Oakland Roots got its season started off in a good way, claiming a 1-nil clean sheet over Monterey Bay FC while on the road in Seaside. We’re in the early weeks of diagnosing new coach Ryan Martin’s system, so let’s dive in.
Here is one thing I loved, what I’m on the fence about, and what I hated from Roots’ opener.
Loved: The New Signings
Four of Roots’ new signings got the nod in Martin’s starting 11 in the season opener: David Garcia, Mark Fisher, Michael Edwards, and Tommy McCabe. Each of them delivered.
According to Fotmob, all players scored above a 7.3 for the match. Fisher ranked highest at 8.1, followed by Edwards’ 8.0, Garcia’s 7.6, and McCabe’s 7.3. Fisher and Edwards received the two highest grades in the match for both teams.
McCabe operated as the conductor, serving effectively as the team’s primary distributor. He led with 93 accurate passes and 14 passes into the final third.
Garcia complemented McCabe perfectly on Saturday. Like McCabe, Garcia’s long passing transitioned the team from defense to attack quickly, providing a team-leading nine accurate long balls. Garcia appeared to acclimate himself extremely well into the USL Championship after earning All-League League One honors, dominating the air with 7/10 aerial duels won and contributing seven headed clearances.
One of my biggest questions heading into Saturday was who coach Martin would start at center back. Monterey felt Edwards’ physicality all night, leading the match in tackles and defending fearlessly. Most importantly, he provided a critical clearance off the line in the second half. The performance of Edwards and Garcia answered that question resoundingly on Saturday.
Finally, Mark Fisher provided a workmanlike night that turned into a Man of the Match performance with his game-winning goal in the 85th minute.
Saturday was just one game. However, if it’s any sign, the Roots’ offseason plan will pay dividends throughout the season.
On the Fence: Tyler Gibson’s offensive role
Something that may have been lost in the euphoria of the Roots’ win was how they deployed a returning veteran: Tyler Gibson.
Courtesy of the league’s match center, here’s a heat map of Gibson’s performance in the season finale against Lexington SC last season.
Here’s a heat map of Gibson’s performance on Saturday against Monterey Bay.
The heat map demonstrates a clear shift in Gibson’s role after operating deeper in the midfield last year. His usual positioning as a midfielder took advantage of his defensive skills and distribution. But on Saturday, he played further up the pitch and drifted towards the wings. Much of this has to do with McCabe’s arrival and central role in initiating possession.
Because of Gibson’s new positioning, he served as the target for long passes into the wide channels. He did not have the pace, strength, or size to get to many of these balls. As a result, much of the offense funneled to Wolfgang Prentice on the opposite side of the field.
Much of this may resolve itself in the coming weeks. Florian Valot did not play, and Faysal Bettache was deployed where Martin hinted that Valot would play in the #10 role. When Valot returns, Bettache may slide into Gibson’s position, while the health of Danny Trejo is also something to monitor.
For now, it is a wait-and-see situation.
Hated: Monterey’s game plan for Peter Wilson
This may be listed under “hated,” but it’s a reflection of how teams may approach Oakland Roots’ Golden Boot winner, Peter Wilson. The reaction of Monterey’s defense to Wilson caught my eye and drew my ire.
Monterey could not handle Wilson. They struggled with his hold-up play, his pace, and his runs behind the defense despite not scoring and taking two shot attempts. His ability to win ground duels (6/7 in the game) caused Monterey problems all night. So, they resorted to fouling him. A lot.
Monterey fouled Wilson six times in the game, and he drew two yellow cards from Monterey defenders.
After last year’s performance, Wilson should expect to draw this type of attention. Luckily, Wilson plays extremely unselfishly. He continued to make runs that opened up channels for other players to exploit. As coach Martin stated in his interview with RootsBlog, “He is selfless… Typically, you see a very egotistical guy who’s kind of himself.”
Wilson will either adapt to the increased attention or make teams pay by drawing defenders away from his teammates. His presence alone will open the field for others as the attack continues to come together.
If I could include more loves, I would. Saturday’s performance in Monterey gave Roots’ fans plenty to be excited about as the home opener approaches.