Football Season Review

Los Angeles Galaxy endured one of their worst campaigns as an MLS franchise as they finished the season at the bottom of both the Western Conference table and the Supporters' Shield standings. It was a season of change at StubHub Center with LA losing not only their long time coach Bruce Arena who left to take over the USA national team, they also decided to release a number of veteran players key to their recent successes with Robbie Keane, Mike Magee, Landon Donovan, Steven Gerrard and Alan Gordon all leaving the club during the off-season. LA's new direction towards youth did not work out for the club while their reliance on foreign imports also did not bear out with Giovani Dos Santos failing to take over the mantle from Keane in the attack while Ashley Cole, Joao Pedro, Jermaine Jones and Jonathan Dos Santos not really standing out after enjoying a decent campaign at best. Romain Alessandrini was the one bright spot in what was a disastrous season for LA, with the midfielder living up to his role as a Designated Player by leading in both goals and assists columns with 13 goals and 12 assists. LA's decision to look in-house for Arena's replacement in Curt Onalfo did not work out as the 48-year old struggled to get the side playing with any form of consistency. LA did stabilize a bit in the second half of the season after Onalfo was fired and replaced by Sigi Schmid though the veteran coach has a huge task on his hand if he is to rebuild the roster and get them ready to even challenge for a top six finish next season, let along challenging for trophies, with the club carrying a lot of deadweight that needs to be cleared and replaced before the new campaign kicks off.

Player of the Season: Romain Alessandrini