Why is LAFC's current offensive strategy considered unsustainable?

The team relies too heavily on Denis Bouanga for goal contributions, which makes their attack predictable. When opponents double-team him, the team lacks consistent secondary scoring options and resorts to ineffective, aimless crosses.

How has the Olivier Giroud signing impacted LAFC's tactical play?

Giroud's lack of pace has negatively affected the team's ability to play on the counter-attack. His presence allows opposing defensive lines to push higher up the pitch, which compresses the midfield and limits the space available for players like Bouanga.

What mistake is LAFC making in their roster construction?

The front office continues to prioritize splashy, aging European signings over building a cohesive system. This approach mirrors the past failures of the LA Galaxy, who focused on big names rather than developing prime-age talent and functioning team structures.

How do teams like Columbus and FC Cincinnati differ from LAFC?

Unlike LAFC's reliance on aging stars, these clubs focus on acquiring prime-age South American talent and building cohesive tactical systems. They prioritize long-term development and team-wide chemistry over the marketing appeal of high-profile European players.

What is the primary concern for LAFC heading into the 2026 season?

The club faces a potential rebuild because their current squad is aging and lacks the necessary depth to remain competitive. Without a radical shift in roster strategy, the team risks losing its status as a dominant force in MLS.

LAFC are staring down a 2026 rebuild they aren't ready for

LAFC is currently running on fumes. Since lifting the MLS Cup in 2022, the Black and Gold have treated every season like a desperate, breathless sprint. They reached the finals again in 2023, only to get thoroughly dismantled by Wilfried Nancy's Columbus Crew.

They looked completely outclassed that afternoon, chasing shadows while Darlington Nagbe dictated the game at a walking pace. Now, looking ahead to 2026, the question isn't just whether Steve Cherundolo can lead them back to the promised land. It's whether there will be any legs left in this squad to make the journey.

Let's look at the harsh reality of their offensive production. Denis Bouanga cannot carry this team forever. The man has been a machine, a relentless force of nature on the left wing, but relying on him to produce 30-plus goal contributions every single year is terrible squad planning.

You saw what happened in the dying weeks of the last couple of seasons. Opposing defenses started doubling him the second he crossed the halfway line, forcing him into impossible shooting angles.

The secondary scoring options have been woefully inconsistent. Whenever Bouanga has an off night, the entire LAFC attack grinds to a miserable halt.

They resort to spamming aimless crosses from the right flank, hoping for a miracle that rarely comes. It is predictable, sluggish, and incredibly easy for decent center-backs to deal with.

The problem with the Hollywood model

LAFC loves a big name. They love the splashy European signing, the guy who gets a cool video package at BMO Stadium with smoke machines and dramatic lighting. But the league has moved on from the retirement league reputation, and John Thorrington's front office seems a half-step behind the curve.

Columbus and FC Cincinnati aren't building contenders with aging European cast-offs. They are finding prime-age South American talent, building cohesive systems, and developing from within.

We saw this exact same stubbornness with the LA Galaxy back in the late 2010s. The Galaxy kept chasing the ghost of David Beckham, throwing designated player contracts at anyone with a recognizable FIFA Ultimate Team card, while Seattle and Toronto built actual, functioning soccer teams.

LAFC is dangerously close to repeating their cross-town rival's mistakes. If your entire tactical plan is hoping the aging designated player bails you out in the 89th minute, you aren't winning an MLS Cup. You're just hoping to get lucky against bad teams.

Look at the disastrous Olivier Giroud experiment. Yes, he sold jerseys. Yes, the casual fans loved seeing him.

But from a purely tactical standpoint, his complete lack of pace destroyed LAFC's ability to play on the counter. Opposing defensive lines pushed 15 yards higher up the pitch because they knew absolutely no one was going to run in behind them. It compressed the midfield, gave Bouanga less space, and made the whole team look arthritic.

Steve Cherundolo's tactical ceiling

Cherundolo gets a lot of credit for 2022, and he deserves it. But his tactical rigidity is starting to become a massive liability.

When LAFC goes down a goal early, you can almost predict the exact substitutions he's going to make at the 65-minute mark. There is no Plan B. When they got suffocated by the Crew's high press, Cherundolo looked completely out of ideas on the touchline.

He just kept yelling at his wingers to push higher, totally ignoring that the midfield was getting completely overrun. You need flexibility to survive the brutal slog of an MLS season, especially one crammed with Leagues Cup fixtures and international breaks.

LAFC still wants to play like it's 2022, flying down the wings and overwhelming teams in transition. But teams have figured that out. They sit deep, absorb the pressure, and hit LAFC on the counter.

The backline, which used to be an absolute fortress under Giorgio Chiellini's leadership, has looked shockingly fragile whenever they are forced to track back in space. The defensive transition is a mess.

Fullbacks are getting caught upfield, and the center-backs are being left on lonely islands against pacy attackers. It's a recipe for dropping points on the road.

What needs to change for 2026

If LAFC wants to lift the cup in 2026, the year the entire world's soccer attention turns to North America for the World Cup, they need a hard reset. First, they have to fix the midfield. They need a true number six who can dictate the tempo and break lines with a pass, not just a physical destroyer who hacks people down and collects yellow cards.

Ilie Sanchez was incredible for them, but father time is undefeated. They need fresh legs in the engine room, somebody who can actually resist a high press and turn defense into attack.

Second, the defensive depth is a bad joke. One injury to a starting center-back and the entire system falls apart like a wet paper towel. You cannot win championships when you're terrified of your own bench.

Thorrington needs to stop looking for the next cheap veteran stopgap and invest real allocation money into defenders who can actually play out of the back. We saw the cost of poor depth when they threw away vital regular-season games simply because the backups couldn't complete basic passing sequences under pressure.

That lack of quality meant the starters had to play absurd minutes, leading directly to the dead legs we saw in the playoffs.

The clock is ticking

LAFC's fanbase is demanding. They aren't going to accept squeaking into the playoffs as a successful season. BMO Stadium expects trophies.

The 3252 doesn't sing for 90 minutes to watch a first-round exit against Real Salt Lake or the Colorado Rapids. They demand dominance.

The 2026 season should be the crown jewel of American soccer. It's the run-up to the World Cup. The spotlight will never be brighter in Los Angeles.

LAFC has the resources, the stadium, and the fanbase to be the face of the league. They should be the gold standard.

But unless they completely overhaul their recruitment strategy, drop the obsession with aging stars, and figure out how to play against a low block, they are going to be watching someone else lift the cup in their own backyard.

The front office needs to stop living in the past. 2022 is over. The warning signs are flashing red, and the rest of the league isn't waiting around for LAFC to figure it out.

It's time to wake up and build a roster for the future, not a tribute act to their past glory.