LAG Confidential - Gio Dos Santos signs with the LA Galaxy (Story Stream)The Jewel of MLS Blogshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50693/lag-fav.png2015-07-19T14:06:05-07:00http://www.lagconfidential.com/rss/stream/87393962015-07-19T14:06:05-07:002015-07-19T14:06:05-07:00Putting a damper on impending trade fears
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<p>Bruce Arena clears up how the Galaxy are managing their intentional roster slots, assuaging fears of an impending trade. </p> <p>When news first broke that the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> traded away an international roster spot to NYCFC for allocation money, questions began to arise about how the Galaxy were going to sign Giovani dos Santos. While it had already been announced how the Galaxy were freeing up a designated player slot for the Mexican international (using targeted allocation money to buy down Omar Gonzales' contract under the dp threshold), the Galaxy, in trading away an international roster spot to NYCFC, created for themselves another hurdle.</p>
<p>Like in many leagues around the world, MLS regulates the number of foreign players within the league in order to promote the growth of domestic players. In 2008, each MLS team was given 8 international roster slots. The league also allowed teams who did not wish to use these slots to trade them. Since this time, the LA Galaxy have traded away two of these slots-- once as a part of the <span>Marcelo Sarvas</span> to Colorado deal, and the other as a part of the aforementioned deal with NYCFC.</p>
<p>This move left the Galaxy with 6 international roster spots, all of which were being filled: <span>Jaime Penedo</span>, <span>Raul Mendiola</span>, <span>Mika Vayrynen</span>, Leonardo, <span>Steven Gerrard</span>, and <span>Ignacio Maganto</span>.With Giovani dos Santos on the way, room would have to be made.</p>
<p>This lead to a great deal of speculation over possible scenarios. Mika Vayrynen seemed like the most obvious choice, but with rumors coming out of Panama's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/concacaf-gold-cup" class="sbn-auto-link">Gold Cup</a> camp that Jaime Penedo was unhappy with his contract, Galaxy fans began to fear the worst.</p>
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<p>But Bruce Arena is here to say not to worry.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">For you my friend. May you cherish it. Also this will someday be a great trimmed clip! <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanSteffen">@SeanSteffen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGConfidential">@LAGConfidential</a> <a href="http://t.co/ktbyMolOw0">pic.twitter.com/ktbyMolOw0</a></p>
— Chandrima Chatterjee (@chandrimatweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/chandrimatweets/status/622447212434362368">July 18, 2015</a>
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<p>According to Arena, one of the current international roster slot players is getting a green card. Once this occurs, (if it has not occurred already) the Galaxy will have the open slot for Gio upon his arrival after the Gold Cup.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/19/9000977/giovani-dos-santos-signing-will-not-require-the-galaxy-to-drop-one-ofSean Steffen2015-07-17T13:47:36-07:002015-07-17T13:47:36-07:00Andres Guardado spotted wearing a LA Galaxy Dos Santos jersey<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/trapunxvicuna/status/622107410413563904">Andres Guardado spotted wearing a LA Galaxy Dos Santos&nbsp;jersey</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Looks like Gio's not the only one excited about the El Tri international's move to LA.</p></p></div>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/17/8995731/andres-guardado-spotted-wearing-a-la-galaxy-dos-santos-jerseyMike Gray2015-07-15T17:55:11-07:002015-07-15T17:55:11-07:00Giovani Dos Santos finds a home at the LA Galaxy
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<p>With the LA Galaxy, Giovani Dos Santos may have finally found his home.</p> <p>After weeks of rumors, the LA Galaxy confirmed the signing of Mexican International Giovani Dos Santos on Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it expected Dos Santos will arrive to the Galaxy in August following the conclusion of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.</p>
<p>On a geographic standpoint, it is a win-win for both parties. For the LA Galaxy and MLS, Giovani Dos Santos brings to the league one of the most recognized soccer names south of the border, a gold-medalist, a winner of a U-17 World Cup with Mexico, and a veteran of two FIFA World Cups. It is also a step towards the right direction in securing some of the support of Southern California's significant Mexican-American population.</p>
