Play the kids! What the LA Galaxy could learn from the Seattle Sounders
“Success is built, not bought” declared the tifo unfurled by the Emerald City Supporters shortly before the Leagues Cup final kickoff at a sold out, electric Lumen Field. Sure enough, the Sounders dismantled Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 3-0 in a manner manager Brian Schmetzer described as “decisive”.
Truth be told the Sounders have had a remarkable year to cap off a decade of consistent excellence. Since a respectable showing at the Club World Cup, Seattle have reeled off victory after victory, going 11-1-3 with their only loss coming at Minnesota United with a rotated squad. The Rave Green obliterated powerhouse Cruz Azul 7-0, were the only team to win all three Leagues Cup group stage matches and are now the first MLS team to capture every North America trophy in existence. Well done.
While the tournament served as a coming out party for Argentine maestro Pedro De La Vega, what’s been so remarkable about their success is their ability to replenish their roster with a seemingly never ending well of talent Schmetzer can plug and play into the lineup. Many of these players have been plucked from MLS Next Pro side Tacoma Defiance and given a legitimate opportunity to grow into the squad.
Jordan Morris separates his AC joint? No problem, just insert Danny Musovski, a player who didn’t feel valued at Real Salt Lake but has always had a nose for goal. Musovski earns a silly red card? Bring on Osaze De Rosario.
Sunday’s victory was the ultimate validation of Seattle’s commitment to playing the kids. Starting up top, De Rosario drifted to the far post to gently nod home the game-winning goal in the 26th minute. Georgi Minoungou, a winger who spent three seasons with the Defiance before earning a first-team contract, came on and used his pace to force Yannick Bright into conceding a penalty subsequently converted by Alex Roldan. Paul Rothrock was first to the ball before neatly finishing across the goal to seal a historic victory.
All three spent time with the Defiance before promotions to the first team. And we haven’t even addressed the likes of Jackson Regan, Reed Baker-Whiting, Snyder Brunell, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Andrew Thomas, Obed Vargas! From productive squad players to clear cut starters to stars in the making, the list is endless.
It’s become abundantly clear the Sounders have envisioned the right ethos to developing talent, have executed that ethos, and the results speak for themselves. That’s how you win a final without the likes of Joao Paulo, Jordan Morris, Paul Arriola, Ryan Kent, Nouhou and Albert Rusnak.
In comparison, the Galaxy organization has taken a difference approach to developing talent, one with its own pros and cons.
Traditionally LA have been a club that acquires talent instead of developing it. In today’s MLS, that’s simply not possible.
In that respect, the Galaxy have certainly developed talent that meets a certain threshold of investment, notably Dejan Joveljic who arrived from Eintract Frankfurt with a $4 million price tag, plenty of hype and an attitude to match. The club paid a seven figure transfer fee for goalkeeper Novak Micovic who was selected ahead of John McCarthy this season to jump start his development. High profile signings Lucas Sanabria and Elijah Wynder have been inserted into the lineup with mixed success.
Rather, it’s how the Galaxy have utilized their academy specifically that you can start to identity the strengths and weaknesses of LA’s approach.
On the one hand, the club have done a fantastic job flipping talent on the fringes of the first team for significant cash. Acquiring $1.5 million with up to $1.8 including performance benchmarks AND a sell on percentage for winger Jonny Perez is fantastic business. Striker Aaron Bibout was transferred to Swedish second division side Västerås SK for a modest fee of $100,000, however the club pocketed $625,000 more when Bibout moved to Belgian power Genk for 2.5 mil due to a sell-on percentage. Like Perez, Bibout was talented yet deemed surplus to requirements.
However, the purpose of developing players isn’t merely to sell talent but also bolstering the squad with players who can contribute to the first team, and in that respect you could make an argument the club has fallen short.
It was extremely gratifying a few weeks ago watching the young guns dismantle the Colorado Rapids 3-0 in decisive fashion. But the match left me with questions afterwards.
Why haven’t we seen more of Harbor Miller, the 18-year old defender who impressed vs. the Rapids despite playing out of position? Considering the season was somewhat compromised before it even began, could posession fulcrum Tucker Lepley have received more than 463 minutes this season? While Mauricio Cuevas has gotten more starts at right back lately, perhaps the 22-year old could have been utilized earlier given Miki Yamane’s form?
Without the young guys receiving serious playing time, how can they be expected to develop? (Update: Thursday the club signed promising center back Chris Rindov to the first team. Hopefully he’s given more minutes as the season winds down)
And while admittedly the Galaxy have done well with selling talent, sometimes that mindset can come at a price. Over the winter LA sent fan favorite Jalen Neal to Montreal CF for $650,000 in GAM and an international roster spot, a move that was solid business but also compromised their center back depth.
In response, the Galaxy signed 35-year old Matias “Zanka” Jorgensen from Anderlecht. The Danish international will earn $600,000 this season while taking up an international roster slot, essentially nullifying the gains from selling Neal. In return, LA received a error-prone defender who hasn’t performed at the level at his predecessor, in fact he’s been a major liability.
Had the club honored Neal’s desire for a raise and retained the 22-year old, or sold Neal and promoted a center back from within, the club would be in a better position.
All that being said, I do believe the club is moving in the direction. FWIW, manager Greg Vanney has committed to playing the kids more to close out the season.
In the long-term however, the Galaxy could benefit from being more aggressive at giving their young talents first team minutes and integrating them into the senior squad so they can eventually develop into valuable contributors.