CARSON, Calif. – New midfielder Jermaine Jones received high marks from his LA Galaxy teammates in his debut appearance with the club.
Jones earned the start and went 45 minutes in the Galaxy’s 1-1 preseason draw with Club Tijuana on Tuesday at a rain-soaked StubHub Center. Starting alongside Baggio Husidic in the center of the park, the 35-year-old midfielder was a two-way threat as he helped the Galaxy control the first half against the Mexican side.
Galaxy head coach Curt Onalfo was straight and to the point when dissecting Jones’ first start with Los Angeles.
“I thought Jermaine was excellent,” he said plainly in the postgame press conference.
Playing against a Club Tijuana team in the middle of their season, Jones was dominant at times during the match, tracking back to break up chances and covering defensively when his teammates pressed forward. Often, Jones could be found drifting into central defense allowing defender Jelle Van Damme and others to find opportunities to attack.
Jones showed off his range of passing as well, unlocking the Tijuana defense several times on the night.
On one occasion, the veteran midfielder won the ball back in his own half and sprayed a forty-yard through ball perfectly into the path of a sprinting Raul Mendiola, forcing a last-ditch tackle from a Xolso defender.
“He’s pretty good. He’s pretty damn good,” Baggio Husidic said of his new midfield partner. “He makes it more simple for me, I just get him the ball, and he does all the creative stuff, so it’s nice to play with a guy like that.”
Added Van Damme, “He’s good. Jermaine is a big asset for the team. He brings power. He had a few good passes as well, it’s a positive thing to have him.”
And once the team gets more games together, Van Damme believes that the sky is the limit for the Galaxy with Jones in midfield.
“You have to bring in players of this quality, that is the minimum that you have to do, and I think the club did well, even the new guys,” Van Damme said. “I have a lot of confidence in this team, these guys, and this group. I’m pretty satisfied with the things that I’ve seen today. We can only get better.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atLAGalaxy.com/Insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
