For weeks, LAFC looked like one of MLS’s early pace-setters, reportedly taking 16 points from 18 with a 15-0 goal difference in their opening surge. Since then, the edge has dulled.
That matters because LAFC’s identity has long been built on overwhelming teams high up the pitch. When the finishing cools, the whole attacking shape can start to feel heavier.
The spotlight naturally falls on the headline names. Denis Bouanga has set a huge standard in Los Angeles, so a quieter spell always becomes a talking point. Reports suggest he has not been as ruthless with his shots this season, even if he remains the player opponents fear most.
Then there is Son Heung-min, whose creative output still looks important even if the goals have not arrived in league play. The update says he leads the league in assists, but his own finishing numbers have been modest. That combination tells its own story: LAFC are still capable of crafting openings, but the final touch has not been there often enough.
Dos Santos also spoke about confidence “with the way we keep the ball, the way we get in the opponent's half, the way we originate and create chances”. That sounds like a manager trying to rebuild rhythm before chasing brilliance.
And there may be no better measuring stick than Nashville, who reportedly have handled a heavy schedule far more cleanly. If LAFC can rediscover their basics at GEODIS Park, the attack may start to look like itself again. If not, the questions around their early-season drop-off will only grow louder.