Top Stories

Steven Gerrard to miss several weeks with hamstring injury

August 13, 2016; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard (8) moves the ball up field against Colorado Rapids during the second half at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Galaxy simply can’t catch a break this week, Gyasi Zardes’ foot notwithstanding.

Head coach Bruce Arena confirmed on Tuesday that the Galaxy’s DP midfielder would miss a few weeks after suffering a hamstring strain during last week’s scoreless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The injury compounds recent losses suffered by the team, as Gyasi Zardes was recently ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken foot and Nigel de Jong is reportedly nearing a move to Galatasaray.

“Sh** happens. That’s all part of it.” the frustrated manager stated, “It’s been an awkward year with all of this stuff. We haven’t been able to wrestle to a point where we’ve got the whole team on the field.”

The Galaxy find their depth tested at a time when they are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, currently standing 8 points above the playoff line and 8 points below leaders FC Dallas.

Gerrard has been a strong performer for the Galaxy, scoring three goals and notching 11 assists in 19 appearances this season. Still, Arena remains confident in his team’s ability to handle the recent losses.

“That’s why we build a roster. We build a roster to deal with adversity and injuries. That’s what we’re doing.”

How will the Galaxy fare without Gerrard? Who will step up during the injury crisis?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Now the good news. Keano will most likely be back for the Columbus Game, he plays his last international match today against Oman. Dos Santos is healthy and Robbie Rogers is back, While Jelle Van Damme is out, expect Steres and Leonardo and De La Garza to anchor at center back with Ashley Cole, who is having a great year, at RB with RR again at left. Midfiels is more problematic but Laurentowicz and Husidic a d-mids and Lleget and Boateng at the wings which will move Dos Santos to either a withdrawn forward or uptop with Keano. Rowe is back at GK. I expect to see Mendiola and Garcia, and maybe Villareaal and Gordo, romney Leonardo as subs. Expect to see Jameison IV to make the bench on some games.

    It gives Bruce Arena a reason to call up some good Los Dos players liker Denzel Slager their dutch forward or Bryam Rebellon, a sturdy and technical Colombian midfielder. Ethan Zubek has been a revelation on the U19’s for the US , he may get some time. MLS teams are limited ion the times they can call up USL players for temp contracts. Luckily the Galaxy have not called up any this season, using instead the MLS players lent to Los Dos. But not playing any friendlies this summer has limited the times they could see these players work with the team

    Reply
  2. Does Bruce Arena have the depth on the bench to replace the injured players? Are there players on the LA Galaxy II that Bruce Arena can call up? If so who are they, and how good are they?

    Reply
  3. Injuries happen, but they most often happen to players nearing 40. There’s no denying Arena has forgotten more soccer than any of us will ever know, but most of us saw this coming.

    “We don’t have an educated public…” -Bruce Arena

    I wonder if he took a moment to read the uneducated public questioning getting rid of Juninho for De Jong, getting rid of Gonzalez for Van Damme, the signing of a 36 year with little to offer in Gerrard, and the 35 year old Cole who openly bashed the league.

    Bruce had a bad off-season, the Galaxy aren’t any better than the were before and anything less than an MLS Cup remains a failure for this club who set it’s own expectations incredibly high with their “PR signings” that grabbed headlines.

    Reply
  4. Yikes. Galaxy in big big trouble. They’re already on a six game winless streak, and that’s the good news?

    Zardes out for the season. Gerrard out for a month. DeJong out the door. Keane just retired from Ireland, can retirement, period, be far behind?

    On top of all that… Dos Santos proving that for all his talent, he’s no Landon-Donovan-like playmaker. Magee’s magic clearly worn off. Dan Kennedy stuck on the books despite playing less than 90 minutes all season. Sebastian Lletget with only one goal.

    And best of all, Bruce Arena has now decided to get out front of these issues is to badmouth the Galaxy fan base?

    Yikes.

    Reply

Leave a Comment