 |
| Better at soccer, honestly... |
…related, LAFC fans have a lively persecution complex about everyone else in the league giving them short shrift and hating on them generally.
Some Basics
And…hey, it turns out I never actually previewed LAFC due to a mini-vacation earlier this month (#worth it), so may as well lay it all out. They currently sit on at 7th in MLS’s Western Conference on a 3-3-3 record, with a tight goal differential (+1), on the right side of average (11.3) for goals scored (15) and the wrong side of average for goals allowed (14). They boast a decent unbeaten record at home (3-0-2), which is all that matters for now because that’s where the Timbers will play them on Saturday (side note, they’re 0-3-1 on the road, which means Portland (or the ref that day, Rubiel Vazquez) gave them their first road point of 2024).
The Lineup
Head coach Steve Cherundolo lines them up in a 4-3-3 (like this one) as if he cannot do otherwise and the personnel remained stable through every game until last weekend’s draw v Red Bull New York when started Mateusz Bogusz over Eduard Atuesta in midfield for reasons I couldn’t sort out without getting into...lore, I guess. The back four typically features (left to right) Ryan Hollingshead, Aaron Long, (Timbers’ fans prime villain from the last match-up) Jesus Murillo, and Sergi Palencia. The usual midfield line-up has Tim Tillman and Atuesta on either side of famous car tire spokesman, Ilie Sanchez, while the front three has most often seen (again, left to right) Cristian Olivera, Bogusz and Denis Bouanga.
Another change in last week’s lineup: once and former New York City FC defender Maxime Chanot started in Murillo’s stead (I see something about a knock in Ye Olde Unreliable Availability Report) and, for what it’s worth, he looked something like incredible, dude can play, etc.
 |
| You are missing out, Brenda. Everyone's there... |
To clarify a note above, most of the contempt about this pairing comes from me – and most of it follows from knowing I’ll be watching LAFC three weeks in a row (which gives me wicked FOMO re the rest of MLS). Despite that, I dragged my ass through large stretches of the draw versus Red Bull. Because it looked like more of the same ahead of another weekend of…more of the same, it didn’t inspire much in me besides a savage case of ennui. As such, I raided the LAFC subreddit to see if the locals couldn’t find better, smarter words to describe LAFC and how they play in the Year of Our Lord 2024. For your reading pleasure, a sampling:
“I have banged on about their game model – how they’ve become too one-dimensional and reliant on transition, and how they struggle to create good chances when they’re forced to carry the game. I think that needs to change if they’re going to be the type of team that wins stuff.”
(LA_search-77, fwiw, in a big-picture post several days after the draw at Portland)
“We were passive for 45+ minutes. The complete lack of creativity and still relying on ‘hoof the ball to Denis’ is a regression from last year, which was a regression from the year before.”
“We were passive for 45+ minutes. The complete lack of creativity and still relying on ‘hoof the ball to Denis’ is a regression from last year, which was a regression from the year before.”
(Cold_Fog, in a thread on the post-game presser for the RBNY draw)
“We have a clear identity under Dolo and that’s to play against the ball, sometimes sit deep other times press high, counter with speed on the wings and find scoring opportunities off set pieces. I think the real argument is if that’s what we should moving forward.”
“We have a clear identity under Dolo and that’s to play against the ball, sometimes sit deep other times press high, counter with speed on the wings and find scoring opportunities off set pieces. I think the real argument is if that’s what we should moving forward.”
(Dr-Pope, from a “next day” post after the Red Bull draw)
Apart from making me think some Timbers fans may feel a fresh connection with LAFC fans - seriously, the extent to which both fanbase's notes overlap made me think I'd clicked through the Timbers sub for a minute - the sum of the commentary slouches toward discontent, obviously, but from multiple angles – e.g., frustration with Cherundolo’s tactics (I couldn’t re-find this quote, but I liked it: “It just means that we don’t bypass midfield 90% of the time and we don’t treat the football like a hot potato”), concerns that ditching Carlos Vela threw off the balance in the attack, and grim acknowledgement that Bouanga is on (or is it off?) the schneid (think the bad one).
All those quotes more or less match what I’ve seen and read about LAFC: this isn’t the dominant team of its first two(?) seasons and their fans yearn for summer replacements (beyond Olivier Giroud) almost as badly as Timbers fans. To (finally) chip in a couple cents – and I think most (some?) LAFC fans would accept this as plausible – they caught a break at Portland with Maxime Crepeau’s sending off and barely beat the clock to draw ever so late versus Red Bulls. This team may be far from helpless – and could there be a more “Denis Bouanga goal” than his late, late equalizer in the Red Bull game? - but things that used to work reliably – e.g., Hollingshead storming up the right – feel like a pale version of the original model in 2024. So. What does all that mean?
