Official: 2016 Rumor and Roster Moves Thread

Discussion in 'LA Galaxy' started by ragbone, Oct 29, 2015.

  1. The Beautiful Gamer

    The Beautiful Gamer BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 26, 2008
    Minneapolis, MN
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was upset when he left and remember telling people here and elsewhere who thought his asking price would keep him from getting signed, that he would likely be the first free agent snapped up. Gargan is the better attacker but Franklin is a monster defender. At this point that is what we need most in the backline. But of course if we could get the best of both worlds then,... yeah screw Franklin and Gargan, sign the other guy lol.
    Still, I'd pay money to once more see the Back 4 of Awesomeness play again this time with a younger Robbie Rogers in the IronMan role
     
  2. Lazy Assed Assassin

    Jul 21, 2015
    Filed under “no shit Bruce, isn’t that your job?” Though to be fair on paper Gerrard was in that mold.
     
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  3. The Beautiful Gamer

    The Beautiful Gamer BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 26, 2008
    Minneapolis, MN
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ^^This sad truth makes me want to knock over buildings like Godzilla or at least a Dinozord!
     
  4. MPNumber9

    MPNumber9 Member+

    Oct 10, 2010
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    See, I'm not sure we have significant problems with our individual defenders in the back four, though. Right now, I would not trade a good attacking fullback for one that defends a little better. The wingbacks getting caught out from time-to-time is a feature of our system, not a bug. I'm still thinking if we have a midfield that can control the ball without losing it in dangerous spots when our fullbacks are advancing and a CM that can quickly move laterally to close down the space behind the fullback, our outside backs won't get caught out so much.
     
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  5. Skevin

    Skevin Member+

    Aug 9, 2009
    Colorado
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    I would actually be very sad to see Omar go. When paired with a defender that actually compliments him, Omar is the best defender in the league. Leo-Omar was just two slow giants who could be beat with passing. The reason Omar works so well with AJ and Besler is because those two read the game well and intercept passes and runs well. Omar deals with everything else. I'd rather start Rowe every game if it meant keeping Omar.
     
  6. WarGalaxy

    WarGalaxy Member+

    May 29, 2011
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think we already have one of the best RB's in the league with AJDLG. That's where I prefer him playing. I agree that Omar needs a CB partner that anticipates the game. I'm not sure Leo will ever be the right partner for Omar. I'm also not sure Omar will be back next season however. I really want him to be back but I think he's going to be making 1.4 million next season. I just really don't want to see a player take that kind of pay cut to get below the DP threshold. Hopefully the league adds another type of DP that Omar and his current contract fits into. We're going to need him for CCL.

    In a perfect world Kim Young-gwon is brought over and is Omar's permanent long term CB partner. Also I think, if traded for, Ike Opara could be a really good partner for Omar moving forward as well.
     
  7. LEM-LAG

    LEM-LAG Member+

    May 28, 2011
    Club:
    Olympique Lyonnais
    God if we swap Omar for Kennedy I'll kill Bruce.
     
  8. The Cadaver

    The Cadaver It's very quiet here.

    Oct 24, 2000
    La Cañada, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That's a Frank Yallop move if I ever saw one.

    Now, if Omar really wants to go to Dallas (and I am suspicious about this - but there could be family reasons) there are in fact Dallas players other than Kennedy that could be useful to us.
     
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  9. Baysider

    Baysider Member+

    Jul 16, 2004
    Santa Monica
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    I don't think we should think of this as a straight-up trade. Unless there's some magical intervention, we need to remove Omar from the roster. He's not going to accept a huge cut in salary. Nobody is going to pay a large enough salary and transfer fee for him that he would agree to go. The one option is that we trade him to some other team in MLS who isn't constrained in the number of DPs and where there is a natural tie-in. Dallas is the obvious answer.

    In this way, we at least get something for him. I don't think Kennedy is a bad as those stats show and he's familiar with the league so he would be ready from day one. Plus, I expect we would also get a younger defender or some allocation money.
     
