This is Part Five in a series of articles on the players who will be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012.

Continuity is the hallmark of any great football team. If one player in one position leaves for another side, another player will look to take that person's place to ensure there is depth with the same talent and skills at that position.

Jon Conway, who played backup goalkeeper to Sean Johnson of the Chicago Fire last year, will now be a backup to Josh Saunders of the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012.

While Conway brings years of experiences as well as a few titles, he also brings baggage to the side and will look to make amends by helping lead the Galaxy to MLS Cup glory with a successful silverware defense.

Conway was born on May 6, 1977 in Media, Pennsylvania, located 12 miles west of Philadelphia. After playing youth soccer for F.C. Delco, Conway spent four years playing for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights from 1996-1999.

In the 2000 MLS SuperDraft, Conway was selected as the 28th overall selection by the San Jose Earthquakes. Originally a backup to Joe Cannon, Conway was given the nod in 2003 after Cannon took his trade to France.

Though he made four appearances for the Bay Area Seals on loan, Conway was used sparingly, making 18 appearances on goal. As a member of the original Quakes, he won two MLS Cup Championships.

From 2006-2009, Conway had his best stint of his playing career, as a member of the New York Red Bulls. He made 63 appearances on goal. However, his time at New York was marred by controversy.

In October 2008, Conway and defender Jeff Parke were suspended for 10 matches after testing positive for androstatriendione (ATD) and boldenone metabolites. These are the longest drug-related suspensions in MLS history, according to Ives Galarcep.

After being snubbed in favor of Senegal international Bouna Coundoul, Conway was traded to Chivas USA for a fourth-round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, according to goal.com. Never making a single appearance, he was acquired by Toronto FC and became their back-up goalkeeper.

While he only made one league appearance for TFC, Conway did start in goal during Canadian Championship and CONCACAF Champions League matches. That season, he helped the Reds win the Voyageurs Cup.

In 2011, Toronto traded Conway to the Chicago Fire in exchange for the 49th overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Joao Plata. A backup to Johnson, Conway made six league appearances in goal.

At the conclusion of the 2011 MLS season, the Los Angeles Galaxy looked to find a keeper to replace Donovan Ricketts, who was sent to the Montreal Impact. The Galaxy selected Conway in Stage 2 of the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft, effectively making Conway the back-up goalkeeper to Josh Saunders.

Continuity at any position. Continuity in terms of depth. Continuity in terms of production. That word—continuity—is what separated good teams from great teams.

With his years of success as a reliable backup, Jon Conway will aim to ensure continuity at the goalkeeper position for Bruce Arena's Galaxy in 2012.

This is Part Four in a series of articles on the players who will be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012.

Pat Noonan is a forward that has had a long, storied career playing in Major League Soccer, especially with the New England Revolution.

Having spent time with six different clubs, including a side from Norway, Noonan will look to win a second MLS Cup, this time as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Pat Noonan was born on Aug. 2, 1980 in Ballwin, Missouri. Ballwin is a suburb of St. Louis, ranked at one time by Money Magazine as one of the 100 best cities in America.

Noonan played for the Spartans of De Smet Jesuit High School in nearby Creve Coeur. His scoring prowess saw him play for Jerry Yeagley's Indiana Hoosiers from 1999 to 2002. Named an NSCAA first-team team All-American in his senior and junior season, he finished as a runner-up to Alecko Eskandarian for the Hermann Trophy in 2002.

On the senior side Noonan first broke on to the scene as a member of the Michigan Bucks, scoring nine times in 17 appearances. In 2003, Noonan was selected by the New England Revolution as the ninth overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft.

From 2003 through 2007, Pat Noonan was a fixture up top. In his first season, he recorded 10 goals and seven assists and was a runner-up for the Rookie of the Year Award. In 2004, Noonan recorded 11 goals and eight assists and tied Amado Guevara for the Budweiser Golden Boot.

2005 was not as friendly for Noonan, who just managed eight goals and seven assists. That set the stage for a tough 2006 campaign, where the injuries began to take their toll. That season, Noonan managed just 14 appearances and only one goal. 2007 would be his final year with the Revolution, but while injuries did limit his playing time, he recorded seven goals that season while winning a U.S. Open Cup.

Overall, Noonan scored 37 goals in 119 league appearance for the New England Revolution.

In 2008, Noonan began the season playing for Aalesunds FK of the Norwegian Tippeligaen, and made eight appearances for the Tangoshirts. Midway through the year, Noonan returned to MLS and signed with the Columbus Crew.

Noonan's time with the Columbus Crew may not have been as long as that with the Revs, but that year, he helped the team win the MLS Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup double.

2009 saw Noonan split time with the Crew and Colorado Rapids. After 16 league appearances with Columbus in which he only scored once, Noonan was traded to the Rapids in June 2009, scoring twice in 17 league appearances.

