Well this week was a firm slap in the face added with ice water thrown onto quite a few teams.
Let’s start with Rhode Island FC, who looked like they spent the week after winning in Las Vegas downing Narragansett’s like they were water. Plain and simple, they no showed against Phoenix Rising FC. They even had tiny slivers of hope after winning a penalty late in the first half and after pulling one back late in the second half. The response to those moments of hope, a telegraphed penalty kick easily saved by Rocco Rios Novo and allowing Phoenix Rising to immediately score 18 seconds after the restart.
Rhode Island FC had one job at the back and that was to cover Remi Cabral. They failed that mission multiple times, allowing Emil Cuello to find him on multiple occasions. Rhode Island also failed on the occasions they got forward to even get a final ball into the attacking third, often losing the ball once they got to the edge of the penalty area.
This week was the opportunity to build on their first victory, and really their first complete performance of the season. Instead, the Rhode Island back line was exposed as naive, the big names in Stephen Turnbull, Mark Ybarra, Noah Fuson and Albert Dikwa proved they can’t break their opponents down. And let’s not forget, the Rhode Island goal, came off a free kick we rarely ever see (and need to see more often) because Rios Novo decided to play the delay of game time wasting tactic out despite being 2 goals to the good. Yes, Rhode Island got a stern reality check that they’re no where near ready to be taken seriously as a side yet. Rhode Island blew up the foundation they had to build on and that’s something with the veterans they have in the side I would have never expected. I firmly thought once they got past that first win they would have kicked on. That simply isn’t happening.
Credit does have to be given to Phoenix Rising here. It’s obvious after last week’s whipping by Pittsburgh they went back to the drawing board and made seven changes for this game. What we got was what I think is the best version of Phoenix Rising. A side that can get forward in multiple ways, while having the ability to set their defensive shape quickly. I hope we see this starting eleven ride for a while.
It was also a slap in the face reality check for both Las Vegas Lights and Hartford Athletic for pretty much the same exact reason, a severe case of naive defending. When you are playing the opposition you are (Charleston Battery and Louisville City) you have to understand that things have to be tightened up by a factor of ten and hope for the best. Hell, North Carolina FC and Rhode Island FC of all teams gave the entire league a playbook on how to frustrate and minimize the chances Charleston Battery get, and it’s like no other manager has seen those games.
Las Vegas was way too foot loose and fancy free at the back and were carved to shreds. Four of the six goals were a result of poor passes in the back that allowed Charleston to pick them apart. Raiko Arozarena has to decisive and command his box, something he did not do Saturday. Two of those goals were the result of him not realizing the ball needed to be punted out of the stadium instead of trying to make a collecting dive on the ball. Las Vegas also made a choice to leave Nick Markanich wide open on as many opportunities as possible. He didn’t have 7 goals coming into this game for nothing, and you let him add over 50 percent to that tally. The poor play at the back forced Vegas to rush things up front to disastrous results. Las Vegas also needs to figure out a plan b in attack because the league now knows contain Valentin Noel, you contain this team. Charleston may have scored six, but they let at least four other sequences go begging, 3 of them off the woodwork. They were about a combined foot away from losing this 9-0.
Hartford Athletic’s defense could only be described as lost at sea against Louisville City. Not only were they defending too deep, their one on one defending was non-existent. What that allowed was every attack Louisville City had to be a threatening one. Don’t be fooled by the possession stats, Louisville City toyed with Hartford and reminded them that they maybe better, but Brendan Burke has a long way to go before they are where they want to be.
The reality check for Las Vegas Lights and Hartford Athletic is a simple one: just because you are already vastly improved from last season, don’t believe the press clippings on the season so far. The good teams just get to work, games like these are a harsh reminder of that. It also doesn’t help who each team has next. Las Vegas Lights hosts New Mexico United (more on them in a moment) while Hartford Athletic only have to go to Charleston Battery. I’m sure the Battery are already planning for an easy night.
It was also a weekend for a reality check involving both Detroit City FC and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Let’s start with Detroit City FC, who may have been the most disappointing team of this weekend. This was a side, completely unbeaten, looking to tie a record set by both the Richmond Kickers and Rochester Rhinos for most consecutive wins to start a season. Bob Lilley, who was the manager for Rochester Rhinos when they tied the record, took that personally. What we got was Bob Lilley coming out Nolan Richardson style and producing association football’s version of 90 minutes of hell.
Detroit City spent more time passing side to side, than back, than right into a trap than playing football it may as well have been glorified practice for Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Pittsburgh were relentless and honestly the 2-0 scoreline doesn’t reflect how dominant they were. When Maxi Rodriguez is having to come 10-15 yards into the Riverhounds half just to get the ball, you know it’s bad. Detroit City could have played for 90 hours and not had one shot of consequence that tested Eric Dick. The few times Detroit City did get into the attacking third they slowed play down so fast it allowed Pittsburgh to get back and set their defensive shape.
