Brace From Lloyd Rescues USWNT in Algarve Cup Opener

After falling behind late in the first-half to Norway, two goals from Carli Lloyd gave the US the 2-1 win in its first game of the Algarve Cup.

With the Women’s World Cup beginning in less than 100 days, and a few lingering injuries to veteran players, the Algarve Cup is a final chance for younger and fringe players to get valuable tournament minutes before possibly taking the field in Winnipeg this June.

The first chance of the game came early from veteran Abby Wambach, who has been the subject of recent debate over what role she should play in the up-coming World Cup. Wambach showed she was still able to win the air battles by easily getting her head to a corner, but the ball was sent well wide of the goal.

Shortly after, in the 4^th minute, Norway had two quick opportunities to pull ahead after Hope Solo, fresh off of her 30-day suspension, was involved in a collision while trying to pull in a high cross from the right. There was no whistle from the ref, but Norway’s Emilie Haavi was unable to capitalize on Solo being taken out of the play and saw her first shot hit a teammate and her second effort blocked by Ali Krieger.

Carli Lloyd nearly gave the US the lead 5 minutes later. After receiving the ball outside of the box Lloyd froze defender Trine Ronning with a slick step over to get free into the penalty area, but Lloyd failed to beat goalkeeper Sillje Vesterbekkmo.

The US continued to push forward and once again had a chance to take the lead when Christen Press calmly side-stepped a lunging tackle to send in a shot from well outside of the penalty arc that beat Vesterbekkmo but bounced off the near post.

In the 43^rd minute, Norway took advantage of some poor defending by the US to take the lead against the run of play. After an overlapping run towards the end line, Kristine Minde sent a cross in from the right to an unmarked Ada Hegergerg. Despite Solo getting a touch to the ball, Hergerberg’s header clipped the underside of the cross bar to give the Norwegians the advantage going into halftime.

After having a relatively quiet first half, Alex Morgan provided the first offensive opportunity when play resumed. In the 51^st minute Morgan was played behind the Norwegian defense along the left flank. The ‘keeper came well off of her line to meet Morgan near the corner of the 18, but Morgan’s attempt at a chip shot went right into the keeper.

Norway responded with a run down their right side to try and take advantage of substitute Meghan Klingenberg that resulted in a corner in the 54^th minute. The service into the box was knocked down. The US defense lost track of the ball and Solveig Gulbrandsen pounced on the loose ball and sent a shot far post, but Solo was able to make the save and keep the US from going down two goals.

In the 57^th minute Lloyd leveled the score line from much more familiar territory. After receiving the ball from Press with her back to goal, Lloyd took the ball to her right and fired a left-footed shot from outside the box far post that left the keeper with little she could do to prevent the goal.

Minutes later Press was involved in another goal when her shot struck Norwegian defender Inger Ane Hole’s arm inside the box to earn a PK. Lloyd stepped up to the spot and side footed the ball up into the upper 90 to the keeper’s left to give the US the lead in the 62^nd minute.

The US continued to push forward and nearly had a second PK when Krieger, who had been making aggressive runs up the right side all night, was taken down inside the box, but the ref waved the play on.

Norway’s last chance of the game came in the 77nd minute when Solo knocked down a shot from distance. A Norwegian attacker had lost her mark and was in the vicinity, but Solo was able to get the ball under control.

The USWNT’s next game is against Switzerland on Friday, March 6^th at 11 a.m. CST and can be seen on Fox Sports 1.

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F
USA                            0          2          2
NOR                            1          0          1

NOR – Ada Hegerberg (Kristine Minde)                    43rd minute
USA – Carli Lloyd (Christen Press)                            55
USA – Carli Lloyd (penalty kick)                                62 

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 26-Julie Johnston, 16-Lori Chalupny (25-Meghan Klingenberg, 46); 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Holiday (15-Megan Rapinoe, 90+1), 14-Morgan Brian, 23-Christen Press (17-Tobin Heath, 78); 13-Alex Morgan (2-Sydney Leroux, 78), 20-Abby Wambach (capt.) (8-Amy Rodriguez, 56)
Subs Not Used: 5-Kelley O’Hara, 6-Whitney Engen, 7-Shannon Boxx, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 19-Rachel Van Hollebeke, 22-Crystal Dunn, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head coach: Jill Ellis

