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.
SEAN FRANKLIN
AGE: 27
POSITION: Right Back
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS: GP: 43 [6 in MLS Cup Playoffs, 5 in CONCACAF Champions League], MIN: 3677, G: 0 A: 9 [4 in Playoffs]
RESERVE LEAGUE APPEARANCES: None
HIGHLIGHTS: During a rollercoaster ride of a season, Sean Franklin was the club’s lone constant. By appearing in all 34 regular season matches and starting all but one, the right back set club records for games played (34), games started (33), and minutes played (2,937). The archetypical offensive right back, Franklin was not only effective in defense, but in the attack as well. Franklin registered all five of his assists during the final four months of the regular season. In the postseason, he didn’t miss a beat by earning four assists with the most important coming as he fed Juninho, who fired in a cross to Omar Gonzalez for his goal in the 60th minute of MLS Cup.
LOWLIGHTS: Franklin endured a bumpy start to the 2012 season as he struggled along with the rest of his Galaxy teammates during the early season skid. Despite his speed and guile, Franklin found himself unable to contain opposing attackers while finding himself unable to provide contributions to LA’s attack. This led to midseason switch to right midfield, but after the success of Hector Jimenez and the signing of Christian Wilhelmsson, Franklin found himself back at his familiar right back position.
HIS THOUGHTS: “If I had to rate my season, it’d probably be a B- because at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t playing the way that I wanted to play. Towards the second half of the season, I was able to play a little bit better, both by being more effective offensively and sharpening up things on the defensive side. I’m pleased and happy with the second half of my season, but I wish I had a full season of playing great, but it’s all about how deal with playing bad and getting out of the funk. I had some issues with my hamstring and I was just pleased with how I battled back and was able to help my teammates.”
RATING: THREE AND A HALF STARS
The 27-year-old right back may have had his struggles, but he proved to be the Galaxy’s ironman by appearing in every one of the club’s MLS regular season and all but one of their postseason matches. By the time the postseason rolled around, Franklin’s early season troubles were forgotten as he delivered a stellar performance on both sides of the ball. In 2013, the Galaxy will need more from Franklin both as a defender and attacker, but most importantly as a leader. Heading into his sixth year in MLS, Franklin will likely be called upon to nurture LA’s younger players while also becoming a leader along the back four.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
