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How good could the Galaxy be with no MLS restrictions?

Pirlo drinking Californian Zinfandel 450352574.0.jpg erick-torres-300x350.0.jpg

Allow me a leap of imagination in this break from soccer season.

How good could the LA Galaxy actually be if all the MLS roster rules, regulations, restrictions, were removed? Let's take away the salary cap, the maximum salary for a single player, the limits on DP spots, the number of international slots, the allocation order, and so forth.

But let's still consider the current roster as a starting point and imagine what the formation might be in the short term. No long-run Ronaldo or Messi plans. There should be an element of realism for the roster choices: ideally, players who have been contacted by the Galaxy, who would be interested or have shown interest in playing for the Galaxy, or would be in some (speculative) way feasible. Some of them are, arguably, not in the roster because of their large opportunity cost: for example, signing Cubo Torres would imply giving up Andrea Pirlo. But in our no-restrictions world, this would not be an issue anymore.

OK, this is the starting 11 for next year, in MLS anarchy:

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Nick Rimando


AJ DeLaGarza; Omar Gonzalez; Jermaine Jones; Greg Garza (Rogers);


Sacha Kljestan (Corona); Andrea Pirlo; Mix Diskerud; Wesley Snejder;


'Cubo' Torres (Zardes); Robbie Keane;


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GK: Nick Rimando. There is no reason that the best, most successful, team in the league wouldn't have the best domestic GK in the league, if money wasn't an issue. Otherwise, other possible upgrades can be imagined (Navas if RM doesn't work out, Ochoa).

Defenders: Clearly Jermaine Jones would have loved to come to LA (and he would have an MLS cup by now!), so he's in the formation. We do a favor to Klinsmann by playing him as a central defender. Gonzales remains, we all love DeLaGarza. Rogers and Greg Garza compete for the spot on the left.

Midfielders: There is no reason US national team players should play for Tijuana in this imaginary scenario. Yes, Liga MX is slightly superior. But that cannot compete with playing for a team as dominant as the no-restrictions LA Galaxy. Garza, Corona, and Mix are all LA-bound. The big DP signings (why choose one now?) are Andrea Pirlo from Juventus, playing as 'regista' as usual and Sneijder. Mix needs to cover up in defense and run for Pirlo, again something consistent with what Klinsmann would like him to do in the USMNT. On the right, the other national, and local, product, who wanted to come home, Kljestan, or, instead, the promising Joe Corona. Snejder's signing may still be uncertain. In that case, Mix replaces him, and the remaining others (or Juninho/Sarvas) fill the midfield.

Forwards: with no opportunity cost, we should take up on the offer of having 'Cubo' Torres' services. He stars in the middle of the attack, together with MVP Robbie Keane. Gyasy Zardes can do a little bit of turnover with Cubo and the older guys (Keane, maybe Kljestan).

How good would this team be? ideally, I would like a younger GK, and a slightly better defense, but I think that it is a team that can compete at Champions League level, although probably having a hard time getting out of the group. Right now, the LA Galaxy are ranked as #300 team in the world, at a level similar to teams as Copenhagen or bottom teams in Serie A (Cagliari) or Premier League (Hull City). This team would be a considerable, but feasible without MLS restrictions, upgrade. It also underestimates the potential for new transfers: with no limitations, the best players in the league would be happy to transfer to the most successful and richest team.

If all this sounds crazy, well, this is the way it has always worked in Europe. Despite new Financial Fair Play limitations, the best teams routinely buy the most promising and skilled players. In the U.S., we rightly believe, I think, that parity of opportunity is necessary to enjoy sport competitions. But, without such parity, you'd better turn into a Galaxy supporter soon to get some enjoyment.

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