Even the ambitious clubs in MLS could scarcely envision the scenario poised to unfold at StubHub Center on Sunday a couple of years ago.
It is one thing to entice one or two aging stars over to the United States. MLS opened its doors with Roberto Donadoni in New York and Carlos Valderrama in Tampa Bay. The trend accelerated and realigned when David Beckham signed with LA Galaxy in 2007, but it evolved along the way.
This highly anticipated meeting between LA Galaxy and New York City reflects the changing standard in a league willing to splash the cash at the top end even as it restricts spending on the rank and file.
At this stage, it isn’t about signing one or two players. The big clubs form clusters with their three Designated Player spots and their Targeted Allocation Money troves, while other sides scheme to make the best use of their own resources. The revised strategy shines through here: Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane lining up on one side for the Galaxy, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa suiting up on the other for NYCFC. Frank Lampard might join the NYCFC starting XI if he is deemed fit enough.
There is a further twist now with Galaxy schemer Giovani dos Santos as the prime example. The Mexico international represents perhaps the next step: a high-profile figure willing to swap Europe for the United States in the prime of his career. His presence -- plus the failed quest to land Javier Hernández this summer -- reflects the next stage in the development of a league with grander ambitions to chase.
Each of those components contributes to the swirling spectacle poised to unfold in Carson. There are hallmarks of the past, the present and the future wrapped into the first meeting between these sides. This meeting offers a chance to herald those developments and ponder how the situation might evolve in the years to come.
Supporting cast separates Galaxy, NYCFC
All of the scrutiny on the big-name stars rather obscures the gulf in squad depth. Galaxy coach Bruce Arena carefully identifies and integrates players into his side to complement his stars. The resulting blend of emerging young talents, overlooked performers and savvy veterans creates a compact unit capable of allowing Giovani dos Santos, Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane to flourish. There is no such infrastructure in place with NYCFC yet. The club is still a mish-mash of operators and NYCFC coach Jason Kreis is still trying to coax some form of cohesion out of some oddly compiled parts. There is talent within the ranks (Kwadwo Poku’s double in the weather-marred 2-2 draw at Columbus on Wednesday highlighted his increasing impact, for example), but it is not yet aligned and honed to produce the desired results consistently. Whether NYCFC can push this trek to southern California onto the positive side of the ledger remains uncertain.
Didier Drogba takes his bow for Montréal
In rather stark contrast to his increasingly criticized compatriots, Didier Drogba took a couple of weeks to work on his fitness after signing for Montréal Impact. The former Chelsea star expects those efforts will allow him to make an influential debut for the Impact against Philadelphia on Saturday. His presence forces Montréal boss Frank Klopas to adjust a bit going forward -- the direct work needs to find Drogba, not play him in behind -- and trust his veteran forward to link up with the array of enticing attacking options. There is a sold-out crowd expected at Stade Saputo to see if the end product was worth the wait.
Solidity remains the top priority for Toronto FC, Orlando City
Toronto FC thrashed tattered Orlando City a couple of weeks ago and then watched its defense shatter into pieces. It is a fate Orlando City knows all too well after conceding 13 goals in its past three road matches and shuffling through a host of makeshift options to cobble together a defense. These realities place a considerable premium on establishing a firm base of operations for the meeting at BMO Field on Saturday. Anything less could see either of these sides torn apart once more.
Need for speed places premium on possession at B.C. Place
FC Dallas and Vancouver unsettle the opposition with brisk, incisive work in the open field. Their keen appreciation for the counter prompts the opposition to set out their stall accordingly and shunt much of the responsibility into possession instead. Vancouver continues to make that transition more deftly with the assured Matias Laba operating well in front of the back four and the ingenious Pedro Morales (now with the club for the long haul after signing a multi-year extension earlier this week) back from injury to spray diagonals across the park. It is down to the home side to bear the burden of creating from possession in order to continue its chase for top spot in the Western Conference on Saturday.
Century mark reinforces Wondolowski’s enduring importance in San Jose
Chris Wondolowski scored his 99th and 100th goals for the Earthquakes in the 5-0 drubbing of Sporting Kansas City in midweek. The milestone offers a reflection of Wondolowski’s vital influence within the club over the past few years and underscores his enduring threat in front of goal. His role in the stunning victory reinforces his importance to San Jose’s renewed postseason charge. He must continue to flourish in a revamped role -- Dominic Kinnear currently favors a more traditional 4-4-2 with Wondolowski in his preferred forward berth -- against D.C. United on Saturday to sustain the Earthquakes’ pursuit.
