Calling All LA Galaxy Forwards: Who Wants To Score A Goal?

It’s no secret that the LA Galaxy is in desperate need of a forward that consistently produces goals each and every week.  With only three goals this season, the Juan Pablo Angel experiment has just about run it’s course.  Chad Barrett isn’t doing much better with four goals.  In Wednesday’s game, Bruce Arena started Miguel Lopez up top, and while he had some great opportunities, the finishing just isn’t there yet.

In the grand scheme of things, the Galaxy’s total of 28 goals scored isn’t too shabby.  In the entire league, only New York, Seattle and Colorado have scored more.  The issue is consistency.  Landon Donovan is the only player that produces goals on a relatively regular basis each week.  But we can’t rely on just one player for our offense.

What should the Galaxy do to solve this problem?  A trade? A new signing?  Maybe.  Or could the solution be there already?

Enter Adam Cristman.  Acquired in January from D.C. United, Cristman didn’t make his debut with the Galaxy until June 3^rd because he was recovering from a knee injury.  He has only come on as substitute for the first team a handful of times, though he has gotten plenty of minutes with the reserves.

Despite not having a goal yet for the Galaxy in an MLS game, Cristman scored twice in their two games last week, once against Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup, and again Real Madrid in the World Football Challenge.  He also has two goals with the reserves team.

Now, I am in no way suggesting that Cristman be thrown into the starting lineup, and if that is done, he will immediately start scoring.  I’m merely suggesting that his performance against two great squads—Seattle and Real Madrid—has shown that Cristman has an eye for the goal, and the talent to finish his chances.

Cristman had a solid first season with the New England Revolution, scoring 10 goals.  Since then he’s been shuffled around a lot, and plagued with several injuries. Now that he seems to be back at full strength, and showing signs of promise on the front line, could Cristman be the Galaxy’s solution to the search for a power forward?

This question will remain unanswered until Arena decides to switch things up.  I could see the combination of Cristman and Lopez up top working well together.  While Lopez hasn’t broken through yet, he’s got the most potential.  Pair him with the right player up front, and it could be magic.  It’s up to Arena to make the change in the lineup; I would guess most Galaxy fans would hope it happens soon.