CARSON, Calif. – One thing the LA Galaxy are sure of: You don't replace Landon Donovan.
Indeed, but somebody has to step onto the field in his place, and the battle to win the job on the left side of midfield – where Donovan, who retired after LA's MLS Cup triumph three months ago, mostly resided in his final season – has been the most compelling development during the Galaxy's preseason.
Head coach Bruce Arena has tried out several youngsters – primarily second-year Homegrown Player Bradford Jamieson IV and first-round draft pick Ignacio Maganto – but if nobody has put their imprint on the slot, LA are ready to move forward with established options.
That means Gyasi Zardes, who played mostly on the left as a rookie in 2013 but last year enjoyed a breakout season up top, likely will be on the left when the Galaxy kick off the 2015 campaign Friday night against the Chicago Fire at StubHub Center (10pm ET, UniMás, English via SAP button).
But it could be Baggio Husidic, who has partnered Juninho in central midfield in three game appearances during preseason but made 12 starts at left midfielder last year and might be asked to play there again with the addition of Finnish central midfielder Mika Vayrynen to the roster.
Whatever the case, no player is replacing Donovan.
“You can't replace Landon,” associate head coach Dave Sarachan said. “What you try to figure out within your team is [how] best to get a little more out of those who are coming back, and then you try to add to the core players that can maybe bring in some of those components to give you a little bit of what a guy like Landon brought. You can't replace him, really, but we've still got to find ways to score goals, we've still got to find ways to be effective on that side of the field, and that's the challenge.”
Zardes has the most experience at the position, among the core candidates, but he scored 16 MLS goals last year as a forward, adding two more in the US Open Cup and another in the MLS Cup title game. There's depth up top, with Edson Buddle joining Alan Gordon as veteran options.
“I think I'm going to play up top,” said Zardes, who saw time on the left in the friendly against Shamrock Rovers in Ireland. “I'm not sure yet, but that's the only position I've been playing this preseason. … Actually, I played out wide a couple games. But I go back and forth. I just don't know.”
Zardes played on the left in his last real game for the Galaxy, moving from forward for the second half and overtime in the MLS Cup triumph three months ago over New England.
“We have other capable forwards,” Arena said. “If they're playing well and we want to get the best players on the field, maybe Gyasi plays as a midfielder. … If he's playing well, we don't mind him in either position, to be honest with you.”
Husidic spent most of last season as an outside midfielder, Stefan Ishizaki could move from the right to the left (but who would then play on the right?) and Robbie Rogers was a left-sided midfielder before last year's move to left back. None of them saw time at the post during preseason.
Charlie Rugg and Jose Villarreal did have runs on the left and did not look bad, but the club considers both forwards.
LA could cover the position by committee, mixing and matching depending on opponent and form.
“We basically did that in a lot of positions last year,” Arena said. “Even Steven Gerrard could play there [when he arrives in July]. Doesn't mean he has to stay on the left touchline, but Steven Gerrard has experience playing in the wide midfield position. Probably played there with England a number of times, if I'm not mistaken.”
Rogers aside, Jamieson is the only natural winger. Arena says Jamieson “has another growth spurt ahead of him” and that “he's not shy about taking on people, which is something we think is a real positive.”
Jamieson, 18, scored six goals and provided two assists in 22 games in all competitions last year for minor-league side LA Galaxy II but saw just 23 minutes of MLS playing time, although he did set up a goal in his MLS debut on July 19. Jamieson, who has been asked to concentrate on becoming more consistent defensively and better connected on attack, has lots to learn but great upside.
“It's a spot that I fit perfectly into,” Jamieson said. “In my eyes, there's no reason I shouldn't be playing there. Without a doubt, I should be playing there. I know how I can play, and I know by ability, and, obviously, it's my job to prove that to everybody else, but I think I should be there without a doubt.
“But at the same time, there's other guys – older guys and more experienced guys – that think they should be playing, as well. And that's a good thing. You want guys who think they should be on the field, because you want to have competitive energy throughout the team.”
