GALAXY UPDATE: LUIS NOT YET SIGNED GALAXY EXPECTS LEAGUE OK ON HERNANDEZ TODAY.Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer Major League Soccer is expected to announce today that Luis Hernandez, Mexico's talented and colorful striker, is a member of the Galaxy. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Galaxy officials, MLS See multilevel security. executives had hoped to announce the deal Thursday but weren't able to finalize all the details of the transfer agreement. Hernandez will not be available for Saturday's game at Dallas, but he is expected to play in Wednesday's game at San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. . That game will pit Hernandez against the Earthquakes and another new Mexican New Mexico Abbr. NM or N.M. or N.Mex. A state of the southwest United States on the Mexican border. It was admitted as the 47th state in 1912. import, Jose Manuel Abundis, who is expected to be allocated to the Earthquakes from Toluca of the Mexican first division. ``I think it's a huge addition for us,'' said Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid (born March 20 1953 in Tübingen, West Germany) is a soccer coach who currently heads the Columbus Crew. Schmid moved from Germany to Torrance, California in 1962. He received a B.S. in economics from UCLA in 1976, and an M. . ``You're talking about a proven scorer for Mexico on a consistent basis. He'll give us that extra dimension to go with Cobi (Jones).'' Schmid might not like what L.A. has to give up to acquire Hernandez - three starters - but he realizes Hernandez brings a special quality. Hernandez scored 12 goals for Tigres this season and had four goals in four World Cup matches for Mexico in 1998 in France. ``To win championships, you need special players, and he's a special player,'' said Schmid. ``Hernandez sets a tone for where this franchise is heading. He goes hand-in-hand with talks of our new stadium. He'll be special to the people of this city.'' Striker Clint Mathis Clint Mathis (born November 25, 1976 in Conyers, Georgia) is a soccer forward/midfielder who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer after making his name with the MetroStars. , defender Joey Franchino and midfielder Roy Myers Roy Anthony Myers Francis (born April 13, 1969 in Limón) is a former Costa Rican soccer player who played most of his career with Deportivo Saprissa. Myers was known as "El Maravilloso" (The Marvelous) due to his natural talent to play the game, becoming a typical number 10. are all casualties of the Hernandez allocation. To clear salary cap space, MLS asked the Galaxy to make three players available for a ``dispersal draft'' so that New York/New Jersey and New England New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the NE United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region is thought to have been so named by Capt. , the teams with the worst records in the league the past two seasons, could acquire Mathis and Franchino for nothing to improve their rosters. Unless either team changes its mind, the MetroStars will select Mathis and New England will select Franchino. ``If Mathis is available, we will pick him,'' said MetroStars general manager Nick Sakiewicz Nick Sakiewicz (born January 14, 1961) is the president of AEG Soccer New York/New Jersey. Sakiewicz became the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer in 1996, and was named MLS Executive of the Year in 1999. . There is speculation, however, that Franchino will be traded from New England to San Jose in time for the Galaxy's game Wednesday against the Earthquakes. Neither Mathis nor Franchino was at the Galaxy's practice Thursday. Since Hernandez will not be available for Saturday's game in Dallas, Schmid said Myers will be allowed to travel and play with the Galaxy against the Burn. It has not been announced where Myers will be sent, but the 31-year-old midfielder told a Spanish-language publication that he would go to New York/New Jersey, where he and Mathis will be reunited with former Galaxy coach Octavio Zambrano Octavio Zambrano (born February 3, 1958 in Guayaquil, Ecuador) is a soccer coach, one of the all-time winningest coaches in Major League Soccer history. Zambrano moved to the United States from his native Ecuador in 1980 to attend Chapman University and later played in the . While Schmid and other Galaxy officials are upset they had to give up so much to acquire Hernandez, Zambrano said he doesn't feel sorry for L.A. But the MetroStars coach said he understands the team's complaint. ``Anyone on my end is going to say it's fair, and anyone on their end is going to say it's not fair,'' said Zambrano. ``I was on the top end of it with the Galaxy, when it seemed like nothing was fair and you couldn't get anything. But I can tell you from the other end, this is something our team needs.'' Besides, Hernandez will not slow the Galaxy down, Zambrano said. ``Luis Hernandez, I will say right now, is in the same league as Jaime Moreno and Marco Etcheverry,'' said Zambrano. ``He's the type of player that can win a championship for you. There is no way, no way anyone can tell me this deal hurts their team. I won't buy it.'' The focus now turns to the Galaxy's depth. ``That's my job as a coach,'' said Schmid. ``We have young guys like Peter Vagenas, Danny Califf and Adam Frye; we need these types of players to step up.'' |
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