Through three matches, Roots have built positive momentum, but last Saturday’s match also raised new questions. As they head into their match against Orange County, three in particular stand out.
Question 1: Who starts at center forward?
The Liberian National Team called up forward Peter Wilson for its March 27 and 31 matches against Mauritania and Libya. As a result, he will miss Saturday’s match. The question now becomes: who will replace Wilson in the starting lineup?
Although Wilson has yet to score this season, he has still made an impact. The defensive attention he draws and his unselfish runs create space for other attacking players, like Wolfgang Prentice and Danny Trejo.
Wilson is consistently putting himself into strong attacking positions. His shots on target are tied for the league lead at his opposition. His three chances created rank in the top 30% for his position, while his touches in the box are in the top 15% for his position. The goals may not be there, but Wilson influences the game.
More impressively, Wilson’s defensive output goes well beyond what you would expect from a Golden Boot winner. His tackles, blocked shots, and defensive recoveries all rank in the top 30% of the league for his position. Wilson will prove difficult to replace.
Still, Oakland possesses options. Prentice could line up at the striker spot as he did at the start of last season. However, that would weaken Roots on the left side, given Wolfgang’s red-hot start. Roots carry four forwards besides Wilson, including Jackson Kiil, Bertín Jacquesson, Danny Trejo, and Project 51O call-up Bradley Roberson.
Roberson has yet to see the field and seems unlikely to get the nod. It’s also unclear if Jacquesson is available yet after only signing three weeks ago. Jacquesson has yet to see the field, but upon his signing, Martin stated, “Bertín is committed defensively and will help us win the ball higher up the field to ignite our attack” and “he has the ability to stretch teams with runs in behind and the quality to beat individually in 1v1 situations.”
Kiil could be a candidate to get his first start on Saturday. Martin has used Kiil as a sub in all three matches. His shot set up the various ricochets that led to New Mexico’s own goal. After signing Kiil, Martin praised his “ability to press, stretch defenses with runs in behind, and compete at a high level” and his “relentless movement.” These traits align closely with Wilson’s.
Still, could it be a time to run a different lineup?
Trejo isn’t a traditional No. 9, but he has experience in the role at previous stops, like with Las Vegas Lights, so it might make sense to run him in a twin-striker scenario. Could Oakland pair him with Wolfgang, who was his college teammate at Cal State Northridge?
Wolfy’s speed, passing ability, and quick wit could pair well with Trejo along the front line. Maybe an all-Matador approach is the way to go.
Question 2: How does Ryan Martin handle Jesus de Vicente?
Jesus de Vicente made his Roots’ debut on Saturday. It was a rocky one, grading out with FotMob’s lowest grade for any Roots’ player in the match.
He won only one of four ground duels, was dispossessed once in his own third, was dribbled past once, committed a foul, and was the closest player to Charlie Dennis on his assist for the equalizing goal.
With the strong starts to the season for both Mark Fisher and Julian Bravo, playing time at the fullback position is becoming tighter. Available minutes will continue to dwindle with the imminent return of Keegan Tingey, a player that Martin called “one of the top outside backs in the league” when the team signed him this offseason.
De Vicente’s performance puts Martin at a crossroads, especially with Mark Fisher going down with an injury in Phoenix.
In multiple interviews, Martin emphasized the importance of developing players. Before the start of the season, Martin remarked at Media Day, “My philosophy is that you start with the individual, and if you help the individual become a better version of themselves, then it helps the team.”
With this philosophy, Martin may continue to play de Vicente onto the field rather than bench him. When discussing other returning players, Martin emphasized the length of the season and the importance of playing the long game. Martin may prioritize de Vicente’s development as he transitions from the NCAA to the USL. That patience may pay off later in the season.
Question 3: Can Roots put it together for 90 minutes?
In the first three matches this season, the Roots have shown flashes of real potential and have found ways to get results in a multitude of ways. They won by controlling possession at Monterey Bay and then transforming their defense into a fortress against New Mexico United. In the first half at Phoenix, they displayed the potential for an offensive juggernaut centered on Prentice, Trejo, and Wilson.
Yet in every match, the opponent outplayed them in the second half. On Saturday, Phoenix Rising completely flipped the possession battle. They logged six shots on target to the Roots’ one. Phoenix more than doubled the Roots’ passes in the opponents’ half (86-37).
The home opener followed a similar narrative. New Mexico dominated possession, 70% to 30%. New Mexico logged six times as many passes in the opponent’s half as the Roots (138-32). They logged five shots on target to the Roots’ three.
The season opener was the only match where Oakland matched their opponents in the second half. Still, Monterey outshot the Roots 9-6, logged more shots on target (4-2), and outshot the Roots in the box (8-3). Monterey also logged the clearest chance of the night when center back Michael Edwards cleared a shot off the line in the 67th minute.
Early on in the season, it appears that Martin may be laying the foundation for something special. However, until the Roots can see out a match, it will remain a work in progress. But an exciting one nonetheless.