2009 -- MLS Cup Runner Up 2010 -- Supporters' Shield 2011 -- Cup / Shield Double 2012 -- MLS Cup 2013: Beckham: Gone. LD: Most likely gone. Omar: Highly likely gone. Juninho: Possibly gone. I'm not sure who is going to fill the DP slot, but I think it's going to be a tough 2013, and possibly 2014. And that's just fine, as long as we're regrouping with a plan and a purpose -- and not just brining in some flash names for the short term. (PS: As most folks know, we are now tied with DC for most Cups and Shields, both with 4)
I guess this should be the new Offseason Moves Thread as well. Anyway, I might still be a little too excited from the Cup win, but part of me believes that there's a really really small chance that Beckham may stay. "One more year" chants in the locker room. Talks with other teams may go sour. But realistically, I think he's gone. He's a man of his word, and I think he wouldn't dare say that he's leaving and go back on his word. But there's that sliver of hope... I really hope Landon takes a good break this offseason to figure out his life and what he wants to do. Of course, I want him to come back next season, but he's most likely off to Everton... What I'm excited for next season: Jose Villarreal! I really hope he gets more playing time. I loved what I saw from him this season, and it's just a great story to see a guy succeed after coming up through the Galaxy organization. Hopefully Bruce doesn't feel like he needs to utilize Buddle. Or maybe we'll see Villarreal get some time in midfield... Honestly, I think next year will be a down-year for the team. But just imagine if we make some good offseason moves... Three-peat! Let's be the first team to do so! Too early lol. Lastly, does anybody have all the players' contract info? I really wonder whose contract expires when...like idk when Donovan's contract is up. I think Omar's gonna be a free agent. Robbie has one more year. I really don't know much about this stuff....I wish MLS was more transparent in this way (kinda like the NBA). Also, this might be a really crazy thought. But after repeating as champions, I bet every team hates us now. I wonder if MLS (Garber, etc.) are gonna make it harder for us next year...schedule-wise or even enforcing new rules for salaries/roster limits/whatever else. Probably not gonna happen lol... Overall a great season. It felt great to bounce back after that bad first half of the season. It makes the win that much sweeter! The only thing is that I wish I could actually talk to people about the Galaxy...I'm so lonely up north in Berkeley...no one follows the Galaxy let alone MLS haha. The big plus though is that I got my family really into soccer! I basically sent my parents and sisters to all the LA playoff home games and even went to the SJ regular season game in Smurf territory! Can't wait for next season! Onwards and upwards!
I think one big question this off season is what, if anything, should be done with Saunders. Do we go with him, or is he too shaky to rely on. Do we keep him and pick up Hartman? Do we find someone else to replace him?
I think this might be one of the bigger issues this off season. I don't think it's wise to use a DP slot on a GK, but I think we should look into what it would take to get Dwayne Miller over here. I can't see us moving Saunders to the bench after winner back-to-back Cups so we'll have to move him along, perhaps to another team for allocation money. I think we should move Perk and his bloated contact along too as well, and sign Hartman as our back up.
2013 will be interesting, every post-Cup year we have a “hangover”. The drastic changes to the team might actually help alleviate that problem, though expectations for next season should be lower, there’s a chance to repeat this season. A slow start, bolstered in June/July with a DP signing and a rejuvenated Landon and a rampant charge to MLS Cup 2013. Perhaps my biggest concern is Landon, the club should support him in whatever decision he makes, at the same time indecision on his part could impact out ability to move forward. I have a deeply cynical view that I’ll keep to myself for now. And only one “major” trophy behind them in overall totals, though I take serious umbrage with both their CONCAF Champions League* and Interamerican farces being considered major trophies. This year’s Desert Diamond Cup was a more legitimate achievement. * The same applies to ours as well. Total BS tournament.
Beckham is for sure gone, and said as much in his own words. "I will not be playing soccer in America next year." Rumors suggest China is the leading candidate. Wouldn't shock me as they've got the money and the interest in growing their own version of football in their country. And when you think about the burgeoning middle class all willing to buy his underwear and Victoria's wares too. I'd say it's a gimme. Would be interesting if the Kaka or Lampard rumors have any merit. We have left some BIG shoes to fill. One also wonders if one of those two WERE to come if LD10 would have any interest in coming back. Perhaps one of the reasons Landon wants to split is because he realizes the team is going to be gutted.
