Todd Dunivant could see some time for the Galaxy early in the 2015 season.
By Ivan Yeo
The Los Angeles Galaxy begin the 2015 MLS season in a familiar position; as reigning MLS Cup champions. As expected, the Galaxy are one of the favorites to capture the 2015 MLS Cup, but you can expect the road there to be even tougher, if not tougher. The Galaxy will not have the services of Landon Donovan, they will have the services of Steven Gerrard, but that won’t happen until July, and with other noticeable holes in the lineup, LA will possibly have to tread water for the first few months of the season until the Summer Transfer window opens up.
3 hopes
1. Gyasi Zardes will continue to improve.
After a breakout 2014 season, Zardes had the opportunity to further advance his game during the offseason as he trained and featured in matches for the U.S. National team, and earned the praise of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann as well as U.S. veterans such as Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley. Here’s hoping the experience will make Zardes even better in 2015.
2. Robbie Rogers will continue to progress as a Left Back.
After struggling in 2013 following his arrival in Los Angeles, Rogers finally found a place in the Galaxy’s starting 11 in 2014, appearing in 19 matches and provided some stability at the left side for LA. Rogers’ play tailed off a little as the season wore on, but look for Rogers to get better now that he is more familiar with the position.
3. The Galaxy will make some player moves in the Summer transfer window.
Even with Steven Gerrard’s pending arrival at the StubHub Center, the Galaxy are left with some gaping holes, primarily in its midfield, particularly on the wings. With the salary cap set to increase significantly (and perhaps another Designated Player spot) due to the recently concluded CBA negotiations, there is no reason for LA not to address that area of the field when July rolls around.
1 fear
The Galaxy will get off to another slow start in 2015.
The last three years, LA has gotten off to slow starts and two of the last three years, LA went on to win the MLS Cup. A slow start this year might not be surprising this year given the gaping holes in its midfield. With Landon Donovan retired, Marcelo Sarvas traded and LA unable to do much with the roster until July at the very latest, the Galaxy will likely be treading water until reinforcements arrive in the Summer. Sure the Galaxy have players such as Stefan Ishizaki, Baggi Husidic and Alan Gordon that can fill in on a short-term basis and also look for Zardes and Rogers to see time in LA’s midfield for the time being. All those solutions however are for the short term and LA will need to find long-term answers on its wings if they are to defend its MLS Cup title.