NOR: 12-Silje Vesterbekkmo; 6-Maren Mjelde, 7-Trine Rønning (capt.), 2-Marita Lund, 3-Inger Ane Hole; 17-Lene Mykjåland, 8-Solveig Gulbrandsen (14-Gry Tofte Ims, 74), 20-Emilie Haavi (19-Marie Markussen, 69); 18-Kristine Minde, 8-Isabel Herlovsen, 21-Ada Hegerberg
Subs Not Used: 1-Ingrid Hjelmseth, 4-Melissa Bjånesoy, 5-Hedda Gardsjord, 10-Maria Thorisdottir, 11-Ida Elise Enget, 13-Ingrid Moe Wold, 15-Anja Sønstevold, 16-Andrine Hegerberg, 22-Cathrine Dekkerhus, 23-Cecille Fiskerstrand
Head coach: Even Pellerud 

Stats Summary: USA / NOR
Shots: 12 / 5
Shots on Goal: 7 / 4
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 5 / 11
Offside: 4 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
NOR – Trine Ronnin (caution)                        62nd minute

We Need to Talk About San Antonio

The situation for the San Antonio Scorpions tempts one to want to go with the “Something is Rotten in the State of [Scorpions]” title. But let’s be honest, San Antonio’s off-season is no Hamlet-sized tragedy. It is a farce.

The team that won the NASL’s Soccer Bowl in 2014 is reduced to a squad of 14 and a manager whose contract extension has been swept under the rug. So where did it all go wrong?

Since the American soccer world is so small, it’s impossible to get anyone to speak on the record and so I won’t attempt to figure out the why of the problem, but instead point out that there is something very wrong at the club right now.

Since the Scorpions started in 2010, they have been a team with ambition. Unlike many of the NASL expansion sides that have followed after, they spent money and put together a competitive roster that got them into the playoffs. The years that followed have seen alternating moments of cutting back and splashing a bit of cash. But they have always put out one of the best groups of players in the league.

In 2014 it worked and the Scorpions won not only the Fall Championship, but the Soccer Bowl. Since then, the exodus.

Of the Scorpions’ starting XI in the NASL Championship, they have lost four players, which in and of itself is not particularly apocalyptic. However, the team they are left with includes only one goalkeeper, Daryl Sattler, who has played a total of seven matches since his 2012 Golden Glove season.

In front of him is a back-line that consists of three players, up 50% because of yesterday’s announcement that they had signed Canadian defender Nana Attakora, a player who has played 29 games in the last four seasons.

The midfield and attack look more complete with a few key players returning, including Richard Menjivar, Cesar Elizondo, Tomasz Zahorski, and Billy Forbes.  They will certainly miss Walter Restrepo after his move to the New York Cosmos.

The man charged with putting together this team, head coach Alen Marcina, is also in a bit of a murky situation. Sources say that Marcina has signed a contract extension with the club, but the Scorpions have yet to say anything about it. (Update: Marcina was apparently under contract already for this year, but this was something known by almost no one in the media).

It all leads us to ask, what the heck is going on in San Antonio? There are whispers and rumbles about a divide between players and front office, but whatever the problem is, they’ll want to sort it out if they want to be competitive this year. They’ll want to sort it out even if they want to put out a game day 18.

Ottawa Fury are going to Carolina, Minnesota United are going to Arizona and Brazil, New York Cosmos went to Hong Kong; around the NASL, teams are full-speed into preseason. The Scorpions, on the other hand, seem to be in disarray. They’re making league-owned and league-leading tire fire Atlanta Silverbacks look composed by comparison.

 

Minnesota signs Brazilian central midfielder, acclaimed Norwegian playwright, Ibson

Yesterday, Minnesota United confirmed our report of the signing of ex-Portland Timbers winger Kalif Alhassan, and also teased a further announcement to come.

Today, the Loons made good on their promise, revealing the signing of legendary Norwegian playwright and father of realism, Henrik Johan Ibsen veteran Brazilian midfielder Ibson. The long dead Oslo native 31 year old is a marquee signing for the club, with an impressive résumé that includes time at Porto, Spartak Moscow, and the writing of such classics as A Doll’s House, and The Master Builder Bologna. He also has extensive experience in the top Brazilian league, including playing alongside a young Neymar at Santos. Billed as a box-to-box player, Ibson will compete with Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Juliano Vicentini, Aaron Pitchkolan, and Greg Jordan for time in the center of the field. He will be a heavy favorite for starting time in a position that needed reinforcement after the offseason departure of Michael Reed.

