The return of Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham to match fitness has been one of sheer acceleration, with more minutes added on to his slate in the Galaxy's 2-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday.

Beckham came on in the 53rd minute of play for Jovan Kirovski.

“It was a good workout for myself,” Beckham said on his performance. “I was puffing a little bit more than I was last week, but it was more minutes on the field and that’s what I need.”

Los Angeles manager Bruce Arena reiterated the current state of affairs regarding Beckham.

“Again, we need to appreciate [that] this is a player that six months ago tore his Achilles tendon,” Arena said after the match. “To be back this quickly and be able to contribute what he has the last two games I think is very impressive. He’s ahead of schedule.”

With this Friday's match against the New York Red Bulls a marquee matchup featuring one of Beckham's old rivals in Thierry Henry, the possibility of LA's No. 23 making his first start this season looms large over the pitch at Victoria Street.

“When you’ve been out for six months, and obviously with this kind of injury, it’s hard to do too much workout while you’re rehabbing it,” Beckham said on the layoff. “For four months, I probably didn’t do hardly anything and then try to step it up. It’s going to take a while to get my match fitness and [Saturday] helps.”

“Our goal is to get him completely match-fit by playoff time,” Arena said when asked of the eventual objective. “I think we’re ahead of the curve. If everything goes well and there are no setbacks, he should be on schedule.”

But this is a question worth wondering as the seconds, minutes, and hours tick before Friday night's showdown with the Red Bulls. What do you think? Share your thoughts. Be sure to keep it clean...

Attention, attention: Lalas Hill is open once again

The grass berm known unofficially as "Lalas Hill" is back for a second act this season. This general admission seating area costs just $24, and it's first come, first get...for the best spots.

The last time Lalas Hill was open was on Independence Day, when the Galaxy hosted the Seattle Sounders. And sadly, unless divine intervention comes into play it will most likely be the last time fans get a View from The Hill this season.


34 games...real deal, no gimmicks

With the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps coming on board, Major League Soccer will move to a 34-game schedule for the 2011 season, with no breaks for CONCACAF Gold Cup or any international competitions next year.

Therefore, the battle to choose between club and country will prove a testy one for some of the shining stars in MLS.

Landon, pick your poison wisely...

The 2011 campaign will kick off on Saturday, March 19, 2011, and the 34 matches will be played in the span of 32 weeks with the regular season coming to a close on October 22. The postseason format, MLS Cup 2011's date, and the 2011 regular season schedules are forthcoming.


Showdown of the Heavens looming in the future?

Goodbye energy drinks, hello tradition.

This has already been publicized on Bleacher Report, but the New York Cosmos are back. Yes, the Cosmos that saw Pele and Franz Beckenbauer among its stars and who left an indelible mark on the NASL's legacy. THOSE New York Cosmos.

Even though they are starting off with cherrypicking local youth academies here and there, the Commissioner known as Mr. Donald Garber has always looked to New York for a second team.

This might as well be the one. All other consortiums, either pitch in or get out the way...the Cosmos want IN.

While I am not a follower of the Beautiful Game in the Big Apple, I can sense that some Red Bulls fans may also be tempted to jump ship and support a team that has built itself on a successful tradition in the 1970's.

If they do become the next MLS team to come into the fold, we really have the fine "we'll give you a refund for your problems" folks in Seattle to thank for this one.

If it hadn't been for those revivers of the dead, we wouldn't have seen the sleeping giant known as the Cosmos awaken from its slumber.

Even though there is a long ways to go before this is set in stone, I can imagine the possibility of a game involving the New York Cosmos and Los Angeles Galaxy.

We'll call it The Showdown of the Heavens. Let's hope that if they do keep the logo, they keep the uniform layout, too.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here