To paraphrase a line from Mr. Baseball, Detroit City, you better get use to it because as of tonight, all over the USL Championship, they should be practicing the high line press. Why, because you just proved you can’t handle it. Pittsburgh now have 8 points out of a possible 12 in their last 4 games. Bob Lilley is doing what he does best, get his squad to play in his image. I’m sure this wasn’t the style he wanted at the start of the season, but it’s working and I doubt they venture far from it to remainder of the season.
The last side that got a reality check this weekend was New Mexico United, who were completely boat raced by the Tampa Bay Rowdies. This makes the second trip out east for New Mexico they haven’t bothered to show up for. You somehow allowed a corner kick to get past two defenders on the line, screw up so badly at the back Alex Tambakis had no prayer, left Manuel Arteaga so wide open Cal Jennings should have laid if off to make it three-nil before everyone had a chance to catch their breath. Ultimately, you knew that the channel could be flipped in the 26th minute when Jordan Farr finally did his job for a change to deny Dayonn Harris with what was probably his most impressive save in a Rowdies kit.
I’m going to take the CBS Sports Network crew to task in their using soft gloves regarding New Mexico United’s start to the season. They caught Pittsburgh still learning each other at home and a Rhode Island side on their home debut that still had no clue how to play as a team. They then proceeded to get absolutely destroyed in Charleston. Just because Phoenix are the champions doesn’t mean they were playing like it, and had to play frantic late to get four additional points in their derby with El Paso and against a promoted North Carolina FC. I’m sorry broadcasters, this scheduled may have been ‘tough’ on paper when the schedule was announced but the eye test in season tells me New Mexico is at least 3 points short of where they should be at this juncture in the season.
New Mexico’s trip to Las Vegas just became as much of a must win for them as Tampa Bay’s victory was against New Mexico United. Both sides are reeling from pathetic performances and a poor performance here could be the beginning of a spiral. I’ve been saying I thought New Mexico had that look they enjoyed playing together. That’s about to be put to the test because May should be at least a 7 out of 9 point month for New Mexico United, if not all 9 points.
Oh and Tampa, you aren’t getting plaudits from me yet. Your six games too late in finally showing up to put in a complete 90 minute performance. You pretty much have the month of May off. Unless it’s maximum points it will be a failure. Good luck getting them.
Weekend Thoughts and Observations
1: Nick Markanich maybe the player of the week, but I’m sure he wishes he could have scored a beauty like Aaron Molloy did to finish out the touchdown for the Charleston Battery. That was goal of the week to me and for Molloy he had to swear with the space he had that it was a free kick. The pass from Mark Segbers was just that good.
2: I thought it was a class act by the Riverhounds organization to make their announcement about their upcoming W-League team in front of a capacity crowd at Highmark before the game. Those are your fans and the ones most likely to support
3: Stephen Carroll’s red card in the sixth minute of stoppage time was the right call. When you scissor an ankle in the manner he did all you are begging for is to be sent off. Just because you got hosed on the penalty decision to make it 2-0 doesn’t mean the referee didn’t get this call right, because he did.
4: Dear San Antonio FC, Bayer Leverkusen you are not. I’m starting to wonder if they are the most fraudulent team in USL this season. Make no mistake about it, Miami FC deserved all three points. It was also the first game in 65 where San Antonio dropped all three points after taking the lead. Miami showed some grit in this one to see it out.
4a: This game proved a point to me, and probably few others about Miami FC. They do not play well on grass. This is a side built for the green concrete and it might be better if they don’t move any more games to FIU Soccer Stadium.
5: Memphis 901 FC, you surprise me. That was a hell of a road performance in Birmingham. I do wonder, considering as of press time we don’t have a reported attendance, if there were more Memphis fans in Birmingham than home fans. What you showed is what you are capable of and I hope we see it more often.
6: Raise your hand if you had El Paso Locomotive FC in the basement after 2 months of the season? FC Tulsa didn’t do much going forward and Michael Creek made a couple of key second half saves to ensure the shut out. I’m starting to wonder when we begin to see possible wholesale changes and trades in El Paso because these players look incapable of working together.
7: I wonder if there was a little fire up someone’s backside in Colorado Springs this week? Yes, that might be a hint of a future article I’m mentally preparing. That said, once Oakland Roots lost their legs about minute 65 it was only a matter of when Colorado Springs Switchbacks found one. Congrats on picking up your first win of the season.
8: Portland’s USL League One announcement this week, absolute gold. I love the name and you couldn’t have done any better with that crest.
A note about USL League One coverage this week. My plan is to have things up by Tuesday evening. I have to wrap my head around these Jagermeister Cup rules and get through the games. I’m still getting back on track from my time away. All I will say is for a competition that was trying to promote attacking, 8 goals in 5 games sure defeats that purpose.
On 4a) that’s become a topic of discussion locally. It’s pretty clear that it’s not only grass versus turf, but the size of the pitch. The turf pitch at the FIU football stadium is longer and wider than the grass pitch at FIU soccer stadium.
Detroit performance this week was down to giving up the initial goal.