Do you guys really buy the official story of Riqui's latest ACL tear? It just seems really strange to me that after all of the rehab, advances in the return to play protocol and intensity of the workouts throughout all of 2025, it isn't until a trip to Barcelona and a random training session there with probably no Galaxy personnel present, he re-tears his ACL and needs new surgery. Seems like a planted response and explanation, but I could be wrong.
In the Vanney interview, he mentions a possibility of a back 3 in the absence of riqui. Is it to get two playmakers on the field at the same time as a substitute for puig? Also, he mentions ideally adding two maybe three players by the start of the season. More confirmation of things to come.
I did find it a bit odd, however I thought it was just me, so wasn't going to say a thing, I felt it was odd, that Riqui, who was discarded by Barcelona as he wasn't meeting their standards and if I remember the rumors correctly, he was too busy partying with established players and wasn't taking training seriously. yet despite all that he works with Barcelona's personnel on his surgery and they're rehab routines, while the Galaxy are not being a part of the whole process and from reports, only checked on him sporadically. I'm not sure about the rest of you but if I have an investment in someone like Puig who is my whole franchise at the moment, I'd be more hands on. the only thing I can think of is Puig told the Galaxy to be hands off with him, and let him rehab how he wanted to rehab and he would be back ready to go, something went wrong in his rehab and my theory is Puig and the Galaxy knew he had re-injured or had a huge setback and waited for the Barcelona training incident to pin the injury on that. Also it feels to me that Puig was trying hard to get back to Barcelona and in their good graces so he followed what they wanted with a backroom promise that he follows their protocol and he continues to be dazzling, they may bring him back and it all went sideways, and now Barcelona can walk away from the situation, with no repercussions, while the Galaxy and Puig are left to pick up the pieces. of course all speculation on my part and probably totally off base but this whole situation has left a lot of unanswered questions, that allow people to speculate and theorize on
I think without Riqui, we need more creatively from the wings, since we don't have many playmakers in the middle, especially when Reus can't go. If Reus is injured or needs rest, then really this looks like how we get our best players on the field where we have decent offensive creation and still some good defensive balance: ------------------------Klausimento Paintsil------Cerrillo------Wyndernabria----Pec Aude----Haak-----Glesnes----Garces---Cuevas Which on attack probably looks more like: Paintsil------------Klausimento--------------Cuevas ------------Aude--------------------------Pec ------------------Cerrillo-----Wynderabria -----------Haak---------Glesnes--------Garces But one thing we have - and the question is will Vanney use it - is formation flexibility with several players -- Haak, Cuevas, Miller, Paintsil - who can move to different positions on the field based on who is available and what we want to do and the in-game matchups that develop. I mean, there is no question that Vanney prefers a basic 4-3-3 with more traditional fullbacks in Nelson and Yamane who only bomb up the field and overlap when our inverted wingers, Pec and Paintsil, tuck inside. But we definitely have the roster to go 3 in the back with Haak-Glesnes-Garces and then Aude and Cuevas as more creative wingbacks - Aude with his dribbling ability and Cuevas with his deadly crossing ability.
Years ago I saw a documentary and I believe it showed players from other countries going to Barca’s surgeons because of their stellar rep. I think a Man City player went there for his ACL surgery. It makes sense that Barca would have a state of the art medical staff given the billions they invest in their players.
With the Puig injury, It was Baxter who asked if he really did it in soccer training or if reinjured it doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing (he is 25, did he go skiing, or something else). Worth following because it seems too simple that it happened in Barcelona, during training etc. We will probably never know, but I wonder if the Galaxy will be much more involved in the rehab this time.
Yeah we will probably never know. Because if I had a multi-million dollar contract and did something I wasn’t suppose to do, I’d also say I felt a “tweak” during my approved training.
the old Jeff Kent method, "I fell off my truck, while washing it and broke my wrist" and not "while I was riding around on my motorcycle, which I wasn't supposed to do and broke my wrist"
Speaking of awkward accidents - Who was the married college coach who had a motorcycle accident while his student paramour’s arms were wrapped around him? Never mind - found it. Bobby Petrino, kickball coach at Arkansas Just google “Who was the married college coach who had a motorcycle accident while his student paramour’s arms were wrapped around him?” to see juicy details. Him after accident. Face red for multiple reasons.
Transfer Rumor: Daily Mail Reporting that LA Galaxy have shown interest in Casemiro who is scheduled to depart from Old Trafford this summer. CoG can confirm interest from the Galaxy. However, at this point, a long shot to get that deal done. Still worth watching, though.…— Corner Of The Galaxy (@GalaxyPodcast) January 23, 2026
he was ostracized for a quick minute, then made a comeback, was the interim HC for Arkansas this year and now is the OC for Belichick at UNC, College coaches are a different breed and never seem to be held accountable for their actions, its wild.
Don't know how we make that deal work for both sides, but I suppose if you wanted someone who would upgrade our midfield for this season AND be able to play alongside Riqui next season, Casemiro fits.
At this point, I'd take Casemiro in a heartbeat. I'm sure it would be a half year TAM deal in the summer and then DP in his second year. But I'm of the opinion that Puig is unlikely to ever be the player he was, and if so, it's going to be at least 18 months. So between Casemiro and Reus maybe we have one healthy Puig replacement.
Here to stay. We have extended the loan of forward Matheus Nascimento through June 2026 with a purchase option. 📰: https://t.co/h9AWRm6lPL pic.twitter.com/QqTbYpeLiF— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 23, 2026
Yes. That's consistent with the original reports. Botafogo appears to think it will be out of transfer jail by then and don't want him locked up longer than that. The question is whether there is still a term in the deal automatically triggering the Galaxy's buy option if he plays a certain number of games or minutes in those six months.
I sure hope Doyle didn't jinx him, but Doyle picked Justin Haak as one of his 9 potential breakout stars of MLS 2026.... https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/breakout-player-candidates-who-could-emerge-in-2026
João Klauss has not featured in either half’s XI in #AllForCITY’s preseason match against RBNY.Amidst rumor of a move to LA Galaxy, St. Louis await a Toronto FC offer to Norwich for Josh Sargent that would require STL’s discovery rights or give them an opportunity to swoop in…— Will Bratton (stlcityscviews) (@willbrattonstl) January 24, 2026
Any guesses as to what the Galaxy's recent post on Instagram means? Klauss? Other new signing? Kit porn?
My guess is that we’re trying to create our own version of the LAFC hat thing. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/bpw5WmGQII— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 24, 2026
I have no idea what the LAFC hat thing is, can someone clue me in also its probably me but I loathe these teaser videos that teams put out, just announce the thing and be done with it and yes I know its for social engagement but I think it's stupid.
👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/DkNUIppXKe— LAFC (@LAFC) January 23, 2026 Here is an example. They tease a new signing like they are mailing some Chivas crap to them.