Now that the 2013 season is over, LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano will look back on the season for every player who was on the club’s roster at some point during the season.
VIEW SCHEDULE HERE
The Galaxy Insider Year in Review will begin with players who made the least number of appearances for the club in all official competitions over the course of the year, starting with Brian Perk and Bryan Gaul, who did not make any appearances for the first team this year, and concluding with midfielder Marcelo Sarvas who played in a team-best 42 games for LA this year. 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 one or two evaluations per day and focus on what each player did well and what challenges they faced in 2013 as well as a select thought from the player on their performance and an overall assessment of their season from myself.
Chandler Hoffman
AGE: 23
POSITION: Forward
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS FOR THE GALAXY: GP: 4 (3 in CONCACAF Champions League and 1 in U.S. Open Cup); GS: 2 (Both in CONCACAF Champions League); G: 1 (in CONCACAF Champions League) A: 0
APPEARANCES IN GUINNESS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP: GP: 2
RESERVE LEAGUE APPEARANCES: GP: 10; GS: 8; G: 6; A: 1
HIGHLIGHTS: In a year that saw Hoffman struggle for playing time after being acquired in early March from the Philadelphia Union, the forward was incredibly consistent at finding the back of the net whenever he saw the field. Be it in Reserve League or CONCACAF Champions League play, Hoffman found a way to score as he led the reserves in scoring with six goals while also finding the back of the net in LA’s CCL road victory over C.S. Cartaginés on September 25. During the win over the Costa Rican side, Hoffman put in his finest performance of the year as he created a dangerous partnership with fellow striker Jack McBean en route to the first competitive goal of his professional career.
CHALLENGES: First team minutes were always going to come at a premium for Hoffman with the Galaxy’s loaded strike force, but failing to see the field during MLS competition—or even make a game-day roster—was undoubtedly frustrating for the young attacker. In fact until the CCL began in late August, Hoffman had made only one first team appearance as he came on as a late-game substitute during the Galaxy’s 2-0 U.S. Open Cup defeat to the Carolina RailHawks in May.
HIS THOUGHTS: “it was a tough year personally, but I feel like I grew as a player and I love the environment, the club and the players. There’s no other club that I’d rather learn from, I’m just looking to grow and develop so that I can contribute to the team next year. It sometimes felt like an internship this year because you see the goals that [Robbie Keane] scores. They’re all world-class. He scores some of the greatest goals in the world so to be able to play with him every day and get service from him and [Landon Donovan]…was a really cool experience and I look forward to learning from them next year.”
OVERVIEW: Chandler Hoffman may have wanted more playing time during his first season with the Galaxy, but the ability to learn from the likes of Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane over a full season has put the forward in good stead heading into 2014. A natural goal poacher, Hoffman has always displayed good instincts facing goal, but by refining his off the ball movement and developing his touch, he could blossom into a weapon for the future. However, with the Galaxy stocked to the brim with young forwards, Hoffman will need to put the lessons of his “internship” into practice if he hopes to be a factor in 2014.
POLL: How would you rate Chandler Hoffman's 2013 season?
How would you rate Chandler Hoffman's 2013 season?
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