Throughout his career, Ibson has a mixed goalscoring record. He has never been a prolific goalscorer from his deep midfield position, but he does appear to like going forward. We expect his movement and role with United will roughly mirror that of Aaron Pitchkolan.

Interestingly, Ibson has already trained with the team and played ten to fifteen minutes of the match against the Seattle Sounders FC in place of Greg Jordan. We’ve heard he made a strong first impression. His presence with the team was cunningly concealed by the team’s media staff, but we believe we’ve identified a glimpse.

Enhance!

Bingo.

We’ve written recently that the United coaching staff now have the problem of having too many good players for too few spots. This is obviously a good kind of problem to have, but Ibson’s signing makes it even tougher. It also throws into question the midfield diamond that Bill so eloquently wrote in support of this weekend.  The 4-4-2 would allow both Christian Ramirez and Pablo Campos to play together. But it would also take away a spot in central midfield. Now that position is more formidable, it’s worth wondering if that sacrifice is worth it. Two forwards? Or two deep lying midfielders? The Loons can’t have both.

Untangling this tactical knot will be one of the biggest challenges for the team this preseason. Some very good players will need to sit, and some talented players will not even make the eighteen.

Not that we’ve complaining.

Now—a goalkeeper and a defender are all that remain to be checked off.

Here’s a video somewhat hilariously labeling Ibson as a Brazilian Bastian Schweinsteiger:

 

Why Minnesota United Needs to Sign an Experienced Goalkeeper

In a recent conversation with Minnesota United FC head coach Manny Lagos, he restated a commitment to the fans of the team.

“There’s no doubt that there has been a really good commitment to allow me to go out and sign current players that we think aren’t just going to be good next year, but for the next couple of years,” said Lagos. “For any Minnesota soccer fan I think that’s such a great vision by our ownership group. The message has been consistent – to try to build the best soccer team in North America.”

Lagos went on to say the team address every position on the field in hopes of getting better. “Even with the guys who are coming back, if we don’t get better? Because teams are going to react to us,” Lagos continued.

“I don’t look at the goalkeeping situation any differently than the rest of the squad. First and foremost, as great of a year as we had last year, we didn’t win and we’ve got to get better. We are here to win and we are here to win trophies for our club and our fans.”

After the successful season Minnesota United had in 2014, fans would be hard pressed to question Minnesota’s owner Bill McGuire, team president Nick Rogers or coach Manny Lagos commitment to build a quality team.  But  as Lagos stated, every year is a process where you must improve and fans will look to this coming season and question yet again whether the Loons have improved at each and every position on the field. Those same fans would most likely give a resounding yes for every position but one. The goalkeepers.  And you may not get an argument from Lagos.

“We currently have two goalies on the roster and we’d really like to carry three,” said Lagos. Minnesota’s coach stated they still have several players who they are working on signing. One presumably was former Portland Timber attacking midfielder Kalif Alhassan, who was announced as a being officially signed on Sunday.

Andrew Fontein and Mitch Hilderbrant are the two goalkeepers Lagos spoke of.  Looking at experience only,  the Loons goalkeeping duo fall far down the scale of their teammates at the field positions. Combined, the tandem of keepers have an average of only 2.5 years experience.

A quick look at a Minnesota United depth chart at each position shows the glaring discrepancy between the experience of field players and goalkeepers.

Looking at appearances per player at the senior team level and then averaged out per position, shows even a greater lack of experience at the goalkeeper spot.  In a position where match minutes played may be more significant than any other on the field, Minnesota United’s goalkeepers are sadly lacking.

Outstate: Where are the former Minnesota United FC players from 2014?

Minnesota United kept together most of the players from last season, but there were some long term players (and new signings) that were let go at the end of the season. Some have caught on with other teams, while others are still looking to catch on with another team.

Nate Polak – After suffering a major medical issue in 2013, never was able to catch on with the first team in 2014 and was eventually loaned to Oklahoma Energy FC for the second half of the season. Unfortunately, he failed to impress there as well, and was released by Minnesota following the 2014 season and has yet to catch on with another team.

Simone Bracalello – He struggled to cement a spot in the starting XI in 2014 with Minnesota, and was allowed to leave, where he soon signed with Carolina RailHawks for the 2015 season.

Rafael Burgos – Returned to Europe after a frustrating loan experience with Minnesota United FC where injuries and international call ups prevented him from contributing in a meaningful way to the team. He’s currently playing the HB Hoge, but hasn’t had any minutes with them yet.