  10. Baysider

    Baysider Member+

    Jul 16, 2004
    Santa Monica
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Maybe it's just the last month, but I'm swinging back and forth between being optimistic and pessimistic on an hourly basis.

    Bruce says there will be changes. But if Gerrard stays, who goes? Keane is incredible. Gio is staying. Zardes has a lot of heart and we need that. Lletget fell off at the end but still shows exceptional skill for this league. Juninho is doing the work of two people. We're not going to find a better left back in MLS than Rogers. AJ is the defensive heart of the team. Leo gets a lot of abuse but I think he's a solid MLS defender, and we're going to need him anyway after Omar goes.

    Aside from keeper, our team from the last two games is our team. Maybe with a better keeper we win in Seattle, but I don't see this as a championship team.
     
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  11. SoCalYid

    SoCalYid Member+

    Jun 11, 2011
    BigSoccer :)
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't understand the obsession with Kennedy he's been pretty mediocre for awhile but every time we need a goalkeeper his name pops up.
     
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  12. SoCalYid

    SoCalYid Member+

    Jun 11, 2011
    BigSoccer :)
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Muntari is a good player, often underrated by Italian fans. He would be a better Jermaine Jones. If JJ played on any team with him he'd be 2nd choice. I'd have to imagine that Muntari is on quite a bit of money in Saudi Arabia, like an obscene amount and barely any taxes (or none). So I'm not sure he would want to leave.

    It's the same situation with Vucinic he's playing in the UAE but I saw him play for Montenegro not too long ago and he would still be devastating in MLS. Bruce talked about the need for more Keanes and Vucinic is a player who can be as influential. It's a shame no MLS team tried to buy him.

    Also, if Beckham has some influence I'm not sure he would be on board.

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. WarGalaxy

    WarGalaxy Member+

    May 29, 2011
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Kennedy is a below average MLS keeper. He just made a few really nice saves because he was always under siege on Chivas. He was brought into Dallas to be the starter but couldn't hold onto the position.

    I thought Penedo was a top 10 MLS keeper in the league and we're going to need a keeper as good or better. That player might have to come outside of the league.

    Adam Kwarasey might be the ideal int. MLS keeper in the league. He's NT/WC quality but he doesn't leave for international duty anymore.
     
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  14. L.A. Native

    L.A. Native Member+

    Aug 1, 2013
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Wait, Omar wants to go?

    Sheeeeit, don't let the door hit ya!

    That will solve our financial problems. Obviously we'll have to replace him, a GK and bench players but, whether or not that'd be a Cup-winning team...?... that'll depend on ol' Stevie.

    Wow, just noticed Stevie's only about a month older than Keano!? I'm older than Gerrard!? I'm even more disappointed with Stevie now.
     
  15. OC Galaxy Fans

    Jul 30, 2009
    Placentia
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    When does our failure to make the 2016/17 CCL bite us in the loss of allocation money? I assume we're good next year, right?
     
  16. skydog

    skydog Member+

    Aug 1, 1999
    Durham, NC
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    #91 skydog, Oct 31, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2015
    First, let's just take Dan Kennedy off the table. He isn't the solution to our keeper problem.

    Dan has been consistently over-rated by fans and coaches alike for years now. His slow reaction time and lack of agility shows up year after year in his stats. His save %'s have always been in the mid to low 60's, which means 1/3 of the shots he's faced have ended up in the back of the net. Those are current Ricketts' levels and just plain unacceptable.

    When I've mentioned this in the past his defenders just counter-argued that his sv% was crappy because his team was crappy. I never bought the argument, at least not to the extent needed to justify Dan's numbers. A crappy team will hurt a keepers GAA significantly but should have a much smaller effect on the percentage of shots saved. After all Jon Busch saved a very respectable 72% of the shots he faced in 2014 despite playing for the 6-16-12 SJE, who had a whopping -15 goal differential.

    Anyway Dan got some chances this season, starting 16 games for Supporter Shield challenger Dallas. And surprise, surprise, once again his save % was a lowly 62.5%. That means a whopping 37.5% of Dallas's opponents' shots on goal ended up in the back of the net when Kennedy was playing.

