View from the Blues, Volume 25: Offseason Wheelings and Dealings for Los Angeles

Blues Under-23 now the Pali Blues men's team

A number of wheelings and dealings have been made this offseason. One of them is the change of name for the LA Blues PDL side, who have now been renamed as the Pali Blues. Manager Federico Bianchi is now general manager of the club.

“Everything should be easier in 2012, because I’m taking the reigns from the beginning and have a chance to select my own players and make other important decisions,” Bianchi told Gunnar Berndt of labluesprosoccer.com. “Last season, I was brought in late and had to work with what I was given, which made it more difficult to interact with the players and get them all on the same page.

"With [assistant manager] Anthony [Barberio] and me having been here from day one this time around, that should translate into more respect from the guys and give us a chance to really implement our own style.”

Tryouts for the Pali Blues men will be scheduled for January 28-29 and February 25-26. Because of the name change, any news on the Pali Blues men will be included as part of the "View from the Pali" series later next year on the View from Victoria Street and Bleacher Report.

Just leave it to Charlie

It seems Charlie Naimo is going to manage two sides instead of one when it comes to Blues soccer. Not only is Naimo retaining his role as manager of the LA Blues, but he will also reclaim his role as manager of the Pali Blues women.

Shayon Jalayer will be the assistant manager for both teams.

“My success with the men and the women really depends on who I surround myself with,” Naimo told Berndt. “As long as everyone in the coaching staff and the front office is working hard and helping create a professional environment, I can be effective as a coach for both teams. It starts with [Shayon], who is the best person anyone could ever ask to have on their side. He and I are working to determine how exactly we’re going to deal with potential conflicts.

“When it comes to signing players for the men and the women, my priority this year is to find good personalities first. I need players who really want to be part of the Blues and help the entire club succeed.”

Naimo had success coaching the Pali Blues women to a couple of W-League titles, but since then, their talent level took a dip. He will look to help Pali return to its former glories when the W-League season resumes next summer.

Great Scot, it's another signing!

Goal production was an issue for the Blues last season, which explained a number of their defeats last year. They may have an answer to all that.

Forward Alan Russell, a 30-year old veteran who last played for the Carolina Railhawks of the NASL, signed with the Los Angeles Blues earlier this month.

Russell, a Scottish international, spent time with lower-division sides in England and Scotland before breaking through during the 2007-08 season for Airdrie United. He also spent one season with Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock before making the jump to Carolina in 2010.

“What sold me on the club is that it’s so new and has tremendous potential for growth,” Russell told Berndt after a training stint. “Everyone is focused on building the club up and making it a success. I’m itching to do my part to help the Blues win the championship and have a good run in the U.S. Open Cup by being a good team-mate, a good professional and a goal-scorer.”

Young gun joins the Blues

While Los Angeles have secured the rights of a proven finisher, they needed to find a player who could deliver in the clutch. This week, they found one.

On Wednesday, the Blues signed former Kitsap Pumas and University of San Francisco star Bryan Burke to a contract. Burke was responsible for setting up a game-winniner for the Pumas's Robby Christner in Kitsap's 1-0 victory over the Laredo Heat.

“I saw them playing on TV in the summer and they looked like a really good team,” Burke told Berndt. “My agent started talking to Charlie and I was eventually invited to participate in the training sessions. I really had no idea what to expect going in, but the next thing I knew I was enjoying it a lot.

"I really like Charlie and the entire coaching staff, and I’m extremely excited that they saw something in me that made them offer me a contract. Hopefully we can build a good enough team to give ourselves a realistic shot at winning the championship.”