We have played over a third of our season already and our second best goal scorer is Steres with 3. That's how badly we need goal scorers. Only one other player has more than a single goal, Antuna with a whopping 2. Four others have a single goal (Polenta, Pontius, Lletget and JDS) and that is it. I don't think it's a good sign when your #2 goal scorer is your journeyman cb. Ranking, by goals (with assists): 1. Zlatan 9g (2a) 2. Steres 3g (0a) 3. Antuna 2g (1a) 4. Polenta 1g (3a) 5t. Pontius 1g (2a) 5t. Lletget 1g (2a) 7. JDS 1g (1a) Zero goals but >0 assists: Feltscher 0g (2a) Alvarez, Skjjldkk, Boateng (???!) and Alessandrini 0g (1a) Rest of team 0g, 0a. Including one player with 12 starts. Looking at you, Joe Corona.
Kitchen got a raise.Wait till his numbers come out.— The Squadcast (@Squadcast96) May 23, 2019 He's still on the team?
We are giving Kitchen a raise? Based on what? An incompetence bonus? He was massively overpaid at 500k so wtf? A month ago I thought DTK/GBS could do no wrong. The last month has sadly disabused me of this working hypothesis.
I sadly must agree that new GMs and coaches can’t rip up contracts signed prior to their arrival. Even if they are rubbish.
Maybe not rip them up, but Lou Brown has a unique take. Hang on ... I've got a guy on the other line about some whitewalls.
It seems we have a new player : Looks like the #LAGalaxy have signed Left winger/Forward Iván Gutiérrez from Chivas Guadalajara.— LA Galaxy Rumors (@LAG_Rumors) June 2, 2019 A little about Ivan, he is a local LA kid who played for the Chivas USA academy back in 2015 and has been in the Mexican youth national team system. Had an offer to play at UCLA but got the chance to go to Mexico and play for Chivas Guadalajara. #LAGalaxy— LA Galaxy Rumors (@LAG_Rumors) June 2, 2019 More likely for G2 I believe.
So nobody's discussing the Cristian Pavon rumours? I mean, I get it, they're talking about an $11m transfer fee which probably shouldn't be possible. Also rumours about buying down RA with TAM. Probably nonsense but it seems to be causing a stir!
Speaking to the RA situation first. His salary in 2018 was too high to qualify for a TAM buydown. I haven't seen a real 2019 number yet, but its possible that given his injured status that Romain is more open to taking a slight cut in exchange for an additional year or two. From a cash flow perspective, Discretionary TAM is pretty much just like DP money. Assuming the Galaxy can get the Romain situation addressed, then Pavon becomes a question of institutional will. As a DP, its my understanding that the transfer fee isn't an issue. The only question is does the Galaxy have the $200K left in Salary Cap to accept a young DP? Finally, we may want to ask the question of whether the Galaxy want to/should spend all of this money on a young player who is primarily a right winger like Romaine and already has a history of injuries.
Drini is already a DP this season, if there was a chance of him being bought down this season I believe they would’ve already done that before cutting Gio. As far as offering him a new non-DP contract, the Galaxy can’t offer him a new non-DP contract that takes effect in ‘19 because his current contract carries a transfer fee that balloons his salary even beyond his disclosed salary numbers. That has to resolve entirely first before an extension can be offered. Becca is still in Libertadores and revived a favorable draw in knockout, which means I think if this transfer happens it happens in January. But as we’ve seen sometimes it takes six plus months to negotiate transfers with all parties involved.
Doesn’t the calculus on DPs and TAM and buydowns change a little bit when you are just talking about the summer transfer window and the second half of the season? I feel like there is precedent for teams carrying “4 dps” diwn the stretch because it’s easier to buy down half a salary during the summer. Might be easier now with Drini then was the case in preseason.
I wonder if we can trade Drini (probably have to pay a chunk of his contract) and sign Pavon. I love the guy, but the constant injuries are killing us. Although the play on the field can be frustrating, at least we no longer lack ambition (looking at you Klein, Vaenas and Onalfo) in signing young quality players.
Now ESPN in Argentina is reporting that #LAGalaxy are preparing an offer of around $12 million for a Boca Juniors winger Cristian Pavón. pic.twitter.com/jA6xRYaBxF— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) June 6, 2019
There seems to be smoke to this fire. I really don’t want to see Alessandrini leave. I believe he has a spot on this team, and I hope we can get him on a TAM deal soon rather than a DP. I’d be bummed to lose her even if we got a talented player like Pavon. As others have indicated, this potentially means that GBS is looking for another player that can cross. I don’t feel more crosses is a solution to this trash can we call an offense.