    So how does that compare to the field this season? There were 26 goalkeepers who faced 45+ SOG this season (criteria set to include Kennedy who faced 48 shots). Here are the best and the worst, with some LA keepers thrown in for good measure:

    Five Worst Goalkeepers by Save %

    26. John McCarthy, Phi, 53.7%
    25. Brian Sylvestre, Phi, 60.0%
    24. Jon Busch, Chi, 61.4%
    23. Bobby Shuttleworth, NE, 62.4%
    22. Dan Kennedy, Dal, 62.5%

    Other notables:
    19. Donovan Ricketts, ORL/LAG 63.0%
    N/A. Brian Rowe, LAG, 59.1% (faced only 22 sog)

    Five Best Goalkeepers by Save %'s

    1. Jesse Gonzalez, DAL, 78.7%
    2. Stefan Frei, SEA, 77.1%
    3. Bill Hamid, DCU, 75.9%
    4. Tim Melia, SKC, 72.9%
    5. Jaime Penedo, LAG, 72.5%

    Other notables:
    8. Nick Rimando, RSL, 71.0%
    N/A. Andre Blake, PHI, 76.5% (faced only 34 sog)

    As you can see, Penedo was a good keeper, while Kennedy, Ricketts, and Rowe were pretty awful. So for 2016 we don't need Kennedy.

    What we really need is a taller, more loyal "Penedo."
     
  17. LEM-LAG

    LEM-LAG Member+

    May 28, 2011
    Club:
    Olympique Lyonnais
    He was very good back in 2011-2012 and I think he was close to sign with us at the beginning of the 2013 season. There were a lot of rumors about it but I guess Chivas asked a too high price and we finally signed Cudicini.

    I get your point but we have to ask a lot more than Kennedy if Omar really wants to leave. Maybe someone like Hedges for example. But I fear a "Magee for Rogers" (though it turned to be good move) or a "Sarvas for allocation money + something big we won't use" move.

    Kennedy is better than Ricketts but not better than Penedo, he's actually a starting keeper for the lower teams of the League.
     
  18. SoCalYid

    SoCalYid Member+

    Jun 11, 2011
    BigSoccer :)
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah I remember. Even back then I wasn't too high on him. You always have to be careful scouting keepers who get worked a lot and being a Chivas keeper that's your lot in life. They tend to make more spectacular saves (or just saves in general) because they face more shots. You can get enamored with them because they appear to be "the only thing keeping them in the game". For clubs like ours though it's important to have a keeper who can physically stop all shots but also keep their composure between periods of not being worked. That's why I always look for the mental qualities in goalkeepers over technical - composure, organization, positioning, bravery (very important), awareness and so on. I never really saw him as being amazing in any of those areas.

    We found Penedo during a tournament, got a bit lucky, but he's not the only foreign keeper in this hemisphere we could sign for a non-dp deal. There's loads of them just as good, even in Europe. Problem is I'm not sure what's the status of our scouting right now. We used to use 3rd parties and that might not be the worst idea for this problem. Technically 3rd parties don't exist any more but there still are scouting or management services (which are the same thing), I know people who have worked with them. Typically those services will present clubs with a list of players possible to sign and a large potion of the feasible targets are goalkeepers, they usually have a surplus of them.

    Side note: I was going to ask given you're a French football fan, how has Gourcuff been getting on since leaving Lyon? He used to be really fun to watch. I was thinking maybe he could be useful if Gerrard goes.
     
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  19. skydog

    skydog Member+

    Aug 1, 1999
    Durham, NC
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    You are right in that Kennedy was better back in 2011. And yes I know save % doesn't tell the whole story. But it tells a lot of the story. Here is Kennedy over time:

    Year, Save %
    2010, 71%
    2011, 70%
    2012, 65%
    2013, 63%
    2014, 60%
    2015, 62%

    Pretty strong trend line there - a once ok keeper on the decline. He was never in the great keeper status though.
     
