10 things on LA Galaxy

The Impact’s three-game stretch on the road comes to an end this Friday with a date against the LA Galaxy at StubHub Center at 10:30pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5FM & CJAD 800). Here are 10 things to know on the ‘new’ Galaxy.

Context

It’s a new era in Los Angeles. After eight seasons at the helm, Bruce Arena has made way for Curt Onalfo. The squad has undergone a makeover: gone are the Robbie Keanes, Steven Gerrards, Landon Donovans, Mike Magees, A.J. DeLaGarzas and Alan Gordons – three of them have even officially retired (for the second time, in Donovan’s case). Although the Galaxy hasn’t finished a regular season atop the Western Conference since 2011, it certainly expected a better start to the season than this: one win and three losses, including a tough one last weekend in Vancouver. Up 2-1 after a splendid Romain Alessandrini brace, the Galaxy conceded three goals on the way to a 4-2 loss to the Whitecaps. But the Galaxy could be on the up: Giovani dos Santos, Gyasi Zardes and Ashley Cole, who all struggled with injury at some point in these early months, are returning – as is Jelle Van Damme, harshly sent off from the second game of the season.

Current form (preseason and regular season)

W-L-L-L-W-L

Head coach

Curt Onalfo (1-3-0 as LA Galaxy head coach, 31-44-25 all-time in MLS) became the Galaxy’s head coach on December 13, 2016. A national champion as a player with the University of Virginia in 1989, Onalfo got started in the professional game in France and Mexico before joining the LA Galaxy for the inaugural MLS season. He also played for San Jose and D.C. United – where he won an MLS Cup in 1999 – before retiring. A pro coach since 2001, Onalfo first returned to United as an assistant and later took the same job alongside Bruce Arena with the United States Men’s National Team from 2002 to 2006. He then took charge of Kansas City in November 2006, and later of D.C. United in December 2009. In 2011, Onalfo returned as an assistant to Bruce Arena at the Galaxy, where he won the MLS Cup again in 2011 and 2012. He was then appointed LA Galaxy II head coach, leading the team from 2014 to 2016 before his promotion to the first team, when Arena went back to the national team.

Current top scorer

Romain Alessandrini (2)

Players to watch

1. Daniel Steres (#5) – He’s pretty much become the proverbial ‘first name on the team sheet’ with his efficiency in the duels.

2. Emmanuel Boateng (#24) – He could be more decisive in the final third, but Boateng can unsettle a defence with his pace.

3. Ashley Cole (#3) – Even at 36, Cole keeps running up and down that flank, and his experience can sometimes save his teammates – or himself – from tricky situations.

Team profile

Here is what Impact Media wrote on May 26, 2016: “The Galaxy can attack in a variety of ways, but is most efficient attacking at speed. Its defensive block takes a more aggressive approach than many others in MLS and looks to recover the ball quickly. In central defence, Van Damme is more adventurous than Steres, which in turn leads to de Jong or Husidic dropping deeper than their No. 6 position to cover. Cole and Rogers/DeLaGarza, at full back, are quite attack-minded and often push forward together, which can raise issues in defensive transition. Cole, in particular, has made the left flank his, pushing the left-most midfielder into a narrower position. In any case, the Galaxy regularly puts together passing moves in the middle, what with its technical proficiency. When he’s not dropping deep, de Jong is useful to recover second balls and look for Gerrard, who can swiftly play forward balls. The Galaxy also switches the point of attack quickly and scores on (often low) crosses – although the team also concedes its fair share of goals in such situations. The Keane-Zardes pairing […] is a handful. Keane can drop deep and create overloads, while Zardes pushes the backline and creates space for his colleagues between the lines. In their absence, dos Santos will take on more responsibilities to dictate the play.”

In 2016:

*Source for all data is Opta

In 2017:

*Source for all data is Opta

Tactical formation

Through the injuries, the dips in form and the national team call-ups, the Galaxy is still looking for the right formula – 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1, 4-2-3-1… Lineup v Vancouver (April 1): Diop; Smith, Steres, Van Damme, Cole; Alessandrini, João Pedro, Jones, Boateng; dos Santos, McBean.

Most recent game against the Impact

Who doesn’t remember the last seconds of the last game between these two teams? It’s the 94th minute. The score is tied, two goals apiece. Didier Drogba is standing over a dead ball in front of the Stade Saputo west stand. The ball flies in the direction of Brian Rowe, who gets a hand in but can’t quite stop it from entering the net. The crowd goes berserk as the Bleu-blanc-noir picks up its first-ever win against the Galaxy.

Injuries, absences and call-ups (as of April 5)

D Robbie Rogers (ankle)
M Sebastian Lletget (foot)

Next games

Orlando City SC v La Galaxy (MLS, April 15)
LA Galaxy v Seattle Sounders FC (MLS, April 23)
LA Galaxy v Philadelphia Union (MLS, April 29)