Edson Buddle had an idea. He figured if he could be responsible for every single goal for that the LA Galaxy scores this season, he could get a free trip to South Africa in June. Buddle has scored all five of the Galaxy goals this season, which is no small feat when you're playing with Landon Donovan on one of the better teams in the MLS. Before you completely scoff at the notion, which I did when it came up today on SBI, Buddle is a goal away from tying Preki for 10th all time in MLS scoring and at 28 with a recent history of good health there's no reason to believe he won't finish among the top three or four all time in goals scored. He's represented the US at the youth level, including the 2001 U-20 side where he was with Donovan, Beasley, and Onyewu among other respected players. As a professional, he has run into some injury troubles that have taken his promising career slightly off track and he has made just one appearance for the US National Team in a 2003 friendly with Venezuela. Injuries kept Buddle out of action frequently as his missed a month or more in each of his first seven professional seasons. Overall, Buddle has a shot and if he continues with this form, he'll have to get an invitation to the Cup training camp and a chance to get in as the last forward on the roster.
Buddle scored two more last night, bring his total (and the Galaxy's total) to seven in four matches.
I wouldn't go so far. If the Davies reports are to be believed and he's got a place on the roster, there will be a huge battle between Buddle, Gomez, and Brian Ching to be the third forward on the roster. Ching provides a target that Gomez and Buddle don't, but the other two are terrific form at the moment. The problem for Gomez will be keeping it up as the Mexico season is closing to an end, while Buddle and Ching are just getting started.
Buddle won player of the month in MLS for March/April. And to start off May, last night Buddle scored two more against the Philadelphia Union. He did let someone else score, as AJ De La Garza scored the opener, making him the only other Galaxy player to score a goal this season.
Its possible, but one or the other is more likely between the two. Altidore is a definite, if Davies is healthy and back around 80% of what he was, he's in. I think Buddle is the more likely third choice, but both could make it if Davies doesn't show enough with Sochaux and in camp. There's also the chance that Bradley will use Dempsey as a forward, which greatly reduces the spots available.
I understand not wanting to introduce new players into the mix this late in the game, but Gomez and Buddle have been on fire like NBA JAM!
The questions is whether or not these results are able to be replicated at the games' highest level. Both have track records that indicate that they are serious goal scorers when healthy and playing forward. They just haven't been tested at the highest level.