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  20. LEM-LAG

    LEM-LAG Member+

    May 28, 2011
    Club:
    Olympique Lyonnais
    Gourcuff is set to sign with Rennes (a club in the Bretagne region, where he's born), but he is injured at the moment.

    I'm a Lyon fan and I have followed Gourcuff for five years. He's a good player when healthy, but he's never healthy. During five years at Lyon he had injuries after injuries (and some didn't look like real injuries...) and he was our most paid player. I think (and many Lyon fans think the same) that he's not capable of being a pro, he's mentally weak.

    Honestly I rather have Gerrard who is a true pro and plays more than a third of the season.
     
  21. 7E23

    7E23 Member+

    Jul 7, 2008
    Long Beach
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Who are other LA born goalkeepers? It may not be Kennedy (hope not), it may just be two separate rumors in one tweet. Rimando is from LA (his wife is too).

    Another LA'ish area born player (SLO) is Chris Seitz (also Dallas).

    That's all I can think of. I did find this list of the top 100 US goalkeepers. They have Rowe at 16. I think this based soley on save %. It's a good list to see what's out there.
    http://www.everybodysoccer.com/even.../12/top-100-american-goalkeepers-october-2015
     
  22. pastor

    pastor Member+

    Jul 1, 2009
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Off season moves. What to do?

    Pretty obvious. Team needs a keeper and a player to replace Sarvas.

    I would keep defense intact. Cut Omar pay by 50% but give some incentive bonus goals.
     
  23. WarGalaxy

    WarGalaxy Member+

    May 29, 2011
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Omar would still need a DP slot even at half the pay. Plus any incentive bonus would count against the cap.

    I love how a bunch of people here think that giving Omar a pay cut is an option just because it isn't convenient for the team. Well, the team gave him that contract and it's still valid. I'm sure no one here would be happy if they were pulled in by HR, at their job, and told that they were getting their pay cut by half; and oh, be happy about it too and continue to try hard. :)

    Continue to pay the man (he's earned it), or trade him, or sell him, or cut him.
     
  24. Beirut

    Beirut Member+

    Feb 3, 2010
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
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  25. skydog

    skydog Member+

    Aug 1, 1999
    Durham, NC
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    That's good news about Penedo. IMO Penedo is just an emotional guy who made a mistake. We could take the hard line --you rejected us, we'll never talk to you again. Or we could give him a second chance, which would be my choice. We need him, he fits in well with the team, and I think he will have learned his lesson about making impulsive decisions.

    It's clear that I absolutely hate the idea of bringing in Kennedy. The exception would be if he is willing to be a backup and get paid backup wages. He is perfect for that role. But if Bruce brings does bring him in as a starter then he will be the third keeper brought in to "save the day" despite the player losing his starting job at his own club. The first two? Cudicini and 2015 Ricketts. Need I say more?

    All of us Bruce fans know that sometimes his arrogance gets in his own way. We've seen him repeatedly take on old vets that have fallen out of favor with their current clubs. It's like Bruce just thinks he knows better than the players most recent coach. And on a rare occasion he is right - Gargan only started 6 times for the SJE in the season before Bruce brought him here in 2014. Many kudos to Bruce for that one.

    But the vast majority of the time there is a very good reason these guys are being discarded by their current clubs. They have slowed down and can't compete in league that increasingly demands speed and athleticism. Here is a partial list of these gems: Cudicini, Angel, '15 Buddle, '15 Ricketts, Hejduk, Kirovski, Eddie Lewis, Mastroeni, Mathis, Noonan, Robinson, Sanneh, Vanney. Maybe they brought something to the locker room but all of these players were pretty unmitigated disasters on the field.

    Now I don't think Kennedy would be a "disaster" like some of the above. but I do think he would be weak enough to hurt us, letting in goals a quicker keeper would have saved. And we need the opposite, especially if we are going to keep Gerrard. In 2016 we will need a quick goalkeeper who can clean up or mitigate the mistakes made in front of them.

    Bring back Penedo. Or find someone truly better.
     
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