LOS ANGELES GALAXY v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

LOS ANGELES GALAXY v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders FC make the trip to Avalon Boulevard in the Southland to visit our close friends LA Galaxy. Let the mayhem commence.

What: MLS league match Los Angeles Galaxy v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Avalon Boulevard, Carson, California.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 30 March 2024 CE.

At Stake: With the Sounders currently in 28th place with zero victories, can we prove that we’re better than our record suggests?

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: iHeart Radio and El Rey 1360 AM.

Just because the Sounders haven’t sorted it out yet, doesn’t mean we’re not going to sort it out. It’s another benchmark match, and we still have all these injuries to key players. That makes this match a significant challenge. However, when have we ever backed down from a challenge?

If you can find your way to Carson, link up with ours and make a level of noise that makes it difficult for Apple TV audio engineers to squelch you out. If you’re here in The Evergreen, get ye to the pub and round up your mates, or invite them by to your house and flat. Make some noise and if your neighbours complain, invite them by.

It’s Sounders football, under the Saturday night lights at Avalon Boulevard in the Southland. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!

Danny Musovski has gotten us our first goal from the run of play. Well done, Danny!

The Good News

We’ve got Albert back from injury, and the Gaffer might even let him play 90 minutes, rather than just the last 40. Got Atencio back, and Josh is a good footballer who will find his form, given enough time to do it. Still got Cristian, Morris, Stef, and the back four. If that’s not enough for victory, then I don’t know what.

Sounders showed resilience to level the match after being down 2:0 at Coleman Avenue last Sat. More of that, with some tightening up at the back, and we’re in with a shout.

Cody Baker is looking awfully good lately at left-back. Good enough that maybe he should be in the team. Maybe with all these injuries, it’s time to get Alex back to his natural position in midfield.

Although Galaxy’s attack is producing far more goals, their 12 to our four at last count, They are also the more likely team to concede two goals. Maybe that’s a crack in their armour and we can jam our boot in the door. I know it’s a mixed metaphor. Go with it.

The Bad News

Galaxy spent the better part of €18M on players this offseason, and sold Edwards, Judd, and Boyd for over €1.2M. We spent €6.4M on de la Vega, and that’s it. The melody may change, but the refrain remains the same.

Galaxy defeated San Jose 1:3, and we were defeated by them 3:2. Granted, we have many injured players, but we’ll face LA Galaxy with mostly the same lineup that took the pitch at Coleman Avenue. Fair enough to say that anything can happen after kick-off, but this data paints a bleak picture for our lot.

Galaxy are unbeaten (2-3-0) so far this season and have no players injured save for defender Jalen Neal. We have our key signing Pedro de la Vega, starting left-forward Leo Chu, starting holding midfielder Joao Paulo, and teenage midfield starlet Obed Vargas all out injured.

Galaxy are averaging 2.4 goals per match to our 1.0. This will be a problem.

The Side I Would Select

Well, we’ve tried a new system, and it’s not working right now. So back to basics. Injuries are still limiting the side, but with Albert back…hopefully for 90 minutes, we could be in with a shout.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM   Atencio

RDM   Leyva

LF     Morris

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Cristian

CF     Ruidiaz

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

The Gaffer favours a 4-4-2 double-6 this season for the purposes of getting both Morris and Ruidiaz to lead the line at centre-forward. So that’s the shape I’ll predict from. Schmetzer also shifted Cristian to left-midfield last Sat. I’ll wager he sticks with that. Add to this the interesting question of what role Rusnak will play in this shape. Will he play more as a #10 or a #6?

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LM     Cristian

LCM    Atencio

RCM    Rusnak

RM     Teves

LCF     Morris

RCF    Ruidiaz

Intangibles

Looks like PRO Referees has finally reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement with their referees. No more scabs…for now.

The referee for Saturday night’s match will be Ismail Elfath. In MLS league matches with Elfath as referee, the Sounders FC have a record of 6-7-12 (W-D-L). In MLS league matches with Elfath as referee, LA Galaxy have a record of 11-2-5.

General notes on personnel

LA Galaxy transfers IN:

Berry (Atlanta United) ATL gets LAG’s 33rd pick in 2024 draft

Nelson (St. Louis City) free

McCarthy (Los Angeles FC) free

Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale) free

Pec (Vasco da Gama) €9.3M

Paintsil (KRC Genk) €8.5M

Bibout - reserves

Lepley - draft

Scott (Columbus Crew) free

LA Galaxy transfers OUT:

Alfaro (El Paso Locomotive) free

Calegari (Fluminense) end of loan

Klinsmann (Cesena) free

Leerdam (Heracles Almelo) free

Rosell - released

Sharp - (Hull City) free

Barrios (America de Cali) free

Costa (Fluminense) free

Chicharito (CD Guadalajara) free

Saldana (KFUM-Kameratene Oslo) free

Edwards (CF Montreal) €371,000

Judd (San Jose Earthquakes) €182,000

Boyd (Nashville) €701,000

Mavinga - released

Bond - released from contract

Comparison against common opponents

SJ 1:3 LAG

SJ 3:2 SEA

(against SJ: LAG 1-0-0 +2, SEA 0-0-1 -1) edge LAG

Know Thine Enemy

Galaxy as they lined up in their 2:3 victory over Kansas City at State Avenue on 23 March.

