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1. How can the Red Bull New York wingers be more goal dangerous?
1. How can the Red Bull New York wingers be more goal dangerous?
The New York Red Bulls have completely rewritten their identity this season. Under new manager Michael Bradley, the side has prioritized controlling the game through possession rather than with their signature high energy press. This has allowed some of their kids to thrive, namely Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti. However, some of their bigger acquisitions have failed to impress. Depite playing in a system that focuses on retaining the ball and having players that can release the wingers in behind, the wide attackers have contributed to just 10 goals on the season. They brought in Jorge Ruvalcaba as a designated player as well as Cade Cowell to be the wingers for this team, but neither have really gotten going. Cameron Harper has recently been given the nod at right wing, and he has been marginally more effective in his minutes since coming back from injury. However, if the Red Bulls want to be more dynamic in attack, it is crucial that the wingers provide more of a spark.
One tactic that could be useful for Bradley is trying to attack more in transition. Playing Dylan Nealis at right back helps to solidify their backline, especially in transitional defense. However, because he isn't as attack-minded as Marshall-Rutty, he also doesn't overlap the right winger very often. If Bradley shifts to more of a mid block in defense, this could allow them more space in behind when they win the ball back. With the quality that they have in midfield, they would be able to spring their wingers on the counter. In open space, Ruvalcaba and Cowell would thrive, as they did in Liga MX. Add in Hall's movement at the number 9 position and they could be one of the more dangerous teams on the counter attack. Even though Bradley prefers to play on the front foot, shifting to a slightly more defensive approach might actually suit his personnel a bit better, improving their defensive stability while also leading to more transitional attacks to unlock their wingers. In this approach, there would also be moments where the Red Bulls can put their foot on the ball and dictate the tempo, but putting more of an emphasis on runs in behind could be the key to elevating this side to a contender in the east.
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After the 3-0 defeat that the Red Bulls suffered to St. Louis City, this question looms larger than ever. The Red Bulls have now scored jus 2 goals in their last 5 games, and you have to go back to August 1st to find the last time that New York scored multiple goals in a game. Yes, the Red Bulls were missing some key players in this game, including leading goal scorer Julian Hall. However, they still had plenty of potential difference makers in the attack, yet none of them could produce. The Red Bulls created their best chances after forcing turnovers. This led to more transition opportunities, but they were often too sloppy when they got into the final third to capitalize on St. Louis' mistakes.
While everyone was a culprit, Jorge Ruvalcaba was notably poor and is sorely lacking confidence. After a promising start to the season, he has not recorded a goal contribution since May 23rd and has even been dropped to the bench. His opposite winger, Cade Cowell, was played at LW in this game instead of RW, and he looked a lot more dangerous. Most of Red Bulls' best moments came from the foot of the young American. What was most impressive about Cowell's performance was his ability to create more when St. Louis dropped into a low block. We know that Cowell has explosive pace and is threatening in counterattacks, but if he can evolve to be more effective against a set defense, then this Red Bull attack could get back on track. Another interesting wrinkle from this game was the introduction of teenage Brazilian winger Pedrinho. He was tricky on the ball and showed off a few diguised passses with his left foot. With all of the other Red Bull wingers being right footed, Pedrinho can offer something a little bit different than the rest of them. Going forward, Bradley definitely has some thinking to do about how to reignite this Red Bull offense that can clearly hit another gear in the attack.
2. Who will step up for LAFC with absences due to the international break?
2. Who will step up for LAFC with absences due to the international break?
It's been a tough end to the summer for LAFC, who have 1 win in their last 9 MLS matches. While they're still solid defensively, they've really struggled to create chances. It's not clear where any sort of attacking threat is going to come from if it's not on the counter or Denis Bouanga beating players on the dribble. They've become a one-dimensional team, and this has led to their poor form. Now they'll be without Bouanga, as well as Son, Shaffelburg, Choinière, and Terry. Without their top attacking options, LAFC will look to their depth this weekend. It's a testament to LAFC's inability to develop their youth that the answer to this question is unknown.
With young forwards David Martinez and Nathan Ordaz sold over the summer, their options are limited. Martinez was one of LAFC's best players this season, able to open the game in possession or devastate opponents in transition. As was the story of his tenure in LA, the talent was there but never the consistent playing time to establish himself in the team. Even though he was quite clearly one of their most important pieces. So he left for Denmark. In Nathan Ordaz, LAFC let an important squad player who knows the team well and has chemistry with the players leave instead of giving him more opportunity to grow. It's unsurprising for a team who values cycling in new faces over investing in their richly talented academy. Now they're left with very few trusted options at their disposal.