<p>For Giovani Dos Santos, an opportunity like this doesn't come often. A few months ago, Gio described his time at Villarreal, a city with approximately 52,000 inhabitants, as a place "with almost nothing to do". The prospect of calling Los Angeles his home was undoubtedly one of the big selling points for MLS.</p>
<p>In fact, finding a home has been difficult for Gio since the start of his professional career. In a 2013 interview by Spanish newspaper El Pais, Gio claimed his exit from Barcelona as a 17-year-old was due to the fact that he wasn't Catalan, and the team's preference of keeping Catalan-born forward Bojan Krkić instead of him.</p>
<p>After scoring a hat-trick in his last game with the <i>Bluegrana</i>, Gio became something of a journey-man, playing in six different teams in seven years. When it looked like Gio had found his feet at Mallorca, where he played in the 2012/2013 season, the team was relegated, forcing the club to let Dos Santos go to Villarreal.</p>
<p>At the <i>Yellow Submarine</i>, things didn't get any better. His deteriorating relationship with manager Marcelino Garcia Toral may have been the reason Villarreal opted to cash in on the Mexican forward.</p>
<p>Moreover, it hasn't helped that he has been a victim of <i>El Tri's</i> rigorous international calendar throughout his career, and nagging injuries have followed him everywhere he has played. Since making his debut with the Mexico national team in 2009, Dos Santos has participated in at least one international competition each year.</p>
<p>But his move to the LA Galaxy offers to rid him of those tiresome transatlantic flights and promises him a fresh start to his professional career. Moving from one of Europe's top leagues to MLS is by no means ideal for a player of Dos Santos' talent, but his decision to choose MLS provides him the opportunity to be part of a community and a place to finally call home.</p>
<p>It won't be easy, and as Galaxy manager Bruce Arena told the LA Times," He's going to have to be mature about it." At the end of the day, though, that may be the easiest part. He has already found a place where he feels like he is wanted.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/15/8974895/giovani-dos-santos-finds-a-home-at-the-la-galaxyRafael Diaz2015-07-15T16:20:02-07:002015-07-15T16:20:02-07:00The Galaxy are Handcrafting the 1st MLS Super Club
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<p>The signing of Giovani Dos Santos is just the latest in a series of moves that will separate the Galaxy from the rest of MLS.</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> have been the dominant team in MLS for the past half decade. Now that they’ve won three of the last four MLS cups, questions have floated around as to <a href="http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2015/03/05/can-la-galaxy-truly-be-called-dynasty"><span class="s2">whether or not this team can really be called a dynasty</span></a>. I believe they’re on the verge of becoming more than a dynasty, they’re moving to a whole new level we’ve not seen before in MLS.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Despite <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/standings"><span class="s2">sitting sixth in the playoff race (based on PPG)</span></a>, the season has begun to look up in a big way. The Galaxy have made huge moves over the past few weeks to upgrade the team. <span>Steven Gerrard</span> finally made his debut and, <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/14/8967565/la-times-reports-galaxy-sign-giovani-dos-santos"><span class="s2">according to the LA Times</span></a>, the team has officially signed Giovani Dos Santos. Suddenly an underperforming squad becomes the favorite to win MLS cup again this year.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><i>The Galaxy Recipe: Stars + Homegrown Talent</i></b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Bruce Arena, <span>Chris Klein</span>, and company have developed a winning formula that goes far beyond what we see on the pitch. Fielding a good team is still paramount, but they’ve built the supporting structures that will propel the club into unknown territory for MLS.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>The Galaxy are the one team in the league to combine star power with homegrown talent.