In March 2010, Noonan was waived by the Rapids, according to OurSportsCentral, and signed with the Seattle Sounders after going on trial, according to the News Tribune. From 2010-11, Noonan made 21 appearances, winning a Cascadia Cup and two U.S. Open Cups.

As a member of the USA Men's National Team, Noonan won a CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005. He made 15 appearances for the Stars and Stripes, recording one goal.

At the end of the 2011 MLS season, Noonan was selected in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Three U.S. Open Cups. A Supporters' Shield. An MLS Cup and a  CONCACAF Gold Cup. Indeed, Pat Noonan has won plenty of hardware as a forward.

And now as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Noonan will look to add more to his trophy collection.

This is Part Three in a series of articles on the players who will be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012.

For many players in the USA, Major League Soccer is the only league they have ever plied their trade in. Defender Chris Leitch is an example of such a player.

Having spent his time playing for three other clubs in MLS, with two clubs fortunate to receive two stints each, Leitch now plies his trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy, hoping to win an MLS Cup in 2012.

Leitch was born on April 1, 1979 in Pickerington, Ohio. Pickerington is a suburb of Columbus, the home of the Crew. A number of famous people have called Pickerington home with the most notable being NFL standout A.J. Trapasso, acrtress, Lindsay Hollister, and the Ryan brothers—Dan and Tom—of Halo 2 fame.

After playing prep soccer in his hometown, Leitch took his defending skills to the University of North Carolina, were he led the Tar Heels, then coached by Elmar Bolowich, to their first national title in 2001. During his time at Chapel Hill, Leitch set school records for career games played (81) and games started (87).

In the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, Leitch was selected as the 47th overall selection by the Crew. He was coming back home again. Leitch's first season, however, saw him receive limited playing time and as a result he only managed 13 appearences. He did win a US Open Cup as a member of the Crew.

In 2003, Leitch was traded to the MetroStars. The defender spent three seasons with the club, recorded 72 appearances in the back line. Although he was named the team's Defender of the Year in 2005, the MetroStars elected to waive Leitch and that allowed Columbus to pick him up again.

2006 was Leitch's final season in Columbus, and he made 24 appearances for the Crew before they waived him again, this time back to New York, at which point the club was rebranded as the New York Red Bulls.

From 2007-08, Leitch made 29 appearances in the backline and helped lead the club to an MLS Western Conference playoff championship, as well as an MLS Cup appearance.

In 2009, Leitch was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for an undisclosed sum of allocation money and an international player slot, according to the San Jose Mercury News. That season was Leitch's best year with the Quakes, as he made 29 appearances while recording seven assists.

During his time in San Jose from 2009-11, Leitch made 58 league appearances. At the end of the season, the Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose's rival to the south, picked up the rights to Leitch in the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft.

As Leitch prepares for his 11th season playing in Major League Soccer, he is aware that time is running out before he can finally lift what he couldn't lift in 2008.

With the capability to shoulder a defense in need of depth, Chris Leitch will aim to complete an act of redemption that will be four years in the making: win an MLS Cup.

This is Part Two in a series of articles on the players who will be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012.

New Zealand is not a footballing powerhouse per se.

While they are the strongest country in the Oceania Football Confederation, the All Whites are ranked 119th in the world, according to the November 2011 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings.

One of those All Whites is going to be donning another mostly-white garb. That player in particular: defender Andrew Boyens, who has made 19 appearances to date for his national team.

A defender with plenty of Major League Soccer and World Cup experience under his belt, Boyens will look to add an MLS Cup to his list of accomplishments.

Boyens was born in Dunedin, New Zealand and spent his childhood in Napier. Boyens broke onto the scene as a defender for semi-pro side Dunedin Technical in 2002, and after receving a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Otago, Boyens continued his collegiate career playing for the New Mexico Lobos from 2004-2006.

After wrapping up his college soccer days in Albuquerque, Boyens returned to New Zealand to play for New Zealand Football Championship side Otago United from 2006-2007. His skills as a center-back were prized, and in 2007, Boyens was selected by Toronto FC as the 10th overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft.

Boyens spent his first seasons with the Reds, making 23 appearances and scoring once. In 2008, he was traded to the New York Red Bulls and made 33 league appearances from 2008-2010.

In 2011, Boyens was traded to Chivas USA. However, he only made 12 appearances for the side, scoring once. At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Boyens was on the list of players that the Goats were offloading in the Re-Entry Draft.

On Dec. 12, the Los Angeles Galaxy picked Andrew Boyens in Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft as part of the club's plans to add depth behind Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza.

All in all, Boyens may not have struck it rich with Toronto FC, the New York Red Bulls or Chivas USA, but playing for the best club in MLS now gives this Kiwi a chance to finally win some silverware.

This is Part One in a series of articles on the players who will be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012.

There is an old saying that goes like this: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Such is the case with midfielder Marcelo Sarvas Fazzio, who now joins the Los Angeles Galaxy from Costa Rican powerhouse side Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.

