Nascimiento had 6 goals in all competitions in 28 matches in his first season here at 20 years old. Dejan had 2 goals in 14 matches in his first LA season at 21 years of age. He had 15 goals in his second year. I can see Nasci taking a step forward this year. I’m not as down on this as some of you.
Dejan came midseason in 2021 and was behind Chicharito who was having his best year with the Galaxy. Half of these 14 games were as a substitute. He was getting service from Cabral, Grandsir and Lletget. Nasci had Paintsil, Pec, Reus and Cuevas around him. He has a history of injury issues and there were some worrying signs with his speed of execution. I also expect a better year from Nasci but he'll need a very good supporting cast.
This DP situation is a tough one. I really don't think we can wait until summer and fill that DP spot. I'm sure we can get a better DP in the summer (more time to scout, more options available) but this team can't afford to start badly and without a quality creative force in central areas I just can't see it happening. But then by being impatient, we use up one of the DP spots with a mediocre DP which is, long term, not great either. Can't wait to get a clue on what the FO is thinking on this.
I agree! I think we have to look past Puig and ask who we want to build the team around. I'm pessimistic that Puig can come back as who he was within 18 months. I keep reading about a "1 year DP", that's not going to work. It's impossible to replicate what Puig does. The problem is who is available now, because we all know Vanney's track record with a mediocre team means last place.
If you want some good feelings, there is a possibility a new DP CAM will be better and ready quicker than the post-ACL surgery Riqui Puig we were supposed to have.
If you look at our current roster, our personnel are still very much set up to have a back 3 with 2 wingbacks. If we lean into that strength, we don't necessarily need an AM who is quite as mobile as Puig was to break lines dribbling in the center. Vanney used Victor Vasquez in Toronto during their heyday.
Yeah - we are sort of caught in a bad spot - the better DPs will be available in the summer but we can't really wait that long. But we are more likely to sign a dud that drags the team down if we just grab whoever is available right now. I wish I knew the real status of Reus' health. If we can get a stud TAM forward right now (along with Nasci for depth) and know that Reus has enough in the tank and is healthy enough to give us a half-season as a starter and no perfect DP options turn up in the next few weeks - then I would wait for the summer window... Obviously the big issue is we aren't privy to any of the most important information to know where things are headed.
I thought about putting this under Alumni News, but if we're looking for some veteran depth on the wing, I guess he's an option if he's willing to play for less money Nashville SC have waived forward Tyler Boyd. The forward was a key player in 2024 after being traded from the LA Galaxy, but missed over a year with a torn ACL. Recovered at the end of 2025 to make six appearances, now leaves the club. https://t.co/z27L04om6K pic.twitter.com/MkLDFx5Zms— Ben Wright (@benwright) January 8, 2026
The sample sizes are very small but if you are going to use them, the best way is to compare by goals per minute, not # of matches played. Dejan played 721 min in 2021 vs 1166 min for Nasci last season. But you are right that Dejan and Nasci's goal scoring rates were comparable, but Dejan beat him in assists: Dejan 0.25 g/90m, 0.25 a/90m, 0.50 goal contributions/90m. Nasci 0.23 g/90m, 0.15 a/90m, 0.37 goal contributions/90m. Looking at goal contributions, 0.50 is 35% higher than 0.37, not that it means much with this tiny sample. But if you extend the rates over a season of say 2700 minutes (thirty 90min games), at these rates Nasci would have 11.5 goal contributions, while Dejan would have 14. Not a big difference but in some seasons could be the difference in making or missing the playoffs. I think with sample sizes this small you have to add in a 50% weight to the eye test. To your eyes Nasci looks like a promising striker, to mine he looks very mediocre (slower reaction time, less body control than Dejan). Time will tell.
My eyes would give Dejan the edge just from initial impressions. I think Dejan also had a lot more 1st team experience in Europe (and I think was 18 months more mature) before coming to us than Nasci had in Brazil which probably helped him look better faster. I’m not saying Nasci is great but I think there is a chance he is much more impressive this year than he was last year.