Omar Daley – Still is unattached after a rocky 2014 season. At 33, he will likely have a hard time signing with another team.

Pedro Mendes – With only one appearance with the first team after signing with Minnesota, it’s no surprise he didn’t resign with Minnesota. He is still looking for a team.

Mackenzie Prindham – The canadian national still hasn’t caught on with any teams, but with three new Canadian pro teams starting this year, has a decent shot to signed by a team to help fill their required Canadian spots.

Matt VanOekel – He signed with Edmonton FC during the offseason, but the move clearly hasn’t changed him.

Well play a game where’s Waldo but with America pic.twitter.com/trYudSquHr #dayone #yeg #americanwerewolfincanada

— Matt VanOekel (@MVOextreme) February 20, 2015

Kentaro Takada – Signed a deal with new USL team FC St. Louis where he will be involved with their youth sides as well as playing for the first team.

Mozzi Gyorio – He has signed with USL side Austin Aztec‘s for the 2015 season as they begin their inagural season as a pro side.

Floyd Franks – Still is unsigned after a decent 2014 season where he found himself behind one of the highest paid NASL players in Vicentini and the captain Pitchkolan.

What is a midfield diamond and why might it be a great fit for Minnesota?

How do you get Pablo Campos, Christian Ramirez and Miguel Ibarra on the field at the same time and working together? One possible answer? A midfield diamond.

The second half of the first preseason scrimmage against Seattle Sounders Reserves featured a midfield diamond. The formation featured mostly first team players, and could be a sneak peek at what we will see during the regular season. While the season is still a long way away, Minnesota playing the 4-4-2 diamond gives us an opportunity to look at just what goes into this formation and how it might play to Minnesota’s strengths.

The philosophy

The 4-4-2 diamond is meant to be a balanced formation that controls the midfield. Against most formations, the diamond will have numbers on their opponents in the midfield, allowing the team to move the ball forward centrally. In addition, the diamond usually gives a lot of space and places a lot of responsibility on the fullbacks to come forward to provide width on offense.

Recently, the 4-4-2 diamond has not seen as much play at the highest level of soccer lately as more teams have moved towards a counter attacking style of football. The formation is often seen as giving up too much on the wings and compensating for that will often leave gaps in the center of the field. It also relies on a very active, athletic and skilled attacking midfielder who is prepared to play 90 minutes box to box, a type of player few teams have.

Image credit Alex Schieferdecker

Two Forwards

One of the best aspects of a 4-4-2 diamond formation for Minnesota is that it allows two forwards onto the field, both of which play towards the center of the field. The two forwards have the responsibility of occupying centerbacks, playing as a target forward and linking up with the attacking midfielder and wide players. The two players have a responsibility on offense to play more centrally, while on defense their press will change depending on the formation and how the opponents play out of the back, sometimes pressing the centerbacks and at other times having responsibility for the fullbacks.

In addition, Minnesota struggled in the second half last year because they couldn’t control the center of the field in front of goal, sometimes referred to as zone 14. Most teams in NASL play with a back 4 and two holding or defensive midfielders, and Minnesota struggled to create opportunities in that space. The two forwards will help to create more mismatches and fewer double teams, hopefully allowing players to find more space in front of goal.

Attacking Midfielder

The attacking midfielder is the lynchpin of the formation. When the USMNT toyed with this formation, Michael Bradley played this position. Not only does the player have to be a playmaker, distributing the ball well to the two forwards and the wide midfielders, they also need to be able to play box to box, covering the length of the field in the middle.

Miguel Ibarra is well suited for this role, particularly at the NASL level, with his speed, defense, and ability to take on and avoid players with the ball at his feet. On defense, there is only one holding midfielder, and so Ibarra will have to be able to come back, provide support and help on defense while also being the link from the defensive third to the attacking third.

Wide Midfielders

There are two different forms of the 4-4-2 diamond, and the difference lies in the roles that the wide midfielders fill. Some formations will have the wide midfielders actually playing centrally as a central midfield pair, while other formations will see these wide midfielders playing wider, creating a flatter diamond shape. Typically, the central midfield pair is preferable, as it places them in a better position to defend the central zones on the field.

A flatter diamond can leave more space in the middle of the field, and has only a single holding midfielder to support the central defenders. With the speed of Banks and Steele in the scrimmage, this was likely the formation that Minnesota played in this scrimmage and this gives more space for Ibarra to move about the center of the field.