Talking Points/Loose Theories
1) A Complicated Hunger
Red Bull had more of the ball(!?) in the first half last weekend and, frankly, I can’t imagine LAFC allowing that to happen this weekend. And yet there's the whole and very real thing above about how they've adopted "playing against the ball" as this season's model. That begs the existential question of what happens when two teams play against the ball. The answer to that feels like something like nothing or the old Monty Python bit about philosophers playing soccer, but, between their fans barking at them and their larger struggle to get much going in 2024, I can see LAFC stepping out of their comfort zone to take the game to the Timbers. In the event they do, Portland's strategic choice gets real simple: keep calm and counter. If, however, LAFC opts to soak up pressure and counter…hold this thought.
2) If Long Can’t Go…?
I don’t know whether Aaron Long will start/play or not, but his collision with the goal post last Saturday looked hella painful (as in his leg could barely sustain the weight). In the event he is out, and assuming Murillo’s questionable knee says "no" to a start, or even substitution minutes, that leaves LAFC with Chanot and…a question mark. Despite his rather impressive own-goal v RBNY, Eddie Segura feels like the natural choice, but even that owes more to a dearth of apparent/obvious options than comfort with Segura. They have some youngsters – e.g., Omar Campos (who has 360+ minutes), plus homegrowns Erik Duenas and Diego Rosales (who have few to no minutes, respectively, and who may not even be CBs) – but all those feel like explorations of the bottom of a barrel. I never count on breaks as a general rule, but the Timbers could catch one with LAFC’s wounded back-line.
3) Two-Trick Attack?
LAFC fans don’t think much of Olivera so far (in their defense, he hasn’t given them much), so, assuming Atuesta’s back on Saturday and Bogusz returns the front three, I’d still look for the attacking pressure to fall, again, toward Juan David Mosquera and the gap between him and Portland’s nearest CB to him. As hard as this died while LAFC played up a man a couple weekends ago, it still produced two goals – for those with short memories, Bogusz bagged a smart brace – and, as much as the Timbers look up for scoring in 2024, I’m not wild about their odds of scoring two-plus for a…holy shit, fourth game in a row?
3a) Yes, I Am Re-Thinking that Opinion
Seriously, maybe attempting a track-meet ain’t the worst idea for the Timbers? LAFC ain't exactly brimming with confidence, an early goal could knock 'em off their preferred game-plan, and Portland has averaged just over 2.0+ goals/game over their past four games. I mean, given the givens, why not gamble for three points, even if it raises the odds of walking out with zero?
3b) Back to the Original Premise
Insofar as they can do so without prematurely waving a white flag, I still want the Timbers to see LAFC’s attack as a fluid combination of dangerous and containable. Even with Kei Kamara available (seriously, who will retire first between Diego Chara and him?), LAFC has a limited number of in-form threats, which, for me, makes sense of focusing on containing them while also looking for other avenues to carry the attack. And – hey! – is that Claudio Bravo and Jonathan Rodriguez I see available on Portland’s left? Yes. The answer is yes. So…why not try to push the attack up that side for a change?
4) Seeing an Advantage Where I Rarely Do
When I did think about what I’d write for a preview for LAFC’s visit to Portland a couple weeks back, I did hold the belief in my head that the Timbers have more talent in the heart of midfield. Pretty much everything I’ve seen since hasn’t changed my mind. LAFC doesn’t have anyone playing like Evander right now and, after last week, I don't know Neville wouldn't gamble on starting Eryk Williamson with him and a committed No. 6 behind them. Diego Chara remains the obvious choice, but I'd take Cristhian Paredes for the younger legs and the knack for harassment, or David Ayala for the crunching tackles and (developing) range of passing - something Portland could stand to develop in him.
Cleary, I’ve arrived somewhere in the vicinity of “go for it” for Saturday’s game. There’s nothing left to do but see whether Phil agrees and however what he does plays out. Till late Saturday.
Apart from making me think some Timbers fans may feel a fresh connection with LAFC fans - seriously, the extent to which both fanbase's notes overlap made me think I'd clicked through the Timbers sub for a minute - the sum of the commentary slouches toward discontent, obviously, but from multiple angles – e.g., frustration with Cherundolo’s tactics (I couldn’t re-find this quote, but I liked it: “It just means that we don’t bypass midfield 90% of the time and we don’t treat the football like a hot potato”), concerns that ditching Carlos Vela threw off the balance in the attack, and grim acknowledgement that Bouanga is on (or is it off?) the schneid (think the bad one).
