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 LA 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.
Marcelo Sarvas
AGE: 32
POSITION: Midfielder
APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS FOR THE GALAXY: GP: 42 (33 in MLS regular season, seven in CONCACAF Champions League and two in MLS Cup Playoffs); GS: 40 (33 in MLS regular season, five in CONCACAF Champions League and two in MLS Cup Playoffs) G: 4 (All in MLS regular season); A: 6 (All in MLS regular season)
APPEARANCES IN GUINNESS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP: GP: 3
APPEARANCES IN MLS RESERVE LEAGUE: GP: 1
HIGHLIGHTS: No player was more consistent or reliable during the LA Galaxy’s 2013 campaign than the resolute Marcelo Sarvas. A sparkplug on both sides of the ball with his unrelenting energetic play, Sarvas appeared in a team-high 42 games in all competitions starting all but two of them. This season, Sarvas formed an extremely effective partnership with his compatriot Juninho as the two Brazilians helped drive LA’s possession-oriented attack. What made Sarvas effective was his tireless presence roaming across the park breaking up opposition attacking forays while simultaneously serving as a catalyst in the Galaxy’s offense. Sarvas’ role in the offense can be seen on the stat sheet as he tallied four goals and six assists during league play. His role in the defense was harder to quantify but just as meaningful he could frequently be seen tracking back to disrupt the opposition while working tirelessly to cut off passing lanes and making life difficult for the competition.
CHALLENGES: Sarvas’ energy on the field was a double edged sword for the Galaxy however as he frequently committed fouls that put the LA in difficult situations. The Brazilian midfielder’s 80 fouls in league play were the most in MLS and his nine yellow cards placed him in a tie for the third-most in the league. However, his most costly foul came in the postseason when he chopped down Javier Morales in the 101st minute of the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. From the resulting freekick, Morales lofted a cross to the back post for Chris Schuler who headed it into the Galaxy net, giving the home side a 2-0 lead and effectively ending LA’s season. This tendency to commit fouls was not the only issue for Sarvas as his more advanced position in the attack stunted the role of Juninho who saw his goal total fall from nine in 2012 to just one in 2013.
HIS THOUGHTS: “It was a good year for me and I think I did well. I played most every game but when you don’t reach the final, it seems like everything doesn’t count because you’re left with an empty feeling. But I’m happy with what I did for this group and for this team this year.”
OVERVIEW: Marcelo Sarvas was one of the LA Galaxy’s most valuable players in 2013, but whether he remains with the club next season has yet to be decided. The Brazilian revealed in his final media availability of 2013 that he is awaiting word of whether or not the team will renew his deal for another season. Although Sarvas’ future is uncertain at the moment, the 32-year-old midfielder seems likely to return next season due to his immense production in 2013 and the lack of a natural replacement among the club’s ranks. Provided Sarvas remains in a Galaxy uniform for another year, he’ll likely need to share more of the load on offense with Juninho while also being more disciplined on defense as he looks to cut down on costly fouls. A more methodical Sarvas could be a net gain for the Galaxy who will be expecting him to be a key component in 2014.
POLL: How would you rate Marcelo Sarvas’ 2013 season?
How would you rate Marcelo Sarvas' 2013 season?
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