Luckily for Minnesota, they have one of the faster players in the NASL in Miguel Ibarra, and he has shown he has the stamina and skill to play in a box to box role, providing the support needed centrally with the two wide midfielders closer to the sidelines. Last year, Ibarra was on the wing, and unable to provide support centrally often, this year, he can help break down attacks with his speed and defense.

Holding/Defensive Midfielder

This position is another key position on the field, as the player in this role will have to be able to distribute the ball effectively, helping the team move the ball out of the back, while also shutting down attacks in the middle of the attacking third. We saw last year what can happen when the defensive mid is unable to completely lock down this part of the field, with most of the goals coming through the middle of the field.

Jordan played this role in the scrimmage, and would be an effective player in this position, although his willingness to join the attack might lead to opportunities from a long ball counter by the opposition. His tenacity will serve the team well on defense though, and either he or Vicentini would fit the role of defensive or holding midfielder well.

Back Four

The back four in the 4–4-2 diamond is virtually unchanged from the formations Minnesota played last year. In the diamond, the fullbacks Davis and Venegas will be encouraged and have the opportunity to push far up the field to provide that width lacking from the midfielders or forwards. The two centerbacks will be vital to shut down any counters, with the goal slowing down any attacks until the fullbacks or midfielders have a chance to slide back into position.

Will it work?

The play on which the team scored showed the strength of the formation. It started with great crisp passing from the back, with Ibarra tracking deep into Minnesota’s half to receive the ball. Then with a burst of speed, they work the ball up the side, utilizing the superior numbers in the midfield and Ibarra’s speed to quickly get the ball into the attacking third. In the attacking third, the tandem of Campos and Ramirez occupy the central defenders and deftly pass the ball to a wide open Ibarra who finishes with a great goal.

At it’s best, the focus on controlling that space in front of the goal with two forwards and an attacking midfielder creates a mismatch that Minnesota will be able to exploit for a lot of goals. Still, the formation does little to rectify the struggles Minnesota had last year to defend against quick counters and long balls. Will Miguel in the box to box role be enough to shut down opponents in the middle of the field?

Minnesota’s next game against their US Open Cup foe from last year, Sporting Kansas City is next friday, February 27th. Expect to see more experimentation from the team and hopefully we’ll have another formation to dissect and discuss as Minnesota continues to seek out a formula that will see them replicate the success of last year.

Loons vs Sounders: Batman Strikes Again

Today, Minnesota United FC played their first competitive match of the season- a scrimmage against the Seattle Sounders. The fact that the Sounders played yesterday and the relaxed format ensured that the Loons would be contending with Seattle’s reserves, not Dempsey, Martins, and co.

For their part, the Loons started a mixed-bag of players; certainly not their first team, but no slouches either. Minnesota’s opening XI featured trialist Sammy N’Djock (N’Djams) in goal; the back-up defensive quartet of Tyler Polak, Aaron Pitchkolan, and the Kallmans Bros; a midfield with Juliano Vicentini, Greg Jordan, Jamie Watson, Daniel Mendes, and Kalif Alhassan; and trialist Yūzō Tashiro as the lone forward.

The strength of this “B” line-up certainly speaks to the depth that Minnesota will have available this year.

In Alex’s tactics post from earlier in the week, he pitched two distinct approaches, one 4-2-3-1 and the other a 4-4-2. The opening thirty minutes featured the former, with Alhassan in the central position that he mused about. Without having watched the game, it’s impossible to make any definitive statements on the effectiveness of this approach, but the 0-0 score at the break and the lack of any clear chances on the highlights or reported on Twitter imply that the first half was a cagey affair.

In the second half, nearly wholesale substitutions were made, and the Minnesota side became the 4-4-2 that we also predicted. Mitch Hildebrandt took the reins in goal; the first choice defense of Justin Davis, Cristiano Dias, Tiago Calvano, and Keven Venegas was arrayed in front of him; the midfield featured Jonny Steele on the left, Miguel Ibarra and Greg Jordan (who was later subbed out for Aaron Pitchkolan) in the center, and JC Banks on the right; and the forward pairing of Campos and Ramirez was put into action. One tactical point of interest was the reported switch between Steele and Banks that occurred midway through the period. It’s heartening to see the players already comfortable with some degree of tactical flexibility.

