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.
DAN KEAT
AGE: 25
POSITION: Midfielder
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS: GP: 3 [2 in CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE; 1 in MLS], MIN: 112, G: 0, A: 0
RESERVE LEAGUE APPEARANCES: GP: 5, MIN: 300, G: 0, A: 0
HIGHLIGHTS: A defensive midfielder by trade, Keat saw minutes across the field during the 2012 season. Whether it was right back, central defense or various spots in the midfield, Keat frequently bounced around the field in search of minutes. Although he was unable to breakthrough on the club front, Keat’s finest moments came on international duty as he became a regular call up to the New Zealand National Team in the latter stages of the year. After making three appearances for the Kiwis throughout the year, Keat made his first international start during a November friendly against China.
LOWLIGHTS: No moment was lower for the second year midfielder than on May 31, when Keat underwent a meniscectomy on his right knee to repair damage done to his meniscus. The injury came just days after the 25-year-old started in central defense during LA’s 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact. Following the injury, Keat struggled to get back to his best form and work his way into the lineup. Despite returning to action in the Reserve League, Keat would make just one first team appearance over the final six months of the year, coming on as a late substitute in LA’s 3-2 win at Isidro Metapan in the CONCACAF Champions League on Oct. 25.
HIS THOUGHTS: “I think it was kind of an interesting year for me, I thought I was doing well at the start of the season. I was doing well at a variety of different positions, which I didn’t necessarily think helped me personally. But that’s what you got to do to help the team. I played about eight different positions this year and that was fun, but it’s a shame I guess that I started the game in Montreal and then the injury happened. It sets you back and with the quality that we have, when you find yourself shuffled down the depth chart, it’s really hard to fight your way back up. That’s a good thing, that’s the way it is in a club like this and while it’s frustrating, at the end of the day, to win a championship two years in a row makes it hard to complain.”
RATING: ONE STAR.
It was a year of “what might have been” for Keat. The New Zealand International broke into the Galaxy’s rotation in the early stages of the season, but was sidelined due to injury in mid-May and was unable to recover his spot in the lineup. Although Keat was unable to find his way into LA’s rotation, with his poise on the ball and versatility in defense, he is an attractive option for Bruce Arena during another congested schedule in 2013. With one eye firmly set on helping the All Whites reach World Cup 2014, expect a motivated Keat next season.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
