The LA Galaxy season may be over, but LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano will spend the next few weeks offering an evaluation of each member of the squad. VIEW CALENDAR
The LA Galaxy Player Ratings will begin with players who appeared in the least number of games this season starting with goalkeeper Brian Rowe and concluding with Sean Franklin who played in all 34 of the club’s regular season games. There will also be an evaluation of head coach and general manager Bruce Arena and his moves at the conclusion of the list.
We will have two to three evaluations per day and focus on what each player did well, what they need to improve on ahead of next season as well as a select thought from the player on their performance and a rating from myself.
PAOLO CARDOZO
AGE: 23
POSITION: Midfielder
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS: FOR LA GALAXY: GP: 2, G: 0, A: 0. FOR CHIVAS USA: GP: 11, G: 1, A: 0
RESERVE LEAGUE APPEARANCES: FOR LA GALAXY: None. FOR CHIVAS USA: GP: 4, G: 2, A: 1
Cardozo scores in LA Reserve League win vs Portland
HIGHLIGHTS: A year after being drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Cardozo struggled to get on the field during the early part of the Galaxy’s season. It was no surprise that Cardozo was dealt on April 10 for David Junior Lopes as the Galaxy sought defensive cover. Once with the Rojiblancos, Cardozo received his one highlight as he scored during the club’s 3-1 defeat to the Galaxy on July 21.
LOWLIGHTS: 2012 was not kind to Cardozo, who was unable to make a significant impact for either the Galaxy or Chivas USA. Cardozo received his lone start for the Galaxy on March 26 during the club’s 3-1 defeat to the New England Revolution in a match that saw him struggle to create any offense for the Galaxy. Once traded to Chivas, Cardozo was a semi-regular contributor to their squad until late July when he fell out of favor with the coaching staff. Despite the club’s late summer scoring draught, he did not make an appearance for the Rojiblancos in the club’s final 14 games.
HIS THOUGHTS: “It was good to at least give us some hope but sad because we lost it. Just have to keep working for it. It was nice to have scored, but it didn’t do any good.” – Cardozo after scoring for Chivas USA in their 3-1 loss to the LA Galaxy.
RATING: ZERO STARS.
The sophomore slump hit the Uruguayan midfielder hard as he struggled on both sides of The Home Depot Center. Cardozo’s passing ability and speed impressed at times, but his inability to handle the physical rigors of the game forced him from the plans of Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena and eventually then-Chivas USA head coach Robin Fraser. Cardozo remains on the Rojiblancos roster for 2013, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be in the plans of new coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
