Chivas Vs NY red Bulls

3rd game with Chivas in 10 days, and 2nd goal!

Chivas USA’s Merlin, who is close to signing a developmental deal with the club, opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Amado Guevara won a ball near the middle of the field and slipped a pass forward to Ante Razov, who then sent a through-ball to Merlin who was even with the last defender. Merlin got past New York goalkeeper Jon Conway and tapped the ball into an empty net.

“It was a good combination that led to the first goal,” Razov said. “I was glad to be a part of that.”

CLOSING IN ON DEAL - Chivas USA to offer Merlin contract

Still in LA! Forget all the cosmetic around Beckham and the Galaxy and let's play some real futbol!

CHivas Vs Houston

What's next? Chivas USA

After what seemed to be a major disappointment, Laurent was offered a new opportunity with Galaxy's rival club: CD Chivas USA. Certainly an even better one...
In fact, Chivas Coach, Preki, gave him a shot the very next day to play a scrimmage game against last year colelage Champs, UC Santa Barbara.
After this game, Laurent was offered to tryout for a week with the team.

Galaxy's open try-out: all for the publicity or real??

What;'s your opinion on this. I am still perplex.


LASoccernews.com:

Though the release of Merlin means that the Galaxy’s open tryouts failed to find a roster addition, Albright did not believe it had been a futile exercise.

“Frank’s going to pick guys that can play,” the veteran pointed out. “If in that tryout, there’s a guy that has talent and belongs on the team, he’ll make the team. It’s not a publicity stunt. We were trying to find a diamond in the rough. If a guy’s found, so be it, if not, it was a good experience for the guys who got to try out.”

MERLIN MOVES ON - Galaxy let player trial elsewhere in MLS

After 3 weeks and 2or 3 goals in 5 games, Laurent was very surpinsignly let go by the Galaxy. Although he did show his skills and that had impressed a few senior members of the team, the outcome was negative. What a disappointment, especially after 3 weeks!! Still it was a positive experience for him. It gave him a chance to place his name on the US soccer map.

Laurent was not the only one disappointed. Several Galaxy fans, who had avidly followed his story and who were already thinking about buying his Jersey and making a special song, were not pleased with this decision. (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=491340&page=4)


The young Frenchman, a product of the Marseille youth system, had impressed Galaxy coach Frank Yallop, but not quite enough.

“He didn’t quite make it,” explained Yallop, who pointed out that part of the issue was the team’s depth at Merlin’s position.

“We’ve got a lot of forwards. I would have had to release one of them (to take on Merlin), and I like all our forwards.”

The Galaxy administration would have liked to hold an option on Merlin, letting him develop on loan to a lower-division team.

“We would have loved to have him in our USL system, going to Seattle or Portland, or San Francisco, with us having the rights to him, but it’s up to him,” admitted Yallop. “He wants to try to make it in MLS.”

“He’s a talented player who is pretty dangerous in front of the goal,” observed Galaxy veteran Chris Albright.

MERLIN HANGS TOUGH - Final decision still not made

This second week with the Galaxy went well for LAurent who played 90 minutes against Bermuda NAtional team (3-0 win). Yallop and his staff asked to see him for a third week, which Laurent did accept although DC united was interested in having him for a 1 week tryout. He felt good with the team and all the signals where rather green...

“He’s got a pedigree to his game, so I wanted to give him a chance to get another few games under his belt,” Yallop explained.

“He’s actually done quite well,” praised Landon Donovan, the Galaxy’s captain. “He’s scored a couple of goals (in scrimmages). He’s a little calmer on the ball than most Americans- very composed for someone that young.”