I don't fault Jason for implementing a new formation for road games, nothing else was working, but it requires selecting the right tools if it is to be effective. My criticism is based on the following truths about this team's style of play.
1) Our outside backs are encouraged (dare I say expected) to get into the attack at every opportunity
2) Our biggest strength is our midfield
3) Our main offensive weapons are speed (beating players outright) and the through ball from our creative midfielders.
4) We do not have all-star forwards capable of creating scoring threats consistently through their skill alone.
Using the items above accepted as truth, I have observed the following of the 4-5-1 in it's RSL incarnation. This may get technical, so go relieve yourself and grab a beverage, it may take a while.
1) Yura is not the right forward to be the 1.
In the 4-5-1 your forward has 2 options when receives or tracks down the ball: a) try to beat the defender marking you , or b) hold it up and dish to re-enforcements coming to your aid. You should only implement option A if you have one man to beat to be in position to score, yet Yura was taking on defenders by his lonesome all night, ignoring option B. This poor decision making leads too....
2) Wearing out your midfield.
Too often Saturday night, our midfield (and our outside backs) were rushing up the field to support Yura, only to watch him (or someone else) lose the ball foolishly by forcing something (which we tend NOT TO DO AT HOME). Nothing wears out your midfielders faster (and pisses them of as well) than running up and down the field to join the attack, only to have to slam on the breaks and sprint to recover from a turnover in hopes of....
3) Preventing an odd man rush and the resulting scoring opportunity.
With your midfield wearing itself out running up and down the field all night, possession and defending in the midfield becomes less and less effective as the minutes tick by. I'm sorry but Javi, Kyle, and Clint cannot run wind sprints for 90 minutes, but Will can. So I guess we give Will the ball and we hope he can get it to....
3) Robbie Findley
Why not Robbie instead of Yura? He's a lot faster so he could actually turn a ball over the top into a breakaway, and even though his touch isn't great, he's as good as Yura with his first touch usually being backwards.
If we don't beat KC on Saturday, we'll be lamenting more than the 4-5-1 when the boys come home from their extended road trip!
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