5 major storylines heading into the stretch run of the LA Galaxy season
What to keep an eye on with 12 games remaining in the season.
Seven points.
That’s how far the LA Galaxy is from the final play-in spot in the Western Conference. It’s not too large of a gap but one that you can’t afford to make bigger in the chaotic Western Conference. There are 12 games left for the Galaxy as the club currently sits in 13th place with 22 points. Here is the remainder of the LA Galaxy schedule:
8/21 - Vs. Real Salt Lake
8/26 - Vs. Chicago Fire
8/30 - At SJ
9/2 - Vs. Houston Dynamo
9/10 - Vs St. Louis City DC
9/16 - At LAFC
9/20 - Vs. Minnesota Unites
9/24 - At Austin FC
9/30 - Vs. Portland Timbers
10/4 - At Seattle Sounders
10/7 - At. Minnesota United
10/21 - Vs. FC Dallas
This season is not over and I believe the Galaxy have a shot to make the playoffs. Anything is possible in MLS and the Western Conference always has extra drama towards the end of the season. Here is what you need to keep tabs on to see why or why not the club could make the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Who’s going to step up
The number nine position has been the most underwhelming part of the 2023 LA Galaxy campaign.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernadez scored once in nine appearances before suffering a season-ending ACL injury. Dejan Joveljic has two goals in 20 appearances in the league in a disappointing year for the Serbian. Preston Judd has three goals in his first season with the Galaxy but has his limits on the ball.
In the case of Joveljic, the self-declared future of the LA Galaxy, this was the season to plant the flag as the starting striker for years to come. In 13 league starts, the Serbian has just one goal - from matchday one against FC Dallas. This last stretch of the season is going to be important to make the best
Preston Judd has had his moments this season but his limitations on the ball are what hold him back. His lack of technical ability stands out when he leads the attack and Judd’s finishing lacks consistency. He tends to be in great spots often (something that’s so hard to teach) but his limitations in the build-up play slow down or ruin attacks.
Either Judd or Joveljic needs to step up to lead to elevate the attack. The ceiling of this team rises with good play from the no. 9 position.
LA recently signed free agent and former Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp. He’s the all-time top scorer in the English Championship with 130 goals scored in 399 appearances. While he is 37 years old, the Galaxy needs any kind of spark from the striker position. This is the most intriguing story to follow during this stretch run - How much of an impact does Sharp make?
Becoming a stronghold
The 2023 season is an adjustment year for the LA Galaxy defense.
With the addition of Maya Yoshida early this month, the Galaxy could potentially field a back four that is all in the midst of their first season with the club. Not to mention, Jalen Neal, Calegari, and Julian Aude are all under the age of 23.
If the Galaxy is looking to make the playoffs, the defense needs to lock it down. Despite playing 22 games (tied for the lowest tally in the Western Conference), LA has allowed the most goals among their Western rivals with 37.
It’s not just on the backline, it’s also the midfield to not give the ball away cheaply in order to not put the defense under pressure. There are so many moments this season where the LA Galaxy has given the ball away in possession and forced the entire team to track back. With this happening often during games, the Galaxy gets worn down and fails to establish any momentum with the ball.
While Aude has been in and out of the lineup for the majority of this season, Calegari has appeared in every game since his debut for the club on March 25h against the Portland Timbers. Both fullbacks will be tested against speedy wingers and dribblers, this is where their defense games will be put under a microscope, especially for me.
Jalen Neal is the breakout player of this 2023 campaign and already a locked-in starter in one of the most difficult positions in the game. His passing is in the upper echelon compared to his fellow centerbacks peers and his defensive game is evolving by the week. The question now is how quickly can Yoshida adapt and get used to MLS play. His last club game was back in May and is still getting acclimated to living and playing soccer in a new country.
Tony Alfaro has not put a step wrong in his three appearances for the LA Galaxy. He’s not been a liability defensively and is comfortable playing with the ball at his feet. There are options for Greg Vanney to choose from to partner Neal with.
