From Hero to Zero Eric Patterson

From Hero to Zero

Eric Patterson

The LA Galaxy Logo

The LA Galaxy have taken a drastic turn for the worse this season. The LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup in 2011 1-0 over the Houston Dynamos. In their 2011 season, the Galaxy had a very good record. In their 48 games they won 28 games, lost only 9, and tied 11. The Galaxy had the most points of all the MLS teams with 67 points (3 points are earned for a win, 1 point is earned for a draw, and none are earned with a loss). They had a +20 goal differential, (they scored 20 more goals than they gave up) while Houston had only a +4 goal differential. The LA Galaxy also have some star players on their team which lead them to their victory.

Both Landon Donovan and David Beckham play for the LA Galaxy. Landon Donovan has won three MLS Cups in his career. Landon Donovan plays for the US Men’s National Team, which only the best 23 players in the US can be part of. David Beckham is also a star player that has always been an essential part of the LA Galaxy team. If you have every heard of the soccer saying “bend it like Beckham” it comes from David Beckham’s great ability to curve the ball very well, especially on corner kicks. Robbie Keane is another huge player for the Galaxy. He leads the team in scoring with 3 goals on the season, both Donovan and Beckham have 2 goals on the season.

Although it seems as if the LA Galaxy have the recipe for success with great players, and having just won the MLS Cup, they are struggling badly in the 2012 season. The LA Galaxy are in last place in the Western Conference. There are nine teams in the conference, and the Galaxy are in ninth place. They have currently played 13 games, but have only managed to win three of the games. They have tied in two games and lost in the eight other games of the season. Including the Eastern Conference, adding ten more teams, the Galaxy are still third from the worst. It is clear that the Galaxy have truly gone from the best to the worst. The big question is why the Galaxy have made this horrible transition into the bottom of the league.

David Beckham (left) and Landon Donovan (right)

One reason is that both Landon Donovan and David Beckham are both out of their prime when it comes to their ages. Landon Donovan is 30 years old, which is past his soccer playing prime. David Beckham is 37 years old, this is likely limiting to his ability to play. There honestly are no other obvious reasons for the LA galaxy to be struggling so badly. 80% of surveyed people said it is surprising that the LA galaxy have been doing so poorly after their great 2011 season. Ryan Kister and Jaume Martinez-Calvo both say that the LA Galaxy should have managed to pull out more wins than the three that they currently have. They have taken a surprising turn for the worse, and it will take work to undo the damage.