How Does LA Galaxy Move Into the Future?

Written by: Brandon Giron

LA Galaxy has been the face of the MLS, with some of the biggest names playing for the team.

Players such as Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the signing the changed the MLS forever, David Beckham, have all passed through the club.

While Donovan, Keane, and Beckham found success and lifted 2 MLS Cups together, even dominant players such as Zlatan have failed to restore the club to its former glory in recent years.

Currently, Galaxy sits in 8^th in the Western Conference after 11 games. The team had banked on the new signing, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to be the star of the club, but an injury and a strange season has placed that party on hold. The bright spot for LA has been the Argentine, Cristian Pavón. His level of play has been noticed by the league earning him a spot in EA’s top 10 MLS players, a call up to Argentina’s national team, and has quickly become a fan favorite.

Pavón’s performances do come at a cost though if the Galaxy wishes to keep him for another season. While his rights still belong to Boca Jrs of the Argentine Primera Divison, the Galaxy would have to pay a fee estimated to be around $20M to keep his services for another year. If his level of play continues to impress, European clubs will start to take notice and come knocking on the door.

Younger players such as Ethan Zubak, Efrain Alvarez, and Nick Depuy have been getting playing time, but none have shown that they possess the it-factor to lead the club and turn things around for the Galaxy.

What Are the Options Moving Forward?

The first thing to do is to pay the fee for Pavón. This secures his services for another year, and signing him to a multi-year deal will assure that the money is recuperated on the backend when he is eventually sold to a European club. This keeps a fan favorite and exciting player on the field for the Galaxy. Right now, he is a player the club can not afford to lose.

Bring in another striker that provides what Chicharito can’t. Chicharito is a smart player, he leads the Mexican National Team in all-time goals and has plenty of experience in Europe with teams such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Leverkusen. Those teams had other strikers and wing players that allowed Chicharito to float around the box and pick up the scraps. He was never the lone target and is struggling with the heavy amount of crosses coming his way.

The most important piece to assure future success: Invest heavily in the youth academy and G-II.

The academy has added former LA Galaxy keeper Kevin Hartman as the Director this year. An experienced player and champion that knows his way around the league. This move shows that the Galaxy is thinking about the future and wants today’s youth to get the development needed to win down the line.

What is the most pressing issue for the club that needs to be fixed now?

Which current younger players need to live up to their hype and the Galaxy badge?

Featured Image: Shaun Clark/Getty Images