After a short turnaround, the Roots will face Las Vegas Lights on Wednesday night at the Coliseum. Below are three questions that stand out:
Question 1: What does Martin do along the backline tonight and going forward?
After the last two days of weather in the Bay, its residents know: when it rains, it pours.
Roots have gotten very well acquainted with Murphy’s Law over the last few weeks, with injuries depleting an already thin backline.
Center back David Garcia and left back Julian Bravo both exited the game against Tulsa in the first half. Coach Ryan Martin noted that he would receive more answers about the players’ availability during the week. However, the short turnaround between matches complicates things.
Further complicating the already tenuous issue is the fact that Hackshaw will miss the match due to his red card against Tulsa.
The Roots are running out of solutions for a problem that only seems to be getting worse. Martin will need to employ creative solutions for the match.
Against Tulsa, the Roots moved forward Wolfgang Prentice to the left back position. Prentice possesses experience at the position. The major drawback is that Prentice has spearheaded the offense this year. Still, desperation may force Martin to make the move.
At center back, it is possible for Roots to appeal, but seems unlikely to be successful after they confirmed Hawkshaw’s suspension in their Match Day guide at 11 AM on Wednesday. However, if Hackshaw and Garcia are out, the Roots will need to deploy a player out of position. The question remains: who?
After Hackshaw’s red card, the Roots dropped both midfielders Tommy McCabe and Bobosi Byaruhanga into the center back position at times to defend. Expect Martin to start one of them at the position. Of the two, McCabe seems the more likely candidate due to outweighing Byaruhanga by twenty pounds and standing an inch taller. McCabe at center back also will allow Bobosi to continue his presence on the attack, a key feature of strong Roots’ performances.
Tonight, Martin will put a band-aid on the issue. Going forward, Martin will face tough decisions regarding scheme if Bravo or Garcia miss extended periods of time.
If either player is out long, it will force Hackshaw into the starting lineup. If Garcia misses time, Hacksaw slides back into the center back role. Should Bravo miss the match and Garcia play, the Roots may shift Michael Edwards to right back and Jesus de Vicente to his natural left back spot if Tyler Gibson or Keegan Tingey are still unavailable. Hackshaw would slide into the center back spot and pair with Garcia.
Either scenario will place Hackshaw on the field.
After the 2012 NBA Finals, writer Bill Simmons introduced his “10 Percent Theory,” arguing that even the best athletes have holes. In Simmons’ words, “they’re tapping into about 90 percent of their total potential, with the holes representing the other 10 percent.” Some are subtle. Some are not.
Hacksaw’s biggest hole: his lack of pace. It flashes like a neon sign.
You notice it anytime he steps onto the pitch. It was evident when he got beaten over the top and could not recover against Orange County. It happened against Tulsa when he denied a player a goal-scoring opportunity and received a straight red card. You notice it when the Roots cannot play a high line, but sitting deep creates space between the defenders and midfield that teams can exploit.
For all he brings to the table, like his physicality, veteran experience, and passing, you notice what Hackshaw takes off it.
Oakland could move to a back three to hide this flaw, but do the Roots have the bodies to make this happen? Other options include midfielders Bobosi Byaruhanga and Tommy McCabe sitting deeper in the field. The forwards may be forced to contribute more defensively. No matter what, it requires a team-wide shift in operating.
Martin’s answers tonight—and in the matches ahead—will determine whether the Roots can weather the storm or get swept away by it.
Question 2: Can the backline handle Johnny Rodriguez?
That backline will be tested by a familiar face: Johnny Rodriguez.
The Roots’ former striker returns to face his old club in form with three goals and an assist. One came from a penalty and another from a deflection. But when strikers are hot, things tend to break their way. The Roots and their fans know the dangers that Rodriguez poses, especially when in form.
That danger is amplified by injuries along the backline. Questions surround Julian Bravo’s and David Garcia’s availability for the match on Wednesday. The right back position still faces uncertainty. Martin called Tyler Gibson “day-to-day” and Keegan Tingey “close to coming back.”
Against a depleted defensive group, Johnny will see opportunity.
If anyone knows how to slow him down, it’s the players who shared the locker room with him. On Wednesday, the Roots will need that insight.
Question 3: Does Peter Wilson end the drought?
A big question surrounds the man chosen to replace Rodriguez: Will Peter Wilson end the scoring drought?
After the Tulsa game, Martin identified a “lack of composure” as the main reason for Wilson’s struggles to score so far. Martin noted the big chances as a positive, but questioned, “How do we take the next step forward?”
Las Vegas’ defense may be the answer.
Las Vegas is a sieve defensively. They currently rank 22nd in the league in goals conceded per match (1.8). The numbers are buoyed by a clean sheet against last-place Monterey Bay. Opponents have scored three goals against Vegas in half of their games.
The conditions are ripe for Peter Wilson to break out.
He has missed big chances in four straight matches. Yet, the underlying statistics show everything is there but the finishing. His big chances missed and touches in the box are at or near the top of the league for his position and reflect constant involvement in the final third.
Last season was a tale of two halves for Wilson. Initial struggles followed by premiere play. Going into this season, it was fair to ask: which is the real Peter Wilson? The answer may be both. Like many forwards, he may simply be a streaky scorer
If that’s the case, one goal changes everything. Las Vegas might be the perfect opponent for this.
Viva Las Vegas.