The next home game should be interesting. The SGs will be back and lots of fans will be returning. SKC isn't as bad as they have been but we should be able to get a result from that match. If we can at least start getting results at home, I think it's a legit positive for the team to build on. I'm not sure it puts the playoffs within reach, but this team would do well minimally to start beating the teams they should when they should (i.e. at home). I do think the team is already playing better, but only because they were an absolute disaster before: Our previous 3 MLS matches we conceded 6 times and scored 0. But amidst that you also had a bunch of minor player insurrections / mental breakdowns: Caceres getting a 2nd yellow confronting a ref, Dejan trying to walk off the field after being subbed, Chicharitos' stupid 2nd yellow against Charlotte, Raheem not acknowledging Greg after coming off in one match etc. I think the pressure was getting to these guys and I think they're playing better as a result (I didn't mentioned Bond and Klinsmann awful gaffes). To your point though, even playing to potential, this team is just not very well constructed!
“being .500 on the road” is a generous description of us. It is technically true if a sample size of two games means anything, but it doesn’t. In regular season play vs full strength MLS teams we are 1-5-2 on the road. It would be fair to add our Open Cup victory and loss against mostly full strength RSL sides and say we are 2-6-2 I guess. But it's misleading to make anything out of a two game series. And especially when both games are decided by a single goal. (I realize you know all this as well as anyone - I just felt compelled to jump in when I saw the .500 on road phrase.) Edit: Maybe you are going back 4 games & including our LAFC Open win, making us 2-2 over last 4 away games. But I don't think they were close to full strength. Plus it seems arbitrary to cherrypick starting with the LAFC win. (I know, much ado about little. But what else is there to talk about here?)
Yep, seeing and grasping at the sunny side can prolong the process and the torture but fans do that. I do that come game time. Tho I am weining myself from that. Vanney is helping me with it. Hopefully I don't wein myself into an Inter Miami jersey but we'll see. Here is Vanney with the same ol dog and pony routine.
I guess there is a fundamental question: Does AEG have the ambition to have LAG be anything other than mid-table cash cow and appreciating investment.?
I think the season is probably a wash. Perhaps it was worth it to get rid of Klein once and for all. It was always going to be somewhat nerfed with the transfer ban anyhow. There's a lot of exciting potential for next season. I should hope by then we have a new President and (hopefully) GM. We could potentially have a new coach (though I'm not completely Vanney out yet) and two DP spots available.
Based on how long they held on to Kline watching the team suffer year after year for a decade and only made a move after they saw their revenue threatened? I see alot of things but I don't see ambition. True they spent lots of money on the club but perhaps that was more to keep the turnstiles spinning and the merch flying. We'll see clearer in what sort of rebuild AEG does now but I would in general say no. I am still hopeful somebody will buy it that wants to compete.
The hope is that Beckerman hires a President who has great ambition, competence, is a natural leader and wants to stay around for awhile. Other than pushing for an occasional superstar I don't think Dan will interfere much if we get such a person and he/she makes money for the team. And while some may disagree, I think winning and making $ can go hand in hand beautifully. My understanding is that this is what has happened with the Kings. I don't see AEG selling so everything comes down to the President hire. And I'm hoping we don't limit our sights to former Galaxy players. The best candidate will likely be someone outside the Galaxy family.
And if I were Beckerman I would be using a sports headhunter company to find my candidates. For the President role (which I visualize as the Galaxy CEO) I think we need a brilliant sports executive more than we need a soccer person. A good CEO will fill the organization with the right soccer people - Head Coach, Technical Director, Head of Analytics, Head of Scouting/Recruiting, Head Trainer, Marketing Director, Salary Cap Expert, etc.
Josh on COG last night said that he hears AEG is doing just this - looking for a sports executive with a big resume, and not necessarily a soccer exec.
Yeah...And he'd return to a lesser role than the one he had departed with. It'd be a step down for him.
Finally they are reading my posts! But seriously this is great news. Finally we will be looking beyond friend of friends. And if they truly pay attention to resumes that will be another major improvement for this organization. And all of this because of the SG boycotts - congrats to all who participated!
This reads like it was written by ChatGPT, but basically places the blame for the season on Vanney and his insistence on his formation. Mentioning Perez as a strike partner for Jovelic is a bit optimistic (considering he hasn't come back enough from injury to even play much for the G2s), but I suppose we might see Judd although it would leave us without a striker sub on the bench. https://www.90min.com/posts/la-galaxy-where-gone-wrong-hollywood-giants I think the problem is more complex than just formation though. We insist on possession, but we don't have the final ball right or the finishers to complete it when it does come in right and we don't have a true stay-at-home DM who can cover up on defense when turnovers go wrong in the middle of the field. Add on our problems on set pieces and the recipe is complete for a poor offense and defense despite high possession % and completed passes stats.
A little more complex. Yeah, I would say so. Greg is responsible for picking the entirety of the team we now have. With Chich now gone especially so. He has had two rebuilds, one major and one minor. To no vail. The needle moved backward this season. We, is alot of people. Vanney, is responsible for being a one trick pony with the tactics and formation. He tries other things but he returns to the one thing he wants and knows, That he doesn't have the players to execute his "vision" is largely his own fault. He has been in the mix picking and choosing players since he came here. Cabral and the French Connection to mention a few. Kline gets the most of the fault but that covers more the entirety of his tenure here. Kline didn't pick all of Vanneys team. Kline was not on the field and at practices shoving his opinion on what Greg should be training. I though chat bots were experimental but this shows they are pretty much spot on. I like the piece.