:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26209551/20131109_kkt_ai4_284.0.jpg)
The three-peat for the LA Galaxy as MLS Champions was not to be. It's a new year and time to move on to other wishes related to the Galaxy falling short last season and beyond.
Here's my 2014 LA Galaxy Wish List:
1. Distributing Midfielder
While Marcelo Sarvas had a great year in 2013 (4 goals, 6 assists, MIR of 25.6), he and Juninho's offensive contributions are more of a welcome bonus than a necessity. After David Beckham set sail for Paris and retirement following the 2012 season, the Galaxy were unable to replace what he provided on the field: 0.65 points per match and the passing that allowed for sustained possession and slicing runs by forwards that didn't show up on the scoreboard. The Galaxy don't need to break the bank (and can't right now anyway) to find a quarterback of the midfield but it was certainly a missing piece of the puzzle last season.
2. Shooting Boots for the Youngsters
If guys like Gyasi Zardes, Jose Villarreal and Jack McBean are going to get playing time (is the Villarreal loan a sign that they are not?), they must hit the back of the net. Mike Magee, who was traded early in the season, had a career year scoring goals. Chad Barrett, who was discarded before the season, saw a similar amount of time with the New England Revolution as he did with the Galaxy in 2012, and he produced .57 points per 90 minutes and scored two goals on 11 shots. Zardes, Villarreal and McBean scored seven goals on 134 shots (5.2). None of the three cracked six percent scoring. The team scoring percentage average was 10.8.
3. Upset Club Tijuana in the CONCACAF Champions League
The Galaxy get the Xolos at the StubHub Center for the first leg of the quarterfinal matchup in March. It's high time an MLS side wins the CCL and although the Galaxy probably don't have the team to do it this season, I'd like to see Mexico's chances of continuing to dominate the tournament diminish. For this to happen, the Galaxy role players will have to contribute because I fully expect Paul Arriola or Herculez Gomez or both to score at least one goal in the tie to spite the Galaxy.
There you have it, three simple wishes. Oh, and I guess "make a run for the MLS Cup" wouldn't be bad either (go ahead and mention the Open Cup in the comments and see if Bruce Arena cares).