🇧🇷🙏 El emotivo mensaje de Gabriel Pec a Riqui Puig tras confimarse la recuperación hasta 2027 del futbolista español📹 @fedesaint pic.twitter.com/Wa3Gku48yy— Olé USA 🇺🇸 MEX 🇲🇽 (@DiarioOleUSA) January 8, 2026 recent media with Pec (maybe its media day already?) shows how our 6 stars will be laid out this year. I like it. I need a new hat with the 6 stars if someone could get right on that for me please.
Oh, I guess the team released it earlier. I’m rarely on twitter anymore. #NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/AcbLIeOgnK— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 8, 2026 Making room for more. 📰: https://t.co/U56mhl0BTm pic.twitter.com/Ww3GK0i0pL— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 8, 2026
I hope that he signs elsewhere. I don't think that the Galaxy needs another wide player especially one who doesn't seem to generate many assists or goals. I would much rather see those minutes go to Cuevas or Miller. FWIW, Cuevas has 7 MLS career assists vs Boyd's 8 in less than half the minutes played.
🇲🇽❌ San Diego FC sporting director Tyler Heaps has confirmed that Hirving Lozano is NOT part of the club’s plans for the 2026 season.📊 Lozano played 34 games last season, scoring 11 goals and adding 9 assists. 🤨 It’s also worth noting that he had issues with coach Mikey… pic.twitter.com/QCzQO2jbn0— MLSeli (@MLSELI) January 9, 2026 Chucky Lozano? more of a 9 or winger right? Too much of a head case ? Not that I think San Diego would alienate some of their fans by shipping him to us easily.
Apparently Juventus doesn't plan to re-sign Weston McKennie and there is speculation that he might be interested in moving to MLS this summer.
I would give a strong no to this. Ignoring his possible head case issues and crashing market value, I don't think he is a good fit for the Galaxy. On the contract/financial side, he is a DP, so that precludes other potential moves for players who may be a better fit. Second, he is listed as being under contract to San Diego until 12/31/28 with 2 club option years (I assume 2029 and 2030). They reportedly paid PSV a €12mm transfer fee. I can't imagine that they would give him away and they could probably transfer him to a Liga MX side for a high percentage of what they paid PSV. Even if the Galaxy got him for a free, per Transfermarkt, he is primarily a left wing with right wing as his secondary position. Not even a hint there of him being a 9, a withdrawn 9 or a 10. So while he can score, he doesn't fill a Galaxy position of need on the pitch.
My initial thought was that this would be a great signing. However, as I looked he is hardly a Puig replacement, more perhaps a Delgado type "glue" player. I would be interested in Skydog's analysis.
Just in case any of you sickos thought Miguel Berry would wait around in case we needed him Sources: Charleston Battery finalizing a deal to sign forward Miguel Berry.Berry, 28, scored 13 MLS goals between stints for Columbus, D.C., Atlanta and LA Galaxy. pic.twitter.com/LD2vCBxNUY— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 9, 2026
Well, to be honest, we aren't going to find a Puig replacement as players like him are very rare. We also have to hope that whoever we sign can play WITH Puig in 2027, as we aren't going to find anyone of high caliber who would accept a one year deal. So it's a tricky spot. One option might be to go all in on a DP target forward instead and then find someone in the TAM range who can platoon with Reus to be our #10 for this season. Then pray that Puig comes back in 2027 and isn't a shadow of his former self.
I don’t want Lozano but him at left wing opposite Pec and Paintsil at forward could be fun to watch. I think we see Paintsil up top a lot more this year unless we get a DP forward.
What about trying to get Gio Reyna? He has the right profile as an AM and is dynamic. He won't play much defense, but then neither did Puig. I think he would light up MLS. I am not a huge Reyna fan, but I think he fits our needs.