The Roots left Saturday with a point, but not necessarily with more clarity. While Florian Valot’s recent form continue to provide encouragement, many of the same issues remained on display. As the playoff race enters its final stretch, here is what stood out from Saturday’s match: Loved: Someone on the Team Finally Passed the Opposition … More Oakland Roots vs. Orange County SC: What I loved, hated, and remain unsure about

Orange County returns to the Coliseum for the third meeting between the two sides this season. The last matchup resulted in a 3-2 loss for the Roots in what felt like a moral victory. Oakland created chances, scored twice, and exposed cracks in a defense that had been one of the league’s stingiest. Since then, … More Three Questions for Oakland Roots Against Orange County SC

After a pivotal 1-0 victory on the road against San Antonio FC, the Roots kept their playoff hopes alive. Still, the bigger question remains: did Saturday represent a turning point, or did the Roots simply survive? Saturday offered reasons for optimism, reasons for concern, and some lingering questions for the playoff push. Loved: David Garcia’s … More Oakland Roots vs. San Antonio FC: What I loved, hated, and remain unsure about

The Roots travel to San Antonio on Saturday in a season that increasingly leaves little margin for error if Oakland hopes to make the playoffs. The Roots’ chances on Saturday hinge on their ability to impose a specific style of play on SAFC and force SAFC to play a game it doesn’t want to play. … More Three Questions for Oakland Roots Against San Antonio FC

Saturday’s draw with Monterey Bay played out like so many previous Roots’ matches. The Roots looked dangerous when they pressed, attacked quickly, and played in transition in the first half. They looked vulnerable in the second. The result highlighted both further evidence for the blueprint for the Roots’ success and the recurring issues that continue … More Oakland Roots vs. Monterey Bay FC: What I loved, hated, and remain unsure about

Is This a Must-Win for the Roots? Looking at the Western Conference standings, the Roots currently sit in 10th place with 22 points. They trail 8th place Las Vegas Lights by four points and are within six points of 5th place Lexington SC. Still, things look more dire when you consider the fact that the … More Three Questions for Oakland Roots Against Monterey Bay FC

Saturday’s match at El Paso Locomotive FC felt like a microcosm of the season: an inability to convert major opportunities, moments where the offense felt listless, dangerous moments in transition and a game where the Roots looked like completely different teams in both halves. Because the match played out like so much of the Roots’ … More Oakland Roots vs. El Paso Locomotive FC: What I loved, hated, and remain unsure about

The Roots closed out their USL Cup campaign with a 3-1 loss to Spokane Velocity, finishing fourth in their group with a 1-1-2 record. Although Oakland had nothing left to play for, Saturday’s match offered a few clues about the club’s present and future. Loved: Seeing the Young Guys Play With nothing to play for … More Oakland Roots vs. Spokane Velocity: What I Loved, Hated, and Remain Unsure About

The season’s midway point is a natural place to take stock. Some players have exceeded expectations, others have fallen short, and a few remain difficult to evaluate. With the Roots at the halfway mark, here are the players and storylines that fall into one of those three categories. Stock Up: Wolfgang Prentice  The biggest riser … More Midseason Stock Report: Who’s Up, Who’s Down, Who’s a Hold?

Fifteen matches into the season, the Oakland Roots are one of the more difficult teams in the USL to evaluate. They sit in a playoff position, have established a clear identity under Ryan Martin, and are ahead of last year’s pace. Yet questions remain about their consistency and the attack’s overreliance on two players. As … More Oakland Roots vs. New Mexico United: What I loved, hated, and remain unsure about