CARSON, Calif. – Now that the 2014 season is over and the LA Galaxy are once again champions of MLS, LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano will look back on the season with his review on each position. Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes will each have their own review.
The LA Galaxy Insider Year in Review will begin with goalkeepers and then move up the field to defenders, midfielders, forwards, and finally, coaches.
FORWARDS:
CHARLIE RUGG
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 0
- GS: 0
- G: 0
- A: 0
JACK MCBEAN
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 0
- GS: 0
- G: 0
- A: 0
BRADFORD JAMIESON IV
APPPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 2 (two in MLS regular season)
- GS: 0
- G: 0
- A: 1 (in MLS regular season)
JOSE VILLARREAL
APPPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 4 (four in MLS regular season)
- GS: 0
- G: 0
- A: 0
SAMUEL
APPPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 10 (eight in MLS regular season and two in CONCACAF Champions League)
- GS: 6 (four in MLS regular season and two in CONCACAF Champions League)
- G: 1 (one in CONCACAF Champions League)
- A: 0
ROB FRIEND
APPPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 12 (10 in MLS regular season, one in U.S. Open Cup and one in CONCACAF Champions League)
- GS: 5 (four in MLS regular season and one in U.S. Open Cup)
- G: 0
- A: 1 (in MLS regular season)
ALAN GORDON
APPPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 19 (14 in MLS regular season and five in MLS Cup Playoffs)
- GS: 5 (in MLS regular season)
- G: 5 (in MLS regular season)
- A: 1 (in MLS regular season)
GYASI ZARDES
APPPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 38 (32 in MLS regular season, five in MLS Cup Playoffs, two in U.S. Open Cup and two in CONCACAF Champions League)
- GS: 30 (26 in MLS regular season, five in MLS Cup Playoffs, two in U.S. Open Cup and two in CONCACAF Champions League)
- G: 19 (16 in MLS regular season, two in U.S. Open Cup and one in MLS Cup Playoffs)
- A: 2 (in MLS regular season)
LANDON DONOVAN
APPPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 39 (31 in MLS regular season, five in MLS Cup Playoffs, two in CONCACAF Champions League and one in U.S. Open Cup)
- GS: 37 (30 in MLS regular season, five in MLS Cup Playoffs and two in CONCACAF Champions League)
- G: 13 (10 in MLS regular season and three in MLS Cup Playoffs)
- A: 23 (19 in MLS regular season, two in MLS Cup Playoffs and two in CONCACAF Champions League)
ROBBIE KEANE
APPPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS:
- GP: 37 (29 in MLS regular season, five in MLS Cup Playoffs, two in CONCACAF Champions League, and one in U.S. Open Cup)
- GS: 36 (28 in MLS regular season, five in MLS Cup Playoffs, two in CONCACAF Champions League, and one in U.S. Open Cup)
- G: 23 (19 in MLS regular season, two in MLS Cup Playoffs and two in CONCACAF Champions League)
- A: 18 (14 in MLS regular season, three in MLS Cup Playoffs and one in CONCACAF Champions League)
HIGHLIGHTS:
The goals and the assists were primarily scored by the trio of Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes, but the rest of the team’s forwards enjoyed several banner moments during the team’s 2014 MLS Cup winning campaign.
After joining midseason in a deal from the San Jose Earthquakes, veteran forward Alan Gordon made an immediate impact with the club as he became a valued offensive weapon off the bench. In his first 12 games with the club, Gordon tallied five goals and one assist which helped him become the highest scoring Galaxy No. 9 in club history. The most impressive of his strikes came on Oct. 4 when he launched a blast from distance to help LA defeat Toronto FC 2-0.
Although neither Rob Friend nor Samuel played a major part in the club’s stretch run to an MLS Cup, both players were instrumental during the team’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals series against Club Tijuana. In the first leg, the Brazilian striker scored the lone goal for LA in the team’s eventual victory, but in the second leg, Friend shined off the bench as the Galaxy nearly battled back from a deficit to defeat the Liga MX side.
Meanwhile, LA’s young forwards saw their minutes limited to action with the team’s USL PRO affiliate LA Galaxy II. Bradford Jamieson IV played the largest role as he notched six goals and one assist in the team’s inaugural campaign. Not only did Jamieson contribute to Los Dos’ success, but he also made his first team debut in July and earned his first assist in a defeat to Sporting Kansas City.
LOWLIGHTS:
Aside from Alan Gordon’s midseason success, it was a bleak year for the LA Galaxy’s supporting cast of forwards.
Heralded as major additions to the Galaxy’s strike force when they were signed in January, target forwards Rob Friend and Samuel flopped in their efforts to spark offense for the LA attack. Both players showed promise at the beginning of the year, but injuries and inconsistent performances rendered both players as afterthoughts in the forward depth chart. Just seven months after joining the club on loan, the Galaxy ultimately terminated Samuel’s agreement and sent him back to Brazilian side Fluminense.
For Friend, the situation was dramatically different as he saw his season cut short in July when he suffered a concussion in the build-up to the club’s Chevrolet FC Cup friendly with Manchester United. The symptoms from the concussion remained with the 33-year-old throughout 2014, which eventually led the Canadian to retire at the end of the season.
Even Gordon, the lone bright spot among the club’s supporting cast of forwards, was not immune to dips in form. After a strong start to his tenure, Gordon struggled down the stretch and missed several key chances that saw the club’s bid for the Supporters’ Shield fall agonizingly short.
Among the young forwards, Jack McBean and Jose Villarreal endured trying campaigns that saw the pair unable to build on successful 2013 campaigns. Loaned to Liga MX side Cruz Azul in January, Villarreal failed to make any contribution for the Mexican club which ultimately resulted in his return to the Galaxy in August. McBean also failed to capitalize on his loan to Galaxy II as he was only able to find the back of the net five times during his team-high 26 appearances for Los Dos.
OVERVIEW:
The young guns of the LA Galaxy striker corps will certainly be under the microscope during the team’s 2015 campaign.
Charlie Rugg, McBean, Jamieson and Villarreal are each expected to play major roles for Galaxy II in the coming season while they look to fight their way on to the senior side. McBean and Villarreal in particular will need to rebound from frustrating years that saw them compile limited minutes for both teams. In addition to trying to make strides with both Los Dos and the Galaxy first team, Jamieson also figures to play a major role in the U.S. Under-20’s bid for the U-20 World Cup.
While the youngsters try to earn their way onto the first team, Gordon is expected to resume his role as a target forward option off the bench for the Galaxy. Although Gordon will not be tasked with playing a major role in the attack, the Galaxy will undoubtedly require the 33-year-old veteran forward to score timely goals throughout their 2015 season.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
