LA has a strong defense entering 2012, but how big of a loss will Omar Gonzalez really be? (Getty Images)

Hard to believe it but we're getting down to the final days of the preseason. The 2012 MLS season kicks off this week! Yes, yes I'll probably have to contain myself from writing that or something similar to it in each post this week but I am excited.

Nearly 24 hours have passed since the LA Galaxy were bounced prematurely from the CONCACAF Champions League, and I've decided that it is indeed a debacle.
This was something the Galaxy had invested heavily in, this tournament. The Galaxy fancy themselves a global club, a brand, an identity that goes beyond your average MLS club.

I know Bryan Ruiz frustrates people but to my untrained eye he's a player we should keep on the field at all times, both because he has vision and creativity lacking elsewhere in the team (real final ball quality) and because he needs the minutes to adjust.

On that, there seems to be a common enough scenario whereby some foreign players need a season to adjust to English football.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the New England Revolution players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Brian O'Connell and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the New England Revolution's 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire.

There is so much that can change the draft and the way that teams select that it's really hard to look at KC's first round pick, the 16th overall, let alone the rest of KC's draft. So we're going to just look at the 16th draft pick at this point and go through the rest of the picks as they come up during the draft.

Saturday's win did many things but most of all it reminded us that, while the current Fulham squad does need a bit of tweaking, it contains a number of good players and making moves in January for the sake of making moves in January is probably not something we need to get too involved with.

Take the AJ situation.

Last night, I was at work and I missed the USA at Panama match on Galavision from Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City. Too bad, it would have been my first look at lots of young USMNT prospects making their debut with the senior NT. The starting lineup was Nick Rimando in goal, AJ De La Garza, Michael Parkhurst, Geoff Cameron, and Zach Loyd in the back, Ricardo Clark and Jermaine Jones in the
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Bah. Just as the Odense fiasco represented more than just another defeat, so too did last night's pathetic exit from the FA Cup. Nobody's pretending it's easy to go to Everton and get a result if it was we'd manage to get points there once in a while but there's something horribly wrong about these disjointed farces.

Bah. Just as the Odense fiasco represented more than just another defeat, so too did last night's pathetic exit from the FA Cup. Nobody's pretending it's easy to go to Everton and get a result if it was we'd manage to get points there once in a while but there's something horribly wrong about these disjointed farces.

Some players like lots of time and space, others can operate in crowds.

To play in central midfield you need to be at one end of what we'll call the space-time continuum; if you are not at the right end you may struggle in that role. In that case you need to find somewhere else where you will get space and time.

First-year head coach Jay Heaps brings his energy and competitiveness to a New England Revolution team looking forward to an improved 2012. Midfielders Shalrie Joseph, Benny Feilhaber & Kelyn Rowe, and defender AJ Soares talk about how Heaps is already making an impact.

AJ Soares played left back for the first time in MLS on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Joshua Pearson)

It would be easy to chalk up the New England Revolution's season opening 1-0 loss in San Jose to injuries, absences or even lack of chemistry thanks to so many late signings.

With Chris Tierney suspended, Saër Sène injured, Jose "Pepe" Moreno yet to arrive and Darrius Barnes a late injury scratch, the Revs had no shortage of ready-made excuses heading into the match.

In today's installment of the Couch Captain we take a look at the Revs 1-0 loss to San Jose, and the coaching decisions made by Head Coach Jay Heaps throughout the match. Without his full compliment of players at his disposal, did Coach Heaps' have his hand played for him? Or were there places he maybe could have done a little better?

The Galaxy loaned out Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan in January and December, respectively, and supposedly it was really no big deal. At least, that's what the consensus was from the coaching staff. Keane and Donovan were key parts of the club, sure, but they were quite familiar with the players, system, tactics.

After Saturday's loss to Real Salt Lake, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said he would "have to make changes against Toronto."
He made two changes to the lineup from Wednesday's game in Toronto, and apparently fatigue forced the Galaxy to crash and burn in the end. Changes then seemed not only likely but necessary.

A total of thirteen players from the 2011 New England Revolution are not back for the 2012 season. If you just awoke from your off-season soccer hibernation you must be wondering where they all went. Many have moved on to other clubs, some are currently unemployed. Using the world wide web I did some light research to figure out where our friends are now and how they're doing.

