In gauging the 2023 LA Galaxy, here are some 2022 stats to keep in mind

The 2023 MLS season is approaching. Teams have started training and transfer news is heating up around the league. After a 2022 season that ended with great optimism for the future, the LA Galaxy’s window to win MLS Cup is open.

I love looking at numbers and data around the LA Galaxy. As I took a final look back at the statistics of the 2022 season, I couldn’t help but notice areas of improvement for the Galaxy, looking at the '22 team's numbers. With some recent departures from the club, alongside transfer limitations due to the improper classification of former player Cristian Pavón's salary, the Galaxy could also regress in some key areas. 

There are two particular areas I'm highlighting to keep an eye out for in 2023. Although it may be way too early in the preseason to do this, it’s useful to identify these areas to see leaps from last year to this year — with a full season of Riqui Puig and a new designated player likely coming in.

Scoring on set pieces

The Galaxy’s struggles from the penalty spot were well-documented in 2022. The club had earned the most penalties in the leagues last season with 14 but only converted nine. Chicharito’s failed panenka penalty to get all three points against Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 4, followed by Nashville’s Joe Willis getting a paw on the Mexican's penalty shot in the Sept. 10 match, highlighted the severity of the situation. To end the season, Douglas Costa ended up taking over penalty kick duties. He converted from the spot to rescue a point against RSL on Oct. 1 and put the Galaxy into the playoffs. The Brazilian is a perfect four-for-four on penalty kick attempts in his career and scored three goals from free kicks as well last season. 

Penalties weren’t the Galaxy's only concern area. The Gs tied for the second-lowest number of goals scored free kicks and corner kicks in the league with seven. Set pieces were key in the MLS Cup Playoffs for champions LAFC and other teams who advanced in the knockout phase of the competition. To improve and add an extra dimension to the attack, the Galaxy must be a team that can create danger in dead-ball situations. If Costa is not in the Galaxy's plans for 2023, Riqui Puig would likely become the set piece taker on corner kicks and free kicks. 

The Galaxy's lack of aerial dominance also set them back. They had the lowest volume of aerial duels among all MLS clubs in 2022, winning the third-lowest number of duels in the air with 308 — though they also lost the fewest with 279, according to FBRef.com. With a larger volume, Vanney's side can one of the most dominant teams in the air at getting heads on set-piece balls for scoring and removing those chances for opponents. There were many set piece opportunities for LA to get goals in the air last season, but the team failed to put those opportunities on target. 

Though Derrick Williams led the team in aerial duels won with 39, he was also traded to D.C. United during the off-season. Nick DePuy won 33 duels, equating to 2.2 wins in the air per game considering his limited time. Like Williams, DePuy was traded to an Eastern Conference team (specifically, Nashville). Raheem Edwards won 35 aerial duels, second on the team in 2022 and best among returning Gs. 

The club's latest center back, Chris Mavinga, tackles well but does not consistently win the ball in the air. With Toronto FC last season, he averaged 1.5 aerial duels won, which puts him in the 33rd percentile among MLS center backs. Mavinga, reunited with former boss Greg Vanney, could help the 31-year-old get back into the form of his 2017 Toronto days.

The Galaxy was rumored to be after free agent Aaron Long, one of the best in the league in winning the ball on set pieces in both directions. The U.S. international instead signed with rivals LAFC as the Galaxy finalized Mavinga's deal. 

With set pieces being a key facet of the game, LA needs to find ways to create more chances in these situations, while shoring up poor defending from these dead-ball situations.

Thinking inside the box

Vanney’s side was one of the best in possession during the 2022 campaign. The squad collected the most touches and was among the upper echelon in touches from the middle third and final third. Crucially, the Galaxy finished fourth in touches in the opposition box with 807.

A large portion of those touches, it must be said, came from former DP Kevin Cabral. The winger recorded 114 touches in the opponent’s penalty box, ranking second on the team behind Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, 18th overall among MLS players and in the 99th percentile among MLS wingers. 

But Cabral was traded to Colorado, taking away one of the squad's fastest players and most able threats. Samuel Grandsir, by contrast, tallied 84 touches in the box. ranking 58th overall in the league. The next non-striker on the list of touches in the attacking penalty area? Efrain Alvarez, with 64, coming in at 98th in MLS. 

Douglas Costa, the DP winger remaining on the team, won't be getting in the box often nor will he be able to replicate the type of runs the Frenchman conducted. The Brazilian averaged just 2.4 touches in the penalty area per game, a minuscule number compared to Cabral’s 6.1 touches in the same location. Costa tends to play wide and cut inside just outside of the 18-yard box with little penetration toward goal.

With Grandsir playing at Cabral's position, it will be intriguing to see if he can replicate his former teammates' impact in getting the ball in dangerous situations. Like Costa, Grandsir tends to go out wide to deliver crosses, and on occasion, dribbles the ball into the box. With better finishing, Grandsir could elevate his game and his team’s play. 

Vanney could benefit from adding a winger who gets touches in the box and the ability to score. Getting the right player is essential, and with the transfer ban of international players looming after the primary transfer window, LA has no room for error on its next DP winger. If the Galaxy offense struggles to create good chances to start 2023, this will be one statistical area to examine.