Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs: December 16, 2013

If you think Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan is on his way to the likes of Liga MX side Tijuana, you’re in for sheer disappointment. That’s because this week, Donovan quashed all rumors that he’s making a move south of the border in what would have been a loan deal.

Nov 7, 2013; Sandy, UT, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan (10) argues with referee Baldomero Toledo during overtime against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won the game 2-0 in overtime and won the series on an aggregate score of 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

With CONCACAF Champions League action around the corner, it was a wise decision for one of the faces of MLS to take a breather in the offseason before getting back on the war path.

“I never say never but I will not be playing in Mexico,” Donovan told LAGalaxy.com’s Adam Serrano. “Except for playing in TJ to beat them.”

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Galaxy president Chris Klein isn’t keen to keep his hopes up in the team winning the Eddie Johnson sweepstakes against D.C. United and Chivas USA.

“The rumors are out that we’re interested in him… it’s an odd thing, but he will not be back in Seattle, we know that for sure. Eddie’s a player that has done great things, he’s scored a lot of goals and he’s part of the national team,” Klein told Serrano. “I don’t want to say that we’re not interested in Eddie, but I think that it will be a longshot for him to be in a Galaxy uniform come 2014.

“However, we’re always looking for players who can add to what [our team does]. We’ll always be in the market.”

As Matt Reis settles into his new role as the new goalkeepers coach at the Galaxy, one New England Revolution fan lashed back at the fact that it was supposedly about the new team, and not the old team.

“I don’t care about the war of public relations and trying to one up the Galaxy by signing [Brad] Knighton or the fact that Reis decided to accept a position in LA rather than Foxborough,” said SB Nation’s Jake Catanese. “But the way that news was delivered was poor and timing was worse. What Reis decides to do for himself and his family is his decision and I and many fans wish him the best in his post-playing career.

Oct 12, 2013; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis (1) kicks the ball against Montreal Impact during the first half at the Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

“Those cynics who want to bring up the fact that the Revs can never keep former players on staff (despite being coached by a former player) like Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston or Pat Noonan are just wrong to compare any of those situations to Reis’ decision. No one, and I mean no one, in New England should have a problem with Matt Reis being the LA Galaxy goalkeepers coach aside from the fact that Jaime Penedo is going to probably dominate MLS next season under his tutilege.

“But in the history of MLS, Reis will always be associated with the New England Revolution. He is our player, not yours Los Angeles, and you shouldn’t have sent that press release so soon after he retired. I don’t care whose idea it was, LA’s, the Revs’, MLS’, if that news isn’t being announced by Matt himself than it should remain on the shelf out of respect for the New England fans. Because he will always be wearing navy blue…or well, green and sky blue surrounded by defenders in navy blue, not whatever the hell LA wore before David Beckham showed up.”

It should be noted, for the record, that Reis’s original team was the Galaxy. It has always been the Galaxy. He won an MLS Cup, two Supporters Shields. a U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup with Los Angeles. That is fact, not fiction. Again, it’s fact, and not fiction. All that Reis won with New England in terms of team titles were a U.S. Open Cup and a championship in a tournament that no longer exists in the SuperLiga.

By sheer quantity of accolades and awards won, Reis was more successful as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy and will continue to build on that as an assistant manager. It may be hard for Catanese to realize, but as the old adage, facts don’t lie, as much as they are hard to swallow. Therefore, he deserves his calling to the club that truly made him who he is.