There is no question that 21-year old Juninho has made his mark as a midfielder for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Of the three imports from São Paulo that came in to bolster the hopes of Bruce Arena's side, it's Juninho that has made the strongest impact.

Now this columnist does not claim to be an insider to the confidential wheelings and dealings of the board rooms of São Paulo Futebol Clube or the Los Angeles Galaxy, but it has to be a straightforward choice. An easy one. A choice that one would have to be blind, stupid, or possibly dead to not comprehend.

Sign Juninho to a long-term contract. Let me say it again: the Galaxy need to buy the rights to Juninho from São Paulo, with the money they will get from the retirements of Clint Mathis, Eddie Lewis and Chris Klein, and sign him to a long-term contract.

We will leave the negotiating to those responsibile parties, but seriously: the Galaxy, as an organization, needs Juninho more than São Paulo does.

Juninho has already paced the G's to a Supporters Shield title, and it could get even better. It would be a shame if the powers that be on Victoria Street drop the ball unceremoniously.

He needs the experience playing in Major League Soccer to improve his skills as a midfielder and make him a star alongside Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Edson Buddle (and we'll also throw in the Big Cat from Montego Bay, Donovan Ricketts, for good measure).

"For me, it was my first experience outside the country, and I’m very happy and pleased with the opportunity," Juninho said earlier in the week. "I hope I can show everything I know every day and every game, which is very important for me, as it’s a great team.

"I hope to make you all happy here showing my football, not only for the Galaxy, but to the whole world."

Well done.

"He understands what this league’s about," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "He has a little better feel for his job. He’s been primarily a defensive midfielder in his days at São Paulo. We give him a little more leeway and direction to go forward and play-make a little bit. It takes a little time, but I think he’s done very well."

As Juninho said, "When they contracted me and brought me here, I felt that I would be able to contribute in some form and that, in some way, I would be able to fit into the team on the pitch."

He did, with two goals this season, including a game-winner that put the Galaxy at the top of the regular season table outright against FC Dallas on Oct. 24.

At the beginning of his stint with the Galaxy, there were language and communication barriers to overcome. The importance of Leonardo and Alex Cazumba as part of the package from the Tricolor Paulista was key to a smooth transition.

“All three coming was very important, I think, as I didn’t speak any English, and my experience with the other players here would be difficult,” Juninho said. “I wanted to give my opinion, and many times I couldn’t, so the others coming was quite important so that I wouldn’t feel so alone, and today I speak a little English and Spanish, which helps a lot, and is more important for my getting along.”

Since that rocky start, Juninho has been able to pick up enough English and Spanish to get things going.

Of course, Juninho understands that his playing future is not up to him to decide.

“This is a decision we’ll have to make after the season, and it’s not for me to decide," he said. "For starters, it’s up to the Galaxy, if they are still interested, and São Paulo, if they want to keep me here. So I want to have a good campaign in MLS and, hopefully, after the season, this will be resolved in the best manner possible.”

And hopefully (with apologies to Dan Loney of BigSoccer), fans at the Home Depot Center will get to see more of Juninho Carsonista in action.

A formidable home playoff record


The Galaxy head into the second leg of the 2010 MLS Western Conference Semifinals against Sigi Schmid's Seattle Sounders with a 19-2-1 home playoff record.

“It shows that we are a tough team to beat down here. Teams have their work cut out for them. But at the same time, those kind of stats only go so far, “said defender Todd Dunivant, an intergral part of the Galaxy’s 2005 MLS Cup championship side. “We can’t focus too much on the stats, but it does show that we are a tough team to beat in this building.”

“I think it shows a level of concentration and pride in this club in having a good home," said former Galaxy great and current assistant manager Cobi Jones. "It is a testament to the players, the staff that has been here over the years, and the fans. They have made it a very difficult place for other teams to come and play."

Jones is L.A.'s all-time leader in regular season and postseason games played.

“I think is very important that with this upcoming game that we continue with that tradition," Jones added. "It would be nice to continue with that tradition and move forward and make it a place where teams fear coming into. That shows you why the Galaxy has been such a good team over the years because it means something to this club.

"If you want to be a championship team, you need to win at home."

Team captain Landon Donovan agrees with that argument.

“The reason why we put so much into the regular season is to have the opportunity to play here at home when it matters," Donovan said. "We put a lot into our last game of the regular season against Dallas to ensure that we had the home field advantage in the playoffs and now we have to make it stand up.

“This team has always played well at home. I take a lot of pride in playing well at home in the playoffs and the same will go for Sunday.”

Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT and will be televised by ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

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