In a USL Cup match with little to play for, the Roots used the match to experiment. While the 2-0 scoreline was encouraging after a three-game winless stretch across all competitions, the data points the coaching staff can take from the match will matter far more down the line. Saturday’s match provided Coach Ryan Martin with two possible additions to the starting eleven and another piece of evidence on where a critical player should line up.
Loved: The Return of Julian Bravo
Saturday saw the return of two key pieces to the starting lineup. One of these was Julian Bravo, who had not started since April 18 against FC Tulsa.
In a match that offered Ryan Martin an opportunity to experiment, he played Julian Bravo at center back. Bravo’s performance should make Martin want to see more of Bravo at the position.
Bravo logged the joint-most defensive contributions in the match with ten. He brought size and physicality to the position, often using his frame and strength to dispossess attackers
Effective distribution is one of the strengths of Neveal Hackshaw’s game. It plays into the Roots’ strength in transition and Hackshaw’s long balls represent one of the only answers that the Roots have for teams that press. It is an area where Hackshaw outperforms Bravo.
Saturday, however, saw Bravo deliver a strong performance in possession. He completed 46/53 passes, a rate (87%) well above his season average of 72.8%. He completed 6/10 long balls and nine passes into the final third. The performance suggests there may not be a significant drop-off in distribution with him at center back.
Bravo also offered something that Hackshaw cannot: pace at the position. Bravo’s superior pace allowed him to take risks at times. On two occasions, he utilized his pace to step into a passing lane for an interception. It’s a risk that he can take because of his recovery speed. In the future, that willingness could help spring the Roots in transition.
The only hesitation for the Roots with playing Bravo at center back may be his distribution. Still, the Roots face teams that do not heavily utilize the press in the upcoming weeks. The need for a player that can distribute under pressure, like Hackshaw, is not as pressing. The more pressing question may be whether Bravo should start at center back until David Garcia’s return.
Unsure: Did Bobosi Re-Enter the Conversation as a Starter?
Bobosi Byaruhanga joined Julian Bravo as a player returning to the starting lineup after an extended absence. Bobosi had not appeared since exiting against El Paso in May 9 with a knock. Like Bravo, Bobosi forced himself into the conversation for a starting position.
After a blistering start to the season, questions emerged regarding midfield pairing Bobosi and Tommy McCabe’s progressive ability. Saturday offered a reminder of Bobosi’s passing ability. Bobosi put his passing skills on display, as he completed 49/52 passes and 5/7 long passes, while his 10 passes into the final third ranked second on the team.
He’s always had the ability to play more progressively. The match against Phoenix best illustrates that impact.He created the joint-most chances in the match (3), took the joint most shots (3), created two big chances, and led the team in interceptions and recoveries.
What changed is difficult to isolate. Heavy minutes, participation in AFCON, and constant turnover along the backline all coincided with his decline in form. With the Roots approaching full health, Saturday served as a reminder of the player who looked like one of the club’s most important pieces early in the season.
Like Bravo, Bobosi also brought largely absent from the midfield: athleticism. Since his injury, the Roots have started Tyler Gibson and Florian Valot in his place. Both veterans make up for top-end pace with veteran guile. Tommy McCabe profiles similarly.
At his best, Bobosi offers a level of athleticism that no one else in the group does. That allowed Florian Valot to operate more freely as a facilitator on Saturday, while Bobosi covered the ground behind him. He logged six recoveries and six interceptions in the process.
Because his profile differs so sharply from the other midfield options, the Roots need Bobosi performing near his early-season level if they hope to reach their ceiling. The only way to get there is through minutes. With three matches in seven days, there should be plenty of opportunities.
Hated: Danny Trejo Leading the Attack
Danny Trejo has served as the lone striker twice this season. In both matches, the attack struggled to generate consistent production.
On Saturday, Trejo failed to make an impact. He played 82 minutes and logged just 23 touches, with three of them coming in the opposition box. Both his shots were off target, including one massive opportunity.
In the 49th minute, Florian Valot jumped a pass from the goalkeeper and stole the ball at the penalty arc. He immediately fed Trejo inside the penalty area, who had his back to goal. Trejo spun, took a heavy first touch, shifted to his left foot and missed everything.
Against Orange County in March and Las Vegas on Saturday, Trejo led the attack. In those matches, Trejo averaged only 25.5 touches, 13.0 passes completed, 1.5 shots and 0.5 touches in the opposition box in 77 minutes.
Things improved slightly when he played centrally behind Peter Wilson against Loudoun. In that match, he logged 36 touches and five touches in the opposition box in 61 minutes.
When appearing as a winger, Trejo has averaged 20.7 touches, 12.0 passes completed, 2.6 opposition box touches in an average of 29.5 minutes. The numbers suggest Trejo has been more productive on a per-minute basis when deployed wide than leading the line.
Trejo’s miss in the 49th minute was emblematic of his season. Success has been within reach, but it has yet to come. Like Peter Wilson earlier in the season, Trejo may just need to see the ball in the back of the net once to get going. To do so, Oakland needs to put him in a position to succeed. At this stage, the evidence continues to point toward a wider role than as a lone striker.
At first glance, this may seem like a minor question. The Roots boast a Golden Boot winner and undisputed starter in Peter Wilson at forward. However, matches like Saturday are about evaluating the options behind him.
The Roots lack depth at center forward. If Wilson were to miss time, Oakland would need an alternative plan. Saturday provided another data point in that evaluation process. The evidence so far points to Trejo being more effective wide than leading the line.
Knowing what does not work can be just as valuable as discovering what does.