I can understand the
need to switch up the formation/line-up due to heavy fixture congestion or player
injury, plenty of teams do that. However, we’re only 4 games into the season,
no one should be tired. I don’t believe anyone was injured for those games either,
save for Califf. You can take that one how you want. With that being said I can’t figure out
Nowak’s tactics (or lack there of) for the life of me. Here’s a quick look back
@ Portland: In this game, based on player positions and our shape, it looks
like we were trying to run a 4-2-3-1.
Zac MacMath
Williams, Califf, Valdes, Lopez,
Gomez, Carroll
Adu, Marfan, Martinez
Pajoy
Martinez (Mwanga 60)
Freddy (Jack Mac 74)
Keon Daniel (Marfan
79)
Ended With: 4 def, 3 mid, 3 fwd
Colorado: Appears as though we went with a 4-2-2-2 (4-4-2). Two d-mids, 2
cam’s and 2 forwards. This is the game that Califf was mysteriously absent from
with an “injury”
MacMath
Williams, Albright, Valdes, Lopez
Carroll, Gomez
Marfan, Daniel
Pajoy, Mwanga
Albright (Torres 63)
Daniel (Hernandez 72)
Carroll (Martinez 79)
Ended with: 3 def, 4 mid, 3 fwd
@ Chicago: The one game that I actually didn’t watch, it appears as those
they were set up in a 3-5-2
MacMath
Albright, Valdes, Lopez
Carroll, Gomez
Marfan, Torres, Daniel
Pajoy, Mwanga
Torres (Garfan 45)
Mwanga (Martinez 60)
Albright (McInerney
80)
Ended With: 2 def, 5 mid, 3 fwd
Vancouver: (4-4-2)
MacMath
Williams, Califf, Valdes,
Lopez
Daniel, Gomez, Carroll,
Garfan
Pajoy, Hoffman
Lopez (Marfan)
Hoffman (McInerney)
Daniel (Mwanga)
Ended with: 4 def, 3
mid, 3 fwd
These choices have left me so
befuddled, I just DON’T get where he’s going with it all. It’s not like we are
playing teams that are so incredibly dominant that we need change up our
formation in order to accommodate the oppositions offensive prowess.
I just want some semblance
within our squad, an identity if you will. Take RSL for example, with their diamond
midfield, LA with the traditional 4-4-2, or Sporting KC’s 4-3-3. The
Philadelphia Union do not need to mimic those teams styles or formations, just form
an identity of their own and continually build on it, rather than reinventing
the wheel on a weekly basis.
From the four games played,
we’ve lined up in a 3-5-2, a 4-4-2 /4-2-2-2
(one with two cam’s and one with a more LM/RM look) a 4-2-3-1 and my favorite.
A 0-0-10! I’m exaggerating of course, but late in games as you can see above,
Nowak tends to “go for it” and put a ton of attackers on the field at the same
time. I’d like to clarify that I am not opposed to any of the formations
used so far. I just want us to pick one and stick with it.
So let me take you
back to RSL, because I think they’re a great MLS example of a team with a
system. Everyone has a role and they fill it beautifully. If Borchers or Olave goes
down, then Schuler is there to step in. Beltran and Wingert are the starting defensive
backs with Tanaka looking like the backup. Beckerman out, no problem, Alvarez
is there for cover. On the flanks RSL have their first choices, Johnson and
Gravaboy, with Steele, Velasquez, and Gil providing cover. At the top of the
diamond is Morales, with Gil as his direct back up. Finally we move on to the
two striker positions, occupied by Saborio and Espinola, Paulo Jr. and Cody
Arnoux play the roles of replacements.
Now that RSL team
did not just happen over night, it took a couple seasons to get to where they
are today, I get that, but Kreis/management always seemed to have an idea of where they wanted to
take that team. In contrast, I do not believe Nowak has the slightest clue of
where he wants this team to go, at least from my point of view. It
looks like he just picks names with reckless abandon and tosses them on a line up sheet.
On the Union side of
things: we have two, that’s right folks, count them.. TWO legitimate CB’s on
our entire roster: Valdes and Califf. I assume that if either were to go down
we could toss Gomez, Albright or Okugo back there, more than likely we would
probably just shift players around and play 3 in the back.
Pretty decent
coverage for the outside backs. On the right we have Williams, Albright and Gaddis
and on the left we have Lopez and Garfan
We have three
D-mids: Carroll, Gomez and Okugo. I’m fine with this.
Now for the midfield,
drumroll please… Adu, Daniel, Marfan, Garfan, Hernandez, McLaughlin, Peffer and
Torres. All of these players stand in line to receive playing time this year
and none of them are miles ahead of the other in term of playing ability. I
will say, that out of this group, in the words of Bruce Arena,
we’ve got three players who “try sh**” Torres, Adu and Marfan
(had the chip-shot goal against Real Madrid, was finalist for ROY. That’s how I
differentiate between the twins). To me, those three bring that little
something extra and unexpected onto the field.
At the forward
position we have Chandler, Martinez, Mwanga, McInerney and Pajoy. Again, all of
these players look like they’ll be sharing minutes. Pajoy I guess is the one
definite out of the group.
Saying that Nowak
has a selection problem would be something of an understatement and given the gaffer’s
propensity to play with two defensive midfields that leaves 2-3 spots open for
8 capable midfielders and then 1-2 spots open for 5 capable strikers.
So there it is, I’ve
given you guys an example of what a balanced team with a system looks like,
RSL, and I’ve given you one with no clear cut plan in place, the Union. When
you break it down like this you can clearly see why our rotation is jacked up and
why we are currently struggling to put together a complete and cohesive match.
The formation that I
would use for this team is a 4-1-3-2. With all the options that we have up top
I think two need to be starting and in the midfield one of Torres, Adu or
Marfan needs to be in the line-up.
Outside of those three I don’t know who delivers that final pass, so one
of them being on is a must.
Phew! I know I
rambled on for a minute there but this constant lineup shuffling, which
goes back to last season, is extremely bothersome to me as a fan and I felt
like it was an area that needed to be addressed. I’d love to hear some comments
or your own suggestions or remedies to our Union woes. And no, a simple “fire
Nowak” is not a sufficient enough answer J Enjoy the game today. DOOP!