With all the absences, it's the perfect opportunity for Armindo Sieb to truly announce himself to the LAFC fanbase. Acquired over the summer, he's had some exciting moments for LAFC in his 4 appearances. Mostly used in as a right winger so far for manager Marc Dos Santos, Sieb can also operate as a center forward. He will look to be the focal point in attack alongside Tyler Boyd and Jeremy Ebobisse. Boyd and Ebobisse are MLS proven veterans, but have struggled to make an impact for LAFC this season. Facing an FC Dallas side just 3 points ahead of them in the table, it's a crucial match for LAFC if they want to have a chance at a home playoff spot. Dallas will be without Petar Musa, Bernard Kamungo, and Ran Binyamin, influential pieces of their attack. With the Black & Gold's strong defense, they will make this a tightly contested match. But can any of the attackers step up for LAFC?
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In a word, nobody. It was a lackluster performance from the Black & Gold as they got shut out by Dallas. As expected, it was a defensive match, with neither team creating many big chances. Dallas took the lead late in the first half through an Osaze Urhoghide header which proved to be the game winner, allowing Dallas to sit back more in the second half and force LAFC to be the protagonist. Armindo Sieb thought he had found the equalizer in the 73rd minute, but he was offsides. LAFC didn't threaten Sirois' net much after that. The more LAFC had the ball, the less dangerous they were. It's a problem that's haunted this team for years, and it shows their reliance on individual moments of brilliance in open space, usually from Denis Bouanga. When they don't produce such moments, they struggle to score. Even during their fantastic start to the season, they were converting long range screamers at an unsustainable rate. So, in a match where they didn't have their match winners in attack, they were held scoreless.
3. Where does Eduard Löwen fit in San Jose's system?
3. Where does Eduard Löwen fit in San Jose's system?
After an unbelievable start to the season for the San Jose Earthquakes, their form dipped in the summer. They seem to have righted the ship in the last few weeks, and one of the big reasons for that is the acquisition of German midfielder Eduard Löwen from St. Louis City. Löwen is a versatile midfielder who can play in multiple spots in Bruce Arena's new 3-4-3 system. He can start in the midfield line to add more of a veteran presence to the middle of the park. His passing ability and decision making are important for the Earthquakes' structure because he doesn't give the ball away in bad areas. He has developed a good partnership with Vieira in the brief minutes that they have played together. When the two of them start as the double pivots, the Earthquakes have allowed just 3 goals across 4 games, all of which comes during a 5 match unbeaten run. Löwen can also be played in more of an advanced role, as one of the dual 10's next to Tsakiris. While he may not have the flair that the elite 10's in this league possess, he is still a creative player that is impactful in possession. This is mostly where he played in for St. Louis this season. Either way, he has been impactful for a side that needed to reset and get back to how they were playing at the start of the season.
Löwen could also factor in as a super sub. If San Jose is trailing, Löwen could slot in the midfield to provide more deep lying creativity to the side, giving them a different complexion. If the Quakes are leading, Löwen can play as one of the attacking 3 to provide calmness on the ball and be more of a defensive presence. In this 3-4-3 formation, Arena suddenly has some quality depth pieces that he can use. Tsakiris has been the Earthquakes' best attacker this season and fits in perfectly on the right side of the front 3. Arena now has Judd, Werner, Bouda, Jovanovic, and even Leroux at his disposal for the other spots. Leroux has been playing as the left sided attacker, but with Judd and Werner coming back from injury he could get pushed back into midfield. This might mean that Löwen is tasked with coming on to change the game. This weekend, the Quakes will host an inconsistent Portland Timbers side at PayPal Park. Löwen's leadership and intelligence will be important for San Jose, who are without Bouda and Vieira due to the international break, as they look to reassert themselves as one of the top teams in the west.
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In this game, Arena lined up his side in a 3-5-2 formation: Judd and Werner up top with Löwen, Leroux, and Harkes all in midfield. Even without Niko Tsakiris, the Quakes looked dangerous all night. Part of this is due to the defensive woes of the Portland Timbers, who were missing star defender Finn Surman. The other part was due to the strong play of the Earthquakes, specifically Löwen. With a goal and an assist on the night, the German midfielder was one of the best players on the pitch. His assist was a beautiful cross from deep to Preston Judd, who was able to outduel his defender and net the opener. This is exactly what Löwen can provide: deep-lying playmaking. He operated as the right sided box-to-box midfielder against the Timbers opposite Leroux, and they were fantastic on the night. In fact, they combined for Löwen's goal, which ended up being the game winner. That being said, the midfield was also very open at times, especially when Leroux or Löwen were dragged out of position. The 3-5-2 worked in this game, but is it the answer moving forward? This is a question Arena will have to think about, especially when Tsakiris gets healthy. It is going to be hard to get all of his best players on the field without compromising the 3 back system that has provided so much stability for this resurgent San Jose team. One thing is for certain: no matter what system Arena elects to go with, Löwen should play a starting role thanks to his quality and versatility.
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