LA Galaxy: Romain Alessandrini, the forgotten key to the season

The LA Galaxy’s season begins with four designated players. The most inconspicuous of the four, Romain Alessandrini, might also be their most important.

A cloud has covered the Los Angeles Galaxy’s preseason preparations: they have four designated players. This fact has dominated the conversation surrounding their season ever since Zlatan Ibrahimovic was signed for an inevitable, and much deserved, Designated Player contract. That’s one more than the maximum allowed under Major League Soccer’s much-maligned — and convoluted to boot — roster rules.

Zlatan has been the biggest headline grabber, because, of course, he’s Zlatan. The other two entities absorbing attention are the dos Santos brothers, Giovanni and Jonathan. Giovanni has struggled the last two seasons and fans want him gone. However, that is a difficult maneuver considering Jonathan is a productive and important player for the team. How do you remove one without offending the other? Lost in this conversation, though, is the other designated player, Romain Alessandrini. And yet, it is him who is the one most essential to the team’s success in 2019.

Alessandrini joined the LA Galaxy before the 2017 season. He led the team in goals (13) and assists (11) in 2017. Last year, he missed some time due to injury but was still only an assist shy of another 10/10 season (he had 11 goals and nine assists last year). In 2018 Alessandrini led the Galaxy in crosses per game and key passes per game. The Frenchmen has been the Galaxy’s best player over the past two seasons.

The four-designated-player problem has been the prevailing topic of conversation with the Galaxy since Zlatan signed a new contract in December. With the dos Santos brothers tied to each other, Alessandrini was at risk of being jettisoned from the team. There were rumors of interest from both within the league — Montreal Impact — and in Europe, Parma. It was reported that Alessandrini’s agent confirmed a potential move to Parma. Thankfully for the Galaxy, they opted against moving Alessandrini and seem committed to either restructuring Gio dos Santos’ contract or buying him out.

Alessandrini’s best position is right-wing in a 4-3-3. From there, he can cut inside, and get in a position to shoot, without having too much defensive responsibility. Alessandrini has a variety of skills. He is great on the ball, is very pacey, and is an excellent ball-striker. He can deliver precise crosses, free kicks, and can score from distance.

He has a lot of the same qualities as Ignacio Piatti of the Montreal Impact. They both like to play as an inverted winger and are dangerous goalscorers from that position; they also both have the ability to use those positions to set the table for teammates. The difference between the two is Alessandrini is younger, faster, and is better at set pieces and crossing the ball, while Piatti is more consistent and a better finisher inside the box (can you imagine if Montreal could have brought Alessandrini in to play on the opposite side of Piatti? They would be a top-four team in the Eastern Conference). My point: Alessandrini is better.

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Instead of playing both Alessandrini and manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s preferred 4-3-3, the Galaxy will play a 4-4-2 this season. That is the best formation for this squad to play, and Alessandrini will have to adapt to make the most out of his role. He will still play on the right-hand side. However, he will have to be more of a facilitator and provide service to the LA Galaxy’s two strikers: Zlatan and Ola Kamara. This goes against his nature. Alessandrini has always been a player who cuts in looking to score. He has had more goals than assists every year in his career, except his first season with Marsielle in 2014-2015 when he had three goals and four assists. That trend likely ends this season. Alessandrini will flourish as a playmaker, especially with Zlatan and Kamara on the receiving end of his passes. A 15/15 season is not out of reach.

Alessandrini seems to have been forgotten with fellow DP’s Zlatan and the dos Santos brothers receiving the lion-share of attention. He is a special player though, and should not be overlooked. If I were drafting a team for this season only, I would consider taking Alessandrini at any point after the fifth pick. He is that good. The LA Galaxy were right to hold onto him this season.

Zlatan is going to Zlatan, and the dos Santos bros. will be polarizing for as long as they are both on the team. But Alessandrini is their most important player. If he is able to adjust his mentality and approach in his new role, he has the skills and ability to be an MVP candidate. More importantly, the Galaxy will be one of the very best team’s in the MLS Western Conference.