Adam Cristman, Sean Franklin and Bryan Jordan will return to LA Galaxy for 2012. Photo: LA Galaxy

MLS News: LA Galaxy Move Toward 2012

Not content to sit on their 2011 success, LA Galaxy have begun moving toward the 2012 MLS season with several signings and re-signings of key positions. Following up on the trade of long-time goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to the expansion Montreal Impact, the 2011 MLS Cup Champions brought in a top Brazilian striker, a young Academy star and two veteran players. Galaxy also re-upped three members of the current roster who each had important roles this season.

 As November rolled to a close and the team prepared for their post-season Asia Pacific Tour 2011, mainstay net minder Ricketts was sent to Montreal for “financial considerations.” The Jamaican international had been a major factor in the Galaxy’s defensive improvement over the last three years, going from a league high of 62 goals allowed in 2008 to an impressive 18 shutouts in 2011. However Ricketts had suffered injuries over the season and the decision to trade him was made. The move has not been without controversy, and much will be riding on the shoulders of the remaining goal tenders.

The team made its first major acquisition earlier this month when they signed Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Fazzio Sarvas on a free transfer. The deal, pending Sarvas’ physical and International Transfer Certificate, will bring Galaxy a talented individual who can play center mid or either wing. Sarvas came out of the Corinthians youth system and most recently played for LD Alajuelense in the Costa Rica Premier Division. Before leading Alajuelense to the 2011 Verano title and a spot in the 2011 Invierno championship, Sarvas played in Europe, with stops in Sweden and Poland.

Jose Villarreal became the third player to sign out of the Galaxy Academy. Photo: LA Galaxy

This week has been Galaxy’s most active, with three new players signed and three re-signed. On Thursday, Galaxy announced the signing of Jose Villarreal – the third player to be signed directly from the Galaxy Academy. Villarreal joins Tristan Bowen and Jack McBean as direct signs from the Academy. In 2008 Bowen was the first player ever signed by a MLS team from their own academy. McBean was signed in 2011 and became the youngest Galaxy player to score when he netted one against Houston Dynamo in the season finale.

“Jose is a player that we have known and watched for a long time and it’s been great to have him in our Academy this past year,” Galaxy Academy Senior Director Chris Klein told the press. “He has a tremendous amount of promise and potential and we’re excited that he’ll be able to continue his development with the first team.”

Villarreal had joined Galaxy Academy just this season after playing previously for Pateadores and South Bay Force. He also played on the U.S. Under-23 National Team in a scrimmage against Azerbaijan during a November training camp in Germany.

“It’s been my dream ever since I was little to be a professional soccer player, so to be able to do that and stay close to home so that I can play in front of my family and friends is a dream come true,” Villarreal told Galaxy reporters. “Growing up here in the area I’ve always watched the Galaxy and been a fan of the team so this will be a great experience for me.”

On Friday Galaxy made several announcements. The team first announced that they had signed two veteran players to the 2012 roster: forward Pat Noonan and goalkeeper Nick Noble. Noonan is a nine-year MLS veteran who has played with New England Revolution, Columbus Crew, Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders FC. He was a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year in 2003 with Revolution and helped Columbus to the MLS Cup title in 2008. Noonan has 41 goals and 33 assists in his 173 career MLS matches.

Pat Noonan (L) and Nick Noble (R) will join LA Galaxy for 2012. Photo: LA Galaxy

Noble was originally drafted by Chicago Fire in 2007 after earning Big East Goalkeeper of the Year honors as a senior at West Virginia University in 2006. After three years on the Fire roster without seeing league action, Noble signed with Ljungskile SK in Sweden. In his two years with the Swedish side, Noble had 21 clean sheets in 59 matches, for a 22-20-17 record. Noble will add another layer of net security for Galaxy.

In a final move announced this week, Galaxy re-signed midfielder Bryan Jordan and defender Sean Franklin for 2012 and exercised an option on forward Adam Cristman. Jordan and Franklin are both four-year veterans with Galaxy, both having joined in 2008, while Christman came on board in 2011 following a January trade with D.C. United.

Franklin was a first-round pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft out of Cal State Northridge and went on to become that season’s MLS Rookie of the Year. He played in a career-high 28 games in 2011, including starts in all four postseason matches. Franklin finished the year with four goals and three assists and was chosen for his first MLS All-Star game. He was also a major part of the team’s stellar defense and record-tying 17 regular season clean sheets.

Although he originally signed with Galaxy as a forward, Jordan found his place in the middle of the field, appearing in 48 matches. In his five starts this past season, Galaxy ran up a 5-0-0 record, including four straight in September and October. During that one stretch the team outscored opponents 7-1 and tallied three shutouts.

Although he missed the first three months of the season with a knee injury, Cristman made his presence known on the field. He was one of only three players to score in regular season, U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF matches, and was the only player to add tallies in international and Reserve League action as well.

The Galaxy will return to action on March 7, 2012, when they travel to Canada to take on Toronto FC in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals. The MLS season then kicks off on March 10 in MLS First Kick 2012 at The Home Depot Center. For more information about the LA Galaxy season, visit their website.

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