If we keep playing Husidic and Pedro in the middle it will probably turn into that ---------------Zardes------------- Boateng-----Gio----Allesandrini ----------Husidic-----Pedro-------- Nominally, we're playing with Gio farther forward and Husidic farther forward in our Y midfield but Husidic needs to hang back a bit which will leave a gap in the middle that Gio will have to fill. This is going to put a lot of pressure on Zardes so he needs to get to 100% in a hurry.
Todd Dunivant was another one. Very talented in so many ways, but not quick or fast. That didn't stop him from being one of the most effective fullbacks I've ever seen. He was one of Bruce's first re-signings when he came in. It was Yallop, of course, who foolishly let him go.
I listened to Corner of the Galaxy on my way to work and I was shocked to hear all the JVD stuff. Guesman speculated -- didn't offer a source-- so I'm guessing it's speculation that the sub on Saturday came because Onalfo was pissed that JVD attempted a few long balls that cost us two goals. So other than the fact that he pushes forward, Onalfo was annoyed at his long balls that don't land any where and by pass the midfield. Baxter also cites an "unnamed veteran player" who revealed that the JVD sub gained some respect from the players because he wasn't being held accountable. He mentioned that this player had played on a few different MLS teams and was a vet. Who could that possibly be? Only really journeyman player we have is Gio. Kinda surprised to hear players say that Onalfo won back the locker room and earn a few more weeks of employment.
To the best of my knowledge, the only current Galaxy players who have played on another MLS team are Jones, Rogers, Husdic and Jack Mac. I guess Kennedy might also qualify.
You are quite possibly right, but all we have to go on for that (I believe) is one reporter's comment. I know Jones shouted out at Curt a couple of games ago, but I don't know the specifics. I thought by his gesture he might have been expressing displeasure with Pedro's play, but I really don't know.
I got the impression the player was not a "big name", as the comment was to how the big names get brought in and never get benched while the role players get pulled after a single bad game. Made me think it was probably Husidic.
I really think Onalfo is screwing this club. Jones was a club changer for New England, and even colorado despite being injured the majority of the season. Jones took New England from one of the worst MLS clubs, to consistently making the playoffs and even the final in 2014 where they lost to us barely. The 9 matches Jones played for Colorado made them look like the best team in the league. They were very unlucky that Seattle did a complete 180 late in the season and became unstoppable because I thought Colorado was going to win the cup. Now with no Jones, Colorado and New England are both struggling yet again. I don't think it is a coincidence that wherever Jones goes, the team suddenly gets a lot better, and then when Jones leaves, the team drops hard. Jones played a box to box mid for both those clubs, but for some reason he looks bad for us in that role. I think it's a lack of organization and structure. I mean if New England and Colorado can get Jones going, why can't we. I really think Onalfo is damaging this club.
No argument with your last comment - Onalfo is bad news all around. However, it is quite possible that Jones has finally run out the string and doesn't have much to give, regardless of the coach. You can't write off his complete lack of positional discipline entirely to the inept coach. It sure that doesn't help any, but Jones should know better by now without having to be told.
This may free up some budget space too since the surgery was preseason UPDATE: One caveat is that the rules require the budgetary relief to be spent on a player signed before the end of the Primary Transfer Window, which has already closed. So, not sure it is still available unless MLS extended it or something.
https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2017/05/11/la-galaxy-place-robbie-rogers-season-ending-injury-list DONE!
I am not trying to put all the blame on Onalfo here. I just don't know all the info. It's strange to see Jones go from one of the league's best CMs to what he is now. Jurgen Klinsmann was notorious for not giving his players proper instructions, so maybe that is what is going on? Maybe Jones doesn't have a clear idea of what he should be doing? For New England and Colorado, Jones was always the guy running box to box while a true DM would cover for him. It worked well for those clubs, but I rarely see Pedro shift over to cover Jones' erratic runs. Maybe Onalfo is trying to contain Jones a bit more and it's causing our midfield to become disjointed? If that is the case, it also falls on Jones who is not listening to the manager's orders, but it is also the manager not playing a player to his strengths.
