By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 29, 2021) US Soccer Players - Not too long ago, Major League Soccer revolved around Los Angeles. If the LA Galaxy wasn't winning or making a run at MLS Cup, something was missing for the league. For a brief period of time, Chivas USA was also helping bring success and attention to Southern California. A couple of years ago, though, that success bottomed out. . . .
LA’s competitive imbalance in the 2021 MLS season
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 19, 2021) US Soccer Players - Los Angeles is arguably the biggest soccer hub in the United States, perhaps in all of North America. It's a safe assumption that fans will turn out for soccer events in the region, making it an easy stop for promoters. In Major League Soccer terms, LA has always been the center of it all. That's expected to show next week when . . .
The Galaxy experiences the difference between surviving and contending
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 21, 2021) US Soccer Players - The LA Galaxy has been a not-so-quiet surprise in the early portion of the MLS season. For a team that has not been close to championship caliber, the Galaxy looked more than competent for stretches. In fact, the club looked a bit like its previous iteration - scoring clutch goals, looking capable defensively and, most importantly, . . .
The Galaxy’s revival continues
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 30, 2021) US Soccer Players - The LA Galaxy has always had stars on its roster. Sometimes, like with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2018 and 2019, the stars perform well while the team struggles. Other times, like in the early 2010s with David Beckham and Landon Donovan, the stars perform well and carry the team. A year ago was one of those star-studded lean years. . . .
Carlos Vela, Chicharito, and El Tri
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 9, 2021) US Soccer Players - When the Mexican national team played the US in the Concacaf Nations League final on Sunday, it may have seemed natural that the LA Galaxy and LAFC's biggest name attacking players would be in the El Tri squad. For good reasons too. Carlos Vela, a former MLS Most Valuable Player, is one of the most talented players in the league. . . .
Is el Trafico turning into el Superclasico?
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (May 5, 2021) US Soccer Players - Not too long ago, the LA Galaxy was the undisputed king of Los Angeles soccer. When Chivas USA joined MLS in 2005, the club had some competition for that abstract title. That was short-lived as the Galaxy dominated its intra-stadium rivals until Chivas USA folded after the 2014 season. Four years later, the Galaxy had another local . . .
Chicharito triggers the Galaxy, but defense remains the issue
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Apr 21, 2021) US Soccer Players - When he got word that he was leaving La Liga for the LA Galaxy, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez cried. In a video released on social media weeks after the move was made official, Hernandez shed some tears after closing the door on his European career. The move to MLS was long in coming, a marquee member of Mexico's national team the . . .
Sebastian Lletget and another new look for the LA Galaxy
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 3, 2021) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer will be full of new look teams in 2021. Carrying that label isn't traditionally a good thing. Short of a re-brand, if you're promoting a new look, then the poor quality of the old look forced the change. New look teams almost always also fall into the rebuilding category. If you've got a new head coach, you're . . .
The LA Galaxy calls on an alum to rescue them from the doldrums
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 7, 2021) US Soccer Players - Are the LA Galaxy still members of the MLS elite? This once would have been a ludicrous question given their league-leading five MLS Cup titles, well-heeled ownership in AEG, and glitzy identity to match their Southern California setting. Lately, however, a good deal of the Galaxy shine has rubbed off. The club that won three . . .
Vanney named LA Galaxy coach
Wednesday's soccer news starts with the LA Galaxy naming Greg Vanney as their new coach. The move wasn't exactly a surprise, with strong links to the open job since Vanney left Toronto following the conclusion of the 2020 MLS season. Vanney, a former Galaxy player, now faces at least a partial rebuild to try to turn the Galaxy into a playoff team. “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to . . .
