Official: 2021 LA Galaxy II Season

Season begins tomorrow for Los Dos, at home against Sacramento (7:30 PM). I just wanted to make a breakdown of our roster before the season begins.

Maybe a few more signings will be made in the next few days, and some players are very unknown at this point.

GK : there is no keeper officially signed to Los Dos yet. First team GK Eric Lopez is expected to get the start, maybe Justin Vom Steeg will play a few games too.

DF : Mauricio Cuevas (RB - LB), Jesus Vazquez (CB), Josh Drack (LB), Isaac Bawa (CB - RB - LB), Owen Lambe. I expect first team players Jalen Neal (CB) and Marcus Ferkranus (CB) to get a lof of minutes there.

MF : Taylor Davila (DM), Adrian Gonzalez (DM), Daniel Aguirre (CAM) Jorge Hernandez (CAM), Victor Valdez (CAM). Alex Alcala and Miguel Avalos are both young national team players from Mexico but I don't know their exact spots.

Wingers : Axel Picazo (RW), Rémi Cabral (LW). Not sure about Cabral but from what I understand, he plays the same spot as his brother. Kai Koreniuk (LW) and Jonathan Perez (RW) could also get minutes there.

FW : Preston Judd (striker). Augustine Williams may have a role too.

Expected lineup for the season :

Lopez
Cuevas Neal Vazquez Drack
Davila
Aguirre Hernandez
Perez Judd Cabral​

 

Your first #LosDos Starting XI of the 2021 @USLChampionship season ✨#LAvSAC pic.twitter.com/erWAcgORxD

— LA Galaxy II (@LAGalaxyII) May 1, 2021

First lineup of the season. Neal is injured, and I bet Cuevas is too, as he disappeared from the first team members during preseason.

 

0-1 defeat after a late goal from Sacramento. A very good first half by Los Dos, but they looked exhausted in the second half and Sacramento's coach made some decisive subs. A few good performances (Ferkranus, Drack, Aguirre). More to come when I'll have the time.

 

Los Dos had a very good first half, creating a few chances (they hit the post on a Judd shot) and annihilating Sacramento's offense (zero shot during the first 45). They got beaten by experience and impactful subs during the second half. I won't say it's a bad performance but this was the type of games they won last year.

As @Benny Dargle said, Ferkranus was very confident from the back, and solid on one-on-one situations. That was surprising to me, I remembered a physical guy but not very skilled. Keep up the good work!

Vazquez had a type of game you love, typical "it's good when you don't hear often the name of a defender"... Until he botched a clearance that lead to Sacramento's goal. Very Vazquez-performance : overall solid but he needs to erase theses mistakes to be first-team material.

Drack was very solid on attack, did a couple of penetrating runs who helped to create spaces. More questionable on defense, especially a late tackle who was worth a red.

Solid games from Lambe and Picazo, not stellar but they did the job. I liked the ability of both Davila and Aguirre (especially the latter) to find the right pass, they always played simple but effective.

Koreniuk was the disappointment of the game, as he never looked dangerous and killed a few oppotunities. Sacramento did a good job of not giving him any space. He needs to do better.

Judd had a mixed game. He was find in good spots, his shots were decent but a better striker would have scored. He looks to play physical, pressing the opposite defenders but sometimes unnecessary rough. Not that bad for a first USL game.

Once again the bench was a huge difference between the two clubs : Adrian Gonzalez looked OK, but Valdez and Nava had zero impact.

 

What a great win by G2. The performance, especially in the second half, was the best I've seen from Los Dos in a very long time. Very impressive given LAFC sent 8 first team players to Las Vegas for the game. Hopefully a sign for Saturday.

Koreniuk scored the opening goal and assisted the second. Overall a very dangerous player as always, who could have scored at least one more goal. He's very solid near the box but far as consistent in the buildup play, leading to bad turnovers sometimes. Good USL player and I love him, but he needs to be a little bit better to get extensive minutes with the first team.