From the goalkeeping end, Jonathan Bond will remain the starter but Novak Mićović made a good first impression in his first appearances for the Galaxy during the Leagues Cup. It will be hard to drop Bond as he’s worked with the coaching staff for the past three seasons. Bond currently ranks 11th among MLS ‘keepers with a PSxG +/- of +1.4. These final 12 games will be under a microscope for Bond who’s had an inconsistent season. All aspects of the backline need to step up their performances in order to make the MLS Cup playoffs.
Midfield reconstruction
The season-ending injury to Gaston Brugman is a massive hit to Galaxy’s chances of making the playoffs. He was essential to LA’s build-up play and shielded the defense by cutting off passing lanes in the middle of the park. Take a look at his heat map, he was active all over the midfield with the ball.
During last season’s run to the playoffs, it was the Galaxy’s midfield that kept them in games and was the heartbeat of the team. Now in 2023, there are lots of questions about the position.
Vanney’s task is now to find out who will fill the No. 6 role with 12 games left in the season. The club signed Uri Rossell this past offseason as the backup and recently acquired Edwin Cerrillo in a trade with FC Dallas. The option to play Mark Delagado as the “6” is also something Vanney could tinker with.
With Cerrillo, you have a player who can cover ground and is comfortable having a high volume of touches. There will be questions regarding his defense as Brugman excelled against dribblers and slowing down attacks. At just 22 years old, there is still time for Cerrillo to develop and mold his game in the way Vanney wants.
This midfield will likely go through a couple of changes in order to find the best combination of players in the middle of the park. The question is how long will it take and will it be too late?
Summer signing surge again?
Last season, the Galaxy’s summer acquisitions were the primary reason for the club making the playoffs. It was that spark and rejuvenation of that team that saw Vanney’s side lose just one of their final 12 games (Does that ring a bell).
In 2023, Diego Fagundez, Micheal Barrios, Edwin Cerrillo, Maya Yoshida, and Billy Sharp, all help add depth to positions of need for Vanney’s side.
These aren’t “big signings” by LA Galaxy standards but show the club is moving in the direction of other clubs in the league. Acquiring proven MLS players and ones with experience in Europe is a blend that this team needs.
The Galaxy is not getting much goal production or chance creation out wide this campaign, this is where Fagudnez comes in. He’s been in the leagues since 2011 and has shown the ability to be a creative hub out wide. He recorded 18 goal contributions last season for Austin FC, a change of scenery could be what gets the 28-year-old back into elite form.
The injuries to Chicharito, Brugman, and Martin Caceres are huge blows not just for their ability on the pitch but also for their leadership. This squad has quite a bit of young players and lacks experience as a unit. The additions of Yoshida and Sharp give the club new voices in the locker room. One is a veteran defender that’s played in various leagues in Europe and the other is the most lethal goalscorer in the 2nd tier of English soccer. The five new additions arrived just in time for this stretch run and the only question surrounding them is if they can help replicate another end-of-season surge.
Is this Riqui’s moment
It was this time last season when Riqui Puig took the league by storm. He showed off his incredible playmaking and his energy to reinvigorate a team fighting to make the playoffs.
In 2023, Puig has still shined bright as he was named an MLS All-Star and you can make the argument that he’s the best passer in the league, just take a look at his Fbref profile.
But now is the time when all eyes are focused on how the Spaniard deals with being the face of the franchise and becoming the club captain midway through this rough campaign.
As stated earlier, seven points isn’t a huge margin at the moment and all that’s needed is a star to rise up to the occasion.
Puig has stated beforehand that welcomes the pressure and he’s performed when the lights are bright. These final 12 games are going to be key for Puig to take the mantle and provide chances for his teammates.
To some degree, he has carried a lot of the club’s offensive game but now he doesn’t need to play “hero ball”.
Douglas Costa has found excellent form and becoming a consistent option out wide, the additions of Sharp, Fagundez, and Barrios offer something new to attack, and the club has developed to be stronger mentally compared to earlier in the season. Now is the time to see Puig lead the Galaxy and put up the production many expected when he was touted to be an MVP-caliber player in 2023. He’s not filed up the box score but there is still enough game time to show out in the final third of the season. As they say, better late than never.