My 2 way too early matches to be excited about-MLS

     The Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season schedule was recently released for the 2019 season. It is never too early to get excited for upcoming matches. I apologies for the click bate as it says 2 matches, but what I really mean is two teams I am curious to see play against the LA Galaxy. Of course the local derby between the Galaxy and LAFC is one to mark down. However, I have singled out these two teams, San Jose Earthquakes and Columbus Crew, for the back stories.

San Jose Earthquakes vs LA Galaxy
 
     The LA Galaxy will play San Jose Earthquakes twice this season, the first one away and two weeks later the second game will be played at Dignity Health Sports Park-the same stadium, but with a new name-in Carson, California. The main reason why this match up interests me is because of the two coaches in charge of the teams. Matias Almeyda will take charge of the San Jose team and attempt to make a bottom of the table team into a competitive team that can shows some life. On the other end we have Guillermo Barros Schelotto who will be tasked with rebuilding a Galaxy team that has been struggling since the departure of Bruce Arena two seasons ago.

     The California Clasico is always an intense match up between these two teams who are not too found of each other. The background of both coaches already enhances the story line. Matias Almeyda, started and finished his playing career with River Plate. Almeyda also started his coaching career with the Argentine giants. Guillermo Barros Schelotto's affiliation is with River Plate's cross town rivals, Boca Juniors. Barros Schelotto played and managed the Bueno Aires based club. I am not sure what the relationship between the two managers is and I would doubt they have a grudge or some sort of resentment for one another, but that leads to the second reason why this mini series should be circled. The back story of these two coaches adds an element to the rivalry, but they are also two coaches that are good at what they do. Almeyda had plenty of success in Mexico with las Chivas de Guadalajara. Almeyda implemented an attacking mindset at the club, he will definitely face challenges replicating that success in San Jose.

     Barros Schelotto is more organized and is a pragmatic coach who manages his team with what he has to achieve success. Which is a good fit that he landed the LA Galaxy job. In his press conference, Schelotto stated that he wants his team to attack, which isn't a bad idea except he might soon realize his defense is a mess. It is too early to accurately analyze how the two teams will be set up and play, I mean preseason has yet to commence, but if both these coaches are properly backed and given time I can see this match up as being one of the fun ones to watch. I am a strong proponent of bringing South American coaching ideology to the MLS. 

LA Galaxy vs Columbus Crew

     The LA Galaxy will visit the Columbus Crew on May 8 for the only match up between these two clubs. I circled this match for the same reason I did the previous one, the coaches. This one is not necessarily Caleb Porter, the Columbus Crew head coach, versus Guillermo Barros Schelotto, but more in the realm of Porter against the LA Galaxy organization. The Galaxy hired a new general manager, Dennis Te Kloese, to take charge in rebuilding the club and restoring it to it's glory days.There were credible rumors that the LA Galaxy were looking to hire Caleb Porter for the job. Te Kloese, Porter, and Chris Klein, the president of the LA Galaxy, were spotted sitting together at a Laker game.

     From what I read it turned out that Porter turned down the offer to accept a better offer with the Columbus Crew. I am not blaming Porter for accepting a better contract, at the end of the day everyone needs to get that bread. What I am baffled by all of this is how it left the power structure for the LA Galaxy. I am not one hundred percent sure, but I doubt Caleb Porter was Te Kloese preferred candidate for the coaching vacancy. If Porter was hired it would feel as if hiring Te Kloese was pointless and the responsibility should fall on Klein. However, at the end of the mini saga I think it all worked out for all parties involved. The match up will have Caleb Porter facing the LA Galaxy while Guillermo Barros Schelotto will be playing against the club where he achieved great success as a player winning the MLS Cup and MVP award. It will be fascinating to see the reception Barros Schelotto will get when he returns to Columbus as the Galaxy's head coach.