The LA Galaxy are a wounded team. Coming off a season in which they were knocked from the Major League Soccer playoffs in the knockout round, the Galaxy are looking for redemption. Yet, the team’s first attempt at revitalization, the CONCACAF Champions League, saw the Los Angeles outfit crash and burn to Mexico’s Santos Laguna 4-0 on aggregate.

Never to be outdone by other MLS teams spending money, the Galaxy overhauled their team in the offseason. First the Galaxy sold defensive bedrock Omar Gonzalez, a fixture at center-back since being drafted by the club in 2009. The Galaxy then sent defensive midfielder Juninho to Liga MX side Tijuana for a reported $2.13 million.

With the money generated from the sales of the two MLS Cup winners, also gaining valuable salary cap space, they wasted no time in spending the cash. Hands down, the MLS’s two biggest signings in the offseason, in name only, were former Manchester City and AC Milan midfielder Nigel De Jong and former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole. But the question remains, did the Galaxy spend their money wisely on the two marquee players?

There’s no doubt, the Galaxy needed to freshen up the team. However, the club sold two cornerstones of the team, both only 27-years-old. De Jong and Cole are both on the wrong side of 30, with the latter clocking in at 35. The Galaxy will kick-off 2016 as the oldest club in MLS. Considering the travel and hot weather that awaits them in the latter part of the summer, their aged legs may very well be their biggest stumbling block by the time the playoffs roll around.

The Galaxy also signed MLS veterans Mike Magee and Jeff Larentowicz. Magee is coming off a hip injury that kept him out for large chunks of 2015. He did manage 14 games with Chicago Fire last season once fit, scoring twice in the US Open Cup and collecting two assists in MLS play.

Larentowicz, Magee’s teammate in Chicago, maybe the most underrated and overlooked signing of the MLS offseason. Capable of playing in central defense or as a defensive midfielder, Larentowicz should fill the hole left by Gonzalez, but can also move into midfield to partner either De Jong or Steven Gerrard. Deployed at center-back throughout the Fire’s season, Larentowicz obtained a higher pass success rate than Gonzalez, clocking in at 79% according to WhoScored.com. Larentowicz’s tackles and interceptions per game in 2015 were similar to Gonzalez’s. However, the former Galaxy defender just edged his replacement with 1.6 tackles per game compared to Larentowicz’s 1.4, and 5.9 interceptions compared to the new man’s 4.9, according to WhoScored.com.

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Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena begins his eight full season with the club. Since joining the side in 2008, the USA’s most decorated coach has brought stability to the crazy world that the Galaxy live in. Last season, Arena favoured a 4-4-2 formation, playing it in 29 fixtures. Designated Players Robbie Keane and Giovanni Dos Santos had a tremendous amount of success playing as the team’s strike duo. Although more will be expected from Dos Santos. His 11 appearances last season yielded three goals and five assists, just a small sample size of what the Mexican international can do over the course of the season.

Yet, despite all the positive moves the Galaxy made, it all goes back to the signings of Cole, De Jong and even Gerrard. The Liverpool legend has said this may very well be his last as he hinted at retirement recently. Gerrard was rather off the pace for the Galaxy last term after a bright start for the club. Playing alongside De Jong in midfield will give him the freedom to get forward and support Keane and Dos Santos. Unlike Juninho, however, De Jong is certainly an upgrade in midfield and will be able to cover for Gerrard when he makes his lung busting runs. A proper offseason to rest and get over nagging injuries should help Gerrard as well.

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Cole is the wild card. The Englishman’s Roma excursion lasted a mere 11 games and the awkward preseason Roma team photo was only a hint of what was to come. There is no doubt he should be more at home in the US than Italy; especially with Gerrard and Keane. But physically Cole has lost a step or two, and is far from the player he was at Chelsea not too long ago. Cole was in the side that saw the Galaxy draw the first leg of their Champions League match against Santos Laguna at the Home Depot Center. However, he wasn’t included in Arena’s 18-man squad in the return leg. The Galaxy have truly taken a punt on the left-back, and those left scratching their heads at his signing, won’t be surprised if he fails to finish the season with the club.

Ambitiously, the Galaxy overhauled their side for 2016. Yet, the team that Arena takes into their MLS opener against DC United has more questions than certainties.