Galaxy Lose Lletget, Who Steps Up?
- Updated: March 28, 2017
Los Angeles Galaxy have put themselves in this position. That position is one that will require a ton of patience on behalf of the team and its fans.
“A youth movement” it’s been called since the departure of former Manager Bruce Arena, but until now the starting 11 has consisted of very few youthful changes to last season’s not so youthful lineup. Depth has been the main concern of fans. If somebody in that lineup gets hurt can we depend on a guy who has very little MLS experience to step up and help lead this team with a very impatient fan base to the playoffs.
Looks like the Galaxy will get that chance to prove this youthful shift is a good one.
NEWS: #LAGalaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget to undergo foot surgery: https://t.co/HNXMxV92empic.twitter.com/7oYe8zQGDN
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) March 28, 2017
Sadly this opportunity will come at the expense of one of the clubs most exciting and talented players Sebastian Llletget. Lletget’s diagnosis could see him sidelined for up to 6 months.
Lletget will sorely be missed in the starting 11 as his passing ability and aggression on both the wing and the midfield created matchup nightmares for MLS clubs. But it wasn’t just the MLS where Lletget was improving, this injury took place just minutes after he scored his first goal for his country Friday evening as his United States beat Honduras 6-0.
So how do the Galaxy plan to replace such an important piece of the team for such a long period of time? That answer should be a simple one, Emmanuel Boateng. Boateng (23) appeared in 26 games for Los Angeles last season and had slowly worked himself into the starting 11 before the arrival of the club’s newest Designated Player Romain Alessandrini this offseason.
But that answer isn’t as easy as it seems. Boateng is a great option to plug the gap left by Lletget. The problem for the Galaxy then goes right back to their depth, who now takes Boateng’s place on the bench? Bradford Jamieson and Jose Villareal are two Galaxy Homegrown players fans have been clamoring for, but combined the two only played in 6 matches for the MLS club last season. Raul Mendiola is another name that comes to mind. After impressing in his 6 appearances last season the 22 year-old midfielder has yet to see the field in the club’s first 3 games this season, again experience is the issue.
While Los Angeles has been put in a very difficult position after the injury to one of it’s best players, the opportunity to provide some of the more inexperienced ones playing time could be a positive for their development moving forward. In the meantime Galaxy fans might have to prepare for some rough performances from players with little experience at the MLS level.
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