(Editorial) – After a decent performance in a 0-0 draw against Club Tijuana, the LA Galaxy roster is coming together for the upcoming season. With Nigel de Jong’s arrival this week, the off season shake up is complete, and possibly for the better.
Goalkeepers:
The Galaxy’s situation in net was a mess at the end of 2015. Donovan Ricketts was added mid-season after Jaime Penedo awkwardly parted ways with the club. Ricketts didn’t play well down the stretch and was a big reason why the Galaxy finished fifth in the Western Conference. He also made mistakes on every goal in the Galaxy’s lone playoff game, a 3-2 loss in Seattle.
Enter former Chivas USA rock between the pipes, Dan Kennedy. Bruce Arena worked out a nice trade with FC Dallas to bring Kennedy back to LA. There are some concerns with the 33-year-old, considering how banged up he was last year. It could take him some time to get settled into a back line that’s also undergoing a makeover. With a new situation, though, he’s got to feel invigorated coming home (originally from Fullerton, CA) to play for a contender.
The Galaxy still have Brian Rowe, who continues to mature as a possible backup. The club also signed 22-year-old Los Dos stand out, Clement Diop. He could very well be the future for the Galaxy in net.
Defense:
In addition to goalkeeper issues, defensive miscommunication brought the downfall of the Galaxy in 2015. With TAM and salary cap issues going into 2016, Omar Gonzalez’s future was uncertain. The club ultimately decided to sell him to C.F. Pachuca of Liga MX. While this was a tough pill for many fans and pundits (myself included) to swallow, the deal made sense over time. In selling Gonzalez, the Galaxy freed up a bunch of cap space and their entire TAM allotment. While Gonzalez’s DP contract may have made sense at the time, many of the best center backs in MLS make $300,000 a year or less.
After selling Gonzalez, the question was could the Galaxy find a replacement at a reasonable price. They did exactly that in Jelle Van Damme. The 32-year-old Belgian is set to make around $500,000 this year. He’s a physical veteran and as he showed against Xolos, he’s good in the air. Something the Galaxy were going to need to find with Gonzalez leaving.
The Galaxy also added former AS Roma left back, Ashley Cole. It’s well documented what many think of this signing (here, here, and here) and it isn’t good.
They signed a player way over the hill, who hasn’t played that much in last year, and who plays at a position that is not a need. To be fair, Cole did own up to his past criticism of MLS. If nothing else, at least the Galaxy did not have to use any TAM on his contract (reported $300,000 for 2016). He also came on a free transfer.
Cole’s only played in two friendlies so far, but he wasn’t that bad against Xolos. He still isn’t worth the money and full back really isn’t a position it makes sense to spend that much money on in MLS. Cole still has a lot to prove, but he and Van Damme have looked good so far. Cole might not be a total disaster signing after all.
Midfield:
The biggest issue with the midfield last season was the lack of chemistry between mid-season arrival Steven Gerrard and Juninho. The two just didn’t click stylistically. They also didn’t seem to have well-defined roles when they needed it. Juninho ultimately wanted a new situation (along with a bigger role and maybe some more money) and was transferred to Tijuana. At the time, this move was disappointing and a bit confusing. But much like the Gonzalez transfer, this move freed up cap space and brought in some GAM.
Arena then had the task of bringing in some new midfielders with the right role and style to fit with Gerrard. He delivered with two holding midfielders in Nigel de Jong and free agent Jeff Larentowicz. Larentowicz is a savvy veteran who was one of the only good things for the Chicago Fire in 2015. He’s a natural leader and can play both center back and holding midfielder. He absolutely fills a need for the Galaxy and brings in some much needed depth.
De Jong does so as well. Both of these players bring some much-needed bite in the midfield. De Jong can sit in front of the back line and break up the opponent’s attack, leaving Gerrard free to get forward. These defined roles will help Gerrard improve on last season in ways the give-and-take he had with Juninho inhibited both of them.
De Jong and Larentowicz are both over the hill (31 and 32-years-old respectively). They can very much split time this season, especially if they both get caught up in yellow card accumulation.
The Galaxy also added youngster Emmanuel Boateng, who has had some good moments. Boateng has not really settled into a position (he plays midfield and forward) or a role yet. At best, he could be a speedy option off the bench. At worst, he could spend 2016 with LA Galaxy II. Considering his age and potential, that would not be a bad thing.
Forwards:
Not much changed. Alan Gordon re-signed even though he was a free agent. Arena also brought back Mike Magee, who can play both left midfield and as a forward partner with Robbie Keane. Magee has not been healthy since leaving LA, though. Assuming the Galaxy didn’t pay him too much, he’s a low-risk and high reward addition.
Overall:
This is a very old but deep LA Galaxy roster. They will need some time to gel and get to know each other. Hopefully, Arena has gotten them ready for CONCACAF Champions League. Arena will also have to channel his inner Gregg Popovich in rotating the squad and managing everyone’s minutes. It can be done.
It’s a little premature to call this club stacked. The same thing was said last year when they signed Giovani dos Santos. Still, depth and veteran leadership has proven to be very effective in MLS.
Main Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE, AFP, Getty Images