All those quotes more or less match what I’ve seen and read about LAFC: this isn’t the dominant team of its first two(?) seasons and their fans yearn for summer replacements (beyond Olivier Giroud) almost as badly as Timbers fans. To (finally) chip in a couple cents – and I think most (some?) LAFC fans would accept this as plausible – they caught a break at Portland with Maxime Crepeau’s sending off and barely beat the clock to draw ever so late versus Red Bulls. This team may be far from helpless – and could there be a more “Denis Bouanga goal” than his late, late equalizer in the Red Bull game? - but things that used to work reliably – e.g., Hollingshead storming up the right – feel like a pale version of the original model in 2024. So. What does all that mean?
1) A Complicated Hunger
Red Bull had more of the ball(!?) in the first half last weekend and, frankly, I can’t imagine LAFC allowing that to happen this weekend. And yet there's the whole and very real thing above about how they've adopted "playing against the ball" as this season's model. That begs the existential question of what happens when two teams play against the ball. The answer to that feels like something like nothing or the old Monty Python bit about philosophers playing soccer, but, between their fans barking at them and their larger struggle to get much going in 2024, I can see LAFC stepping out of their comfort zone to take the game to the Timbers. In the event they do, Portland's strategic choice gets real simple: keep calm and counter. If, however, LAFC opts to soak up pressure and counter…hold this thought.
2) If Long Can’t Go…?
I don’t know whether Aaron Long will start/play or not, but his collision with the goal post last Saturday looked hella painful (as in his leg could barely sustain the weight). In the event he is out, and assuming Murillo’s questionable knee says "no" to a start, or even substitution minutes, that leaves LAFC with Chanot and…a question mark. Despite his rather impressive own-goal v RBNY, Eddie Segura feels like the natural choice, but even that owes more to a dearth of apparent/obvious options than comfort with Segura. They have some youngsters – e.g., Omar Campos (who has 360+ minutes), plus homegrowns Erik Duenas and Diego Rosales (who have few to no minutes, respectively, and who may not even be CBs) – but all those feel like explorations of the bottom of a barrel. I never count on breaks as a general rule, but the Timbers could catch one with LAFC’s wounded back-line.
3) Two-Trick Attack?
LAFC fans don’t think much of Olivera so far (in their defense, he hasn’t given them much), so, assuming Atuesta’s back on Saturday and Bogusz returns the front three, I’d still look for the attacking pressure to fall, again, toward Juan David Mosquera and the gap between him and Portland’s nearest CB to him. As hard as this died while LAFC played up a man a couple weekends ago, it still produced two goals – for those with short memories, Bogusz bagged a smart brace – and, as much as the Timbers look up for scoring in 2024, I’m not wild about their odds of scoring two-plus for a…holy shit, fourth game in a row?
3a) Yes, I Am Re-Thinking that Opinion
Seriously, maybe attempting a track-meet ain’t the worst idea for the Timbers? LAFC ain't exactly brimming with confidence, an early goal could knock 'em off their preferred game-plan, and Portland has averaged just over 2.0+ goals/game over their past four games. I mean, given the givens, why not gamble for three points, even if it raises the odds of walking out with zero?
3b) Back to the Original Premise
Insofar as they can do so without prematurely waving a white flag, I still want the Timbers to see LAFC’s attack as a fluid combination of dangerous and containable. Even with Kei Kamara available (seriously, who will retire first between Diego Chara and him?), LAFC has a limited number of in-form threats, which, for me, makes sense of focusing on containing them while also looking for other avenues to carry the attack. And – hey! – is that Claudio Bravo and Jonathan Rodriguez I see available on Portland’s left? Yes. The answer is yes. So…why not try to push the attack up that side for a change?
4) Seeing an Advantage Where I Rarely Do
When I did think about what I’d write for a preview for LAFC’s visit to Portland a couple weeks back, I did hold the belief in my head that the Timbers have more talent in the heart of midfield. Pretty much everything I’ve seen since hasn’t changed my mind. LAFC doesn’t have anyone playing like Evander right now and, after last week, I don't know Neville wouldn't gamble on starting Eryk Williamson with him and a committed No. 6 behind them. Diego Chara remains the obvious choice, but I'd take Cristhian Paredes for the younger legs and the knack for harassment, or David Ayala for the crunching tackles and (developing) range of passing - something Portland could stand to develop in him.
Cleary, I’ve arrived somewhere in the vicinity of “go for it” for Saturday’s game. There’s nothing left to do but see whether Phil agrees and however what he does plays out. Till late Saturday.
With much thanks to Eric Idle...
ReplyDeleteIf LAFC score, I'd enjoy the sight of Crépeau shouting to the skies that 'the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-absolutist ethics'; while team captain Chara vehemently argues with the referee that 'the categorical imperative is holding that the goal ontologically exists only in the imagination' - and that Bouanga's play was offsides anyway.