The Galaxy plays their first game of the season tomorrow. But they aren’t ready. Yes, it’s a pre-season game and no, the match won’t count for much, but it’s obvious; there are still parts missing from the team.
The LA Galaxy are incomplete going into their preseason opener
No one will be there to see the dysfunction or the lack thereof as the match will be played behind closed doors, but by Los Angeles Head Coach Greg Vanney’s own admission, the team, as he sees it, isn’t complete.
The club has not yet signed the players that can turn a game with their quality, the “game-changing” player/s that Vanney has mentioned on multiple occasions, though he claims the front office is making steady progress.
And while, understandably, the rumored signings have launched a thousand opinions and arguments alike over their footballing merits, that they’ll be expected to be the missing piece or pieces of the puzzle that hopefully take the Galaxy back to the promised land or lord willing at least the playoffs, will make the expectations hard to live up to no matter what they achieve. Nothing short of winning an MLS Cup will vindicate their signing to some if their price tag is high.
The Galaxy coach, who starts his second year in charge, has stated that they will be patient and might wait until the summer for the “right” player, further ramping up the speculation and angst.
New stars in the Galaxy:
Vanney seems happy with the signings he has made, reuniting with players under his charge at Toronto F.C., Marky Delgado and Raheem Edwards. The 26-year-old Delgado, a part of Vanney’s treble-winning side, will be expected to plug the hole vacated by recently departed Galaxy captain Jona Dos Santos in the midfield. Edwards for his part has already endeared himself to G’s everywhere by calling the Galaxy “a massive club,” and “the Mecca of MLS,” despite playing for the other L.A. team last year.
By adding experienced MLS Cup-winning defender Kelvin Leerdam and re-signing veterans Víctor Vázquez and Sacha Kljestan, Vanney has made sure that he has the cool, experienced heads he seems to always prefer in the locker room.
The fan base has largely been uninspired by the new incoming players, though, despite not having seen them play one minute in the blue, white, and gold.
To be certain, the lack of the statement “game-changing” signing à la Lorenzo Insigne, has caused plenty of consternation amongst Galaxy fans, even if they’d never be able to agree on which “game-changer” could turn around the club’s fortunes.
Perhaps it’s understandable in an off-season in which other clubs are signing European Cup-winners and South American Starlets off Transfer Market stats.
More still because they’re exactly the type of signings Los Angeles used to be known for, used to be envied for.
The silver lining is, Vanney knows this; that the team needs more pieces, and he needs his “game-changer.” The Galaxy’s season depends on them landing their desired target, and the signing acclimating to the league.
In short, the Los Angeles Galaxy will play this season by the slimmest margins for error once again.
Getting it right, would be a game-changer for Los Angeles.
