5 Galaxy questions for 2021
The Galaxy will kick off the new MLS season Sunday at Inter Miami CF. New coach Greg Vanney has started restructuring the roster, but will it be enough to get the Galaxy back among the top teams in the league?
Here are five questions surrounding the Galaxy heading into the new season:
CAN GREG VANNEY SAVE THE GALAXY? » Greg Vanney has done it before. When he took over Toronto FC, the club was struggling to find its way. Now he finds a Galaxy team that hasn’t been among the league’s elite since 2014, when it last won the MLS Cup. The Galaxy has missed the playoffs in three of the past four years and has failed in the area of consistency, with Vanney becoming the fourth coach since Bruce Arena left in 2016. The Galaxy has turned to part of its history,
Vanney his career.
WILL ALL OF THE NEW PIECES FIT? » Imagine you bought a new house on a huge property, but you knew you had to tear it down and rebuild to fit your style. That’s a good way to describe the Galaxy since Vanney arrived. The Galaxy has signed 12 players, including a new Designated Player (Kevin Cabral) and five potential starters (Victor Vazquez, Samuel Grandsir, Derrick Williams, Jorge Villafana and Jonathan Bond). Cabral hasn’t arrived yet and Williams didn’t make his debut during preseason. Vanney has pointed to the Vazquez acquisition as a move that can unlock Hernandez, but the two have played together only twice during preseason.
ARE THE GALAXY HEADED TOWARD A YOUTH MOVEMENT? » The Galaxy has been criticized by national media for failing to produce talent through its academy, which is firstteam ready. With Julian Araujo, 19, in line for a starting spot at right back and Efrain Alvarez, 18, vying for more playing time, the Galaxy is at least showing signs of improvement. An even younger core has impressed Vanney during the preseason. Cameron Dunbar and Jonathan Perez, both 18, were signed to Homegrown contracts last season. Dunbar made his debut and Perez hasn’t yet. Academy products Marcus Ferkranus, 17, Jalen Neal, 17, and Adam Saldana, 19, were signed to Homegrown contracts during the offseason and have had moments with the first team during preseason, showing they’re more than capable of filling in if needed.
WILL CHANGES LEAD THE GALAXY TO THE PLAYOFFS? » The Galaxy couldn’t make the playoffs last year, even with the Western Conference taking an extra eighth teams. A coaching change alone will probably not make the Galaxy a playoff team, but at least the team is heading in the right direction. There are still holes on the roster and concerns how the new pieces will adjust to MLS. More production out of Chicharito and a better performance in goal will be needed for a chance at contending.