The Oakland Roots Soccer Flash Mob host New Mexico United for the Roots’ home opener part deux at Cal State University East Bay in the Hayward Hills on April 1, 2023.
The match is at 7:00 p.m. and you can read more about rules for the game here.
The Club
My biggest problem with New Mexico is that I really like them and most of their vibe. Cross-promotion with an art collective? Extremely weird marketing? Viable use of Wiz Khalifa? A city I don’t actively hate? I mean, what’s not to like?
As though that wasn’t enough, New Mexico are owned by a guy whose Wikipedia includes that he played college football with Doug Flutie(‘s little brother), made his money “internationalizing the availability” of an investment firm’s funds, and invested in his twin passions–immersive theatre and second division soccer. Apparently he is also an investor in Venezia F.C. and this motherfucker better not be stealing any of our god damned vikings, big or small.
United’s Form
Not much! For some reason this is only New Mexico’s second match. My guess is stadium availability, as they play another away game before their home opener on April 15.
They opened their season with an away match at Miami FC.
Without much else to look at, all I can tell you is that Miami are 0-2-1, with draws at home to Tulsa (1-2-1) and away to Pittsburgh (3-1-0). It’s not as clear as you might like whether a 1-0 away win over Miami is that good.
Roots’ Form
| Date | Opponent | Result | GF | GA |
| March 11 | at San Antonio FC | L | 1 | 3 |
| March 19 | at RGV Toros | D | 1 | 1 |
| March 25 | vs Memphis 901 | ??? | ??? | ??? |
| April 1 | vs New Mexico United | | | |
| April 8 | at Indy Eleven | | | |
| April 15 | vs Hartford | | | |
| April 23 | at Loudoun | | | |
| April 29 | vs Miami FC | | | |
| May 6 | at Birmingham Legion | | | |
| May 13 | vs Orb County | | | |
| May 20 | at Sacramento | | | |
| May 27 | vs San Diego Loyal | | | |
| June 2 | at Colorado Springs Switchbacks | | | |
| June 10 | at Phoenix Rising | | | |
| June 17 | vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds | | | |
| June 24 | vs Phoenix Rising | | | |
| June 28 | vs RGV Toros | | | |
| July 8 | at Tampa Bay Rowdies | | | |
| July 15 | at Monterey Bay Union F.C. of Seaside | | | |
| July 22 | at El Paso Locomotiv | | | |
| July 26 | vs Las Vegas Lights | | | |
| July 29 | vs Detroit City | | | |
| August 4 | at Charleston Battery | | | |
| August 19 | vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks | | | |
| August 23 | at New Mexico United | | | |
| August 26 | at Louisville City | | | |
| September 2 | vs Sacramento | | | |
| September 9 | at Las Vegas Lights | | | |
| September 16 | vs FC Tulsa | | | |
| September 23 | vs Monterey Bay Union F.C. of Seaside | | | |
| September 30 | vs San Antonio FC | | | |
| October 4 | at Orb County | | | |
| October 7 | at Loyal | | | |
| October 14 | vs El Paso Locomotiv | | | |
I wish I had something to say here other than see my last preview.
Players to Watch
Greg Hurst #17 – great Scot Hurst did the Charlie Dennis, making the jump from USL League 1 in 2021 to Phoenix Rising in 2022, where he got nearly 2,000 minutes but produced only 6 goals and 4 assists, of which only one of each was tallied after the start of July.
Santi Moar #11 – 29-year-old Spanish left-winger Moar had a great thee-year run culminating in a 2021 season in Phoenix with 16 goals and 4 assists and struggled to find that form again in 2022. Apparently excess to Juan Guerra’s requirements, he is back at New Mexico where he started that three-year purple patch. Moar got his start in America at Pfeiffer College in North Carolina, an 1,800-student liberal arts college whose most famous graduates (per Wikipedia) include Keith Crisco, who died suddenly while awaiting for results to be certified in his Democratic primary race against Clay Aiken for the NC-02 congressional district. We’re hoping Daily Kos may bring RootsBlog into the SBNation orbit.
Justin Portillo #43 – Portillo plays as a right-sided central midfielder, and lead New Mexico in minutes in 2022, contributing 7 penalty goals, 1 goal from open play, and 5 assists. Portillo played four seasons for Charleston Battery before getting his chance with Real Monarchs (such a good team name), including playing his way into Real Salt Lake for a dozen appearances between 2019 and 2021.
Sam Hamilton #4 – Ham Samilton.
Lineup and Score Predictions
Bloom
I expressed my concern on this week’s RootsPod with playing a weird game away from Laney for our home opener, but I don’t think that’s enough to repress how excited these guys will be to play in front of the Roots faithful. I do think we will see some changes from what we saw two weeks ago, and I think that might mean things won’t click as well as I hope they will long-term. Before the abortive Memphis fixture, I wondered whether Hackshaw or Reid might be ready to start–now I strongly suspect they are. I think Pelaez opens his account. 1-0 Roots.
Jon
This would be my preseason starting 11 prediction. Now with an entire week to get everyone acclimated, my guess is we see the international signings all feature for the first time. It’s most tough to predict the left back role with Memo Diaz playing noticeably well through the first two games, but I’m thinking we see Wright. I’m really excited to see what Bryan Tamacas can do for a full 90 minutes. Just watching Tamacas for 10 minutes of regulation against RGV, I’m confident calling him the best player on the roster. As for my score prediction, I’m going 2-1 Roots with goals by Pelaez and Lindo.
Lawson
Delgado integrates one new piece this week, and (and this is a change of heart from me since the pod) the Roots win, but it won’t feel like a victory because now we know that Jordan Ferrell once rocked this hairstyle and now does not:
2-1 Roots.