On a positive note, with two DPs out of contract, possibly two free U22 spots (Joveljic possibly gone and Calegari possibly not coming back), no useless big contract player hurting the team, no sanctions, the allocation money from the Alvarez sale, and maybe a fourth DP spot, there is a lot of room to work. I know it's a recurring joke to say we're "rebuilding", but I think we've never had as much possibilities as we'll have this winter.
Out: Everyone In: I don't care because it would be difficult to be worse than this current team and coach, and even if they were worse, I would at least be able to cheer for them again.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/what-the-2023-mls-season-meant-for-la-galaxy Very good piece from Doyle.
Agree - brief, but very nice summary of season. He hit the nail on the head about us failing to use the right formation for our personnel, being bad when not in possession of the ball, Bond not getting it done, etc. Only error was saying we relied on crosses too much. That was true of the 2022 Galaxy but not this year.
So, I'd feel ok with the following: ------------------------------------Killer DP striker---------------------------- Boyd (resigned)-------------------------------------------------------------------------Killer DP Winger ---------------------------------Puig-------TAM CM---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------Brugman----------------------------------------------- New LB------------------------Neal---------Yoshida---------------------Caligari (not sure if he'd be ready) --------------------------------------------New goalie------------------------------------------------ With the following (allowed to stay but cut bait as needed for better additions): Sharp Fagundez Barrios Johnny P Aude Alvaro Delgado Klinsmann Cuevas Aguirre Mavinga OUT: Edwards Zaveleta Judd Uri Martin C Leerdam Dejan Chicha Costa Bond We need some depth everywhere on the field to start the season and we need a commitment to team defense to start the season. Easy breazy.
Uncanny how much I agree with your list. I would cut Klinsmann, too, who has not proved to be starter caliber, and bring up that G2 goalkeeper as backup instead. But I see your point keeping a SoCal native who is probably not making a lot of $$ as backup.
Also disagree with Doyle's statement of Calegari as a two-way player. He was not. Solid on defense, but generally didn't really add much to the attack.
Would love for the Gs to find a stud d-mid to boss the midfield and add some bite. The middle just seemed really soft, which would leave opposing teams to easily bypass it and put the backline precarious situations. Or the alternative is what Skydog has pointed out on many occasions, just have better team defense and shape.
I wrote this in the Seattle Thread and I will repost here. I want the following for 2024,... ---For Sure Keep--- Puig Brugman Delgado Boyd Neal Yoshida Calegari Bond ---Keep for Bench--- Sharp - (Only if he wants to stay) Dejan - (Unless he demands a trade) Judd Barrios Fagundez Aguirre Perez Cerrillo Aude Alfaro Klinsmann (Edit: I wrote Kljestan lol) Micovic ---Gotta Go--- Zavaleta Leerdam Cacares Mavinga Edwards Chicharito - (Get more reliable DP) Costa - (Get more reliable DP) Ferkranus - (Haven't seen enough of him to warrant keeping him) ViVi - (Haven't seen enough of him to warrant keeping him) Saldana - (Haven't seen enough of him to warrant keeping him) Which means get me a stud Leftback, a stud DP Winger and a stud DP Forward. Yeah the below team would wreck the league if Mikey Stephen's scouting skills carry over into the offseason to help find free agents to fill those spots. ----------------New DP Boyd------------------------New DP ------------------Riqui --------Brugman-----Delgado New LB---Neal---Yoshida---Calegari ------------------Bond
I want to keep Yoshida, but I don't think he can be our every game starter. He started strong when he got here, then got worn down and our defense suffered because of it. I'd like Yoshida to take over Zavaleta's (backup veteran) spot, and find an in-his-prime centerback to partner with Neal. With Yoshida as our 3rd centerback option. So yeah, we only need a new DP forward, DP playmaker-winger, TAM Center-Mid, TAM Center-Back, and New Left-Back, and if I'm being greedy, would love to upgrade at Goalkeeper. Plus, figure out a BU Right-Back since Calegari probably won't be ready to start next season.
I agree 100% with need for DM with bite. We have no one like that on team. Bunch ig wusses. I would try to keep Sharp as a backup fwd for similar reason - he adds grit & competitiveness to the team.
Agree 95%. My only differences: I think a gk upgrade isnt a luxury - its a necessity. If I get un-lazy and post Bond’s expG stats it will be clearer how much he hurt us. We also need a tough, defense first DM. We also need a new non-dp fwd as well. We also need a new coach, haha. But I agree abt Yoshida - he needs to be 3rd string or go.
You want to bring Kljestan out of retirement for our bench next year? I mean, we probably could use some veteran leadership, but he seems pretty happily done
I concur. Yoshida can absolutely be our SuperSub CB. We'd need at least 2. I also agree with a new Rightback Sub as well. As for Bond I am ok with him staying however I would not lose sleep if he left. Or was replaced with Klinsmann or Micovic.
This is brilliant, except that we need an assassin DM with Brugman higher up next to Puig. Someone to make opponents think, "where is that guy right now?"
