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LA Galaxy grimace and square up to "terrible" 

timing of Real Madrid friendly

The financial aspects make high-profile summer friendlies an inevitability, but the scheduling still stings for exhausted athletes.

CARSON, Calif. -- "Landon, what does this game mean to you?" Scott French, a LA beat reporter, asked. 

"Um." Landon Donovan sighed. Then he smirked. Then he composed himself and gave a perfectly diplomatic and soundbite-friendly answer that began, "It's a fun game to be a part of."

Donovan's been around the block. He knows how to engage with reporters and what to leave out when speaking on the record. He's also well aware how integral friendlies like the one between the LA Galaxy and Real Madrid are for the development of the sport in the country and MLS' financial health. 

"It's important to our club," Donovan said. 

It's also awful from a sporting sense. 

"Terrible," Robbie Keane said about the timing of the game. He rolled his head around on his neck as if to indicate how wide-reaching the fatigue effects are. "That's being totally honest with you."

This particular friendly comes sandwiched between a visit to Frisco, Texas to play FC Dallas and a jaunt up to Seattle to face Sounders FC. Since mid-July, the Galaxy will have played seven games in 22 days. 

"There's never really a good timing for these things," Donovan said. "It always comes in the middle of the season and in that way it's a little burdensome."

But with lucrative friendlies helping pushing clubs toward the black – MLS commissioner Don Garber estimated the total investment in the league at $2 billion to Sporting News – they continue to elbow into the hot summer of the regular season. 

"When else are we going to play?" Bruce Arena said. "We have no choice in the matter."

The clubs on tour – Liverpool, Tottenham, Swansea City, Aston Villa, Stoke City, Lyon and Montpellier have joined World Football Challenge participants Chelsea, Madrid Paris Saint-Germain, Celtic, Santos Laguna and AC Milan – come to the United States for the high-end facilities, salivating marketing prospects and to build fitness levels during preseason. 

"It's very hot," Keane recalled of his preseason trips Stateside. "I remember a few years ago I went with Tottenham, we played in New York Red Bulls at one o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday. It was 110 something. Clearly we weren't used to that, but it was good for our fitness."

Arena said he would play two separate teams, limiting his players to 45 minutes each. He expects the reigning La Liga champion to do the same. 

"This game is probably more for Real Madrid than it is for us to be honest with you," Keane said. "It's for them for the preseason. We're not going to win the championship by beating Real Madrid tomorrow."

Dempsey is left out of tour with Fulham as Liverpool rumors heat up

The American did not travel to Switzerland, leading to more speculation that the USA star could be on his way to Liverpool during the summer transfer window.

Dempsey was not on the plane that left London on Monday morning to take part in the week-long trip, leading to further speculation that a transfer to the Reds may be in the works.

It was initially unclear if it was Dempsey's decision or coach Martin Jol's to keep the American off the trip, but a Fulham spokesperson confirmed that Dempsey stayed behind to work on his fitness.

"Clint and Hugo Rodallega are both staying in London to work on their fitness at the training ground. Neither are scheduled to feature in the weekend friendly against Nice which is the reason neither have traveled," a Fulham spokesperson told Goal.com.

Fulham will spend the week in Switzerland ahead of a friendly in neighboring France against Nice on Saturday before returning to the UK.

The 29-year-old has made it clear to Jol and senior Fulham figures that he wants to quit the club for Liverpool, whose manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he has made enquiries about signing the player.

As revealed by Goal.com earlier this month, the attacking midfielder, who scored 17 Premier League goals last season and 23 in all competitions, has rejected Fulham’s offer of a new three year-contract that includes an option for a fourth year.

Dempsey, who moved to west London five-and-a-half years ago, believes that Liverpool’s interest could be the last opportunity he gets to play for one of the elite Premier League clubs.

Nevertheless, he has vowed to remain professional while his future remains in doubt and trained with Fulham’s youth team at its Motspur Park base on Monday morning.

Hamid wants to prove Olympic detractors wrong with improved D.C. United season

The talented shot-stopper is forcing himself to improve after missing out on the London Olympics with Team USA.

Those answers have come in the form of a rock-sold sophomore season with capital city club, one that has it in a not-so-distant fourth place in the table after just under two-thirds of the season.

“I feel like I let a lot of people down with that [the Olympic issue] and I wanted to show what I can do," Hamid told Goal.com about the ouster back in March. "That’s never something you can make up for, it’s the Olympics. All I can do at this point is work on my game hard, every single day and be the best teammate I can be. If I get that national team call-up again, I’m definitely going to represent my country the right way.”

