Article by Matt Lichtenstadter
When Steven Gerrard made his move from Liverpool to the LA Galaxy, there weren’t many who were confident that the Liverpool star would be able to succeed under the pressure of his DP contract in Hollywood. His 2015 season with the Galaxy wasn’t going to change many minds on the subject, as he not only looked slow and off the pace at MLS tempo, but also at times looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. He compounded that issue by traveling back to Britain for TV punditry and Liverpool miscellany, which didn’t endear himself to many fans and observers. He even gave away the free kick which lead to LA’s elimination from the playoffs last year.
But in 2016, something dramatic has changed.
He’s third in the league in assists, tied with Sebastian Giovinco and Lee Nguyen, and only behind Mauro Diaz and Sasha Kljestan in that department. He’s found form at long last though many doubted his ability to do so. Gerrard has gone from the “worst DP ever” to an integral part of the Galaxy team on the rise. What changed?
First, the adjustment curve in MLS is a distinct and different one. Every player at a new club takes time to adjust, but MLS’ physicality and pace is noted by almost every new player as a factor that isn’t taken into account as much as it should be. Then there’s arriving at a new club in the middle of their season, the weight of his contract and name, switching not only leagues but countries and Gerrard hadn’t changed clubs ever before in his career. For most people switching jobs while also switching countries, we’d forgive them if it took them quite a bit of time to adjust before they hit their groove. In soccer, players aren’t always afforded that time especially those of name value compounded by playing on a club which always has title or bust expectations.
Now that Gerrard has been a Galaxy player for over a year, and well removed from his emotional goodbye from his boyhood club, he finally has settled in and the dividends are paying off well for both sides. Gerrard is not playing as the deepest midfielder in LA’s setup, which allows his relative lack of pace to be shrouded while enhancing his ability to create from deep, which is why he’s already easily surpassed last year’s assist total. Allowing him to be himself on the pitch has been a simple yet effective change for Bruce Arena and now he’s seen Gerrard play at his best when it matters most.
With Gerrard playing at full tilt, there’s no doubt that the Galaxy are the most talented team in MLS by far. Even FC Dallas can’t match their high end talent but especially depth and depth in numbers. But their relatively slow start has put the Galaxy in a hole relative to the Supporters Shield race. But when the Galaxy are clicking as only they can, they are the best team in the league, and with Gerrard playing at a level few expected to reach in the league, the Galaxy have gone from potentially terrifying to legitimately terrifying every week.
Bruce Arena’s ability to maneuver all of the Galaxy’s expensive and big name puzzle pieces was never in question, but even for someone like him it will take time to find the best combination to maximize all of the talent that he has, and it certainly took time to find the best role for Gerrard. Now that he has, the former Liverpool captain is settled in and confident, which takes his new team to a whole new level.
Stevie G is 35, and his contract with the Galaxy expires at the end of this season. Who knows where his future may lie after this campaign ends, but for the rest of this one in MLS at least the Galaxy and the league get to see the best of a player many thought his best days were behind him.