</b> They’ve signed huge names (Beckham, Keane, Gerrard, Dos Santos) and at the same time been able to create a pipeline of talent from within the system (Zardes, Villerreal). The young stars we haven’t developed we’ve either poached from other teams or <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/5/14/8604471/how-to-get-away-with-blackmail-in-mls"><span class="s2">paid blackmail money to aquire</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Other teams around the league have shown the willingness to sign big names (NYCFC, <a href="https://www.wakingthered.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto FC</a>). There are teams who have done an excellent job of developing homegrown players (<a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">FC Dallas</a>). But none have shown the ability or willingness to master the both sides of the equation. Only the Galaxy have put it all together.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><i>A Pipeline for the Future</i></b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Signing a player the quality of Gio Dos Santos <i>in his prime</i> will certainly be huge for the club going forward. But as future generations look back on the growth of MLS they may point to other developments the Galaxy have pioneered that ultimately paved the way to dominance.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Galaxy are creating a huge pipeline of talent for the future. It begins by being located in one of the regions of the country <a href="http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2015/05/20/star-map-why-southern-california-country%E2%80%99s-top-producer-national-team-talent"><span class="s2">absolutely loaded with soccer talent</span></a>. They created Los Dos (LA Galaxy II), to give players a chance to mature before breaking through to the full squad. But, until recently, there was a huge gap between the talent base and Los Dos.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Within the past year the Galaxy have worked to close the gap. They announced a <a href="http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2015/03/18/game-changer-la-galaxy-partnering-local-university-help-young-players-develop-and"><span class="s2">partnership with CSU Dominguez Hills to help players develop on and off the field</span></a>. Now apparently they are <a href="https://twitter.com/jreskilson/status/617047771661471744"><span class="s2">starting a high school for players in the Galaxy system</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">It’s not La Masia, but combined with the willingness to spend big on star players it’s light years ahead of the rest of the league. And to dominate MLS, we don’t have to be better than Barcelona, just better than the rest of the league.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><i>Handcrafting the Future</i></b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">With all these building blocks in place, "dynasty" is too small of a description for what this club could become. MLS, already a single entity system, is shaping up to be known for a single entity: the Los Angeles Galaxy.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">For Galaxy fans the stars couldn’t be shining brighter. MLS is becoming our silver screen, and everyone else will be just extras.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Welcome to the future of MLS, handcrafted in L.A.</span></p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/15/8968451/forget-dynasty-the-galaxy-are-handcrafting-the-first-mls-super-clubericrobinson2015-07-15T14:28:47-07:002015-07-15T14:28:47-07:00Finally Official: Giovani Dos Santos signs with LA
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<p>The worst kept secret in MLS is finally official, the LA Galaxy have signed Mexican star Gio Dos Santos. #bienvenidodossantos </p> <p>They say friendships aren't official until you confirm them on Facebook. Well, by that logic then a player isn't officially signed to a team until the <a href="http://www.lagalaxy.com/GioDosSantos" target="_blank">club announcement</a>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">IT’S OFFICIAL: The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAGalaxy?src=hash">#LAGalaxy</a> have signed <a href="https://twitter.com/OficialGio">@OficialGio</a>: <a href="http://t.co/QcGG6xl6Wd">http://t.co/QcGG6xl6Wd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BienveniDosSantos?src=hash">#BienveniDosSantos</a> <a href="http://t.co/AaWQng7Lp1">pic.twitter.com/AaWQng7Lp1</a></p>
— <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> (@LAGalaxy) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy/status/621416005009432576">July 15, 2015</a>
