CARSON, Calif. -- The Reserve League win may be considered immaterial to some, but veteran LA Galaxy forward Pat Noonan believes that LA's success could play an important role in LA's playoff chase.
With injuries piling up at the late stages of the season, to players like Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, Todd Dunivant and A.J. DeLaGarza among others, LA will need players to step in and play if called upon. This was the case last week as defenders Tommy Meyer and Bryan Gaul played significant minutes in LA's defeat to Real Salt Lake. This may become more common place in the latter stages of the season, as when LA resumes action on Oct. 21 against the San Jose Earthquakes -- and if they play and advance from the MLS Knock Out Round game -- the Galaxy will play in at five matches over a two week span.
Ahaed of that brutal stretch, Noonan understands that the Reserve League players are ready -- both physically and mentally -- to participate.
NOONAN:"[We provide] Depth. Who knows how long some of these guys that are injured are going to be. It's going to take guys to step in and be sharp in games like this so that their fitness is there and their concentration is there and they're coming to play. If not, then you're going to still be there in a reserve role to get late minutes in those playoff games. It's going to be very important because especially with the playoff format where it's a Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday if we're able to advance, we're going to need guys and healthy bodies so everyone is going to need to be contributing."