I would take Klinsmann if we didnt have the other guy Micovic. As far as starting keeper I'd take a serius look at David Ochoa from RSL. He's 22 and has played for USA youth teams but chosen to play for Mexico. Looks like a solid keeper the times I have watched him. He is not around right now at RSL because this is his last year on his contract and he wants out. Since he didn't re-sign with RSL, he has been frozen out and isn't even allowed to train with the team. Easy pickings.
Because Anschutz and Beckerman are the root of the problem. Anything that is done down the ladder would be like farting into the wind.
I'm not sure I really get Doyle's take. Normally he's spot on, but I don't feel like this is very insightful, almost like someone that maybe just saw highlights of the season. Like, we had significant injuries and form issues at striker and centerback -- so when exactly would it have made sense to go 2 up top or 3 in the back? Doyle himself seems to recant his own tactical critique. I think there's a lot to critique Vanney on tactically, actually -- trying to possess the ball too much hasn't suited him. The team playing better after conceding, etc. But I don't get this one.
Some Bond stats: Save % 2021 70.8 2022 64.1 2023 63.5 Below you can see a comparison between Bond’s allowed goals (2nd #) and the expected goals (3rd #). The 4th # is the difference - when it is positive it means we allowed more than expected. * For example the first line is our last game. Bond gave up 5 goals, expected was 2.6, so he allowed 2.4 more goals than expected. Code: 2023/10/11 Regular Season MIN vs LA 90 Start 0 5 2.6 2.4 13 8 61.5 0 0 0 73.9 0 0 2023/10/04 Regular Season SEA vs LA 90 Start 0 2 1.7 0.3 4 2 50 0 0 0 69 0 0 2023/09/30 Regular Season LA vs POR 90 Start 0 3 1.6 1.4 5 2 40 0 0 0 82 0 0 2023/09/25 Regular Season ATX vs LA 90 Start 0 3 1.9 1.1 6 3 50 0 0 0 95.8 0 0 2023/09/20 Regular Season LA vs MIN 90 Start 0 3 1.2 1.8 6 3 50 0 0 0 84.8 0 0 2023/09/16 Regular Season LAFC vs LA 90 Start 0 4 1.5 2.5 9 5 55.6 0 0 0 75 0 0 2023/09/10 Regular Season LA vs STL 90 Start 0 2 0.7 1.3 3 1 33.3 0 0 0 95.8 0 0 2023/09/02 Regular Season LA vs HOU 90 Start 1 0 1.4 -1.4 3 3 100 0 0 0 75 0 0 2023/08/30 Regular Season SJ vs LA 90 Start 0 2 1.2 0.8 6 4 66.7 0 0 0 84.6 0 0 2023/08/26 Regular Season LA vs CHI 90 Start 1 0 1.1 -1.1 4 4 100 0 0 0 94.4 0 0 2023/07/15 Regular Season VAN vs LA 90 Start 0 4 3.6 0.4 9 5 55.6 1 0 0 93.8 0 0 2023/07/04 Regular Season LA vs LAFC 45 Start 0 0 0.4 -0.4 3 3 100 0 0 0 100 0 0 2023/07/01 Regular Season SJ vs LA 90 Start 0 2 1.9 0.1 4 2 50 0 0 0 100 0 0 2023/06/24 Regular Season COL vs LA 90 Start 1 0 0.6 -0.6 1 1 100 0 0 0 79.5 0 0 2023/06/21 Regular Season LA vs SKC 90 Start 0 2 2.5 -0.5 5 3 60 1 0 0 81.8 0 0 2023/06/11 Regular Season STL vs LA 90 Start 0 1 2 -1 6 5 83.3 0 0 0 65.7 0 0 2023/05/31 Regular Season RSL vs LA 90 Start 0 2 1.8 0.2 8 6 75 0 0 0 65.4 0 0 2023/05/27 Regular Season LA vs CLT 90 Start 0 1 1.8 -0.8 4 3 75 0 0 0 75.9 0 0 2023/05/20 Regular Season DC vs LA 90 Start 0 3 1.8 1.2 5 2 40 0 0 0 73.3 0 0 2023/05/17 Regular Season CLB vs LA 90 Start 0 2 2 0 3 1 33.3 0 0 0 82.6 0 0 2023/05/14 Regular Season LA vs SJ 90 Start 0 1 0.9 0.1 3 2 66.7 0 0 0 85.7 0 0 2023/03/18 Regular Season LA vs VAN 24 Start 0 1 0.3 0.7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2023/03/11 Regular Season SKC vs LA 90 Start 1 0 1.5 -1.5 11 11 100 0 0 0 68.6 0 0 2023/03/04 Regular Season DAL vs LA 90 Start 0 3 1.7 1.3 4 1 25 0 0 0 66.7 0 0 In only 8 of the 24 games is goals - expG a negative number (meaning he allowed fewer than expected). I don’t think that is goodbut I haven’t yet compared to other gk’s. That will be my next task. * Bond probably isn’t entirely responsible when allowed is higher than expected but he is likely the main culprit. I say that because distance & angle of shot is already accounted for in expected goals. So if our defense makes a mistake & allows a close-in shot the exG will be close to 1 - Bond wont be expected to save it often.