The 2006 season was by far the most tumultuous year in the 11-year history of the Los Angeles Galaxy. A difficult season that started with a most profound loss ended with the club failing to reach the postseason for the first time ever.
On a flight home from the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup series with Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica, Doug Hamilton, the president, general manager and keystone that held the entire Galaxy organization together, passed away suddenly from a heart attack.
Still reeling from his death, the Galaxy opened the regular season campaign and struggled to get things going. Points were left on the field in several games early in the season, and it spelled the fate for the entire season.
"Obviously the first half of the season was a disaster," said team MVP Landon Donovan. "We gave away cheap points. We gave away cheap points at home. We gave away cheap points late."
What Donovan was referring to was a series of games early in the season where the results didn't go in favor of the Galaxy. It started in the second week of the season when the Chicago Fire came to town. In that match the Galaxy all but had the match wrapped up when a late breakdown defensively allowed Jim Curtin to tie the match in the 86th minute.
Two weeks later against Columbus, again at home, Kyle Martino (then with the Crew) scored six minutes into second-half stoppage time to lead Columbus to a 1-0 win. Those two games alone cost the Galaxy four points, which would have put the Galaxy into the playoffs.
But those two games in the first month of the season weren't the only times that points were left on the table. It was a recurring theme throughout the year.
Through their first 11 games, the Galaxy amassed a paltry seven points. As the season played out, that proved to be too big of a hole to climb out of.
So for the first time in their history, the Galaxy will not participate in the MLS Cup Playoffs. There are several members of the Galaxy who have never had this early of a winter vacation either.
Head coach Frank Yallop, who replaced Steve Sampson in early June, never missed the playoffs when he was the coach in San Jose. Donovan, Cobi Jones, Kevin Hartman and Pete Vagenas have never missed out on the playoffs. Veteran defenders Tyrone Marshall and Chris Albright have both gotten used to playing deep into the fall as well. Needless to say, the mood around the Galaxy locker room has been one of disbelief as much it has been one of frustration.
"For me it's a very difficult situation, this being the first time in 11 years (I've missed the playoffs), it kind of sucks," said Jones. "There's not much you can do about it. Unfortunately for us it seemed like the wall decided to break down."
For some, the reality of the situation hasn't sunk in just yet.
"It probably will (sink in) watching all the playoff games," said Donovan. "It's disappointing. I think coming back (from the World Cup) I had optimistic hopes of us making it. I think we were just in too big of a hole looking back on it."
Yallop was with Donovan in San Jose. The pair won two MLS Cups together while in the Bay Area, but this year won't be able to contend for another title. Like his star player, Yallop admits that things haven't quite settled in his mind just yet.
"We've played not bad at spells in the season, but obviously not good enough to be consistently good enough to make the playoffs," said Yallop. "At this club the expectations are a lot higher than being 'not bad'. For us not to make the playoffs is bitterly disappointing.
"I'm not over it yet. I won't get over it until the playoffs start. I think it's going to hurt the guys as well."
For others, the reality of the situation sank in before the season ever even ended. For Marshall, the reality that he was going to miss out on the playoffs for the first time as a member of the Galaxy came two weeks ago.
"After I came out (of the Dallas game)," said Marshall. "I sat on the bench and was thinking 'man, we're not going to be in the playoffs.' I was kind of reflecting on the year. It's been a tough year for us."
For Marshall and the rest of the Green-and-Gold, 2007 can't come quick enough as they aim to add more hardware to an already full trophy case.
"I just hope next year comes as quickly as possible," said Marshall, "so I can get back on the pitch and try to right the ship and show what the Galaxy is all about."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
