CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy’s 2015 season was full of incredible highs and devastating lows that culminated in an untimely postseason exit.
As we look back on 2015, LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano provides a review of each position. In the latest LA Galaxy Insider Year in Review piece, we look at the team’s defensive corps.
OMAR GONZALEZ
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
Games Played: 32 (30 in MLS regular season, one in MLS Cup Playoffs, one in U.S. Open Cup)
Games Started: 31 (30 in MLS regular season, one in MLS Cup Playoffs, one in U.S. Open Cup)
GOALS: 1
ASSISTS: 3
DAN GARGAN
GP: 32 (25 in MLS regular season, four in CONCACAF Champions League, three in U.S. Open Cup)
GS: 24 (20 in MLS regular season, three in CONCACAF Champions League, one in U.S. Open Cup)
G: 0
A: 0
LEONARDO
GP: 30 (26 in MLS regular season, three in U.S. Open Cup, one in MLS Cup Playoffs)
GS: 30 (26 in MLS regular season, three in U.S. Open Cup, one in MLS Cup Playoffs)
G: 0
A: 0
ROBBIE ROGERS
GP: 28 (27 in MLS regular season, one in MLS Cup Playoffs)
GS: 27 (26 in MLS regular season, one in MLS Cup Playoffs)
G: 1 (all in MLS regular season)
A: 3 (all in MLS regular season)
AJ DELAGARZA
GP: 28 (24 in MLS regular season, two in U.S. Open Cup, one in CONCACAF Champions League, one in MLS Cup Playoffs)
GS: 25 (22 in MLS regular season, two in U.S. Open Cup, one in MLS Cup Playoffs)
G: 0
A: 1 (in MLS regular season)
TOMMY MEYER
GP: 12 (six in MLS regular season, four in CONCACAF Champions League, two in U.S. Open Cup)
GS: 10 (four in MLS regular season, four in CONCACAF Champions League, two in U.S. Open Cup)
G: 0
A: 0
DAVE ROMNEY
GP: 9 (five in MLS regular season, four in CONCACAF Champions League)
GS: 6 (four in CONCACAF Champions League, two in MLS regular season)
G: 0
A: 0
TODD DUNIVANT
GP: 5 (three in MLS regular season, one in U.S. Open Cup, one in CONCACAF Champions League)
GS: 3 (one in MLS regular season, one in U.S. Open Cup, one in CONCACAF Champions League)
G: 0
A: 0
OSCAR SORTO
GP: 7 (three in MLS regular season, two in U.S. Open Cup, two in CONCACAF Champions League)
GS: 6 (three in MLS regular season, two in U.S. Open Cup, one in CONCACAF Champions League)
G: 0
A: 1 (one in U.S. Open Cup)
HIGHLIGHTS:
The typically stout LA Galaxy defense endured an up-and-down 2015 campaign.
The Galaxy’s defensive core remained the same for much of the year, as head coach Bruce Arena primarily gave the most minutes to five defenders: Leonardo, Omar Gonzalez, Dan Gargan, Robbie Rogers and A.J. DeLaGarza. Gonzalez and Leonardo saw considerable time in central defense with Rogers manning the left side, while DeLaGarza and Gargan each split time at right back.
No defender was more consistent throughout the year than Brazilian defender Leonardo. Despite struggling with health issues and consistency early in his time with the club, Leonardo shined in 2015 making significant strides in his one-on-one defending and his ability to lead the backline. For his contributions, the 27-year-old Brazilian was named the LA Galaxy’s 2015 Defender of the Year.
Omar Gonzalez once again put forth a solid campaign, winning his third consecutive MLS All-Star nod while Dan Gargan continued to be a versatile option along the backline, finishing second to Gonzalez in total appearances.
Left back Robbie Rogers showed that his 2014 campaign was no accident as he put forth another strong season in 2015. Despite being a defender for a little less than a year, Rogers led all left backs in Major League Soccer with 75 interceptions. But the finest moment for the 28-year-old came on June 25th when he scored his first goal for the Galaxy during the club’s Pride Night.
However, the best story of the year did not come from any of the five core defenders; it stemmed from first-year center back Dave Romney. An unsigned college player at the start of 2015, Romney worked his way onto the first team with a strong Galaxy II performance en route to becoming the first-ever player to sign with the club from the USL affiliate. When given an opportunity with Arena’s squad, Romney did not disappoint, as he adapted seamlessly to the level of play in MLS.
LOWLIGHTS:
The LA Galaxy built their recent success on a foundation of solid defensive work, but the team’s defense struggled during their doomed 2015 campaign.
Throughout the year, the Galaxy stressed that they could improve on repeated concentration lapses that felled the team, both at the beginning and tail end of games. Whether it was Omar Gonzalez or Robbie Keane, all players seemed to stress the need to be switched on defensively for a full match. These calls went unheeded, however, as the Galaxy repeatedly endured mistakes during a dire month of October that saw the team tumble from Supporters’ Shield leaders to being knocked out of the playoffs by month’s end. These errors culminated in a sloppy performance in their 3-2 Knockout Round defeat to Seattle Sounders FC when miscues along the backline and in goal led to each of Seattle’s three goals in their victory over the reigning champions.
Concentration lapses weren’t the only issue for the Galaxy’s defense, as the club also suffered from a variety of injuries. No defender was more struck by the injury bug than right back A.J. DeLaGarza. A foot injury felled the defender in the preseason, causing him to miss out on his usual starting role in the club’s first three matches. This wasn’t DeLaGarza’s only ailment, however, as the defender also dealt with a groin issue that eventually required surgery at season’s end. Although DeLaGarza recovered to make 28 appearances across all competitions, the versatile defender was unable to regain the form that he enjoyed a year ago.
The typically stout Omar Gonzalez was not immune to the Galaxy's defensive struggles down the stretch. After a strong start to the campaign, Gonzalez could not refind the form that made him an MLS All-Star in July. The lowest moment for the defender came in the postseason, when a miscommunication by the center back and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts resulted in the Sounders’ first goal in their eventual 3-2 victory over the Galaxy in the playoffs.
In addition to inconsistent play from the central defensive corps, the Galaxy did not see much of a jump from promising youngsters Tommy Meyer or Oscar Sorto. Both players were expected to challenge for starting positions to begin the year, but failed to lock down significant minutes with the first team. The Galaxy also said farewell to longtime defender Todd Dunivant at the end of 2015. The 34-year-old did not get much of a send-off, however, as he only made five appearances due to injury.
OVERVIEW:
Tightening up the defense will be the No. 1 priority for Bruce Arena ahead of the 2016 campaign.
After a season filled with concentration lapses and defensive miscues, Arena may shake up a core group that has remained relatively similar since 2009. Dunivant is the only player certain to leave, but look for the Galaxy head coach to add new personnel at both outside back and central defense by the time the preseason rolls around.
The club also faces a major question mark on whether it will be able to retain Omar Gonzalez due to contract concerns, though the Galaxy are seeking to keep the defender.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