Chris Tierney's return from suspension should allow A.J. Soares (pictured) to move back to his natural center back position. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

A breakdown in midfield caused the Revolution to lose their season opener against San Jose last weekend. The midfield will need to be a lot more disciplined on Saturday night when the Revolution take on Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park at 8:30 P.

Among the many reasons you can point blame to for the Galaxy's CCL debacle is the lineup choices. Bruce Arena sent out nearly the same lineup for the Galaxy's three games of the year. The following players have started every game: Josh Saunders, Todd Dunivant, AJ De La Garza, Sean Franklin, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Mike Magee, Edson Buddle and Robbie Keane.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the New England Revolution players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue and Julian Cardillo contributed ratings for the New England Revolution's 3-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City.

After every match this season, the staff here at The Bent Musket will be putting together player ratings. Ratings are on a 1-10 scale, with 5 representing a thoroughly average performance, and 6 a decent/acceptable showing. The final ratings will be averages of individual ratings from Steve Stoehr, Corey Major, Matty Jollie, Abram Chamberlain, and Brendan Schimmel.

This morning I biked to Worcester Park where I had hoped to get our laptop repaired. Unfortunately the shop had succumbed to the recession and a door shop was there instead.

I biked home via Motspur Park to see what I might see over the fence, and lo' and behold, there were AJ, Orlando Sa and Rafik Halliche training in a small group.

This morning I biked to Worcester Park where I had hoped to get our laptop repaired. Unfortunately the shop had succumbed to the recession and a door shop was there instead.

I biked home via Motspur Park to see what I might see over the fence, and lo' and behold, there were AJ, Orlando Sa and Rafik Halliche training in a small group.

Some things to take away from the Galaxy's 1-0 loss to Sporting KC
* Bar Has Been Lowered? The Galaxy did not give up much to Sporting KC. The hosts had maybe a few decent chances to score in the first half, one of which was a goal, and another of which Josh Saunders exquisitely dived and parried away.

For the first time in the post shootout era of MLS, an MLS team has started the season with 5 straight wins. KC became that team on Saturday with a 1-0 win that wasn't as close as the score showed. KC dominated possession for long stretches of time, especially in the first half when they had about 68% possession of the ball.

Random thoughts as I head out to LA Galaxy training today
* If David Junior Lopes works out, he could really give the Galaxy some flexibility. Part of the problem for the Galaxy is that certain players have to play in certain positions. Last year, Sean Franklin was able to play in the midfield sometimes while AJ De La Garza could play in middle, out wide or take a breather for a game or two.

Three times this season the New York Red Bulls have score four or more goals in a match. With legendary French striker Thierry Henry and skilled and experienced American forward Kenny Cooper up top, it's not hard to see why.

With that in mind, any team venturing into Red Bull Arena would know the importance of a fast start.

Remember Johnny Utaka at Portsmouth? For a brief while he was the Premiership's most exciting player. His brace in the last match against AJ Auxerre secured Montpellier their first ever Championnat. The club coached by Rene Girard overcame big moneyed PSG, the favourites to win the Ligue.

Lately I've been listening to WNYC's wonderful RadioLab show, and recently came upon "The Loneliness of the Goalkeeper" episode. Turns out it was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, so you Brits may have already heard it before. (And here I was hoping to break new ground.)

If you haven't listened to it, go do it.

Lately I've been listening to WNYC's wonderful RadioLab show, and recently came upon "The Loneliness of the Goalkeeper" episode. Turns out it was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4, so you Brits may have already heard it before. (And here I was hoping to break new ground.)

If you haven't listened to it, go do it.

Poor Romelu Lukaku. He's improved in training, he's done okay in matches. He's even eaten fewer hamburgers. What more can a man do?!

Just goes to show though, doesn't it? Teams can spend a lot of money on players then never use them. Chelsea can cover this sort of thing, but arguably, Fulham can't.

Poor Romelu Lukaku. He's improved in training, he's done okay in matches. He's even eaten fewer hamburgers. What more can a man do?!

Just goes to show though, doesn't it? Teams can spend a lot of money on players then never use them. Chelsea can cover this sort of thing, but arguably, Fulham can't.