Column: Grading the start of the LA Galaxy's new signings
Analyzing how are the Galaxy's new players doing in their inaugural 10 games in MLS
We are officially a third of the way through the MLS season with the LA Galaxy sitting in second place in the Western Confrence. General Manager Will Kuntz and the Galaxy front office spearheaded the most expensive transfer window in recent LA Galaxy history this winter.
Head Coach Greg Vanney has arguably one of his most talented LA Galaxy squad on paper since he joined the club in 2021. It’s Vanney’s job to put players in positions to play at their best in his possession-based system.
Here are my grades for the LA Galaxy’s winter signings. What they’re doing well in their first 10 MLS games and what areas need improvement as the season goes on.
Gabriel Pec: B
I believe the Brazilian Winger has had a good but not great to start his campaign - especially considering he’s the most expensive signing in club history. Pec has recorded two goals and two assists in 587 minutes of action this season.
Pec is the direct winger that LA Galaxy has been looking to add to the team for years. His pace and work rate on both sides of the ball give LA a player who will run into space and put in a shift on defense - something the Galaxy didn’t get from Douglas Costa in the previous two seasons.
The Brazilian ranks in the 99th percentile in progressive carries (6.3) and the 92nd percentile in Carries into the final third (3.2) among MLS wingers. His dribbling ability helps him create individual moments of brilliance needed in certain game situations.
The Galaxy gets the best out of Pec in transition moments and when they can open defenses for him to attack in behind (look at his goal versus San Jose).
When those opportunities aren’t there, Pec struggles impact the game. Teams start to bunker down and park the bus when they have a lead over the LA Galaxy, meaning the spaces Pec likes to attack are no longer there.
This why Pec’s performances are more impactful when the Galaxy is leading a match, the other team has to get forward and leave space behind.
The chance creation numbers aren’t very flattering for Pec. If you look at the chart below, you see he ranks in the lower percentages of multiple different statistical categories. He doesn’t cross the ball too often, create key passes, and has a low Shot-Creating Actions percentile rank.
The eye test also shows his dependence on his left foot. His preference to dribble and shoot on his left has become so predictable when he enters the final third. This aspect of Pec’s game will need to evolve as the season goes on.
If Joseph Paintsil isn’t having his current phenomenal start in MLS, there would be more worries around Pec’s performances for the Galaxy. The pressure isn’t on Pec, despite him being the club’s most expensive signing, because LA is getting winning results and production from other players. That’s the ideal scenario for a player that needs time to develop.
Joseph Paintsil: A+
The Galaxy is getting exactly what they wanted out of Paintsil - an in-prime player who is putting up MVP-caliber performances and goal contributions. The 26-year-old Ghanian has recorded four goals and four assists in 835 minutes of action in the 2024 MLS campaign.
Paintsil’s pace and finishing ability makes him one of the most dangerous players in the league in his first three months in MLS. He’s been the key to LA unlocking more out of Riqui Puig and their electric attack that ranks second in goals scored (21) in MLS.
As you can see from the chart above, Paintsil receives many progressive passes (13 per 90) as the Galaxy starts to progress. You can see he’s also doing a good job at not wasting his moments on the ball. The Ghanian has put up respectable numbers in multiple chance creation stats and his four assists this season lead the team.
It also helps that Paintsil is comfortable playing on either side of the pitch as his attacking instincts are top-notch and adapt to his positioning. He’s been most goal-dangerous on the right side but his brilliance continues to shine in the Galaxy attack. The expectation is for him to keep up this form as LA continues to be in contention for the Supporters Shield.
Miki Yamane: A
The LA Galaxy needed to hit their right back signing this offseason. Calegari showed good potential but his ACL injury was a key reason the Galaxy didn’t sign him permanently. Mauricio Cuevas is still a raw prospect who lacks on the defensive side. LA acquiring 30-year-old Miki Yamane has proved to be the right decision through 10 games.
Yamane is one of the most consistent performers on the LA Galaxy and locking down his side of the pitch. As seen on the chart, Yamane is among the best full backs in the league when it comes to tackling dribblers. His 78.6% win rate per 90 shows his efficiency going up against wingers.
The Japanese defender is so reliable in possession during the LA Galaxy’s build-up. His rotations with Mark Delgado in-game allow for him to get forward and receive the ball as he overlaps or if he’s playing the role of an inverted full back. His 85.5% pass completion rate per 90 put him in the 96th percentile among MLS full backs.
Yamane was one of the best fullbacks in Japan and is showing that level in MLS. His efficiency on both sides of the ball is what Vanney wants out of a full back in his system. He’s been the most underrated MLS signing so far this season.
John McCarthy: A-
The LA Galaxy’s goalkeeping deficiencies last season were part of the reason why LA had one of the worst defenses in MLS last season. John McCarthy’s shot-stopping ability has been at a consistently good level 10 games into his LA Galaxy career.
The 31-year-old goalkeeper leads MLS in post-shot xG - Goals Allowed with an impressive +4.8 rating according to Fbref.com. The chart below shows he’s putting up good shot-stopping numbers
The one major drawback of McCarthy is his poor distribution with the ball. He tends to launch the ball out of bounds too often and is ranked 26th out of 35 with his 29.8% launch completion rate. This leads to the Galaxy needing to build out of the back to get the ball and attack with possession.
The Galaxy used Jonathan Bond as a sweeper-keeper during his three-year run as a starter. He ranked near the top of the average distance of defensive actions during his time with Galaxy (17.3 yards from goal). McCarthy is second to last in that category at 10.4 yards away from goal - that’s not a knock on McCarthy but something interesting to note.
Miguel Berry C-
In my takeaways from the LA Galaxy’s loss to Austin FC, I talked about what Berry lacks and why he didn’t execute.
There is one thing that I do believe about him: He’s the right player to have coming off the bench and not starting material at all.
LA lacks size in many sectors of the pitch while Berry is among the tallest players on the team at 6′ 3”. The combination of his height and work rate is a good way to attack tired defenders in the second half.
But as a striker, you need to be goal-dangerous and have that killer instinct in everything you do. Berry has yet to show flashes of that in his time on the pitch which should be a real concern.
The 26-year-old has rarely been on the scoresheet in the last two seasons and starting to become an unreliable goalscorer at the MLS level. If he can just register more shots on goal and be smoother in build-up play, Berry can show that he can be an asset for the club.