In the recent and not so recent rumor mill, several names have been thrown around as possible players to assume Landon Donovan’s vacated DP slot with the LA Galaxy. And for the most part, they are block buster forwards, but are bad ideas. Make no mistake, these aren’t bad players. They’ll sell tickets, sell jerseys, and improve the squad (some more than others), but they aren’t the best fit for what the LA Galaxy need right now.
The primary reason behind these being bad moves is that the new Galaxy DP needs to be a midfielder. Preferably a technical #10 or a skilled wide player. He doesn’t need to be a Donovan carbon copy, but Donovan has a unique and critical skill set that needs to be replaced in some aspect. Every rumor that has surfaced of late has been a striker. In this, it’s a suggested strike partner for Robbie Keane. Gyasi Zardes got 16 goals in 32 games (26 starts) this year. He’s made huge strides this year. Zardes is the future of the LA Galaxy attack. I expect similar numbers from him in the next few years with steady improvements in performance. With Keane is teaching him every day in training, Zardes could be a stud in a few years. He has the potential to be a DP who’s a borderline national team player.
I’m not saying that’s what’s going to happen. But any DP who relegates Zardes to the bench or wide midfield better make the ‘win now’ gain worth more than the ‘set for the future’ opportunity lost from not having Zardes play with Keane. Especially when the team could go sign a needed midfielder.
Bad DP Ideas for the Galaxy
1. Ronaldinho:
Rumors of Ronaldinho to the Galaxy started in early November. When NBC reports on a rumor, there’s usually something there. Make no mistake, this would be a huge PR boost for the Galaxy and MLS. A Brazilian legend and one of the great soccer icons of this generation, what a get. But the man is 34 years old. MLS is starting to phase from being a retirement league.
I haven’t watched much of Queretaro since he signed there, but he’s lost a step or two. From what I’ve seen since he left Milan, he doesn’t do much defending. He never really defended that hard to begin with. While not their go-to, the Galaxy do like to have their forwards provide high pressure. Not giving effort on the defensive side of the ball comes off as laziness and disinterest. That won’t fly when Robbie Keane’s your strike partner and captain. Take into account how much money (contract and transfer fee) and a half season to get used to the league, and his 2-3 years probably aren’t worth it.
2. Jozy Altidore:
Oh, twitter is a wonderful but cruel mistress. The writing is on the wall, Jozy’s days at Sunderland are numbered. He has 40 Premier League caps in two season with the Black Cats. But he has just 9 this season, 8 of them off the bench. He’s scored more goals for the USMNT than he has with Sunderland since transferring. Unless something changes drastically, he should leave in January. He needs playing time. But it won’t be with the Galaxy.
If his heated twitter post is true, he isn’t interested and this discussion is over. If it isn’t, I think there are other MLS teams he’d be interested in. Jozy is from New Jersey. His first professional team was the NY Red Bulls, who have a DP slot open. Him playing #9 with BWP running the channels? That’s scary. NYCFC also has one open DP slot. If he’s interested in multiple teams, there’s going to be a serious bidding war for him. This is a bidding war the Galaxy don’t need to be a part of. That money can be better spent elsewhere.
If the envelope method makes an ignominious return, it would be luck of the draw.
If we’re going to compare Zardes to Altidore, Altidore is certainly a better player. He is two years older. Altidore is a more pure #9. He’s better in the air and much better in hold up play. But part of me feels like he’s damaged goods. With all the hoopla around Klinsmann not being happy with European based USMNT players moving to MLS, there will be a magnifying glass over Altidore upon returning. There will be tremendous pressure for him to produce. Zardes is trending up. He appears mentally strong. Altidore’s been a bit fragile mentally in the past. That isn’t a knock on him. But with Henry and possibly Cahill leaving, there would be less pressure at Red Bulls than with a defending champion LA Galaxy. If Altidore does return state side, it should be to a healthy situation for him and his new club, not a meat grinder of scrutiny.
3. Erick ‘El Cubo’ Torres:
There wasn’t a rumor about the Galaxy being interested in Cubo Torres. He supposedly wants to stay in LA. Torres played for the now defunct Chivas USA. His contract expired in 2014, but the loan agreement with Chivas Guadalajara gave MLS a first refusal option to buy him after the loan. With Chivas going away, MLS now has a wonderfully awful ‘only in MLS’ situation on their hands. They had yet to make public how they would handle Torres’s contract situation. They had options, but if he’s saying ‘Galaxy or I walk,’ the league doesn’t have much say.
Torres scored 22 goals in 44 games for the Goats. He did so on one of the worst teams in MLS history. If the man is a goal every two games with no help around him, imagine what he could do with good service? Next to Keane with Ishizaki and the Brazilians passing to him, Torres could score 20 goals asleep in 2015. But there’s a consensus that Torres would expect and be offered DP money. He only made $150k this year. If the rumor he wants to stay in LA isn’t true, a bidding war will start. Arena would probably decide the money would be better spent elsewhere. Chicago or maybe Dallas would be willing to splash some cash.
I don’t have a problem with Torres joining the Galaxy. Just not as the third DP. If he’ll take $300k/year, I think Arena would consider it. Let him and Zardes duke it out in practice. While it worked in MLS Cup, Zardes at LM has normally been a tactical hotmess. Torres is 21, two years younger than Zardes. He already has 3 caps and a goal for El Tri. Some would argue Torres is better than Zardes. I’d be willing to sign him, just not for $600k/year when we could get that midfielder we desperately need and still develop a young and productive forward for the future. If it’s Galaxy as a DP or bust, Torres should start looking at flights back to Mexico.
Agree or disagree with my thoughts on the three players? Who would you sign as a third DP if you were Bruce Arena? Let me know in the comments below or get at me on twitter.
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