With his years of experience as a playmaker, Sarvas now has a chance to not only earn a CONCACAF Champions League title, but also lead his club to glory and a successful defense of their MLS Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup.

Sarvas, who was born in Sao Paulo on Oct. 16, 1981, began his career as a member of Corinthians's youth sides and first broke onto the scene in 2002 with the Corinthians first team. After a spell with third-division club Noroeste, Sarvas began an long European journey.

In 2004, Sarvas played for Karlskrona AIF, then of the Swedish third division. He made 22 appearances for the club, scoring three times.

After Karlskrona were relegated, Sarvas spent two seasons with Kristianstads FF, another Swedish third division team. This was his best stint in Europe by far. Sarvas was a fan favorite at Kristianstads, scoring 23 goals in 48 appearances.

The potential was there, and after the 2006 season, Sarvas moved to Mjallby AIF, who were a Superettan side at the time. The Superettan is the Swedish second division of football. However, Sarvas was rarely-used, making just 12 appearances on the pitch. Midway through the season, Sarvas was offloaded to IF Linhamn Bunkeflo, a relatively new club. In spite of making 12 appearances and scoring twice, Bunkeflo were relegated, and Sarvas was offloaded to Polonia Warsaw of the Ekstraklasa.

Polonia would be the last stop on Sarvas's European tour. From 2009-2010, he recorded two goals in only 28 appearances before making the jump to Alajuelense of the Costa Rican Primera Division.

Sarvas fared well in two seasons of action, scoring three goals in 29 league appearances. However, the fact that Alajuelense were not going to be in the CONCACAF Champions League and the Galaxy—a team with better pay—were proved to be the deciding factor in the current move.

On Dec. 13, 2011, the Los Angeles Galaxy signed Marcelo Sarvas Fazzio to a two-year deal. With the signing, he helps add depth to a midfield that will potentially be missing the services of David Beckham.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And Marcelo Sarvas knows this adage quite well.

It's official...Marcelo joins the Galaxy

This was touched on in the Dec. 7 version of the Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, but it is now official: Bruce Arena's Galaxy have signed 30-year old Marcelo Sarvas to a two-year contract.

Sarvas last played for Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and is familiar with the playing style of the Galaxy.

“He’s played against us twice this year, so we know the player," Arena told Luis Bueno of MLSSoccer.com. "He’s a good player. He’s a good passer and is an experienced two-way midfielder. I think he’s going to be a good addition.”

Sarvas adds some flashed of Brazilian to the lineup alongside Juninho, whom the Galaxy are looking to sign for the long haul. Effectively, the ball is in Sao Paulo Futebol Clube's field.

“Juninho has an offer,” Arena said. “[He] knows where we stand, his club knows that, his agent knows that so they’ve just got to make a decision as to what they want to do.”

A special on Marcelo Sarvas as part of "This is the Los Angeles Galaxy" will be posted on the View from Victoria Street and Bleacher Report.


Prepare for Re-Entry

On the home front, other new players with years of veteran leadership were added to the roster as part of Stage 2 of the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft.

Defenders Andrew Boyens and Chris Leitch, forward Pat Noonan and goalkeeper Jon Conway were all selected. Meanwhile, Dasan Robinson and Frankie Hejduk were retained by the club and are open to negotiations to have their services back for next season.

All in all, six players were selected in the Re-Entry Draft by the Galaxy.

“I’m not quite sure why other teams did not really choose to use this Re-Entry Draft, but I thought there was some value in it and hopefully it works out in the end,” Arena told Bueno on Monday.

The addition of players is vital to the Galaxy's chances of succeeding in the CONCACAF Champions League and the 2012 Major League Soccer season as it builds much-needed depth.

“When you look at the schedule next year, it’s going to be pretty full and it will require players with experience, and hopefully we’ve gotten enough of that,” Arena explained. “We’re going to bring back some good young players and pick up some good young players in the SuperDraft as well, so I’m confident that at the end of the day we’re going to have a pretty solid roster.”

Specials on a number of these new players will be published as part of the ongoing "This Is The Los Angeles Galaxy" series on The View from Victoria Street and Bleacher Report.


Off to Sweden for Gregg Berhalter

This just in: Gregg Berhalter returns to Europe!

No, not as a player, but as a manager. Berhalter was named manager of Hammarby IF of the Superettan, taking over for Roger Sandberg.

Hammarby is partially owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group, the same owners of the Galaxy. Ah, we saw what they did there.

"I am excited for the challenge that lies ahead and could not be more thankful to AEG and everyone at Hammarby for giving me the opportunity,” Berhalter told reporters. “While I am saddened to leave a club that means so much to me, I feel that my experiences with the Galaxy both on and off the field have helped prepare me for the journey that lies ahead."

The 2012 Superettan (Swedish second division) season begins in April.