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<p>Dos Santos, who is currently away with the Mexican national team in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/concacaf-gold-cup">CONCACAF Gold Cup</a>, would join the team in August pending receipt of his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate. The deal is reportedly for four and a half years, though specifics were not disclosed per league policy.</p>
<p>The LA Galaxy used the <a href="http://mlsmultiplex.com/2015/07/13/doctor-maslin-explains-major-league-soccers-tam-rule/" target="_blank">new TAM provision</a> to buy down Omar Gonzalez's contract and thus freeing up an additional designated player slot.</p>
<p>The long wait is finally over and at only 26 years old Gio Dos Santos is a momentous and iconic signing. He not only brings incredible experience, playing at big clubs and in big tournaments, but also opens up a whole new market for the Galaxy and MLS.</p>
<p>Be sure to stay tuned to <a href="http://www.lagconfidential.com" target="_blank">LAG Confidential</a> for more Dos Santos updates, press conference info, and much more.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/15/8974717/finally-official-gio-dos-santos-signs-with-the-la-galaxyAlex Velasco2015-07-14T15:49:51-07:002015-07-14T15:49:51-07:00Galaxy May Need to Make Room for Gio dos Santos
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<p>NYCFC have traded Allocation Money to LA Galaxy in exchange for an international roster slot. LA are now using all of their international slots. With Giovani Dos Santos set to arrive, LA has to let a player go. Who's set to leave?</p> <p>Update: Bruce Arena has since clarified the situation by explaining one of the players is getting a green card.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> needed allocation money. NYCFC needed an international roster spot. It was a match made in heaven. Imagine that. Two clubs on opposite sides of the country working together for mutual benefit. Just wonderful.</p>
<p>This trade didn't involve any Target Allocation Money (TAM), which is odd considering the continuing speculation over the need for LA to trade for TAM to make the Giovani Dos Santos deal happen. Perhaps they <i>don't</i> need any more TAM for that, or maybe they're waiting for a different opportunity.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York City FC</a> don't need any more TAM at the moment, but what they do need (desperately) is a center back. They've had two on trial over the past week: Independiente Medellin's Jefferson Mena and Kaizer Chiefs' Tefu Mashamaite. They announced the signing of Mena earlier today, which means that the trade was specifically made for this player, or they intend on signing both Mena and Mashamaite and needed another slot.</p>
<p>Either way, this remains an interesting trade for both teams. Now that they've traded a spot away, LA Galaxy will need to get rid of an international player in order to make room for Giovani Dos Santos. Whether or not this is the player-for-TAM trade opportunity the Galaxy are waiting for remains to be seen, but it looks like a safe bet. All signs point to either that or the release of <span>Mika Vayrynen</span>, but it's unlikely Bruce Arena will be content with getting nothing but a roster slot out of a player move.</p>
<p>However, rumors have come out of the Panama camp during this <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/concacaf-gold-cup" class="sbn-auto-link">Gold Cup</a> that suggest <span>Jaime Penedo</span> is unhappy in LA and with his contract with the Galaxy. If these rumors turn out to be serious, it could be Penedo who is on his way out. The Galaxy have let players walk away from contracts they're unhappy with in the past, with <span>Marcelo Sarvas</span> being a prime example. With a couple of good goalkeeping prospects waiting in the wings, this might not be out of the question for Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Over in New York City, this trade and the acquisition of Jefferson Mena leaves NYCFC with 29 players currently on their roster. The MLS CBA calls for 28, so someone will have to be traded or cut in the coming days. If you caught any of Sunday's match between NYCFC and <a href="https://www.wakingthered.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto FC</a> on ESPN, you might feel like <span>Kwame Watson-Siriboe</span> might be the guy on the chopping block. You may not be wrong.</p>
<p>For LA, the road ahead is clearly laid out: Somebody has to get out of town to make room for Giovani Dos Santos.</p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/14/8963487/la-galaxy-may-need-to-make-room-for-gio-dos-santos-whos-on-theTyler R. Bailey2015-07-05T13:37:07-07:002015-07-05T13:37:07-07:00How Would Giovani Dos Santos Fit with Bruce Arena?
