LAG consider coach upgrade

It appears that Los Angeles have found their scape goat. And that goat is named Frank Yallop. Unconfirmed reports out of Los Angeles indicate that Yallop has been asked to step down to make way for L.A.-resident Jurgen Klinsmann.

Klinsmann, you'll remember, was also a target of Sunil Gulati and the U.S.S.F. when they were seeking Bruce Arena's replacement for the U.S. national team, but the two parties could not reach an agreement.

The news comes on the verge of Los Angeles' last realistic chance for hardware this season in the SuperLiga 2007 final, this Tuesday against 2007 CONCACAF Champions Cup-winners Pachuca at The Home Depot Center.

Although the Galaxy are not mathematically eliminated, they are sitting on 14 points with just 12 to play. The magic number to get into the playoffs will likely be around 40, which means that the Galaxy would have to be nearly perfect to make to the postseason as an eighth seed. Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? No.

Yallop joined the Galaxy in June of 2006, when he replaced Steve Sampson (Lalas' first coaching hire) after his horrendous start to the '06 season (2-8-1). Yallop led the Galaxy to a 9-7-5 record and missed the playoffs by three points, not set-the-house-on-fire numbers, but respectable considering that he had to clean up the piles of Sampson that were all over the place. Those who question his MLS credentials any further need only look to his time with the San Jose Earthquakes where he won two MLS Cups in four years.

This season was really supposed to be the test for Yallop and it started rather well with a 3-1-1 in the first five matches (including US Open Cup), before turning south. The addition of Beckham (as well as the back-loaded schedule) was seen as a life preserver for the already drowning Galaxy, but it hasn't worked out that way.

Many critics have said that Yallop has been ill-equiped to deal with the circus surrounding David Beckham's arrival, and point to this as the main reason why he should be replaced. Putting aside that GM Alexi Lalas called Yallop the "perfect coach" for Beckham's transition into Major League Soccer, however, Sir Spice Boy has been the lone bright spot on a team that has struggled far more on the defensive side of the ball, than in creating scoring opportunities. And those defensive woes can't be entirely pinned on Yallop either, given the number of injuries the Galaxy have endured. They currently sport the longest injury list in MLS:

OUT: DF Chris Albright (R hamstring); MF David Beckham (L ankle); MF Kelly Gray (R calf); DF Ty Harden (R hip); DF Ante Jazic (R ankle); QUESTIONABLE: DF Quavas Kirk (L foot); MF Cobi Jones (R hip); DF Abel Xavier (L knee); PROBABLE: FW Edson Buddle (L Achilles); DF Troy Roberts (R ankle); DF Kyle Veris (R hip); MF Peter Vagenas (R quadriceps)

And seven out of the 12 injured players listed above are defenders. But I'm sure that the Lalas and the other Galaxy execs thought long and hard about all of these things before deciding that it's best to throw Yallop under the bus for the sake of their jobs and the wishes of their star player. And don't think that Beckham rose above the fray. If he wanted to keep Yallop, they would be keeping him. It is more likely that Beckham asked Los Angeles to go get a better coach.

And perhaps it will be a word from that same star player that convinces Klinsmann to finally sign for a league he has rejected so many times before.