Official: 2019 Rumor and Roster Moves Thread

Yep, he really played that badly. But his lack of focus for a few seconds doesn't cancel out the good he brings. Everyone makes mistakes or has lapses of effort or concentration. Need to just learn from them to try to avoid in the future.

 

Now there's an endorsement!

 

Agree completely and if that were an isolated mistake I would be with you. But I wasn't even thinking of that goal when I listed Rolf's season long flaws. I just re-watched the goal and damn does it do a good job of highlighting his flaws. My list above:
Lacks the speed/agility needed to defend quick, tricky forwards.
Needs to work on his decision making - when to go forward, when to stay home.
Leadership - I don't see it from him.

Watch the vid and note that we are in essentially a playoff game and in good shape up 2-0 in the 2nd half. This is a game state where we don't need scoring, we need defense. An experienced, competitive right back would be doing everything he could to make sure he did his part in keeping the shutout. But Rolf is an undisciplined defender who prefers to wander up into the attack, scoreline be damned. After we turn over the ball a smart right back would immediately hoof it back to pick up Houston player Quioto who is by himself on touchline. But Rolf is literally walking back at the start of the vid, forcing Steres to drift over to cover Rolf's area of responsibility. Steres points out the problem and very late Rolf catches on and makes a recovery run. He does get goal side but then he is just flat out schooled by a quick, tricky forward. Just as he has all season long. Here's the goal:

https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/m...galaxy-vs-houston-dynamo/details/video/177402

 

I would rather concede your point than watch that again. It was bad enough in person the first time.

 

Perhaps you could send that link to the idiom dictionary people for "and the wheels fell off"

 

So we have before the roster freeze date we need to get rid of GDS, JDS, or Allessandrini.

 

We are the Man U of MLS. Still paying several previous coaches.

 

Don't count out the Galaxy. te kloese will greatly impact their ability to integrate Academy prospects into first team https://t.co/CSEBmQbSLX

— Joey (@USAprospects) December 18, 2018

 

Juninho is coming home

(1/2) Midfielder Juninho, who started in each of the @LAGalaxy's last three MLS Cup victories, is returning to the team. The Galaxy will announce the Brazil's return later today. Juninho appeared in 207 games for the Galaxy between 2010-15.

— Kevin Baxter 🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@kbaxter11) December 18, 2018

Juninho, who turns 30 next month, played 21 games for the @ChicagoFire in 2017, his last season in MLS. He missed most of last year with injuries. The Galaxy gave Chicago $75,000 in general allocation money in 2020 for the rights to Juninho

— Kevin Baxter 🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@kbaxter11) December 18, 2018

 

He had a good season with Chicago in 2017 - he started half their games and subbed in a few more and they ended up 2nd in the East. Baxter says he missed "most of last year" but from what I can tell he couldn't come to agreement with Fire at end of '17 and hasn't played since. Not sure what that means.

 

Seba and Jona are our starters next year but we literally have nobody behind them (except Kitchen...). Juninho can cover both positions, and will give everything to the team. Last year injury is a big question mark, but Juni, even not at his best, remains a good signing.

The samba is back!

 

Considering how much time JDS usually misses, this is the perfect depth option for our team. He’s automatically in the 18 when he’s not starting.

 

Hopefully Zlatan can avoid the "2nd year in MLS" malaise that sometimes affects big MLS DP signings that come into the league on fire.

This is one area I really need to compliment Steven Gerard on. He was hot garbage from day one in MLS (EXCEPT FOR ACTUAL DAY ONE WHERE HE SCORED A GOAL (CREDIT WARGALAXY) HE SUCKED PRETTY MUCH FROM THAT DAY ON.

Zlatan can do anything so I'm less worried then I otherwise would be.

EDIT!!!! (SEE BOLD)

 

I guess you didn’t watch Gerard’s debut against SJE. He and Keane willed our team to victory after going down two goals. Gerard scored, had an assist, and drew a penalty in that game.

 

Of course I watched it and was there. What a nitpick. He was garbage from that moment on...ok?

 

5 goals and 14 assists in 34 games. Those are not garbage stats from a midfielder.

He was just injured too much, his hamstrings were shot, and he didn’t win any silverware for us.

 

You are right that his stats are ok, even good, but they don't tell the whole picture. He was a liability defensively. He also choked a few gimmes in front of the net that cost us points; seemed to have a bit of the yips. He showed flashes of his old skills but unfortunately could never sustain any form.

 

Juninho is probably our Husidic replacement and, viewed in that light, will probably be an upgrade if he just regularly makes the 18.

 

What a great birthday present! Welcome back, Juni!!