The game was played in two 30-minute halves, with the first ending scoreless. At some point in the second half, Hildebrandt was called for holding the ball too long, a totally bizarre decision in a game that was being played with made-up time and substitution rules.

Either way, Kenny Cooper stepped up to take the kick for the Sounders and blasted it under the wall for a free kick goal. Later in the match Hildebrandt would be called for handling the ball outside his penalty area, which complemented his strange day.

After the Seattle goal, the Loons responded in superb fashion. As Jonny Steele charged down the pitch, he passed to Ibarra, who one-touched the ball to Ramirez. Ramirez tapped it to Campos, who back-heeled it to Ibarra. Miguel turned a defender and fired the ball home.

The goal was really goddamn beautiful, being described by witnesses both as “art on the pitch” and “one of the nicer goals… of the preseason.” HERE is the highlight video of the goal. It is gorgeous. Full highlights are at the bottom of this article.

That scoreline would see out the second half hour of play, resulting in a 1-1 draw for the two sides. After the match, Head Coach Manny Lagos spoke mainly of its use as a building block for “soccer fitness”. But he did speak to his happiness with the group. “There are some guys who are ahead of where I’d expect them to be,” he said.  “It was still sloppy soccer, butbecause we’ve only been together for a bit more than a week, it was positive”.

It’s foolish to take much from a match that was something of a glorified practice. But we’d be remiss to not try.

For one, we’re pleased to see that our tactical thinking was largely confirmed. Head Coach Manny Lagos and his staff have a difficult decision to make with so many attackers. Last year’s central tactical question revolved around the defensive midfield and the left wing. This year, the key problem that the coaching staff must solve is the number of forwards. Specifically: is Minnesota a better team with the Campos-Ramirez duo up top? Or with Ramirez as the lone forward and some combination of five midfielders? The team got some data today, but the final verdict will probably be come a long time from now.

Two Possible Looks for the MNUFC Attack

Yesterday, The Loon Call reported that Minnesota United FC will sign ex-Portland Timbers winger Kalif Alhassan. It’s a smart signing in many ways. Alhassan is a young, dynamic attacker who showed flashes of brilliance with Portland. The comparisons to Miguel Ibarra are obvious, though a similar payoff is far from guaranteed.

What makes this an acceptable risk to take is that the Loons have tremendous attacking depth. All three signings this offseason have spent much of their pro career as wingers, especially on the left. While Christian Ramirez, Miguel Ibarra, and Daniel Mendes monopolized the forward positions last year (and managed to stay uninjured), Minnesota struggled to find a tenant for the left midfield role. This eventually led to Ibarra assuming that spot and the famous switch to the 4-3-3 with three defensive midfielders.

This season, United has reloaded at that position and Head Coach Manny Lagos has some big decisions to make in the attack. These are, as they say, good problems to have. Even better, there are few added wrinkles. J.C. Banks most enjoys being played as a forward, while some insist that Alhassan’s best position is as a central creator. And of course, there is also considerable debate about Ibarra’s best position.

A simplistic but fun way to think of this is that Minnesota has two options going forward, each more deadly than the last. I’m calling them ‘The Fastball’ and ‘The Changeup’.

(In this write-up, I’m assuming that Minnesota signs at least Sammy N’Djock and Yūzō Tashiro)

The Fastball

Bench Options: Hildebrandt, Polak, Kallman, Kallman, Pitchkolan, Watson, Steele, Mendes, Campos, Tashiro

The Fastball is about counter attacking and quick interplay. It features Alhassan in the CAM role where Portland fans would’ve liked to seem him played. Ibarra is out on the left, partially because this position also gives him the best opportunities for the USMNT. Banks takes the right wing. In defensive midfield, Juliano Vicentini drops deep, where he can ping deep balls to either corner, while The Black Knight, Greg Jordan, acts as the midfield destroyer, and occasional late runner. On defense, the formation becomes two lines of four, with Alhassan and Ramirez pressuring up top.

What’s so seductive about this attack is that it takes the raw offensive ability of these players and allows them the freedom to use it however they choose. All are young, quick, technically adept, and goal hungry. There is ample space for Justin Davis and Kevin Venegas to provide width, but the main point is speed and to play quick, incisive 1-2s. In theory, all three attacking midfielders can play each other’s positions, which would allow them to roam anywhere.

