After making a successful return from injury, The Kid questions The Boss about rumours linking him with a future move to Major League Soccer.
The Boss has not applied for a visa, although Zlatan Ibrahimović apparently has. Finding permission to work may be straightforward; finding the right property in Los Angeles could prove more complicated.
Rumours of a Move to MLS
The Kid has only just returned to action, but attention around the club has already shifted towards the future of The Boss.
Reports suggest that the experienced manager could eventually consider working in Major League Soccer.
The Kid wants to know whether there is any truth behind the rumours.
His first question is practical.
Has The Boss applied for a visa?
Ibracadabra Has Other Ideas
The Boss has not begun the process, but he points out that Zlatan Ibrahimović may already be thinking about life on the other side of the Atlantic.
The Swedish striker had built a career around spectacular goals, enormous confidence and an ability to make almost any situation sound like part of a personal master plan.
His nickname, “Ibracadabra”, fits neatly into the conversation.
For Zlatan, even the visa process is unlikely to be ordinary.
Finding Property in Los Angeles
The Boss believes obtaining a visa would probably be a formality.
The more difficult task would be finding a suitable home.
Football managers and players moving to Los Angeles are not normally searching for a modest flat. Privacy, space, security and room for visitors can quickly turn a simple property search into something far more ambitious.
Fortunately, The Tiger may already know somebody with information about a suitable house.
A Tip from Liverpool
The Tiger has been speaking to a player from Liverpool who is preparing for his own move to Los Angeles.
That player is Steven Gerrard, who had agreed to join LA Galaxy after spending his entire senior club career at Liverpool.
Gerrard’s move created a natural link between English football, Major League Soccer and the Los Angeles property market.
It also gives Storybook the opportunity to revisit several moments from the midfielder’s final seasons in England.
A Decent Pad Comes onto the Market
The Boss hears that an impressive Los Angeles property may be available.
It has everything a football personality could require: space, luxury and a room large enough for a pool table.
The timing appears ideal.
One famous midfielder is heading to Los Angeles, while another leading football figure is being linked with a future move to MLS.
The only danger is waiting too long before making a decision.
Failure, Slips and a Quick Exit
The strip contains several callbacks to Steven Gerrard’s recent football experiences.
The suggestion that he “can’t take the failure any longer” recalls Liverpool’s unsuccessful pursuit of the league title, including Gerrard’s costly slip during the decisive closing weeks of the previous season.
The final panel refers to his extremely brief appearance against Manchester United.
Gerrard entered the match as a substitute but was sent off almost immediately following a challenge on Ander Herrera.
He did not hang around.
Football Careers Beyond Europe
Major League Soccer had become an increasingly attractive destination for established European players.
The league offered a different lifestyle, growing audiences and the opportunity to continue playing at a high level after long careers in Europe.
Los Angeles was particularly appealing because of its climate, entertainment industry and established sporting culture.
For Storybook, it also provides excellent material for jokes about visas, mansions and footballers adapting to life in Hollywood.
The Football Inspiration Behind the Comic
This episode was inspired by Steven Gerrard’s planned move from Liverpool to LA Galaxy in 2015, along with speculation surrounding other major football figures and Major League Soccer.
Gerrard’s departure followed an emotional final period with Liverpool that included the club’s failed title challenge and his remarkably quick red card against Manchester United.
The comic combines those events with rumours concerning The Boss and a passing reference to Zlatan Ibrahimović, creating a conversation in which football transfers become a Los Angeles property search.
Characters Featured
The Kid
The Kid has returned successfully from injury and is already asking questions about the future. He appears almost as interested in The Boss’s possible relocation as he is in his own comeback.
The Boss
The Boss is linked with a possible move to Major League Soccer. He dismisses the visa as a minor concern but accepts that finding the correct Los Angeles property may require some assistance.
The Tiger
The Tiger provides the connection to Liverpool and passes on information about a property that could soon become available.
Steven Gerrard
The Liverpool captain is preparing to begin a new chapter with LA Galaxy. His recent title disappointment and brief appearance against Manchester United supply the strip’s closing jokes.
Zlatan Ibrahimović
The Swedish striker appears through another exaggerated reference to his personality, spectacular football and enduring “Ibracadabra” nickname.
Behind the Gag
The Kid asks whether The Boss has applied for a visa.
The discussion then moves through Zlatan Ibrahimović, luxury property and Steven Gerrard’s relocation to Los Angeles.
The final line brings everything back to Gerrard’s red card.
He did not want the opportunity to slip away.
So he did not hang around.
Looking Back
Originally published in 2015, Property in LA captured a period when Major League Soccer was attracting some of European football’s most recognisable names.
The episode also demonstrates how Storybook could connect several separate football stories within one conversation: managerial rumours, Zlatan’s personality, Gerrard’s MLS move, Liverpool’s title disappointment and an unusually fast dismissal.
The next episode turns towards individual recognition as the characters discuss the race for Player of the Year.
