I think we just have different conceptions of what role players are. What Joe brings, and what costs a DP salary, is the speed to disrupt everything. On an already good team, that can be the difference maker. For me, the four attacking players are going to be the three DPs and a max TAM player. You can worry which is the DP and which is the TAM, but you can't design things that precisely.
I hate to be that guy, but this team isn’t going to win anything this year, so here’s our starting lineup in 2027 assuming a DP winger. If Puig can’t make it anymore, well, we get a new season later in the year. --------------Klauss------------------- Paintsil--------Puig----------DP---- ---------Cerillo--------Haak---------- Nelson---Garces---Glesnes---Miller --------------Mikovich------------------ I don’t hate it. We’ll need depth, and I’d like to upgrade a position or two, but this will be a good roster. So it's on Kuntz to get a very good DP winger. He also needs to get a U-22 player. After that, things get harder. If it were me, I'd sell Aude (at a discount if needed) to get another U-22 attacking player. Beyond that, I would not be surprised if we do not get another clear starter this window.
The big problem is Puig. He won’t have played a game in two years. Expect it will take time for him to regain form, if even possible. So are we ok with a 3rd throw away season? And then what, buy him out and find a replacement? I think you need a DP now that can play Puig’s spot and worry about having two great midfielders later. You can always trade talent.
Part of this is the unprecendented nature of what happened. Has any other MLS team ever had their best player (by far best AND most important player) get injured and miss 2 full seasons? A player who is still young and under contract and didn't retire from the injury? The FO has made other unforced errors and of course Vanney has a lot of blame for the past 1 1/2 seasons, but the Puig of it has definitely put the team in a position I can't remember any other MLS team facing. Especially with $5 million a year tied up that you don't get any return on.
Puig's contract expires 12/31/27, so we also don't get much time to really see what post-injury Puig can do. From right now (which is when he is apparently starting back again on the field for ball work), he has about 1 full year to show whether we should commit to him again for another contract. That's when next summer's transfer window would start and when we we basically have to decide whether to commit to him. That's often not enough for returning to pre-injury form for an ACL tear, let alone two.
The other thing none of us know regarding Kuntz is how restricted his decision making might be by AEG and Uncle Phil. I don't follow the EPL that closely but I have seen a fair amount of criticism of different managing owners and their controls over the purse strings. Yet I see very little criticism of AEG and Uncle Phil on this board.
There has been plenty of criticism of Kuntz’s boss, which for all intents and purposes IS AEG right now.
CoG also reported that they have heard nothing, although they still expect things to get done at some point. They did discuss the Chucky chatter, but didn't consider it a real rumor.
Maybe we're just getting better at preventing leaks. Another player is incoming! If you're really looking for clues, perhaps the away jersey (v. the home jersey for Taylor) is an indication is it is someone outside of MLS. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/hJS7BGD4sa— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 21, 2026
I caught the last part of CoG last night and even Josh sounded flabbergasted by everything going on. what I found interesting was him seeing Thommy on crutches outside the locckerroom and getting that the injury was no big deal and he will be back soon and speculating when soon was and that he just knew not on Wednesday. I also had no idea that the Chucky situation was that bad, but yeah stay far away from Chucky
interesting never realized the significance from each jersey, now I'm curious who the outside person will be and if my memory is correct, after the jersey reveal its usually within 7 days that the player is announced and today is day 7 of the home jersey twirl, so I hope to hear something by the end of the week I also saw that Gladbach is ready to dump Gio and Scally and I hope they're not coming here and it seems a lot of US fans are done with Gio and think he is better off in the Netherlands than anywhere else.
Reyna would be a gamble, but he fits our needs and if he has something to prove it could work. We need a creative midfielder desperately.
A toxic DP is not good move. But I can see the Galaxy thinking of Mexican fan support and pulling the trigger on Chucky. But at his reported salary there has to be a million better options.
I hope the Galaxy don't go this way, I think pandering to Mexicans or any other nationality with the exception of Koreans and Japanese fans who turn out to see their countryman thrive, is over and done with The Galaxy have tried and have never really succeeded in capturing the Mexican fanbase, JDS was at least decent, his brother GDS sucked, Campos at least brought flair to a new league and Hernandez did jack squat and if I have forgotten a few, they weren't worth mentioning to begin with. I think the nationalistc pride in your countrymen is no longer a priority in this generation, the amount of Messi and Argentina jerseys, I see in BFE Alabama would astound most people and now with Spain winning it, I see a lot of those jerseys too. only players like Messi would move the needle in MLS and that is only a handful if that many, Ronaldo, would and maybe Kane due to his association and Mbappe and Yamal would as well but those two are at least a decade away from entertaining a move to MLS
I would take Gio, but doubt if it's smart. He's so talented, but has been a disappointment everywhere.
Chucky article, dude is clearing about 9.3 million to be away from the team and I feel we are not getting the full story, a confrontation with coaches could mean a lot of things and looking at the coaches resume, its not much, so it seems it could be a clash of egos, one thinking he is better than the coach and the other trying to prove he belongs, just speculation on my part. I'd have to dig further to see, if Chucky has a history of being a turd, if he doesn't this might be a one off thing or it could be a start of being a problem child, I wouldn't blame the Galaxy if they at least explored the possibilities https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2026/07/21/lozano-saga-sdfc-transfer-suitors/ edit: Nevermind at almost 10 million its a hard pass https://www.ultimominuto.news/en/ne...ning-to-potential-signings-20260216-0060.html
Welcome to Los Angeles, Kyogo Furuhashi 💫 pic.twitter.com/b8VxjPMF1H— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 21, 2026 Japangeles continues. 31 year old striker, best days appear to be at Celtic. not a DP. Funny timing as I’m about to board a flight toTokyo.
Contract until the 2030-2031 season, which is super long as he will be 36 then. But the explanation can be here : The long 5 year contract probably spreads the transfer fee out enabling him to not be a DP. Some things you worry about later.— Corner Of The Galaxy (@GalaxyPodcast) July 21, 2026
Interesting. Only 1 goal in 28 matches for Birmingham. Seems concerning though he seemed like a prolific scorer while with Celtic. Guess it's a positive he will not be coming in as a DP. Have a great time in Japan! Glad you're spending some of that college money!!!
Decent pickup for a non-DP. Probably using the Cuevas money for this. Means we still have the DP and the U22 spot available.
Something is happening or is gonna happen with Joao Klauss. There's no way we can keep two TAM strikers next year (assuming Joao Klauss will accept a non-DP contract, which may be the issue here).
One of the posts above linked to a COTG tweet that the contract probably had to be that long to keep him from being a DP (the transfer fee is spread out over the life of the contract)
The story on Kyogo is that he is the kind of player who needs a through ball so he can run on from behind in transition, while the teams he played with since Celtic were possession oriented around the box, which made him look like Paintsil on Friday against LAFC.. Doubt that is a full explanation. He may be slowing a bit at 31, which is deadly for that kind of player. He also had a shoulder injury for part of this season. Either way, he at least joins a team with a contingent of Japanese players. He had that at Celtic, but not at Birmingham City or Stade Rennais.