GALAXY: PLAYERS LEAVING, ENTERING GALAXY L.A. SIGNS XAVIER, TRADES MARSHALL.

Byline: BOB HOLTZMAN 

Staff Writer

CARSON -- The Galaxy should consider installing a revolving door to its locker room at Home Depot Center.

The team introduced Portuguese star Abel Xavier just hours after announcing it traded longtime central defender Tyrone Marshall to Toronto FC for forward Edson Buddle.

Xavier trained for the first time with the team Wednesday, while Marshall spent his first day apart from the Galaxy since joining the team in the 2002 MLS Allocation and Dispersal Draft.

And Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas doesn't sound like he's finished dealing.

"We made some changes in the last 24 hours and we will continue to make changes," Lalas said. "We respect the need to get this team headed in the right direction."

Lalas called the team's upcoming four-match home stand an important stretch for the Galaxy (1-4-3, 6 points), which is tied for last place in the Western Conference with Real Salt Lake.

"There will be some other changes," said Lalas, who, when asked if there was any specific areas the Galaxy are targeting, replied, "Just better players."

Xavier, 34, should fit that description, with a wealth of experience in the English Premier League, as well as time spent in the Portuguese Liga (Benfica), Spanish La Liga (Real Oviedo), Italy's Serie A (AS Roma), Germany's Bundesliga (Hannover 96) and the Dutch Eredivisie (PSV Eindhoven).

Xavier denied he used performance-enhancing drugs, despite receiving a yearlong ban by UEFA in 2005 for testing positive for the anabolic steroid dianabol. Few expect him to need it in MLS, which he joined despite reports that Middlesborough wanted to re-sign him. Instead, he opted to sign a contract with MLS and the Galaxy for $156,000, according to the MLS Players Union salary listings.

"I'm pleased because, personally, it's a big challenge," Xavier said. "This was the most attractive decision of my career."

Marshall's departure wasn't ignored by Lalas, coach Frank Yallop or the Galaxy players. Both Lalas and Yallop called it a difficult decision but both admitted that the development of the younger defenders and addition of Xavier made Marshall expendable.

"It was fun being here in L.A.," Marshall said. "I appreciate all the support and I want to leave this place, leaving a good legacy behind me. You have to move on."

Marshall won't be available to play for Toronto until July 4 at Real Salt Lake because of a three-match suspension, which along with a $1,500 fine was meted out by the league's disciplinary committee after receiving a red card for a tackle Saturday against FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper, who suffered a broken leg on the play.

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