Thus, LAFC march on in what is expected to be an MLS Cup. However, in the way is Seattle a past MLS Cup winner (2016) in the Western conference finals. If they win, they face the winner of the Eastern conference finals pitting Toronto (2017 MLS Cup winner) against Atlanta (2018 MLS Cup winner). All in all, the teams that have shown themselves to be top class the last few years.
LA Galaxy continue to retool after returning to the playoffs after missing the playoffs in 2017 and 2018. The defense really let them down on the semi-final match as it did many times during the season.
What is ahead for the front office?
DP decisions
1. Zlatan - He will be out of contract and rumors are for a return to Italy. However, the question is would Zlatan be willing to accept a smaller role on a contender or more playing time in a team less likely to to be a champion? He has expressed his displeasure at various aspects of MLS life (the referees, the lower quality supporting cast, the artificial turf at some venues, etc). On the other hand, he will get minutes on the LA Galaxy and the club provides him the kind of media exposure he clearly enjoys. Unless the front office has some other "big name" in mind to bring in as a DP, they will try to make a good faith offer to Zlatan and hope he declines so they can move on. 60:40 that Zlatan moves on.
News: Italy club interest might be less than expected. Rejoins AC Milan.
2. JDS - He is still on contract and has been a key player and should continue to be central to plans for 2020.
News: JDS says he wants to finish his career with LAG.
3. Alessandrini - He will be out of contract. However, he is a fan favorite, enjoys Los Angeles, and has contributed when healthy. Given his injury history, another DP contract is unlikely but some kind of deal could be made to keep him at a more modest salary level. 70:30 he stays on a reduced contract.
News: Out of contract, will he get a new deal? I think so at reduced salary
Defensive woes
4. Steres - Arguable the best value defender on the club. Good stats on a modest salary and a domestic player. The kind of player any MLS club would want to have around either as a starter or frequently rotated in player. 80:20 that he stays with a raise.
News: Out of contract, will he get a new deal? I think so at increased salary
News: He has a new contract.
5. Polenta - He was voted best defender of the year for the club but he has had some games where he was in the spotlight for what went wrong. Am guessing he is under contract and will be staying.
News: CoG MLS experts say Polenta might be a question mark about returning.
Option declined.
6. Feltscher - Had some good moments but not enough. He will probably be gone.
News: Option exercised.
7. Skjelvik - Had too many bad moments and saw minutes slashed over time. He will probably be gone.
News: Under contract! Unexpected that his original contract was 3-years. Perhaps, he will be traded to Europe.
8. Gonzalez - Am guessing he is under contract and will be staying. He has struggled in many games and maybe rated at this point as the poorest signing by the new front office. However, in fairness to him, he was played out of position on a number of occasions.News: CoG MLS experts say Gonzales might be returning because his contract situation might be more secure than Polenta.
9. Romney - A solid defender who can play multiple positions and a domestic player and won't break the salary bank. Romney has value on LAG as well as any other MLS club who need to have some domestic players to fill out the roster. The problem for Steres and Romney is that they are better at center-back than wide back positions. Wide back is a position of need for LAG with the likely departures of Feltscher and Skjelvik. Polenta and Gonzalez are center-backs and under contract thus making Steres and Romney as rotation players though Steres wound up starting quite a bit; thus, am thinking Romney moves on.
News: Romney to Nashville.
10. Bingham - decent goalkeeper, not top of the line but solid
News: Under contract.
Latin American connections
10. Antuna - He had enough success that he will almost certainly be seeking greener pastures.
News: He is going to Chivas Guadalajara.
11. Favio Alvarez - Didn't have as much impact as Antuna so am figuring there might not be as much interest to draw him away from LAG. Probably will stay.
News: He was on loan and LAG may decline the option to renew. Option declined.
12. Pavon - He was a hit and will mostly likely get a DP level contract. Don't think he has done enough over a long enough period of time to draw big dollar interest from higher level leagues. A huge 2020 season could make his price go up and he will move on in 2021.
News: He is back at DP level as expected.
The role players
13. Joe Corona - Probably under contract so should be staying.
News: Remains on contract.
14. Sebastian Lletget - Good to see him recovered from injury and have a good season. Don't know contract status but a solid non-DP level player with USMNT possibilities so LAG probably will want to keep around.
News: New contract with a raise.
15. Chris Pontius - solid veteran player for the bench and squad rotation but may want more playing time elsewhere.
News: Pontius has announced he will retire.
16. Perry Kitchen - Don't know contact status. Didn't get a lot of minutes due to injury. May want more playing time elsewhere.
News: Remains on contract.
17. Servando Carrasco - Good role player at a budget but at his age he might want to call it a career.
News: Option not exercised.
18, Matt Lampson - solid backup goalkeeper
News: Option not exercised.
19. Justin Vom Steeg - solid young goalkeeper with possible future
News: Option exercised.
The youngsters
20. Julian Araujo - He is a wide back with lots of upside but not ready to be a routine starter at right back.
21. Efrain Alvarez - Mid-fielder with lots of upside but not not ready to be a routine starter.
22. Diedie Traore - Wide back back with lots of upside but not ready to be a routine starter at left back.
23. Emil Cuello - Mid-fielder with some upside but not not ready to be a routine bench player and occasional starter.
News: Option exercised.
Your best one-stop shop for the latest rumors and moves by LA Galaxy is Corner of the Galaxy Rumor Tracker.
The team sheet on the final match of the season (Conference semi-final against LAFC:
Bold face are players on the roster
Italics are players in negotiation where it is anticipated they will return
Regular typeface indicates that are gone for sure or very likely not returning
- Ibrahimovic = out of contract, at AC Milan
- Pavon = re-signed at DP level
- Lletget = re-signed at TAM level
- Antuna = off to Chivas Guadalajara
- dos Santos = remains on contract
- Kitchen = remains on contract
- Romney = traded to Nashville
- Polenta = out of contract, option declined
- Steres =
out of contract in negotiationnew contract - Gonzalez = remains on contract
- Bingham = remains on contract
- Lampson = option declined
- Feltscher = option exercised
- Alessandrini = out of contract in negotiation
- Carrasco = option declined
- Corona = remains on contract
- Alvarez = loan expired, option declined
- Pontius = retired
NEWS: Additions to the team
Sacha Kljestan - the 34 year old midfielder will add some depth to the squad
Emilian Insua - 30 year old defender from Argentina recently playing in Germany
Aleksandar Katai - 28 year old Serbian midfielder recently at Chicago Fire