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<p>Can a player with a party reputation fit in a Bruce Arena managed squad? We may be about to find out.</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard the news that the LA Galaxy are reportedly close to signing Giovani dos Santos. On the field Dos Santos will no doubt be a significant addition and fit perfectly in the Galaxy midfield. But what about off the field?</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><i>Potential Lost: From Phenom to Party-er</i></b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Dos Santos came of age in La Masia, the famed Barcelona youth academy. He made his debut for the first team at 17 and his potential was through the roof. He was already being billed as a star in the mold of Ronaldhino. But that’s when things took a turn for the worse, both on the field and off.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">His transfer to Tottenham left him underwhelming on the field. He became known more for his exploits off the field than on. Suddenly the narrative on Dos Santos began to change. Instead of future world superstar, he was now the party player that got so drunk <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1093528/That-deserves-straight-red-Tottenham-star-Santos-carried-clubs-wild-Christmas-party.html"><span class="s2">he had to be carried out of the Tottenham Christmas party</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Things got so bad that his manager at Tottenham, Harry Redknapp, once quipped he wished Dos Santos "<a href="http://www.footymatters.com/articles/world-leagues/lla-liga/the-fall-and-rise-of-giovani-dos-santos/"><span class="s2">Could pass a nightclub as well as he can pass a ball</span></a>". And while he continued to perform well on the international stage (see his Gold Cup golazo), the future phenom joined the ranks of teen stars who never met their full potential at the club level.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><i>Does Dos Santos Fit on the Galaxy?</i></b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The looming question facing the Galaxy is, "Where would Dos Santos fit on a Bruce Arena managed squad?" <span class="s2">Tactically it shouldn't be much of an issue</span>. But where does a player with Dos Santos’ reputation for partying and not practicing fit on this team?</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Management guru Peter Drucker once observed that "culture eats strategy for breakfast". What is true for corporations is equally true for teams. The LA Galaxy have built an organization with a culture for winning, and winning in a certain way.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Bruce Arena is well noted for running a disciplined team. The types of DPs the Galaxy have signed during his tenure reflect the kinds of values he embodies. Steven Gerrard is a perfect example: hard working, immensely talented, disciplined, not likely to have off-the-field issues.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Giovani dos Santos couldn’t have a more different reputation. And while he may have matured a little in recent years, it’s fascinating that the Galaxy are reportedly considering taking a significant risk to bring him in. This could end poorly, just like his some of his previous stops. But what if it doesn’t?</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><i>Potential Regained: Finally Becoming a Galactico?</i></b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">What if Bruce Arena is exactly the coach that Dos Santos needs at this stage in his career? He’s only 26, far from the retirement age of many previous MLS designated players. With the right discipline, manager, and older players like <span>Robbie Keane</span> and Steven Gerrard as mentors, the Galaxy could present the perfect environment for Dos Santos to finally take off and reach his potential.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">When you stop and think about it, this could be one of Bruce Arena’s greatest deals. Dos Santos needs Bruce Arena, a coach famous for seeing something in players that others overlook, to help him reach his unrealized potential. If Gio can humble himself and learn from the master, this might finally be the season he soars to new heights. He could be a Galactico among stars for the Galaxy.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Or Los Angeles could be yet another stop on the long list of decline of the former La Masia wunderkind.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">It’s up to Gio.</span></p>
https://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/5/8878253/party-or-potential-how-would-giovani-dos-santos-fit-with-bruce-arenaericrobinson2015-07-03T13:47:20-07:002015-07-03T13:47:20-07:00The most dangerous team in MLS history?
