This year’s Major League Soccer playoffs—which begin Thursday—will include something that’s been missing since 2005: the Los Angeles Galaxy. The league’s highest-profile franchise has struggled since winning the MLS Cup four years ago, and even the edition of global icon David Beckham in 2007 didn’t help. “That club for so many years was all about the glamour and the glitz, and the catchy headlines and the circus act, but they haven’t been about real soccer and the discipline that goes along with that,” says ESPN soccer analyst John Harkes.

After Beckham took a controversial leave from the team this winter to play for Italian team AC Milan, and the book The Beckham Experiment revealed some teammates’ animosity towards the star, it appeared the Galaxy might once again implode. But Harkes credits head coach Bruce Arena and his staff for keeping the team on track, nailing down a postseason slot with weeks to spare. “They’ve put the discipline into the players about what’s expected,” Harkes says. “They’ve done very well with the rookies, but also with the veterans… They have a good mix players. And also just the training sessions and the organization from Bruce. They got rid of all the baggage that they had from before.”

Leading the way is nine-time All-Star Landon Donovan, who has regained his status as the league’s marquee player. “Landon, for many years, he’s been inconsistent in his play, which opens up the door for criticism,” Harkes says. “People say he’s the best player in the country, but then he’ll hide in some games. He’s starting to mature. Sometimes he would let too many outside things put him off his game. His heart and his passion have always been there, but he just seems to be more of a mature player now… You’re starting to see what Landon Donovan can offer best”

In the Eastern Conference, top seeded Columbus Crew—the defending league champion—is the team to beat. “They’re very consistent in their play,” Harkes notes. “Their head coach, Robert Warzycha, he’s inspired these guys to fight to regain that title. With Guillermo Barros Schelotto, their MVP player from last year, and his cast of characters, a lot of young players who are really standing out, they’re really pushing for the title once again.” That’s not to say they are without weaknesses. “They’ve given up easy goals and made simple little mistakes here and there,” Harkes says. “So they need to tighten up their back line.”

Here’s the schedule for the 2009 MLS Playoffs:

Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference: No. 1 Columbus Crew vs. No. 4 Real Salt Lake
Game 1: Columbus at Salt Lake, Saturday, October 31, 6/5c, local TV
Game 2: Salt Lake at Columbus, Thursday, November 5, 8/7c, ESPN2

Eastern Conference: No. 2 Chicago Fire vs. No. 3 New England Revolution
Game 1: Chicago at New England, Sunday, November 1, 2/1c, Fox Soccer Channel
Game 2: New England at Chicago, Saturday, November 7, 8:30/7:30c, Fox Soccer Channel

Western Conference: No. 1 Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chivas USA
Game 1: Los Angeles at Chivas, Sunday, November 1, 5/4c, ESPN2
Game 2: Chivas at Los Angeles, Sunday, November 8, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN2

Western Conference: No. 2 Houston Dynamo vs. No. 3 Seattle Sounders FC
Game 1: Houston at Seattle, Thursday, October 29, 10/9c, ESPN2
Game 2: Seattle at Houston, Sunday, November 8, 3/2c, local TV

The conference semifinals use a home-and-home, aggregate-goal format. The winners advance to the conference championships on Thursday November 12 (ESPN2) and Saturday, November 14 (Fox Soccer Channel), times TBD. The conference champions play for MLS Cup 2009 on Sunday, November 22, 8:30/7:30c, ESPN.