The downside to this approach is that it rests on Alhassan and Banks, two untested players on this team and at this level, to have enough ability and tactical nous. It also assumes a level of familiarity that is far from a given. The synergy that Ramirez and Ibarra developed last year does not come easily.

That’s why there’s…

The Changeup

Bench: Hildebrandt, Polak, Kallman, Kallman, Pitchkolan, Jordan, Watson, Banks, Alhassan, Tashiro

The Changeup isn’t slow, but it’s less rash. With experience on both wings and two forwards who can hold the ball up, this formation is a good way to maximize the effect of deep balls from Tiago Calvano and Vicentini. The key is the combination between Christian Ramirez and Pablo Campos. Essentially the two most prolific scorers in NASL history, the ideal for the Loons is finding out how to play the two together in a way that compliments their abilities. That was the plan last preseason before Campos tore his ACL, and expect Lagos to tinker with it again this year. Steele and Mendes are both good parts to this system. They can whip in accurate crosses, or cut inside to allow the wing backs space. Their experience across many teams ought to be valuable to the Loons. Trialist forward Yūzō Tashiro is a big veteran and could offer a like-for-like replacement for either front men.

The worry with this line-up might be its general lack of speed. Speed absolutely kills in the NASL, and this line-up lacks it. The central midfield is also problematic. With a diamond 4-4-2, is it safe to leave Vicentini as the lone holding midfielder if Ibarra is allowed to run free? This is the problem I’m finding with two forward sets, United lacks a Kyle Beckerman-type D-Mid who can be trusted to stay at home and be fit enough to shield the back four for 90 minutes.

Still, given Lagos’ usual conservatism, I’d bet on a veteran-heavy opening day XI. Whether he changes course will depend on what he sees from the team during preseason, and perhaps those early results.

The Curveball

In truth, it’s unlikely that the Loons will ever play one of these formations exactly as written. Imbalance is not usually a good thing in soccer, and a line-up with all young fast guys may be as unwise as a line-up with wily vets. Both have weaknesses and strengths. The challenge will be to keep both sets of talented players happy, and also to find a way to combine them in a way that makes sense. Perhaps a two forward set is the answer, but with Ramirez and Banks instead. Or perhaps Alhassan is truly best used on the wing. Or perhaps Mendes can reproduce his 2014 form at the age of 34. Perhaps Steele can shake off his Australian hangover. There are a number of what-ifs.

In the end, lines on a chalkboard are only as good as the results they lead to on the field. What’s exciting is that we have so many quality options. We have a USMNT member and another guy who should be one. We have the NASL’s all-time leading scorer. We have a 24 year old with nearly 100 MLS appearances. We have a guy who combined with Thierry Henry. We have the one man offense of the most defensive team in America. And so on. It’s going to be really fun to see how it all shakes out.

Minnesota Have [Most Likely] Signed ex-Portland winger Kalif Alhassan

It looks like the Loons have signed another speedy winger, Kalif Alhassan, formerly of the Portland Timbers. On his website and on reddit, Jeremy Olsen posted a photograph that revealed a new face at training, eventually identified as Alhassan’s. Later, a tweet from his agent added to the story; Alhassan had signed with an NASL club.

Former @TimbersFC, Kalif Alhassan has agreed to terms with an @naslofficial club, pending passing of a physical exam. pic.twitter.com/nSEh6I9xl6

— Libero Sports (@liberosports) February 13, 2015

While Minnesota United FC won’t comment on whether or not he has signed, Libero Sports just happens to represent a certain Minnesota United FC head coach and Alhassan wouldn’t be the first player brought in from the Libero fold. So let’s just say this MAYBE WINK WINK Alhassan has signed with the Loons.

What does that mean? Alhassan played six seasons with the Timbers (including their last season in division two). He is a speedy winger who showed moments of real talent mixed with a lot of unfulfilled potential. At 24, perhaps the Timbers thought he was never going to live up to that potential. Or, since he was making $120k in his last year with the club, perhaps they thought they could invest more wisely.

Regardless, this means that Minnesota United’s pool of wingers will be—to put it lightly—deep. The club will be bringing back last year’s starting wingers Miguel Ibarra and Daniel Mendes as well as substitute Jamie Watson. Alhassan would join Johnny Steele, who is a left sided midfielder, and J.C. Banks, who may now be in line play in his favored central and second forward positions. Essentially, all of United’s offseason acquisitions have been wingers.

