Five way to early bold predictions about the 2024 LA Galaxy

Will I like look like a dunce or a genius with these predictions for the Galaxy's 2024 MLS season?

Dec 27, 2023

We are just two months away from the LA Galaxy’s first match of the MLS regular season - this feels like the right moment to make extremely early predictions.

There isn’t much insight into what the roster will look like come opening day but I feel somewhat confident in my predictions. I’ll for sure look back at this list after the season and see just how right or wrong I was.

The Galaxy will keep one DP spot open until the summer

The LA Galaxy can spend this winter with two open Designated Player roster spots - but I don’t see them doing so. Why you ask? Blame MLS’ lack of ambition to ease up on the roster restrictions.

It felt like there was serious momentum to give every team three U22 initiative roster spots off the bat without needing to keep a DP spot vacant or sign a Young DP. Instead, the current rules will stay as is:

If the third Designated Player is a Young Designated Player (YDP), the club will have all three U22 Initiative Slots.
If the third Designated Player is age 24 or older, yet is at, or below, Maximum Targeted Allocation Money Amount ($1,651,250), the club will have all three U22 Initiative Slots.
If the third Designated Player is age 24 or older and is above Maximum Targeted Allocation Money Amount ($1,651,250), the club will have one U22 Initiative Slot.

Currently, the LA Galaxy has defender Julian Aude and striker Dejan Joveljic occupying those spots. What makes the U22 roster spots unique is that you can spend it like DP - they will be under that roster designation no matter the acquisition fee.

At the time of writing, the LA Galaxy is reportedly interested in River Plate winger Pablo Solari. LA offered $10 million to River but reportedly told that the fee wasn’t enough. Solari would count as YDP if he were to be acquired with that large sum of money.

However, it wouldn’t surprise me for LA to invest in an experienced player first instead of a younger player to fill one of their DP spots. With players eager to move after the end of this summer’s international tournaments, the Galaxy could then make a splash knowing the team’s needs halfway through the season.

Mauricio Cuevas finishes the season as a starter

The right back position has had some promising young talents come through in recent years with Julian Araujo and Calegari- and I see that continuing. Cuevas made his first MLS appearance last season and will get a full preseason to work with the club this winter.

The one thing I like about Cuevas is his involvement in the attack and his crossing. To be dangerous in a possession style of play, the Galaxy will push numbers forward and try to stretch defenses. This is where Cuevas comes in, he provides the width and overlapping runs that we see on today’s modern fullbacks.

At 21, Cuevas has plenty of mileage left in the tank and will no doubt be making a lot of recovery runs during his appearances in the 2024 MLS season. With reports of LA’s pursuit of Miki Yamane, the Galaxy seems to be in the market for a right back with multiple years of experience.

If the new right back is from outside MLS, I feel there is a good chance Cuevas can earn more playing time while the new player adjusts to MLS. With how Jalen Neal took a step forward and Julian Araujo years prior, it feels like Ceuvas could be next in line to take that leap forward.

LA has three MLS All-Stars in Columbus

I believe the LA Galaxy is going to have a good bounce-back year in 2024. I’m confident in the roster construction and that LA will start the year with much better off-the-field vibes than in 2023. They’ll be a top team in the West and have three all-stars on the field when the match in Columbus rolls around.

Riqui Puig will be in the MVP conversation and the catalyst for the Galaxy’s resurgence. We’ve seen him dominate games and push LA’s ceiling higher when he’s feeling it. With some new attacking reinforcements coming this season, I see him racking up more goals and assists to put him in that conversation.

Julian Aude was a highly touted talent from South America when the LA Galaxy brought him in last season. Having to adjust to a new country and playstyle while settling into a new country is a lot to deal with in year one. The Galaxy is banking on Aude to be in the upper echelon on of full backs as they signed him to a five-year deal in 2023. I believe the Argentine will take that leap forward and put up assists to get him into the All-Star game.

The third All-Star will be a new DP winger that LA will acquire. I see the Galaxy filling the need for a young explosive winger first before getting a striker. With targets such as Ramon Sosa and Pablo Solari, the Galaxy is looking to get a player with promise from South America. I see LA getting one and seeing their attack explode early into the 2024 campaign.

Dejan Joveljic leaves LA

After two-and-a-half seasons with the LA Galaxy, it’s hard to view Joveljic’s time with the club as a success or failure. He’s been LA’s super sub and also part of their goal-scoring troubles since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt midway through the 2021 season.

2023 saw the Serbian striker unable to take the starting role by the reigns as he only scored six goals in 32 games played. It was his opportunity to cement himself as LA’s starter for the foreseeable future but instead added more questions around him.

As I’ve written about before, Joveljic and the LA Galaxy parting ways makes sense for so many reasons. LA gets to have more roster flexibility by opening a U22 roster spot and Joveljic can return to Europe and be easily detected on the Serbian National Team’s radar compared to MLS. At 24 years of age, this would be the ideal time to return to Europe and prove himself closer to home.

With LA likely to spend on the striker position, Joveljic would likely be inclined to leave if he’s going to continue to be on the bench. LA acquired the rights to Miguel Berry earlier this month - a backup striker with MLS experience - which adds some depth cover if Joveljic leaves.

If has another disappointing start to the season, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Galaxy is inclined to sell him. There have been chances for the Serbian to plant his flag as LA’s starting nine but that’s never happened. In my opinion, 2024 is his last chance to find success with LA Galaxy.

LA’s Ceiling: The Western Confrence Finals

The 2024 LA Galaxy won’t win MLS Cup - even if they get the best possible set of new DP’s during the season. To me, LA’s ceiling is making the Western Confrence finals and no further.

I do see the Galaxy being a good to maybe great team in the regular season but their core will lack MLS Playoff experience which is vital. With how tough the Western Confrence will be in 2024, making the confrence finals would be quite the achievement.

My biggest concern is their backline. After giving up the most goals in MLS last season, LA looks like they’ll only upgrade their full backs and keep their core of central defenders. Veterans Maya Yoshida and Martin Caceres highlight the group alongside young defender Jalen Neal. It’s my biggest question mark on this team - their core just doesn’t scream being a top-10 defense in the league to me at the moment.

The Galaxy will probably rely on their attack to win most games and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a lot of close games next season. With a player of Puig’s talent, I can see him elevating everyone around him and clutching it up in key moments. Their new set of DP’s will also have their moments to shine and make LA’s attack lethal.

A lot can change in the season - especially with the Euros and Copa America taking place midway through the season and then the Leagues Cup break. MLS is always unpredictable but I feel confident LA will be good in 2024. After a season that had so many things go wrong, I have a feeling the pendulum will swing in their direction.

If you have any early predictions to add, comment below!