" style="width: 192px;height: 230px"></figure></div></a>few I’m sure), and why the intrusion&nbsp;of French football on&nbsp;Serie A Talk, well this is the man&nbsp;who Andrea Pirlo calls his idol, the master at dead ball skills.</p>
<p>In the July edition of FourFourTwo Pirlo (the player the Azzurri look to for freekick perfection) explains his technique&nbsp;known as the “l’ascensore” or the lift, (the ball goes up and then dips quickly) was invented by Juninho. “I started watching how Juninho kicked and tried to learn” said Pirlo.</p>
<h4><a rel="attachment wp-att-355" href="http://www.serieatalk.com/juninho-puts-on-free-kick-scoring-clinic-lyon-3-2-nice/352/fourfourtwo-july2008/" title="FourFourTwo-July2008"></a></h4>
<h4>Goal Highlights</h4>
<p>see all five goals in the&nbsp;second&nbsp;video link<br>
[display_podcast]</p>
<h4>Related Articles</h4>
<p>frenchleague.com – <a href="http://www.frenchleague.com/ligue1/lireArticle.asp?idArticle=10784">Ederson sounds Nice warning</a><br>
AFP – <a href="http://tinyurl.com/56be7m">Juninho hails Lyon´s character in fightback win</a></p>


Juninho Puts On Free Kick Scoring Clinic, Lyon 3 &#8211; 2 Nice

Juninho Puts On Free Kick Scoring Clinic, Lyon 3 - 2 Nice - World Soccer Talk

Juninho Puts On Free Kick Scoring Clinic, Lyon 3 – 2 Nice

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Three Offseason Questions for the Defending Champs: LA Galaxy

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Juninho Puts On Free Kick Scoring Clinic, Lyon 3 – 2 Nice