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<p>When Giovani dos Santos joins the team, will the Galaxy have the most lethal attack in MLS history?</p> <p></p>
<p>At the beginning of the season, the question on everybody's mind was how the LA Galaxy were going to replace Landon Donovan. Early speculation was that Ishizaki was going to step up and shoulder more of the load while youngsters like Ignacio Maganto, Bradford Jamieson IV and Jose Villarreal, would step up and shoulder the rest. While the latter has happened, the former has not and the Galaxy struggled in the early season as a result.</p>
<p>Then came Sebastian Lletget. This kid burst on to the scene looking like a young Landon Donovan, scoring goals and creating shots like it was going out of style. It was a huge signing for the Galaxy that bolstered both their attack and corps of young talent. But the Galaxy weren't done yet.</p>
<p>Behind the scenes, the league was hard at work at crafting a mechanism that would allow teams like the Galaxy to retain a player like Omar Gonzalez without having to use a traditional DP slot. Relishing this new freedom to pursue yet another big name player, the Galaxy set their sights high and have reportedly signed Mexican star Giovani dos Santos, to fill the hole left by Landon Donovan.</p>
<p>But is Gio really that kind of talent, and if so, why wasn't his La Liga club Villarreal getting offers from European clubs? While part of it may have to do with his party boy reputation, something we will explore in another article, part of it probably has to do with his 2014 season with Villarreal which was widely considered to be a poor one by the standards of his talent.</p>
<p>In 2014, Gio struggled with injures and for playing time in La Liga, and as a result, his goals and assists numbers were quite low. Despite this, if you look at his expected goal and expected assist rates per 90 minutes, his season wasn't nearly as bad as it's been made to have been. He played about half the minutes that Landon Donovan played in MLS last year, but here are their numbers side by side.</p>
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<p>While not as prolific as Landon Donovan's numbers, Gio's totals are by no means poor. If you consider the fact that Gio's minutes were inconsistent and that Donovan benefited from playing on a team that absolutely dominated the league, thus boosting his chance creation numbers, it's not hard to imagine Giovani dos Santos being able to step into the league and put up numbers close to Landon's.</p>
<p>What's more, even if he can't, the boost from Steven Gerrard and Sebastian Lletget should more than make up for this deficit. In fact, if Bruce lines this team up the way I think he plans to, the Galaxy midfield will easily be the most talented this league has ever seen.</p>
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<p>With 3 world class players in Gio, Gerrard and Keane and a player in Sebastian Lletget who may very well be the US's next big star, this multi-headed attack puts Seattle's so called Hydra to shame. In fact, if Seattle's attack gets to be called the Hydra, then this Galaxy team may as well be called the Typhon because this attack could easily straight up embarrass Zeus himself.</p>
<p>Besides the shear talent, this attack is deadly because its main players understand space and their danger is not limited to the traditional areas associated with where they lineup. When put on the wings, Giovani dos Santos and Sebastian Lletget are perfect examples of modern wingers. Unlike someone like Stefan Ishizaki, these two will look to cut inside whenever possible in order to shoot and create shots for others. Having a left back like Robbie Rogers whose hustle to get up and down the line and positional sense to know where he needs to be to help the attack by offering a wide passing outlet (thus his ridiculous 12.2% touch rate), will allow Gio to work inside with regularity.</p>
<p>Robbie Keane is also known for drifting all over the field. If Keane moves back or to the wings, either Gerrard or one of the wingers will take his place. These players can rotate positioning and since the talent is spread so evenly, if teams dare try to overload one area defensively, they''ll just get burned where their undermanned.</p>
<p>Usually I caution against such overkill attacking lineups as they tend to be deeply flawed from a defensive standpoint, however, I don't believe this to be the case with this lineup specifically. If Gerrard doesn't have the legs to play a complete box to box game, Lletget can act as cover. He has the legs and his defensive action rate per 90 so far this season has been as impressive as his offensive numbers. In fact, the collective defensive actions of this midfield will probably not be all that far off from the 2014 midfield of Donovan, Juninho, Sarvas, and Ishizaki.</p>
<p>As if all of this wasn't enough, the Galaxy will have multiple bench players that could easily start for most MLS teams. You want a midfield spark? Throw in Jose Villarreal or Ignacio Maganto. You want set piece magic? Put in Gordon or Ishizaki. You want more box to box work in the midfield? Put in Husidic or Walker. You want a forward who can get behind the attack with speed and anticipation? Put in Bradford Jamieson IV.</p>
<p>All of this depth will also allow the Galaxy to make a serious run at the US Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League without having to make roster sacrifices that could hurt them in the league. Obviously MLS Cup is still the priority, but with this kind of depth, this team is built for more.</p>
<p>If the Gio reports are true (and it definitely appears that they are) then the LA Galaxy have managed to build the scariest attack in MLS history. Whether or not they actually go on to live up to this title remains to be seen. Without question, they have the talent. All they have to do is find a way to put it all together.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts? Is this the best MLS team ever assembled? Let us know in the comments section.</p>
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https://www.lagconfidential.com/2015/7/3/8890619/why-giovani-dos-santos-make-la-galaxy-most-dangerous-mls-historySean Steffen