Los Angeles Galaxy Season Preview

After an exciting offseason that saw some players come and go), The Galaxy gear up to start a season where they are overwhelming favorites to win….well everything. The Galaxy managed to return the majority of the core that won them MLS Cup last season as well as add depth via signings and the bevy of early season drafts. What seemed to be a really quick fall into rebuilding and panic became a team that on paper looks stronger than last year’s edition.

Let’s take a look at LA’s roster as of today…

This year’s average player age is 24.6, down from last year’s 26.7. Before you read too much into that, know that two of our oldest players retired at the end of the season (Gregg Berhalter and Jovan Kiroski for those who have already forgotten) and the next oldest player, Donovan Ricketts, was traded to Montreal for allocation money.  Also, this roster is not the final game day roster as the 30-man roster cutoff day is not until March 1st which also askew the average a bit with the 2 extra players being counted.

And here’s the quick run downs of who stayed, who went out and came in.

Hold – Chad Barrett, David Beckham, Adam Christman, A.J. DeLaGarza, Landon Donovan, Todd Dunivant, Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, Hector Jimenez, Bryan Jordan, Juninho, Robbie Keane, Dan Keat, Leonardo, Mike Magee, Jack Mcbean, Brian Perk, Josh Saunders, and Michael Stephens.

Out – Frankie Hedjuk (option declined), Gregg Berhalter (retired), Jovan Kiroski, (retired), Dasan Robinson (retired), Donovan Ricketts (traded to Montreal Impact), Miguel Lopez (returned to Quilmes from loan), Chris Birchall (option declined?), Sean Alvarado (?)

In: Andrew Boyens (from Chivas), Edson Buddle (on free transfer), Justin Davies (Supplemental Draft), Rafael Garcia (Supplemental Draft), Bryan Gaul (Supplemental Draft), Tommy Meyer (Superdraft) Kenny Walker (Superdraft), Kyle Nakazawa (from Philadelphia Union), Nick Noble (Re-entry Draft [Ljungskile SK of Sweden Second Division]), Pat Noonan (Re-entry Draft [Seattle Sounders]), Marcelo Sarvas  (On free transfer), Jose Villareal (Homegrown Player).

The biggest signing to me has to be Edson “Black Knight” Buddle. With all due respect to our forward corps last year, Buddle’s potential offensive production can put that rotation to great shame. Yes, his Germany stint was short-lived but with 9 goals during a season where he made 31 appearances, I would be willing to put money on Buddle being on the opening day roster over Barrett and Cristman. That’s not to say that neither one of those two will NOT be important to our chances in CCL or US Open Cup, it’s just good to have a surplus of forwards after last year’s fiasco of a front line.

Marcelo Sarvas is no slouch either. After leading LD. Alajuelense to both the Winter and Summer Championships of the Costa Rican Primera Division and only missing out moving on to the group stages of the CONCACAF Champions League on goal differential to Morelia, the former LDA captain will also be looking to make his mark on LA this season. He is cup-tied for CCL due to his play for Alajuelense, will still be an important factor as far as depth is concerned. Sarvas is also a bit more attack-minded than Juninho, which is always a great contrast towards the end of the game.

So we have a roster, we have players and a preseason tournament and the semifinals of the CCL coming up. That means it’s time to start asking the hard questions that the Galaxy are going to hopefully answer over the season.

Have You Got It In You? – You would think that’s a silly question to ask, right? They are professionals, they have to be able to get it done…right? Yes and no. We’ve seen many teams fall apart towards season’s end (the 2010-11 Galaxy and last year’s Dallas team are the first to come to mind) Some of that comes down to coaching, some of it down to player depth and cohesion. Can Bruce work his magic one more time with a tougher schedule due to the unbalanced schedule and being in the Western Conference?

Omar Down, Who Stands Up? – If you weren’t under a rock or not reading my other previews, you might be shocked to learn that Omar Gonzalez injured his self on his first training session at Nuremburg early this year. That leaves a hole in the middle of the defense for the good part of the season. I would expect Leonardo to take over the role when he’s healthy. Til then, expect a rotating corps of center backs mostly likely featuring Andrew Boyens and possibly rookie Tommy Meyer.

Keane Out? – According to Mirror Football, Robbie Keane is homesick for the motherland of English Premier League and could be out during the summer transfer window. Now, perhaps Buddle was brought back in as insurance for Keane in case he leaves for England shores. Maybe it’s a lot of rumor and maybe there is a bit more worry than what’s warranted. But one thing the Galaxy can do without is an potentially unsettled player in the middle of the season. Please, Keano….think of the kids.

Unbalanced schedule means no Shield? – MLS has gone back to an unbalanced schedule this year which means that there won’t be many long East Coast away trips this year. The Galaxy, by virtue of being on the West Coast and in the Western Conference will probably have a tough time repeating as Supporters Shield winners this year anyway. More games against in-conference teams such as RSL, Seattle and Portland will probably mean dropped points against those teams at some point. The weaker Eastern Conference may have the upper hand on the Supporters Shield if someone can run way with the conference early.

So there you have it. The Galaxy know what they’re up against this year and with real chances to win every competition, LA will need a good amount of skill, depth and luck to repeat as Supporter Shield and MLS Cup winners as well as capture the continental crown as well. Here’s to another good season for MLS and another great season for the LA Galaxy.

(image courtesy of Toby Canham/Getty Images)