Los Angeles Galaxy: Three hopes, one fear
By Sean Maslin
Hope #1: That Robbie Keane has the legs for another postseason run.
Sometimes Designated Players work, other times they do not. Robbie Keane has very clearly worked out for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Since coming to the side in 2011 Keane has only scored 83 goals, won two MLS Cups, and an MLS MVP. Among the many superstar players who have come and gone (and in the case of Landon Donovan come again) he has been one of a few constants for the side.
More from Los Angeles Galaxy
- Mexican star becomes the highest paid player in the MLS
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic sends shots at Carlos Vela in the MLS
- LA Galaxy: Ibrahimovic’s flair for the dramatic still present in MLS
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic exits Manchester United and heads to LA Galaxy
- The curious case of Steven Gerrard in MLS
Despite scoring ten goals this season 2016 has not been an easy road for him. A hip flexor injury has limited his work in the last half of the season. He has made just four starts and five appearances overall since August the 20th.
At 36, he doesn’t have the same recovery time that he did five years prior and while it is certainly true that the Galaxy have other attacking options, Keane is their best option. If he is unable to play in Wednesday night’s match against Real Salt Lake look for Arena to start Alan Gordon up top and have Giovani Dos Santos (14 goals in 2016) playing as a center attacking midfielder. Dos Santos can play up top but Arena seems to like to use Gordon as a holding forward to deflect attention away from Dos Santos.