Watching the goal replays since I missed the game and I think this pic sums up our season -- Chasing other teams from behind:
I really want Zardes to work out at RB. He's a great guy and from L.A. so, if there's a way he can contribute enough to earn his salary, I'm all for it. He seemed to settle into the position a bit as the game went on so, I'd like to see him finish out the season starting at RB.
Then watched Alessandrini's incredible free kick. He scores, puts the game within reach and the rest of the team just stand there, heads down, no joy whatsoever. Not a half-hearted raised arm or even a smile. I've never seen anything like it in soccer. Talking about no heart - this team is the epitome of it. Even Ema has looked joyless and mentally checked out on the field during the last few games. https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/m...kansas-city-vs-la-galaxy/details/video/135684
The problem with Zardes is I don't think he starts over Alessandrini/Lletget/Boateng so it's either sit on the bench, move to RB or be traded. That's sort of the order I would prefer, but given the salary cap, the bench won't be the answer.
The problem is even if he turns to be OK at RB, he's getting 577 k per year! That's far too much for a fullback in this league.
Well, at least I know I am not crazy. I thought this game was going to be on FOX. I just couldn't remember the time. And then when they showed the Giants v. Eagles I thought it would be the LA Galaxy game to follow. Then I saw no, it was Atlanta United to follow. I finally have enough sense to check in here and find out I've missed the game entirely because they chose to show a football game instead of a futbol game. Apparently I didn't miss anything except the smooth, soothing voice of LD critiquing our play. Edit: Oh, and Gyasi at right back. I missed that. Maybe next week!
Cianni is bad, that first goal is all on him. Zardes is too expensive at 577K, now if he takes a pay cut down to $200K, fine. I am so done with Gio...
Actually, Garcia was an improvement over Joao. Garcia is competent reserve defensive midfielder at any other position he is at best at the emergency level. He is not an 8, a 10 or a fullback.
How is that not saying much? In a terrible season where no one is scoring, including dos Santos, who is making millions more -- he is the last forward to score / assist. If it doesn't make sense to carry him as a forward at that salary, it definitely doesn't make sense at RB. Sigi basically gave Zardes walking papers.
Yeah, not starting Rafa when Jones is unavailable is incredibly dumb. Is someone still under the impression Pedro is a 6?
I mean that when everyone is sucking, scoring last isn't necessarily a good or bad thing. It just means we suck. Its not like he was on a hot streak. I'd get rid of Gio too and I really hope that "playing for your job" thing extends to him but, I don't think it's going to happen.
If the TV commentary is right, that he was being thrown out there WITHOUT EVER EVEN HAVING PRACTICED at that position, I can forgive his positioning errors. Cianni not so much.
Gyasi Zardes makes his first career start at right back. The #LAGalaxy homegrown has trained at that position at times over the last month.— Adam Serrano (@AdamSerrano) September 24, 2017 Sigi says Zardes did excellent. I didn't see excellent but what do I know. This experiment is just so desperate Cianni definitely not his goal was on a near post run. He should have been able to defend it.
With this new "lets try you in this position game plan" perhaps they could switch the defence with the offence and see who scores first....
In some ways, Zardes at RB makes sense. He has the physical tools to get forward, is tall in the air and could be a force up and down the right side. It also keeps him on the field if you want to start Ema on the left wing. I have not been impressed with Gyasi's ability this year to score or take anyone on, so why not try RB. He just needs to take a pay cut.
I'm sorry, but all Zardes at RB does for me is hammer home the season-long problem (which was anticipated by everybody outside the Galaxy FO and coaching ranks from the moment AJ was traded), that we have barely had a true starting-level RB all season. I will grant them that Pele Van Anholt was brought in as a solution and we couldn't predict him being done for the season after a couple of games, but that alone was well overdue. The fact that we're now choosing a winger/forward in that role, shows that we never had a viable plan for this roster, period/full stop. Ciani is also turning out as hypothesized by many here, as being a guy who couldn't find a club in Europe because he was a spent force. The fact that we fans, as non-professional observers, have been spotting these issues well in advance of them coming to fruition, really shows up the FO as having no idea what they're doing. It's now my theory that the only reason we'd got Romain Alessandrini, is because he was a talent that had gone off the boil in France and was therefore attainable. Remember that the scuttlebutt from France at the time of signing was that he was wasted potential and that the Galaxy were taking a risk. I believe that everyone of Alessandrini, Ciani, Pedro, and even Van Anholt were punts, signed on the premise that they were alright in Europe, so might probably be decent in MLS. That goes for Jones as well, being an aging star with experience both Europe and MLS that might still have something to offer. This whole operation is ripe for a reboot.
Graham Zusi makes more than that, and he's one of SKC's most valuable players. His play at right back has been a revelation and revitalized SKC's defense AND offense. Leads SKC in assists (7) and I think leads all MLS defenders in chances created or some such stat. Don't discount what a pair of fantastic fullbacks can do for your team.
When you consider that most of his salary is off the books, because he's a HGP, it's really not an issue what he makes. That's why if Zardes is producing (doesn't matter what position) his value is incredibly high, in a salary cap league.
He's not off the books anymore. He's on the full senior roster and was last year as well. 100% of his salary is against our cap (and being bought down with TAM).
Thank you, that's what I thought. IIRC he's not off the books anymore since he signed his new contract a few years ago (can't remember when). OK, it works for one team in MLS (maybe one or two more, don't have time to search). But that's not a standard to have high-paid fullback. Just look at the top two teams in each conference : - Toronto : Beitashour (250 k) and Morrow (210 k) - NYCFC : RB spot shared between White (65 k) and Allen (100 k), LB was supposed to be Mattarita (175 k), but Sweat (65 k) is starting. - Vancouver : Nerwinski (65 k) and Williams (175 k) at RB, Harvey (180 k) at LB. - Portland : Powell (115 k) and Valentin (110 k) at RB, Vytas (222 k) at LB. And I think it's hard to compare a former CM like Zusi (who has always been a great passer) to a forward like Zardes. Gyasi has always been praised for his defensive work (rightfully so), but his technique and passing are just OK. I don't get the "fantastic fullback" yet. I'm not against the Zardes at RB experiment, it's just happening too late. If it doesn't work, OK it didn't matter but Zardes is probably still not a starter next year and it raises a problem for a player with his salary, and if Gyasi is good for the last few games, is it not very risky to consider him as the starting RB next year?
I love Gyasi - but honestly I think his lack of consistent touch will be even more of a problem at fullback. Sometimes, often, there is just no recovery time at that position, and an error is pounced on. The best fullbacks have a really good touch, even if their speed isn't quite there. Thinking Todd Dunivant. I don't know what you do with him, but I don't see fullback working out. I hope I'm wrong. I still think he can be a cog in the offensive wheel, if you have 3-4 other good cogs. Gyasi is having problems, but I think Gio is the real issue. He hasn't been connecting with anyone.