After conceding two goals in the last ten minutes of their last match in the Leagues Cup against the Vancouver White Caps, the LA Galaxy were eliminated from the tournament. Anytime the team finds its rhythm, it is immediately interrupted by a bump on the road that destroys morale.
The LA Galaxy closed out the MLS Cup run before the Leagues Cup pause with two wins, two ties, and a loss. Entering a new tournament signified a clean slate for the Galaxy to continue to develop the rhythm they closed the first half of the season. Instead, they are eliminated in the group stage and have a huge gap between their next match on August 20t.
During the gap, the front office should reevaluate the lineup and its vision next season. The LA Galaxy find themselves in 13th place, only seven points out of the playoffs with 12 games to be played. Seven of those games will be at home.
Here are three reasons why the LA Galaxy should focus on developing their current stars in order to be ready for the next season.
The LA Galaxy Need to Focus on Next Year
Injuries
The Galaxy has had three major season-ending injuries to starting players vital to their plans for the current season. Javier Hernandez tore his ACL and had surgery that ended his season and potentially his time with the team. Martin Caceres has been out since June with a knee injury and he will miss more time. Gaston Brugman tore his meniscus and will likely miss the rest of the season.
Hernandez’s injury has dented the offense more than expected. Joveljic and Judd have shown moments of greatness but they cannot retain their productivity. Since Hernandez’s injury, Tyler Boyd has scored more goals than any of the two offense strikes.
Martin Caceres hurts the team in terms of developing Jalen Neal in the backline.
Gaston Brugman has been a co-conductor with Puig all season. His absence will decline the productivity of the offense even more.
These absences will be hard to fill, which brings me to my next point…
Transfer Band
The absences of three vital parts of the starting lineup are hard to fill because of the transfer band. The team’s previous mishaps brought on by their last president continue to haunt the team.
The transfer band stopped them from signing any international players during the current transfer window. Last year, during the summer transfer window the team added Puig and Brugman that helped the team’s last push for the playoffs.
This year, the front office needs to rely on signing free agents after the August 2nd deadline.
Greg Vanney
A lot of the blame at the beginning of the season was put on Chris Klein. Since his dismissal, the rhythm of the team has been more consistent with two wins, two ties, and a loss during their last five games of the MLS Cup, but Vanney is not the answer.
The rhythm is never consistent. Vanney cannot rally the offense and help someone take leadership of it.
After the current season ends, the front office should start with a clean slate and hand the keys to the LA Galaxy to a different manager.
Main Image: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
