Galaxy Team Takes Shape

By: DAS | January 19th, 2011

The light of heaven shined upon us today and the Galaxy twitterverse burst forth with joy. We have been sent our Angel.

The Galaxy announced today that they have signed Juan Pablo Angel to a multi-year contract as the team’s third DP (Becks and Landycakes being the other two). The big question now is whether our Angel can earn his wings. Can he measure up to our Buddle of joy?

Though still unconfirmed, word on the street is that Juninho and Leonardo are returning, but not Cazumba. I can’t imagine why we would keep Leonardo now, but as long as we do actually retain Juninho I don’t really care. I am, however, going to miss being able to exclaim in my strongest latin accent, “Ay Cazumba!”

It seems that the roster is now fairly well settled, but I am still perplexed by the starting lineup.

Ricketts will clearly start in goal.

I presume that Franklin will start at RB, Dunivant at LB, and O.G. at CB. I’m guessing Berhalter pairs up with OG in the middle, but I could see Adolph Joseph de la Garza in that role too.

Midfield is much more of a puzzle. Donovan seems likely to start on the right wing. Becks, Juninho, and Birchall all seem like likely starters to me, but in what combination? If Birchall is in, he’d likely play CDM, given that he is basically like Kovalenko without the WWF style tackles. That leaves Becks and Juninho (I need a better nikcname for that guy) to split the left wing and CAM. Is either really a left winger? I suppose The Bruce could put Stephens on the left wing, take out Birchall, and put J and B at CAM and CDM in some configuration. Or maybe try out one of the new kids. See, I’m perplexed.

The attack team is at least a little more clear. Angel will definitely start. I’m assuming Barrett will be paired with him up top. While much derided and admittedly not so exciting, Barrett seems a more potent option than Magee, Kirovski, Cristman, or Jordan.

So, are you as excited as I am to have Angel? Are you worried that his 35 year old legs can’t cut it anymore? Who are you expecting to see take the field when the team lines up for their first match in March?

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Category: Player News

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Glen

I'm excited to get the pre-season underway and find out how the team shakes out a lil more with Angel and Barrett (may pair well with angel with his physical style of play) up top, Donovan, Juni, Birchall and Becks mid and Franklin, Omar, Berhalter, Dunivant in the back. With the newly acquired players it should be fun to watch. I kinda wish we would have got some more depth in the back but we'll see how it plays out.
nathanhj

I suspect that Arena will be very conservative in his line-up. Pending the development of his attacking midfield options I think it will be a diamond formation with Birchall in CDM, Donovan on the left wing, Juninho in CAM, and Becks on the right.

I would love to see a 4-4-1-1 with Birchall as CDM, Stephens on the left, Juninho in the middle, Becks on the right and Donovan as withdrawn striker playing behind Angel and finding him on wicked crafty short passes into the box.

But I don't see that happening.
DavidS

Can Donovan really hang at left mid? I seem to recall they put him there once and it didn't work, but I could be wrong. I tend to shy away from single attacker formations, especially in MLS, believing that they are too anemic in the attack. Even Angel is probably not enough of a threat to handle the attacking duties on his own.
nathanhj

David, where were you for the second half of last season? Donovan started lots of games at left mid and performed well. I'm not saying he _has_ to be there. He could partner Angel like he partnered Buddle, of course. I think my 4-4-1-1 system is about allowing Donovan to float and find the game, run at defenders, find Angel, or cross back to the mids and make his own runs into the box. Angel can create his own space and Donovan can find him.

I don't think that works without someone like Juninho playing well in the middle and someone like Becks who can hit 50 yard passes on a dime. But I also think that Arena won't do it and he'll go with 4-4-2 with Donovan on the left and Barnmisser up top.
Glen

I'm concerned about having Angel and "Barnmisser" as our choices with Chad showing time and time again why he kinda sucks but I don't see Magee, Kirovski, Cristman, or Jordan stepping up and taking that partner role. Hopefully Barrett plays with a new found intensity and Angel can play off that with Donovan attacking more often as well. All is not lost yet but like you mentioned we need Juninho to be playing well to help setup some runs allowing Donovan to roam freely.