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 out of four stars.
TODD DUNIVANT
AGE: 31
POSITION: Left back
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS: GP: 38 [6 in MLS Cup Playoffs, 3 in CONCACAF Champions League], MIN: 3374, G: 2, A: 2
RESERVE LEAGUE APPEARANCES: GP: 1, MIN: 90, G: 0, A: 0
Highlights: LA vs SJ
HIGHLIGHTS: In 2012, Todd Dunivant was yet again the LA Galaxy’s rock on the left side of the defense. Providing experience and a knack for performing in big games, Dunivant was one of the first on the team sheet each and every game. Last season, Dunivant added another facet to his game as he tallied two goals, which matched his career-high. Like most of LA’s starting XI, Dunivant saved his best performance for the postseason, particularly the Western Conference Semifinal Second Leg against the San Jose Earthquakes. In that game, Dunivant rendered San Jose’s fleet-footed winger Marvin Chavez ineffective as LA cruised to a 3-1 victory.
LOWLIGHTS: Dunivant missed a three regular season games as well as both of the club’s international friendlies due to right calf hematoma from mid-July and early August. The veteran left back missed LA’s Oct. 6 game due to injury again this time due to a hip pointer.
HIS THOUGHTS: It was the perfect microcosm; the whole thing really came full circle really. We dealt with the adversity again and came out at halftime. That was a goal that could break your back and that's what happened in the Seattle series...with this team at halftime, we've been through it enough to know that we did well enough in the first half and had some good chances, but were a bit unlucky because it was a good run by Calen Carr and a good finish, we came out and we responded like we did all year." – Dunivant on Dec. 1 describing LA’s MLS Cup victory.
RATING: THREE AND A HALF STARS
2012 was an eventful year for those in LA’s back four, but Dunivant was as steady as ever on the left side of the defense. Rarely flashy, Dunivant continued to succeed on a consistent basis as he shut down some of the finest attackers in MLS. One of the most interesting questions ahead of the 2013 season is how Dunivant adjusts to the growing maturation of Bryan Gaul, who filled in quite ably for Dunivant during his injuries. However once the 2013 season begins, expect Dunivant’s name to be one of the first on Bruce Arena’s team sheet.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
