The Match Agent that arranged LA Galaxy's tours to Australia and New Zealand in the last three years has predicted that football fans will see a quality outfit this time. Yesterday, A-League club Newcastle Jets announced that the Galaxy had agreed to an exhibition match at EnergyAustralia Stadium on November 27 and Agent Lou Sticca was confident the Los Angeles outfit would be at the top of their game.
"In 2007 when Sydney FC played against LA Galaxy in front of 80,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium, David Beckham carried much of the burden and responsibility to put on a spectacle," Sticca told tribalfootball.com. "The team then had a new coach in Ruud Gullit and it was as much a new experience to most of the LA Galaxy team in having world names like Gullit and then of course David Beckham alongside relative unknowns.
"But LA Galaxy 2010 is a different proposition altogether. After Ruud Gullit left, the Galaxy got in Bruce Arena (pictured) who is an absolute legend in US soccer. Bruce has transformed the team into serious title contenders. In fact, they are one game away from winning their Supporter's Shield or as we know it in Australia the equivalent to the minor Premiership."
Sticca highlighted the fact that North America's top flight had improved drastically over the past few years and is now at a standard where they can regularly attract superstars of the game to their clubs.
"If you look at the strength of the MLS, their league now has Freddie Ljungberg (ex-Arsenal and Sweden midfielder), Thierry Henry (ex-Arsenal, France World Cup winner and Barcelona striker) and Rafael Marquez (captain of Mexico and ex-Barcelona star) running around," he added.
"If you take a look at LA Galaxy they have David Beckham of course, but also Landon Donovan, who is being touted as the greatest player ever to play for the USA national team. Donovan is not only the best USA player but showed that he can compete with the best when he had a loan stint for Everton in the English Premier League as well as having been at a number of successful World Cups for the USA.
"Beyond Beckham and Donovan, you have Edson Buddle who scores plenty of goals for LA Galaxy and Team USA and many more players that have played in Europe and for National Teams.
"By the time LA Galaxy land in Australia they will have finished their play-offs so the team will be sharp and looking to put on a show for Australian and of course Newcastle Football fans."
