Trapped in His Own Head: Joseph Paintsil’s Struggles Continue
Another quiet night from the Ghanaian highlights a growing theme: chances created, but not converted.
By the 8th minute at Stanford Stadium, the chance was there. One-on-one with the keeper, his defender beat to his right, the kind of chance that wide players live for.
Joseph Paintsil didn’t score.
It wasn’t just that he didn’t score – it’s that it never even looked close.
By full time, the Ghanaian had logged 11 touches in the opposition box, taken two shots, and created one of LA’s most dangerous chances of the night with a late through ball to Gabriel Pec. But the number that mattered most was the same one that’s followed Paintsil for weeks now: zero.
Zero goals. Zero assists. Zero answers.
Paintsil played all 90 minutes of the LA Galaxy’s 1-1 draw with San Jose on Saturday night, a match in which the Galaxy generated more than enough to win. The draw was salvaged by Marco Reus – again – but the difference between one point and three was defined, in large part, by the winger who should be LA’s most dangerous outlet. Instead, he’s become one of their biggest concerns.
A Confidence Crisis
Paintsil finished the night with a rating of 6.8 on FotMob – a number that reflects a player still far from his best. He skied both of his shots high and wide, failed to hit the target once, and missed one of LA’s biggest opportunities with the net at his mercy.
Head coach Greg Vanney, who has defended Paintsil at multiple points this season, offered a diagnosis postgame that felt more psychological than tactical.
“I feel like he's maybe second-guessing himself or overthinking the situation,” Vanney said. “A lot of times I feel like he's decelerating in the moment when maybe he needs to accelerate through it.”
Vanney went on to describe a player in his own head – one with the right instincts, but without the natural rhythm that made him such a breakout figure last season.
Paintsil talked a lot last year about wanting to kill teams and have a killer mentality every matchday. That line of thinking helped the Galaxy become champions last season, but now the team is desperate to find a glimpse of that this season.
“That can happen. You miss a number of chances and you start to overthink situations. That was him a little bit.”
It’s a troubling trend that’s only become more pronounced in recent weeks. In Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Colorado, Paintsil registered just one shot and routinely made poor decisions in transition. On Saturday, the urgency returned – but not the composure.
More Questions Than Production
The numbers don’t lie. Through 13 appearances this season, Paintsil has one goal and one assist. He’s averaging fewer key passes, fewer successful dribbles, and a lower shot accuracy than his debut season with LA. His xG against San Jose was a healthy 0.44, but his xG on target was 0.00, meaning his shooting wasn’t just ineffective, it was wasteful.
That’s not to say Paintsil doesn’t still make things happen. His speed stretches back lines. His combination play with Reus and Mauricio Cuevas has generated real chances. But in the final third, where results and composure matter, he’s become a player Galaxy fans and coaches hope makes the right decision, rather than expect it.
Vanney, to his credit, is still seeing the upside.
“Honestly, having him out there means that we're getting chances. If we don't have him out there, I'm not sure we're getting those same chances sometimes.”
But with the Galaxy stuck at the bottom of the Western Conference and now 17 points off a playoff spot, hope isn’t enough. Paintsil’s decision-making has to improve. His finishing has to improve. And soon.
A Long Way Back
If there’s one encouraging note, it’s that the effort remains. Paintsil wasn’t hiding in San Jose. He made himself available, got into dangerous spots, played a clean game in possession, and even tallied five recoveries defensively. That work rate is what keeps him in the lineup.
But it won’t keep him there forever if the final product doesn’t return.
The Galaxy return to action Friday night for a Fourth of July clash against Vancouver. The fireworks will be in the stands. Whether they return to the pitch will depend, in part, on whether Paintsil can stop thinking and start finishing.
For now, he’s a player stuck between what he used to be and what this team needs him to be. And that gap, like too many of his shots, is only getting wider.