The MLS Superdraft is on Thursday, January 17th and the Galaxy coaches have been at the MLS scouting combine to try to determine who to add to the roster the Galaxy have three picks in the two round Superdraft, #19 overall, #24 overall, and #38 overall.
Before looking at who the Galaxy might select in the draft it is helpful determine where on their roster they may have some holes. So here is a list of who is believed to be on the Galaxy roster for the upcoming season.
Goalkeeper (3)
Carlo Cudicini
Brian Perk
Brian Rowe
Outside Backs (4)
Sean Franklin
Todd Dunivant
Oscar Sorto
Bryan Gaul
Center Backs (3)
Omar Gonzalez
A.J. De La Garza
Tommy Meyer
Outside Midfielders (3)
Mike Magee
Colin Clark
Hector Jimenez
Central Midfielders (5)
Marcelo Sarvas
Michael Stephens
Dan Keat
Kenney Walker
Rafael Garcia
Forwards (5)
Jose Villarreal
Gyasi Zardes
Jack McBean
The Galaxy have a clear need at center back and outside midfield where they only have three players that play the position. Center back is an interesting problem because it is not known whether the club will bring back Leonardo, David Junior Lopes, or Andrew Boyens. All three are veterans and have seen some time while healthy, but all of them dealt with injuries last season and were inconsistent. The Galaxy coaches have a soft spot for Leonardo, but he has not been healthy for two straight seasons. Andrew Boyens may be the most likely to return based on his work in mentoring Tommy Meyer last season.
Outside back appears to be set with two returning starters and two younger players who have shown great potential as the backups. The Galaxy are thought to still be working out deals to sign Will Hesmer which would provide more competition in goal. The coaching staff definitely wants to bring back Juninho who has been loaned to the club for the past three seasons from Sao Paolo in Brazil. He would be an immediate and obvious starter. The Galaxy could look to add a Designated Player to the central midfield as both Kaka and Frank Lampard have been rumored to Los Angeles and play the position. Michael Stephens is currently slated as the starter opposite Marcelo Sarvas, but has the versatility to move all over the midfield.
Forward seems to be set for the Galaxy as long as Landon Donovan returns to the club instead of retiring. Keane and Donovan are the undisputed leaders of the team, but complementing them with exciting young players like Zardes, Villarreal, and McBean could mean Donovan moves back into the midfield. The Galaxy may look to add a veteran forward as an insurance policy for Donovan. Pat Noonan would have been great for that role if he had not elected to retire and join the Galaxy coaching staff.
Outside Midfield could be the most likely position to be addressed with one of the Galaxy’s first two picks. Magee is an obvious starter and Clark is a potential starter. However, he was not a starter for Houston down the stretch last season and has had injuries in the past. Donovan could play on the outside, but that would require one of the young forwards to step up and earn a starting spot.
The Galaxy will most likely select the best player available at each spot, but they should look to add a winger, a center back, and maybe a central midfielder.
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