updates

      Life has been pretty hectic since I moved back home.  I have been coaching three teams and playing on two others.  My first team is my u13 boys team.  I wasn't sure how much of a challenge this was gonna be until last week when we played in the Cerritos Memorial Tournament.  Granted we were playing up in the silver division but we were clearly out of place and the results proved it.  We gave up an astonishing 20 goals against and did not score one single goal.  I can only count on one hand the amount of decent chances that we did have to score.  It is a huge difference working with this age of boys to what I have been used to in the past.  I really am going to have to go back to the basics of soccer and start from the ground up.  The room and possibility to improve with this team is huge, however it will take a lot of work from not only me but the players as well.  I told them that if they wanted to get better not only as a team but also individually, then they will have to do a whole lot more than just train with me twice a week.  Another major problem in the American soccer system that these kids only touch the ball twice a week and they expect results.  It will never happen.  Soccer is a full time job and if you don't have the commitment then I don't want you on my team.  I had to release a player from this squad last week.  It is a tough situation to be put in when you have to release a 13 yr old.  Mainly because he will probably never play soccer again, and I don't want to do that to any kid.  However this kid just wasn't cutting it in training and in the matches.  When he did show up to play, he was actually a decent player.  However most of the time his head wasn't in the game or practices and it wasn't fair to the other boys.  It is not the glamorous part of the job releasing players, yet it is part of the job.

       My second team is my u18 boys gold team.  It was a lot of work because with the help of a couple key guys (Eddie Soto), we had to rebuild this team up again.  I am happy with what we have.  I feel we are very solid in goal, in the back, and in the midfield.  I do feel that we lack a little of that killer instinct up top and a forward who is gonna be the difference maker in big games.  However its a good group of guys who work hard for me and it should be a good year.  

    My third team that I will be working with is the Santa Ana College women's team.  More to come on that end in a bit.  

    As far as playing goes not much has been going on with the Galaxy lately.  We were supposed to have a reserve match on June 8th against Colorado but unfortunately it got cancelled.  Sometimes the reserve league can be such a bit frustrating.  I mean I have played many games in the reserve league when I was with Chivas USA.  It's tough to be in the reserves that's for sure.  The money, the way you are treated, the way you get looked over.  So I have taken the opportunity to play for a club called Hollywood United.  A men's league/amateur team that plays here in SoCal.  Just from my initial experiences with the club I know I am going to love playing with these guys.  And I will tell you why....