22 year old Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Agyenim Boateng has been impressive since joining the Galaxy early this year. Nigel de Jong and Gyasi Zardes will not take the field for the LA Galaxy again in 2016. The man of Ghanaian descent, Zardes is out for the season with a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot, while de Jong and LA mutually has terminated his contract, leaving him free to join Galatasaray.
Both of these players will leave huge holes in the Galaxy starting XI but LA Galaxy manager has called on the Ghanaian to step up as a replacement of the duo. De Jong has started 18 games for the Galaxy this season, missing eight games due to injury or suspension. During his time on the field he has been a key cog in LA’s build-up, as he currently ranks third in pass usage rate with 16 per cent among players who have played 1,000 minutes this season.
His loss will mean the Galaxy will have to find a different player to shuttle the ball to everyone on the field.The absence of Zardes could hit the club even harder. Zardes has produced 62 goals and assists per 90 minutes this season, close to his career high of .68 back in 2014.
He has missed significant time due to international duty and injury and the Galaxy have started nine games without him. They have not won any of those nine games. They have also scored just .7 goals per 90 minutes when he has not been on the field, as opposed to 1.8 goals per 90 when he has been. To replace him, Emmanuel Boateng should also be looked to contribute more.