Jones was playing quite similar to the way he played in NE before the last 2 matches when he was switched to CAM. He was also leading the team in tackles, assists, and run-of-play key passes, much as he did for NE. He was the ranked on LA behind Aless by bothe Whoscored and The Audi Index over that time period. The difference, Jones had Caldwell in NE who was tactically aware, could actually move, win balls, and make quick forward passes. Take a look at Pedro and Husidic v Chicago on the first goal at 35 secs: Zardes has an absolutely dreadful turnover Pedro instead of playing goal side defense on Accam runs in front of him allowing Accam to receive and run at the defense with zero pressure. Husidic seems unconcerned, jogging instead of sprinting to pickup Nikolics who eventually earns the penalty. You can actually see Husidic jog, stop and start to try start to run when Nikolics is receiving the ball. You can bet the rest of MLS are salivating at the thought of facing Pedro and Husidic as the CM pair!
Per MLS rules & regulations, the #LAGalaxy will receive a roster spot due to Rogers' SEI status but will be responsible for budget charge— Adam Serrano (@AdamSerrano) May 11, 2017
I think that's probably true. That is, I don't think Onalfo realized he was getting a 10 when he brought Jones in. I think it's important that two of our off-season signings ostensibly play the same position and they started together. I also think those squads were built around Jones to a large extent.
Oh goodie another ******** up by the front office. Right-back for the Galaxy may be one of the biggest management debacles in Galaxy history. It’s certainly the biggest own-goal I can recall.
Just for fun...this was the starting line-up from our last win of 2016, a 1-0 home playoff victory over the Rapids. The same squad also beat RSL @ home 3-1. In bold parentheses, I put the 2017 player that has nominally replaced the 2016 squad member. (4-2-3-1) Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers (Bradley Diallo), Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget (Joao Pedro); Landon Donovan (Jermaine Jones), Giovani dos Santos, Ema Boateng (Romain Alessandrini); Alan Gordon (Gyasi Zardes) Some key changes, sure, but on net, how can the 2017 squad be so much worse? How did JVD go to not-starting quality when he captained the squad to two playoff victories last season?
Your analysis is spot on. Husidic is well liked so he doesn't get the heat that a JJ or Gerrard or Pedro would have gotten if they had made the same lazy play. Btw, Pedro makes the same exact mistake on the 2nd goal as he did on the first. When the Chicago defender intercepts VD's pass deep in their end Pedro was several yards goal-side of the speedy Accam. Behind Pedro was 30 yards of open space, putting Pedro in. So any decent player would recognize the danger of a quick counter and would take steps to prevent it. One choice would be to just stay safely goal side of Accam, the other would be to approach him but foul him if he tries to take off. Either play gives your team time to recover their defensive shape.The absolute worst play Pedro can do is what he did - run right up to Accam, allowing Accam to easily get behind him and receive the return pass with acres of space open in front of him. We were toast the moment Pedro took himself out of the play. I used to coach select youth teams and my players knew better than to make the mistake Pedro did. Here is the situation before Pedro overcommits (also note Husidic's positioning): Here is the play 5 seconds later (notice the gigantic gap between our d-mids and our back line): This is an absolute textbook example of poor positioning by a team. You want to keep triangles out on the field so everyone has support close behind them. Don't get too spread out and don't play flat across the field (except the back line). Whatever you do - don't leave 20-30 yds wide open space in front of your back four. We made it so easy on Chicago. And this goal is being blamed on JVD!?! I would agree if it was a surprise midfield turnover but this was a long ball that Chicago took possession of close to their own 18 yard box. Happens 20+ times a game in every game, even if it is Barcelona vs RM. In the pregame planning Onalfo should have warned the players about Accam's speed and the need to not allow him to get the ball in open spaces. But we allowed that happen repeatedly, including on both goals. But we continued to make the mistake all the way until Chicago bizarrely sent him to the bench.
I couldn't agree more. This has all the hallmarks of some budget limitation where the FO needed Dan's approval in order to act. I can see Dan then making them prove they needed the fund's.
Let's see....Rogers > Diallo/Smith/Garcia, Lletget > Pedro, Boateng > JJ. Also I would note that we didn't look great at the end of last season, going 0-3-2 in our last 5 regular season games before the two playoff wins. Speaking of playoff wins - it's hard to say that in general 2016 Donovan/Gordon > Alessandrini/Zardes but the 3-1 win over RSL has an interesting scoring summary: LA – Alan Gordon (Assisted by Giovani dos Santos, Landon Donovan) 14’ RSL – Joao Plata (penalty) 21’ LA – Emmanuel Boateng (Assisted by Alan Gordon) 26’ LA – Emmanuel Boateng (Assisted by Alan Gordon) 34’
If you look at the play and "defending" on both goals, I think you see a team that has given up / doesn't care because the play is shockingly bad. Players aren't even trying to get behind the ball when Chicago has possession. Really, that first half had shades of USMNT vs. Panama.