GOALKEEPER

John McCarthy, 31

United States

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (21/0), Inter Miami (21/0), Los Angeles FC (26/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Played his university football for La Salle (74/0). Won an MLS Cup and an MLS League title with LAFC in 2022, by the most technical of margins. McCarthy played one match in the league last season for 90 minutes, and played three minutes at the end of the MLS Cup Final after Crepeau was sent-off, and then helped win the penalty kick tie-breaker. Named USL Rookie of the Year, USL Goalkeeper of the Year, and USL All-League First Team in 2014. Named MLS Cup MVP 2022. Awarded the CONCACAF Champions League Golden Glove 2023, and named to the CONCACAF Champions League Best XI 2023.

DEFENCE

Julian Aude, 21

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Lanus (25/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (27/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3.5M

Notes: Developed by CBP Nicolas Avellaneda and Lanus. Has played for Argentina at youth levels (5/0). Won a CONMEBOL U17 title with Argentina U17s.

Maya Yoshida, 35

Japan (126/12)

Notable Clubs: Nagoya Grampus (71/5), VVV Venlo (54/5), Southampton (154/6), Sampdoria (72/3), Schalke 04 (29/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (17/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Nagoya Grampus. Won an AFC Asian Cup with Japan. Named to AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament 2019.

Eriq Zavaleta, 31

El Salvador (27/3)

Notable Clubs: Seattle Sounders FC (5/0), Chivas USA (17/0), Toronto FC (118/2), Los Angeles Galaxy (17/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €200,000

Notes: Developed by IMG Academy, FC Pride, Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA, and Columbus Crew SC. Played his university football for Indiana (46/28). Won an MLS Cup and MLS League double, and three Canadian Championships with Toronto FC.

Miki Yamane, 30

Japan (16/2)

Notable Clubs: Shonan Bellmare (100/3), Kawasaki Frontale (133/11), Los Angeles Galaxy (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.6M

Notes: Developed by Azamino FC, Tokyo Verdy, Daiichi Gakuin HS, and Toin University of Yokohama. Won a J2 League title and J.League Cup with Shonan Bellmare. Won two J1 League titles, two Emperor’s Cup, and one Japanese Super Cup with Kawasaki Frontale. Named to J.League Best XI three times.

MIDFIELD

Riqui Puig, 24

Catalonia (2/0)

Notable Clubs: FC Barcelona (42/2), Los Angeles Galaxy (44/12)

Estimated Transfer Value: €12M

Notes: Developed by Jabac Terrassa and FC Barcelona. Youth honours for FC Barcelona. Won a Spanish league title and Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona.

Edwin Cerrillo, 23

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (87/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (16/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by FC Dallas. Cerrillo has played at youth levels for United States (2/0).

Marco Delgado, 28

United States (6/0)

Notable Clubs: Chivas USA (37/2), Toronto FC (181/15), Los Angeles Galaxy (64/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Pomona United, LAFC Chelsea, IMG Academy, Cosmos Academy West, and Chivas USA. Won MLS Cup and MLS League double in 2017, and  three Canadian Championships.

FORWARD

Gabriel Pec, 23

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Vasco da Gama (168/25), Los Angeles Galaxy (4/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €8M

Notes: Full Name: Gabriel Fortes Chaves. Developed by Vasco da Gama.

Dejan Joveljic, 24

Serbia (6/2)

Notable Clubs: Red Star Belgrade (21/11), Eintracht Frankfurt (4/0), Anderlecht (5/1), Wolfsberger AC (34/18), Los Angeles Galaxy (83/24)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Sloga Junajted and Red Star Belgrade. Won two Serbian SuperLiga titles with Red Star Belgrade.

Joseph Paintsil, 26

Ghana (15/0)

Notable Clubs: Tema Youth (22/10), Ferencvaros (25/10), Genk (130/30), Ankaragucu (33/11), Los Angeles Galaxy (5/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €9.5M

Notes: Developed by RB Ghana and Tema Youth. Won a Belgian league title and Belgian Super Cup with Genk.

Familiar Faces

Eriq Zavaleta, of LA Galaxy and El Salvador, played for the Sounders FC (5/0) from 2013-2014.

Squads

LA Galaxy from:

McCarthy, Micovic, Brady, Aude, Caceres, Cuevas, Ferkranus, Nelson, Yamane, Yoshida, Zavaleta, Aguirre, Brugman, Cerrillo, Delgado, Fagundez, Lepley, Perez, Puig, Vivi, Bibout, Berry, Joveljic, Paintsil, Pec.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Arreaga, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Morris, Musovski, Cristian, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Injury List

LA Galaxy -

OUT: Neal (abdominal).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Baker-Whiting (hamstring), Chu (knee), de la Vega (hamstring), Rodrigues (hamstring), Joao Paulo (hip), Vargas (head).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

No players suspended this match.

Fun Fact

Sounders reserves remain undefeated with a resounding 4:2 victory over Colorado Rapids 2 at Starfire on 24 March. Newboy, Faysal Bettache hit a brace, with fellow newboy Tsukanome also scoring a goal. Minoungou also added a goal. Well done, lads! Keep it up!