Editorial (March 3, 2018) – The LA Galaxy kick off their 2018 MLS regular season tomorrow against Portland Timbers FC. After a historically bad 2017 season and a busy off-season, the Galaxy are in position for a much improved year.
LA Galaxy 2018 MLS Season Preview
The Galaxy are coming off their worst season in league history by many metrics. The team was dysfunctional under first year Head Coach Curt Onalfo and had trouble staying healthy. After a terrible first half of the season, the club brought in Sigi Schmid as manager, one of the most successful coaches in MLS history.
They rebuilt the club in the off-season. The defense has been completely remade with the additions of David Bingham, Jorgen Skjelvic, Rolf Feltscher, and SuperDraft pick Tomas Hilliard-Arce. The club has also added starters in Perry Kitchen and Ola Kamara, plus depth at a number of positions. With that, let’s look at three big questions for the LA Galaxy 2018 season.
Can Gio produce?
This is perhaps the biggest and deciding factor for the LA Galaxy 2018 MLS campaign. Giovani dos Santos has been ‘arriving’ for what feels like years how. The DP attacker had a tumultuous season in 2017 and his form (read: interest and effort) have always seem dependent on his standing with the Mexican National Team.
Mexico will be heading to the 2018 World Cup in Russia this year, with Gio and his brother Jonathan dos Santos eager to make the squad and take part in the tournament. This should (in theory) lead to a motivated and productive Gio. Given his salary and marketing value, he will be involved heavily in the attack this year, and the Galaxy’s goal production will depend on Gio creating chances for himself and others.
The bigger question is what the Dos Santos brothers look like once the World Cup is over. Historically, World Cup participants in MLS run out of gas towards the end of the season, often carrying injuries from the tournament with them. How fresh Gio and Jonathan return to Los Angeles will be a big factor in the Galaxy’s playoff push.
Will the back line gel?
The Galaxy come into this season with possibly four of five new pieces in defense (the back four plus the goalkeeper). Schmid shipped out all three goalkeepers from last year. In comes Bingham who’s had several good years with the San Jose Earthquakes but had a rough departure from the club and has not looked good at times in preseason. Skjelvic and Feltscher are in as well as a center back and right back, respectively. Ashley Cole will again be the starting left back for the club and the captain as well.
The big question for the Galaxy right now is the second center back position. Incumbent Daniel Steres has had some nice moments the last few years but has not been consistent. Michael Ciani is aging and slow, with rumors the Galaxy have thought about buying him out. Then there is the drafted Hilliard-Arce. Any one of these three could start next to Skjelvic in 2018.
With so many new pieces, eventual chemistry for the Galaxy will be critical. This defense will need to figure things out early to play well and get results.
How will they stack up against LAFC
The Galaxy had their most disastrous season at the worst time possible, one year before new rival Los Angeles FC entered MLS as an expansion team. So much of how this season will be viewed will depend on how well they do head-to-head and in the table compared to LAFC.
Ultimately, it will come down to results. If they can beat LAFC in aggregate over the three games they play and make the playoffs, it will be a successful season.
Prediction:
I say the Galaxy make the playoffs this year. On paper, they are good enough to make it. The defense is much improved. They’ve added depth at every position. Most importantly, the attack has improved. Kamara should be a stud in the No. 9 role. Jonathan dos Santos and Romain Alessandrini are in their second year in MLS, which should have them improving. This is an overall better team under competent coaching. They should make the playoffs. And I say they finish higher than LAFC in the Western Conference table.