Having started only 10 of the team's 20 matches so far this season due to injury and the aforementioned Olympic absence, Hamid has officially established himself as D.C.'s starting keeper since early May, a run that has seen the Black-and-Red lose only three matches. The Virginia-native credits a renewed sense of focus in the locker room, one that has been strong since the preseason.

“It’s been good, we’re doing extremely well," said Hamid of the season so far. "We’re towards the top of the East and that’s somewhere we haven’t been in a long time. We want to continue with that success and our goal right now is to make the playoffs. From there on, it’s in anyone’s hands. We’re happy our level of play so far as well. We feel like we’ve had a good standard of play and we brought back kind of that old style that D.C. United used to have and it’s gone really well.”

Pepe considers Coentrao the best fullback in the world

Pepe has faith that his fellow Portuguese international will fully settle in Spain to become a mainstay for Real Madrid.

“Fabio doesn't have to show anything to anybody. He has a lot of attributes, a lot of qualities,” Pepe said through a translator. “He's young. He's shown that he is a great player. He's made the World Cup and the Euros. None of his capabilities are in doubt.” 

Teammates on the Portuguese national team, Pepe (FC Porto) and Coentrao (Benfica) moved to Madrid from Spain's Iberian neighbor. The bald 29-year-old central defender made the jump in 2007, so has some insight into the transition. 

“When I got here with Real Madrid, the truth is they responded very well,” Pepe said. “I know that the people like me, they love me, they have a lot of warmth for me. I'm enchanted for that warmth and love they've shown. 

“As for Fabio, he's a new guy. His career has always been in Portugal. He had a somewhat bad experience coming to Spain but I believe that presently he has an opportunity to be able to play for the best club in the world. I believe that Fabio has that patience. He will be working hard to succeed for Madrid. I believe that the warmth the people have given to me they will give to him.” 

Coentrao, at 24, heads into his second season with Real Madrid as a reigning La Liga champion. Pepe has no doubts of his teammate's quality or ability to contribute consistently. 

“He's the best fullback in the world,” Pepe said. “I believe Madrid has the privilege of having him with us.”

QPR signs Junior Hoilett from Blackburn Rovers

The Canadian winger rejected a new deal at former club Blackburn Rovers and has joined the Hoops on a four-year-contract to become their seventh signing of the summer

Hoilett becomes Mark Hughes' seventh summer signing, as he follows Rob Green, Ryan Nelsen, Fabio Da Silva, Ji-Sung Park, Samba Diakite and Andy Johnson in joining the Loftus Road side.

The Canadian was a free agent after rejecting a new deal at Blackburn Rovers, following their relegation to the Championship, and has chosen the Hoops ahead of German heavyweight Borussia Monchengladbach.

The west London club may have to pay training compensation fees to Blackburn, which has so far reportedly turned down a straight payment of 4 million pounds and a further offer of 2 million pounds plus the out-of-favor Jamie Mackie.

Under FIFA rules, Rovers are entitled to compensation for the Canadian-born forward, who joined their academy at the age of 13.

Rovers boss Steve Kean recently pointed to Daniel Sturridge's transfer from Manchester City to Chelsea in 2009 for 6 million pounds as proof that his side should be compensated properly.

Kean said: "I don't know the process now. They might make us an offer for his registration but if not it might go to a tribunal.

"We feel we have played a large part in his development. We wish him all the best but it would have been nice if we had a call.

"I don't know what the figure was for Daniel Sturridge, but I know it was a chunky figure. We have had Junior a long time, we have put a lot of time and effort in him and I'm sure that will be reflected in the price."

QPR manager Hughes has stated he is delighted with the deal, and that Hoilett is a "top quality" addition to the ranks.

He told the club's official website: "He's shown he's a player of top quality and a player that can makes things happen, both on his own and as a team player.

"He's certainly a player that will enhance what we've got in the group and I am delighted he's chosen to come to us."

Hoilett also expressed his delight at sealing a deal with the club, stating that its ambition was a major factor in his decision to join.

He said: "QPR are a club that are certainly heading in the right direction. The ambition to take this club to the next level was something I really wanted to be part of.

"The manager and the owners have huge ambitions to achieve things here and this is the perfect place for me to further my career.

"I'm really happy to be here and can't wait to pull on the Rangers shirt."