Wow. NY is really making a move to win it all next season. I guess it's about time for them...considering Henry's years are limited. So far NY has gotten Kimura from Portland and Espindola and Olave from RSL... They definitely look like the team to beat already...I have to say they look even better than us on paper.
Well you don't lose Becks without significant impact so I start by paying tribute to his value especially the way his contributions have increased and improved year by year, and I would bet he had exit clauses in his contract that would have allowed him to leave at any time . . . and if that's true, I respect him even more for the way he turned HIS whole thing around here and (not coincidentally) the team's fortunes benefitted immensely from his leadership. I believe he realized all the responsibility he owed his teammates and the club management and fans, and recognized that he had to straighten things out or it would have been a terrible let down to everyone who was excited about his arrival here. All credit to him, seriously. But he's in the twilight and the bigger issues for our future are Omar's immediate situation -- he shows all the signs of true star potential, and he has been excellent from day 1 here -- and of course Donovan. This truly marks the end of an era if Donovan departs. There are new American stars but I don't think any single person will be as important over the next ten years as he has been over the last ten years -- I'm simplifying it, but that's how I feel. That said, eras end. This is a very real and timely lesson of maturity for this club and its fans, and for American soccer in general. These are essential growing pains for all of us who care about American soccer (club or country). And we now experience with our own club what other clubs around the world go through and what teams in other American sports go through every so often -- that the players and the coaches will come and go, but the club endures. The fans endure, the club-owned stadium remains the place of reference for the good times and the bad, and these are the bonds that grow the importance of the game across generations rather than for just a few seasons. So in a way we are lucky, most fans would die to have this problem on their hands because it means they've had the chance to be part of something pretty special. I recently watched a lot of the 10-year dvd and Paul Caligiuri makes this really insightful comment that, while the trophies are significant and they're really the reason you compete, the trophies aren't the whole picture . . . there are a lot of special moments in between, a lot of small moments like certain goals or certain losses or certain saves or certain injuries or or certain close calls . . . and off the field there are the friendships and the joy and the heartaches (and the beers) and these things that are woven into being part of a club's fabric over the years -- for players AND for fans. Everyone knows this club has had ups and downs before and those will continue well into the future, so let the new era begin! Other teams have won trophies but NONE of them are scrutinized year-in and year-out the way we are . . . so, for me, that says that we have been a part of something pretty special and there will be things in our future that are just as rewarding as what we've just seen now. That's why we're here.
Looking forward to more time with Villareal next year and someone at the club agrees. Love that his locker is next to Keane's.
I agree GK should be a priority. The list of goalkeepers you can sign on a non-dp contract better than Saunders is long. While Saunders is serviceable, he makes me nervous every time he's called into action and his distribution is terrible. A key component of a confident organized defense is the assurance that a quality keeper gives them and I think we're effected by this often. I'm a Spurs fan so Friedel comes to mind, his contract is expiring and he might want to play his last couple years in the MLS and start coaching. Statistically he was one of the most effective keepers in Europe last season, even at his age I think he has 2 more good years in him and we can look for a younger option. He's been doing his coaching badges this season. He would be a good coach to have around after he's done playing. Unlikely though he's actually had interest from other PL clubs. Besides keeper I'm conflicted what direction we should go. Beckham leaving is huge for many reasons but I don't think people are truly considering how different we'll look. Beckham was one of the major creative focal points with his crossing and long range passing ability. How would others on the team adapt to having that dimension gone. I fear Arena and some players on the squad will look to continue a similar style but instead of intelligent crosses into the box and long range diagonals we'll just start hoofing it like Stoke. To be fair you can see this already in stages in matches when everyone just starts for knocking it up to the big man or knocking it up to Donovan/Keane and legging it. To add on the