LAFC, not LA Galaxy, look like MLS old-timers
LAFC are the expansion team; LA Galaxy are the seasoned-veterans who know MLS inside-out. But if no one was to tell you that, you wouldn’t know. They look like utter opposites at this point in the season.
Being an expansion team in MLS is never easy. While there is always a growing appetite for more teams, with every year, the league grows, and thereby, the teams grow. Take Toronto FC, for instance.
Not only did they put together one of the best MLS seasons in the history of the league last year, but they then proceded to improve themselves in the offseason. How can an expansion team, even with all of the early help they are afforded in their infancy, compete with that?
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Well, don’t ask that question to Bob Bradley and his Los Angeles FC.
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LAFC, after opening their Banc of California Stadium with a win against the Seattle Sounders a few weeks prior, are now winning games in a far different way to how they started the season. They are composed, controlled, consummate, understanding of their system, professional in their implementing of it, and ruthless in their execution on the pitch. That is the sign of a well-oiled, experienced, veteran MLS team.
And they showed all of those traits against Minnesota United on Wednesday night. Admittedly, Minnesota are dealing with serious injury problems, especially in the attacking positions, significantly denting the threat that they posed the home side on the night. But that does not mean that it wasn’t impressive in the way that LAFC dispatched their visitors.
2-0 up at half-time, Bradley’s team just shut the game down. In fact, if you were to watch the highlights on the official MLS website, you would only see one after half-time, and that is the final whistle blowing and LAFC celebrating. That is the extent of the control that they showed in the second half.
The same, however, cannot be said for their Los Angeles partners, LA Galaxy. They may have a Zlatan, which certainly helps, but they also look devoid of proper structure, careful and considered tactics, a clear and concise plan of action. They look as though they are unprepared, simply hoping that one of their stars can perform some moment of magic to rescue the victory.
If anyone was to tell you that one of LAFC and the Galaxy is an expansion team and then asked you to say which one based purely on their performances this season, there is only one answer, and it’s not the right one.
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LAFC look like an accomplished team; the Galaxy do not. It is a stark truth for Sigi Schmid. If it continues to be true, then he may well not have to face it for much longer. Bradley, on the other hand, has his sights set on much higher goals.