Now that the 2013 season is over, LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano will look back on the season for every player who was on the club’s roster at some point during the season.
VIEW SCHEDULE HERE
The LA Galaxy Insider Year in Review will begin with players who made the least number of appearances for the club in all official competitions over the course of the year, starting with Brian Perk and Bryan Gaul, who did not make any appearances for the first team this year, and concluding with midfielder Marcelo Sarvas who played in a team-best 42 games for LA this year. 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 one or two evaluations per day and focus on what each player did well and what challenges they faced in 2013 as well as a select thought from the player on their performance and an overall assessment of their season from myself.
Colin Clark
AGE: 29
POSITION: Midfielder
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS FOR THE GALAXY: GP: 13 (11 in MLS, one in U.S. Open Cup, one in CONCACAF Champions League); GS: 6 (4 in MLS, one in U.S. Open Cup, one in CONCACAF Champions League); G: 0; A: 0
RESERVE LEAGUE APPEARANCES: GP: 9; GS: 5; G: 0; A: 1
HIGHLIGHTS: Selected by the Galaxy with their second pick in Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Process, Clark was brought in to provide width to an LA team that had lacked consistent wide play too in recent years. Ineligible to play for the Galaxy in the knockout stages of the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League after representing Houston in the Group Stage, Clark saw significant playing time at the start of the year in MLS play, starting four of the club’s first five games. With Clark on the field, the coaching staff was able to find more space on the field for players like Mike Magee and Jose Villarreal, who combined for six goals in those five games. However, Clark quickly found himself on the outside as he was made just six more appearances throughout the course of the year in league play as well as single appearances in the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League. Where Clark had his most profound impact was with the team’s Reserve League squad where he made nine appearances tallying an assist in LA’s 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids reserves on Sept. 8.
CHALLENGES: Clark’s struggles in 2013 stem from his inability to maintain consistent performances when given the opportunity by the Galaxy coaching staff. Too frequently, the midfielder was unable to be a threat going forward as his runs up field were extinguished by opposing defenses. With Clark incapable of becoming a threat in the attack, he was dropped from the lineup making just a single appearance in the club’s final 16 MLS contests. In his final media availability of 2013, Clark summed his season up best himself stating that “something didn’t click” during his time with the Galaxy.
HIS THOUGHTS: “Coming in was great because it was a fresh start coming out of Houston, going through preseason it started to look pretty promising and then starting during the first part of the year was great. But at the end of the day, I didn’t produce enough and I didn’t do enough to retain that spot which was a bit frustrating throughout the rest of the year. We had a very deep team and it wasn’t easy to stay in the [game day] 18 or the [starting] 11. At the end of the day, it was a battle to get through the day as far as still playing for time, but we had a very deep team and it was very competitive. It’s frustrating the way that it played out.”
OVERVIEW: Signed to be a veteran influence in the LA Galaxy midfield, Colin Clark was unable to capitalize on the numerous opportunities that he was afforded in 2013. Although he showed flashes of the speed that made him a U.S. international in 2009, consistency was lacking for Clark in matches and in training. Even though Clark was a factor for LA at the start of the season, he could not maintain the type of reliable form that could keep him in the conversation for a lineup spot throughout the year. After a difficult season with the Galaxy, Clark will now reevaluate his future as he is unlikely to remain with the club in 2014.
POLL: How would you rate Colin Clark’s 2013 season?
How would you rate Colin Clark's 2013 season?
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