Daniel Aguirre scored a brace (though one goal will officially count as an OG) and was once again one of our best players. Game looks easy with him, always available, always the right pass, doesn't try to be to complicated. What a good find. Jorge Hernandez, on the other side, despite an incredible free kick, had once again up and down moments. He's in good spots but tries to do too much, and is not that effective in the end. Drack got his first goal after overrunning a tired Las Vegas defense in the last seconds. Good for him.

Defense was overall solid, and for once the offside line worked for most of the game. Vom Steeg responded well when we needed him. Lambe, calm and effective (and got Los Dos first assist of the season). Same comment as last week about Drack : he doesn't look out of place, but he's learning the job at LB. Got an assist for his buddy Judd.

MOTM would be between Aguirre and Koreniuk but the unsung hero was Adrian Gonzalez to me. The 17 years old started as a DM and was a pitbull, pressing and winning battles absolutely everywhere. Very impressive.

Only negative note : Johnny Perez had almost zero impact and had a hard time battling with LAFC Raheem Edwards (who's a good player by the way IMHO, I don't know why he doesn't get much playing time).

Next game is on Sunday, again at home, against Tacoma Defiance (Seattle's reserve), at 5 p.m. Until Sunday, watch the highlights (or the entire game, it's worth it) of this 5-0 victory against LAFC B :

 

Sorry, I meant Preston Judd scored his first goal.

 

1-1 draw against Tacoma Defiance, Seattle's reserve. A very, very frustrating result as Los Dos, while playing their third game in nine days, were by far the better team. After Jorge Hernandez scored his second free kick this week (!), Tacoma scored on a last-second PK after an unfortunate handball by Judd.



Jorge Hernandez deserved a ton of credit after a monster game where he was everywhere and very effective on his dribbles and key passes. My MVP.

A player who hasn't put a foot wrong so far is Marcus Ferkranus. By far our best defender, effective in every area of the game (positioning, in the air, interception, passing). Owen Lambe is another effective but not flashy player, he reminds me a little bit of Todd Dunivant (but that's only three games).

Axel Picazo is a good and skilled player, but not that fast neither physical. That could hurt him at the next level. Too bad because he's mature and not fancy.

The weak link was Augustine Williams, who was found in good spots but first touch was seriously lacking.

Next game is on the road against Salt Lake reserves, on Friday (6 p.m.).

 

First away game of the season for Los Dos, as they go to Salt Lake City to face the Real Monarchs. Game is at 6 p.m.

Kevin Cabral is expected to make his debut on Saturday, maybe his brother will do the same today ?

 

2-0 win against the Real Monarchs SLC. No debut for Rémi Cabral (who might be still in France), but another very good performance from Los Dos. RSL 2 was forced to commit fouls after fouls (26 in total) as they were after the play most of the game.



I've been impressed by our defense this season. It seems players act like a unit, there are much less one vs. one confrontation with the goalkeeper. Vom Steeg has been excellent, Drack is progressing very quickly and doesn't look like a converted fullback anymore, and Marcus Ferkranus has simply been the best G2 player through these first four games. He's been terrible during preseason when he mostly played as a RB, but trust me, the difference is HUGE.

That said, Lambe was the weak link, facing a very pacey winger (their best player) who beat him almost every time.

Daniel Aguirre is another youngster who's having a tremendous season. He's playing as a box-to-box, not that involved on the defensive side (though he's doing his job) but his vision is incredible. He's the organizer of this team.

Adrian Gonzalez is also a real project at the DM position. He needs to polish a little bit, but very nice run and cross to Koreniuk on the first goal. A name to remember.

First goal is a typical Koreniuk goal : run to the back post and collect a cross (very similar to the goal he scored against Vancouver in MLS last year). It will be hard for him to get first team playing time, but as a sub when a goal is needed he could do some damages.

The second goal was impressive : Aguirre fights for a ball in the midfield, Jorge Hernandez collects it, sends a beautiful through ball to Judd between two defenders (great run!), perfect first touch, Judd resists to a late tackle and calmly scores. You have to see it.

Next game is on Wednesay (7:30 p.m.), at home against SKC 2. It should be a win for Los Dos.

 

I hope I'm wrong but I fear a Llanez/Mendez//Hernandez-Foster situation. I don't know if Cuevas is related to Kleiban though.