CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy are earning plenty of different reactions from the three most notable MLS Power Rankings ahead of the 2017 MLS Regular Season.
Sports Illustrated, ESPN FC, and MLSsoccer.com issued their power rankings ahead of the start of the campaign. Below are their explanations and rankings for the Galaxy.
"They’re back. They’re reloaded. And they’ve got a new face on the sidelines. It was a hectic offseason by Galaxy standards, but with a new DP in tow and depth all over the front six, they’ll be right back in the mix out West in 2017."
"Gyasi Zardes is set to miss the start of the season, and now the back line has been hit by an injury to Ashley Cole. With so much change in L.A. -- manager Bruce Arena is gone, as is veteran Robbie Keane -- there's potentially reason for concern."
"The Big Question: Can Onalfo keep things consistent? Under Bruce Arena’s leadership, the Galaxy could always be counted on for solid performances throughout the season that would inevitably ramp up once playoff time came around. With Arena replaced by Onalfo and Robbie Keane retired, this Galaxy team has lost two anchors that practically scream “consistency” (and that's to say nothing of the other key departures like Landon Donovan, Mike Magee, Gordon, A.J. DeLaGarza and others). Onalfo still has plenty of talent at his disposal, especially with the addition of French winger Romain Alessandrini, but his past stops as coach in D.C. and Kansas City didn’t show him as the type to coax consistently winning results in the league. Galaxy fans will hope that Onalfo’s time coaching the Galaxy’s USL affiliate has sharpened his instincts."
