CARSON, Calif. -- It doesn't take much of an effort to determine the Los Angeles Galaxy's major weakness last season.
They allowed a league-high 55 goals in 2008, 11 more than the next team, D.C. United. That helped explain why head coach/general manager Bruce Arena undertook a major overhaul of his team and his defense, including in goal where Jamaican international Donovan Ricketts is the odds-on favorite to man the nets when the regular season starts on March 22.
The 31-year-old, who was signed Dec. 23, is a veteran of just under 70 national team appearances and helped lead the Jamaicans to the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He almost led them to the final stage of 2010 World Cup qualifying, only to lose out on goal differential to Mexico. Ricketts also played more than 100 career games with Bradford City, a fourth-division side in England, and played a major role in Jamaica's winning the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Cup with a 2-0 victory against Grenada.
What made Ricketts so attractive to the Galaxy was not only his size -- he's listed as 6-feet-4 and 203 pounds -- but his experience. Last year's Galaxy netminder, Steve Cronin, often looked overmatched and finished last among MLS goalkeepers with a 2.03 goals-against average.
"We've been a little up and down in goal for the last year or two," Arena said. "I think Ricketts brings an experienced goalkeeper that brings us a consistent performance game in and game out.
"He has imposing, physical abilities in goal. I think he's a shot blocker and a player who performs at a consistent level."
Toronto FC also was interested in Ricketts, who played the last four seasons with Bradford City, but the Galaxy were his first choice for sentimental reasons. Ricketts had followed the club because of Tyrone Marshall, another fellow Jamaican who played in Los Angeles for several years. Ricketts even called Marshall, who then played for Toronto FC, for his advice on the potential move and Marshall told him to pursue it.
He said it's the best place to be," Ricketts said with a grin. "When I had a chance to come to the Galaxy, I said, 'Please, let me in.'"
Marshall was later traded to Seattle.
Ricketts wasn't in the best of shape when he arrived in camp just under two weeks ago -- he had been away from the game for about a month -- but he quickly left his impression on coaches and teammates.
"First, his attitude is really good," goalkeeper coach Ian Feuer said. "You never know with an experienced 'keeper coming in whether he'll accept being coached or not. He's very accepting of the points that I give him and he's appreciative of it. He has a very good attitude along with a lot of ability, too. That's a nice combination.
"Goalkeepers usually come into their own around 27. It's a position not just about shot-stopping but reading the game and all that stuff. He comes in with a lot of experience. I think he's looked really, really good."
Ricketts said his goals are simple: he wants to start and help the club end its surprising playoff drought of three seasons.
"I came here to win," he said, "and I like playing for Bruce (Arena) because he makes you want to play hard for him."
He also figures he'll at least get more of a chance to see the sights. The last time he was in southern California was in 2000 with the Jamaican national team for two games against Saudi Arabia. His coach, Rene Simoes, kept a tight rein on his players.
"He was very strict," Ricketts recalled. "All I can say is it was a beautiful hotel. That's all I saw."
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