Silver Linings: Isaiah Parente and Harbor Miller
Despite the loss to St. Louis, the LA Galaxy had a couple standout players that showed they could play a role this season
The LA Galaxy’s 3-0 loss to St. Louis CITY on Sunday night compounded the Galaxy’s poor start to the season but also brought silver-lining performances on the pitch.
Isaiah Parente and Harbor Miller made their first LA Galaxy start in MLS play and showed their capabilities to play at this level. Both were not expected to get playing time this early in the season but showed their ready to play when called upon.
Parente, 24, has appeared in quick cameos for the Galaxy that haven’t allowed fans to see what he can provide for an entire game. Sunday’s start in the midfield proved he’s comfortable in Greg Vanney’s system, which requires midfielders to get a high volume of touches and keep possessions flowing.
He recorded 110/117 passes completed (94.9%), 18 passes into the final third and won 4/4 ground duels against St. Louis. Parente looked good in possession and brought that progressive play that the LA Galaxy has been missing in its three MLS games this season. The ability to turn with the ball and move forward, play balls into the feet of attackers on the run and positional awareness is what made the 24-year-old midfielder stand out.
“I think one of things I have struggled with in the first three games is facilitating the ball from the initial phase of the attack to the next phase of the attack. And whoever is in there working with (Cerillo), it's got to be efficiency with reading and connection and that has to happen fast. It's intricate,” said Vanney postgame.
“I thought (Parente) did a nice job today of doing that and that allows us to keep Marco (Reus)higher and we can get Marco the ball in better positions instead of Marco having to come take the ball in lower positions,” noted Vanney.
The Galaxy wanted Reus to receive the ball in the attacking half instead of forcing him to drop deep to get his touches on the ball. Parente provided that bridge between the backline and attack effectively - it is one of the key reasons why LA had its best offensive showing this season. He did a good job at replicating Riqui Puig’s playstyle in flashes during this game.
“I thought Isaiah did everything he needed to do today from that regard, and that helps. That helps me, again, as I look at the pieces and how they can fit together. I thought Isaiah did himself some justice,” said Vanney
Miller, 17, had 20 of his closest family and friends at Dignity Health Sports Park to watch him make his MLS debut. The LA Galaxy Academy product became the fourth youngest player in Galaxy history to start in an MLS match (17 years, 261 days), behind only Jack McBean (16 years, 312 days), Efrain Alvarez (17 years, 15 days) and Julian Araujo (17 years, 249 days).
The right back grew up going to LA Galaxy matches, and it was a full-circle moment to make his start in front of the home crowd.
“Everybody always says when you come to the academy, maybe one player from your age group makes it, maybe two. Of course, everybody's dream is to play with the Galaxy, but at 17 to make a start today, it was incredible,” said Miller to reporters.
“Two years ago, I couldn't have told you this would happen. A year ago I couldn't have told you this was going to happen. But the game of soccer, you never know when your opportunity is going to come, and that’s when you have to take it.”
With injuries to Mauricio Cuevas and Miki Yamane, the Galaxy needed somebody to fill the void at right back while both players are out.
Miller made his first career start last Wednesday against C.S. Herediano in Costa Rica for the LA Galaxy’s first leg of its Round of 16 matchup in the Concacaf Champions Cup. He impressed on the road and described how difficult it was to play there.
Vanney made the call to start Miller in the last two matches not solely because it was the only option available, but because he’s seen the 17-year-old grow as a soccer player in the last few years.
“Greg (Vanney) has seen me play for a while, probably the last three or four years and watching me in the academy. He shows my style and tendencies for sure. The biggest thing as a young player, you want to score a goal. That's the big thing you want to do. But he's like, you know what -- when the chances come -- do the things you're best at,” said Miller.
The LA Galaxy tends to attack down the right side of the pitch with combination play. Miller looked confident in those moments where his technical ability needed to shine and didn’t let the emotions of the game force him into giveaways in possession.
“He's been quite clean in most of his possession moments, and he's shown a little flair in the attacking end with some quick combinations and good balls. It's being able to not let the moment overtake you but to be able to manage the moment; and for a young player, he's managed two very interesting moments for him as a young guy; and still showed not just the ability to survive on the day but some character to actually make some things happen,” said Vanney postgame.
Miller’s performances have put him in contention to be part of Vanney’s rotation as the season goes on. He didn’t look out of place at the MLS level but rather flashed starting-level potential in certain moments.
“You have to be proud of yourself no matter what to be out there and play as hard as I did, and so I'll give myself that. But in terms of execution and quality, I know there's more in me and I expect myself to be able to do that,” said Miller.
“It’s just about reflecting, learning, and when the chance comes again, I'll be ready for it.”