Ladies and gentlemen, the Los Angeles Galaxy are officially in a slump. I repeat, for the first time this season, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are in a slump.

After the 2-0 pratfall with the reserve side against the Seattle Sounders FC in the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the futility has shown to be contagious.

Now—could you believe this—it's the starters who don't show up ready to play.

A 2-0 defeat to the New England Revolution at Gilette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts? Seriously?

Has the world ended or has Real Salt Lake's chances of pipping the Galaxy (11-2-3, 36 points) for the Supporters' Shield late taken a huge upswing from the unlikeliest of teams?

I will let you know this: it's both, but even worse, it has to do with two more things that I am very disgusted about: the Galaxy's inability to defend the set piece late and Donovan Ricketts' pulling off a Robert Green.

Marko Perovic's goal in the 67th minute was a thing of beauty. No question about that. A clinical shot, and Ricketts was not going to get to that.

However, the howler in the 75th minute was one to be damned. Donovan Ricketts, why hast thou forsaken us? This is a textbook save that even a high school keeper about to enter residency can make in his sleep, and all you do is pull a Robert Green.

It's a makeable save, oh Big Cat from Montego Bay, and you let it slip past your hands like an amateur.

I hate to break this to you, but this will go down as the worst performance of your career as a member of the Galaxy. The horrible afterword I want to put out here is that D.C. United, the lagging laggards of Major League Soccer, got a huge boost of confidence.

They are hoping you turn into Robert Green again, Ricketts. This was an uncharacteristic effort and just adds salt to the wounds of a week to be damned for Los Angeles.

One final note here...get healthy fast, Landon Donovan. Your team needs you ASAP. No need for me to explain why.

Youth Academy Update

While the Los Angeles Galaxy's first team were by all means futile in their efforts in Massachusetts, the Under-20 side had a more favorable result.

The Galaxy's 1-0 victory over the Poway Vaqueros at Poway High School means that even if SUSA-Everton defeats the Lancaster Rattlers on July 11, the Galaxy clinch the USL Super-20 Pacifc Southern California Division due to their superior goal differential.

Actually, it would have to take a shellacking by SUSA-Everton to do its part, and still, they have to hope for help from the Southern California Seahorses at Biola University against the Young G's on July 13.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT.

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