LA Galaxy: Cristian Pavon makes LAFC level attainable
The LA Galaxy could still sign Cristian Pavon in the next two weeks, according to Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The winger’s arrival could make LAFC’s insane level attainable.
Los Angeles FC have not only been the best team in Major League Soccer this season; statistically speaking, LAFC are on course to be the best team in MLS history, even greater than the 2017 iteration of Toronto FC, who are largely viewed as the greatest team in MLS.
They currently have a Points per Game of 2.19, have scored a staggering 55 goals in just 21 games, and have goal difference, which is often a better barometer of how good a team actually is than just pure wins and losses, of +35. That has already surpassed Toronto FC’s 2017 mark. And there are still 13 games remaining.
It is a little obtuse to think that a team could rival the inexorably brilliant standard that Bob Bradley’s side have set this season. But in their Los Angeles rivals, LAFC could well have some fierce competition to deal during the remainder of the year.
The LA Galaxy are coming off a remarkable 3-2 victory over LAFC, in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a perfect hat-trick to truly throw the cat amongst the pigeons. That game is a neat microcosm of the LA Galaxy’s 2019 season: a solid team with a burgeoning defence and stout midfield graced by the greatness of one individual player who can singlehandedly win matches at the drop of a hat.
And so far, this somewhat limited strategy has served the Galaxy well. They are in second place in the Western Conference, have the second-highest Points per Game in MLS, and are not completely out of the Supporters’ Shield just yet, although it would take an almighty LAFC collapse. So what would happen if you were to add a World Cup-starting winger to the mix?
This week, head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto again discussed the possibility of Boca Juniors wide player Cristian Pavon making the move to L.A. This is what he had to say:
"“In two weeks the transfer window closes and we can do a deal until then. In the last few days we haven’t advanced past the offer that was made and we haven’t received a response. But we’ll be working in the coming days to see if there’s a real possibility to do the deal or not. And we’ll surely determine that this week.”"
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Obviously, it would be bold to claim that the addition of one player can take a very good team like the LA Galaxy and turn them into historically the greatest team of MLS history, but the potential arrival of the Argentinian would be hugely significant team that is almost exclusively reliant on Zlatan to create chances and score goals.
Last season, Pavon scored four goals and assisted three in 15 Primavera Division appearances. That is not bad going, but not jaw-droppingly amazing. But where Pavon could really elevate the Galaxy to the next level is if he can regain the form he showed when he worked under Schelotto, who was the Boca Juniors head coach from 2016 through to 2018.
In the last two full seasons under Schelotto, Pavon scored 15 goals and assisted a further 20 in 36 appearances. That is a sensational rate over a lengthy period. Boca won the Primavera Division in both of those seasons, Pavon critical to their success.
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Should the LA Galaxy do the remarkable, then, and pull off a Pavon signing without having a spare Designated Player slot, it could really take this team to a new level, one that may even rival the great LAFC. Now that really would be something.