Alhassan is undoubtedly a good pick-up for the Loons. He is young and has flashes. But he was cut by Portland because he didn’t show his brilliance enough. Consistency is something that Miguel Ibarra famously struggled with, perhaps Alhassan will mature similarly in Minnesota.

@thelooncall Beloved, but chronic underachiever for the Timbers. Skilled on the ball, creative, poor defense.

— Stumptown Footy (@StumptownFooty) February 17, 2015

And perhaps grow into a new position?

@dunord Should have been a CAM, (almost) always played on the wing.

— Stumptown Footy (@StumptownFooty) February 17, 2015

Still, this is something of a luxury signing. The Loons still need a goalkeeper and another central midfielder, but the attack is looking remarkably dangerous, with speed and a mixture of speed and experience. The question is how will Lagos fit all that firepower into one formation? We might get a look this Thursday in the scrimmage vs Seattle. Or, we might get a mishmash. We’ll see.

How do you think he’ll make them all work?

Training Report 2-12-15

The preseason is just four days young for Minnesota United FC, but already it feels like old times in the permanent twilight of the National Sports Center field house. That’s in part because almost all of Minnesota’s 2014 starting roster and frequent subs are back for a second run at the Soccer Bowl in 2015. The camaraderie that is immediately evident with this year’s Loons is one that other teams in the league will struggle to achieve.

Thursday’s practice was focused on getting back up to speed before the team departs for Arizona on Tuesday of next week. After warming up, the players ran a few agility drills before breaking into groups of four and playing a series of small sided games. The games emphasized receiving the ball under pressure and quick movement in small spaces. Despite giving a good effort, it was clear that there was a little bit of rust to be shaken off for everybody.

Because of the nature of the practice, it was hard to really evaluate the abilities of the team’s four trialists, beyond confirming that each at the very least seemed competent at playing soccer. Forward Yūzō Tashiro and goalkeeper Sammy N’Djock seemed the most relaxed and comfortable of the bunch, joking with the more established team members, while Tommaso D’Agostino and Jose Ribas were more reserved.

The other two newcomers, offseason signings JC Banks and Jonny Steele seemed at home among their new teammates.

For Banks, the move to Minnesota follows four successful years with the Rochester Rhinos of USL. Following a breakout ten goal 2014 season, (the Rhinos scored 29 total) Banks took the opportunity to move up a level and closer to his native Milwaukee.

“It was time for a little bit of change,” he said. “This was closer to home, closer to my family, closer to my girlfriend. Just makes things easier, and it’s nice to be back in the Midwest.”

Much of the speculation about Banks has assumed that he will compete for the left midfield role against Miguel Ibarra and Jamie Watson. But while he may well end up out there, Banks told me that he most enjoys playing centrally, and last year with Rochester he was deployed as a center forward. It will be interesting to see where Banks is given opportunities. On paper, a pairing with Christian Ramirez up top with Miguel Ibarra operating behind could create a deadly combination of speed and guile.

For Steele, the move to Minnesota is isn’t a homecoming, but it is a return to familiar stomping grounds in the US after a half-year misadventure in Australia. For the last three years, Steele played in MLS and the A-League, but before that, the Northern Irishman played his entire career in the American second divisions, with stints basically everywhere but Minnesota. After reaching out to Manny and sensing interest, Steele grabbed his chance to return to the much changed league in which he cut his teeth.

“The league has grown—dramatically since I was in it,” he said. “It used to be good, then it went off a little bit and now it’s getting even better and better and the standard of players is getting better and better. You can see it in the caliber of players who are coming in each year… it’s going to be a tough league.”

Steele brings a tremendous amount of experience to the table, and will likely be a left sided compliment to Daniel Mendes on the right. He boasts an impressive collection of tattoos, and a dark, brooding beard that suggest a character from a Scandinavian crime drama.

He, Banks, and the newly re-signed Christian Ramirez were popular marks after practice for the assembled news media. This practice surely set a record for the number of cameras at a practice. In addition to the team’s video crew, Two United Fans and the local FOX and ABC affiliates were on hand to capture the action.

While the interviews were conducted and much of the team went through post-practices stretches, Jamie Watson and Kevin Venegas practiced their finishing against the goalkeeping pool, who had little to do during the main practice. Mitch Hildebrandt and Andrew Fontein had plenty of moments, but it was trialist Sammy N’Djock who stole the show with a remarkable full-stretch catch of a curling shot from Watson. Having nothing else to go on, but based on that stop alone… SIGN HIM.