Retaining juninho is a must and I think he is right to want a more attacking role. He was at his best when he was allowed to play more of a box to box role rather than a defensive mid. Get rid of Gerrard Bruce. We don't need him. We need a keeper and maybe a defensive mid.
I wish we'd invest some money or a pick in a young keeper. Someone like Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson. Try to find the next Rimando or Guzan. The other route that is good would be in maybe 5 years when we can offer bigger salaries...you'd do something like try to pick up one of the unhappy ManU backup keepers or Keylor Navas when he was getting the cold shoulder at Real. We can't afford that right now, but that's going to be an optino in the future as the league keeps growing. Right now what we're doing is picking up either low draft pick keepers or guys that are just a bit over the hill. I feel like that's what Kennedy would be, and I agree that he's a strong possibility. I was not impressed wioth him the last few times I saw him play. He was a great keeper, but he's slipped a lot in terms of quickness. I wonder (a) if Howard would consider coming and (b) whether he's worth it. He's had like 4 TERRIBLE games in a row for Everton.
I'd pass on Howard because he may fit your over the hill description, and he'd be expensive. I'd look for a gem elsewhere. The big 4 in Turkey all have goalkeepers better than Ricketts. Babacan has played pretty well for the Turkish national team. Would take him in a heartbeat. Only mentioning this because I know those players a little better.
Don't know how realistic that is, but I like the idea of splashing on a GK or defender for a change. It's an area we're relatively weak in and it would balance out the squad in what is becoming a very attacking league. It'd also give us an opportunity to integrate our young attackers more often.
I doubt Stevie is going anywhere, unfortunately. We obviously need a GK and if Bruce would pull his head out of his ass, he'd put AJ back at CB and pick up a quality RB. I'm not up on the financial aspects of how we keep Omar and do these two things but, if done, we're much better off. I'd also keep Nacho. I liked his hustle and skill for a rookie.
There are plenty of good goalkeepers around the world that would come and play in LA for ~200k. We just need to find them. Anyone stand out in the GC (other than Penedo)?
Unless I'm very wrong in my assessment of things (a great possibility of course) I don't think SG can be kept around without jeopardizing not just the tactics of this team, but the morale and locker room. Is Bruce really prepared to go to these guys and tell them they're going to spend a full season playing out of position to pull the dead weight of a guy making 3-4 times more than them? Do you think anyone that players for the LA Galaxy is looking forward to a 34 game season with Gerrard in midfield? Footballers feel resentment when their co-workers aren't pulling their weight just like workers in any other job. And it's not like they're doing it for LD or Keane, guys who've bled with them -- it's for Gerrard, who has yet to do anything meaningful for the team. Somewhere, Penedo is shaking his head. He's probably eating out of dumpster, but still.
I'm a little more optimistic since we still hold the options on Juninho and Lletget. We need one subtraction and two additions. -----------Keane-------Zardes----------- ---Gio----------------------------Letget -----------------????????------------------ -----------------Juninho------------------- -Rogers---Leo-----Gonzalez------AJ- -----------------????????------------------- It's not trivial to find another Sarvas and Penedo but it's not impossible either. We just need to avoid the Vayrynan/Cudicini route.
With regards to Dax, the Red Bulls wouldn't have a choice. Unless he re-signs with NYRB (he's out of contract at the end of the year), he would be a free agent in MLS and could sign for any team, as long as it's less than or equal to $301,875k (his 2015 salary+15%). If he does move as a free agent, it'll likely be back home to Orlando. Otherwise, I could see NYRB making him either a DP or giving him a good raise and buying him down to a non-DP. He might even go abroad. That's what makes this off-season a bit more interesting.
Par Hansson http://www.expressen.se/kvp/sport/los-angeles-galaxy-jagar-par-hansson/ He was linked in 2014, don't know his status now. All the news on him and LA are in Swedish. According to his club's wiki, he's no longer their starter.
Great way to vent out! I am NOT MAD but disappointed, deeply, deeply. this is what i need to see next 2016 New Career Seekers or Leave: (or Happy to trade) Omar Gonzales 27-or new team Baggio Husidic 28 Brian Perk 26 Brian Rowe 26 Tommy Meyers 25 Rafael Garcia 26 Kenney Walker 26 Must Retired: MUST! Edson Buddle 34 Donovan Ricketts 38 Mika Vayrynen 33 Steven Gerrard 35 Dan Gargan 33 Bruce Arena 21 Alan Gordon 34 Must Keep: DelaGarza 27 Giovani 26 Juninho 26 Robbie Keane 35 “one more year max” Leonardo 27 Sebastian LLetget 23 Keep if the price is right or until 24yrs old Robbie Rogers 28 Oscar Sorto 21 Ignacio Maganto 23 Bradford Jamieson 19 Raul Mendiola 21 Dave Romney 22 Jose Villareal 22 Andrew Wolverton 22 Gyasi Zardes 24 Jack McBean 20 “4Yrs in academy” NO improvement. Future: Ariel Lassiter 20 Clement Diop 21 Elijah Martin 18
I think we should keep Mika Vayrynen. He started slow for us, but it seemed like he began to get accustom to the league later on in the season. We need depth guys. Only issue is he is on a lot, but he is a good guy to have. Champions league, league play, and injuries will take a toll.
What about finding a more central spot for Lletget? This would let Maganto get some minutes on the outside. I really hope Gerrard decides to take a coaching gig somewhere and "let's us down" by walking away but that seems unlikely. I hope this off-season Bruce has the courage to tell him he's going to only be going 60-70 minutes in the big games and gets rested every 5th game just for good measure. Maybe we'll get lucky and Jamieson will come back and get some minutes next year and show growth. If we can't hang on to Omar, Gyasi, and Juninho then that pretty much guts the spine of our 2017 starting lineup.
I do think he really started to look good by the end of the season. Maybe he came in a little out of shape or not quite ready for the style of play (or should I say officiating), but he seemed to be much more effective by the end of the season. Still, though at 33, he could fall apart any season.
If Gerrard leaves (not likely) we need a Modric type. A mobile deep-lying play maker - someone who can provide key passes, link with the forward skill players to feet, occasionally the cutting ball, find players from a deep position and good defensively (which is an underrated part of his game). These players are out there but if the FO are overly focused on buying players based on reputation or marketing potential than we won't find any.
That or a box-to-box player. I'd love to see the Galaxy spend $5m+ on a box-to-box midfielder that actually deserves it. F-ck marketing potential, just get the best player you can for the money. That much money on that type of player would be devastating in this league. Despite recent actions, look how influential Jones is to New England. Imagine that but with a higher quality skill players around him.
The nice thing about Gio is he has the marketing angle covered. WhenGerrard goes the FO could in theory grab someone a little marketing a little more Giovinco
I just don't see us "letting Gerrard go." I hope he retires, but why would he? The thoughts of him still being here next year are quite depressing.
If one goes, we are fine. We have Villarreal who looked pretty good before his injury, and Jamieson who has done pretty well in his limited time with the first team. If we lose both, then we probably need to find someone else to take their place. I already think that we have one too many players on the field out of our front 6. Zardes, Dos Santos, Keane, Lletget, Juninho, and Gerrard can't all be on the field. That's 3 strikers and 3 center mids. Plus none of the mids like to defend. We need a defensive mid and probably need to change to a 4-3-3 to accommodate everyone.