questions if Donovan leaves as well we really have an issue. That's another one of our most creative/influential options gone. Which increases my concern that a large part of our offense will be knocking it up to Buddle with Keane playing off him. The lack of clarity with the DP's makes things hard. One thing about the Galaxy though is we're a very good counterattacking team. With Beckham and Donovan gone I think we should find a way to expand on that. Though I would say more high tempo and less reactive. With the declining athleticism of Beckham this was difficult to truly ever do, but because he could ping a ball from 30 yards right into the path of a runner it didn't matter. Kaka when he's on form has a lot to his game but he's really good playing high tempo and counterattacking as that tip of the diamond, checking out wide, or playing as second striker. He would be the creative option supported by Keane and a forward to be named later. Playing a diamond with the point dropping deeper than norm. I'd prefer we looked at other forwards. Buddle was great to watch a couple years ago but his year has been painful for me. He has his good games but he's turning into a defensive striker with less skill than others famous defensive strikers like Heskey or Dion Dublin. We looked best at times this season with Keane and Donovan playing off each other. Really fluid, intelligent runs, awareness of when to be direct and when to be passive, lovely. I don't think we really need a big target man. MLS defenses have much more trouble handling Keane and Donovan's movement than when Buddle is up top putting his back to goal. If we did mange to somehow keep Donovan and sign Kaka that would be a dream. I'd be in favor of moving Buddle and trying to get some side midfielders in return, pacey ones who can cross and come central and play intricate. Not a full review but just a few things I would like to see and concerns with the departures. I don't want to even consider if Gonzo or Juninho leave because I have no idea how you replace them and fix our other issues. So I'll leave that to ya'll.......
By the way the recent Brazil friendly against Colombia is similar to how Kaka should be employed for the Galaxy. As long as he stays healthy I think we'd be very good with Kaka.
It's Waaaaaaaaaay to soon to make a statement like that. At this point we have no idea what we will look like in March. There are a LOT of questions.
Kaka, if he could be convinced to come play for the Galaxy sometime in the next year, would be an incredible addition. The running he does off the ball would fit very well with our style of play... and if Donovan and Junhi both played with him, we would be even better in the front six than we were this year.
-------------Keane-------Donovan The Magee--------Kaka-------Sar-Wilhel-vars -------------------Juninho I suppose you could do worse than that....
All I'm saying is that RIGHT NOW, they definitely look much better. I'm speaking under the assumption that Juninho, Donovan, and Omar are all gone next season. We all know that Omar wants to play elsewhere. Donovan may very well go to Everton. And Juni is technically not even with us anymore...not until his loan is renewed. Plus, we all heard Leiweke say that he won't rush to get a DP that won't fit our team. I highly doubt Kaka is coming. Lampard is definitely possible though. I just think that we won't make enough moves this offseason to make up for our potential losses. Honestly, I'd take a Henry/Le Toux (or Cooper) pairing over a Keane/Buddle pairing. But hopefully Buddle improves next season. A midfield that has players like Espindola, Cahill, McCarty, and Lindpere is pretty damn good. Again, acting under the assumptions that I made earlier, that's better than Magee/Sarvas/Wilhelmsson/whoever else. Our defense is going to be better than theirs though. Meyer will fill Omar's shoes. But Olave is a huge upgrade for NY. Connor Lade is really improving as well. Once again, their roster looks stacked. They basically only need to worry about depth, the defense, and GK. There's no doubt that NY will be much improved. Of course, it takes time to work well as a team, but they basically have all the pieces. Whereas we have many pieces of our team still in doubt.
LA Times story http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-galaxy-20121203,0,6847856.story Galaxy's interest in trading for Chivas USA keeper Dan Kennedy
Yeah... or we could even do this if we had to for tactical, injury, or rest reasons: -------------Keane-------Donovan The Magee------------------------Kaka -------------Juninho------Sarvas Becks doesn't really have the wheels to play on the wing anymore, but Kaka does. Imagine the amount of positional switching these guys (in either line-up) could create in the run of play. It would be a nightmare to defend.
Midfielders Mike Magee and Juninho — on loan from Sao Paulo — will be out of contract at the end of the year, as will goalkeeper Josh Saunders, whose future with the team is further clouded by the Galaxy's interest in trading for Chivas USA keeper Dan Kennedy.