In my latest postseason odds update, Rio Grande Valley and Oakland both sit at a13% likelihood to get in, firmly ensconced as second-tier threats to claim the seventh spot in the Western Conference. This, of course, followed a one-to-nothing home win for the Toros over the visiting Roots in a match that said a lot about both sides in 2022. Here, I want to break down each team's tactical profiles and assess the impacts of two League One graduates within these frameworks: Charlie Dennis from the losing side and Ricky Ruiz of the winners.
The Root of the problem
When they defended in and around their own block, Oakland adopted a plain 4-4-2 shape, one that sat back in an attempt to deny the center of the pitch. The Roots registered just four defensive actions in their attacking half, signifying the conservatism of their approach. As seen in the screenshot, the aforementioned Dennis, sporting #12, joined the defensive front as the second striker in the 4-4-2.
What's immediately apparent in that same picture is the ample space left open in the center of the park by the Oakland shape. The unmarked Isidro Martinez (#6 in blue) is obvious but unthreatening; more subtle issue arises in the vast space between each of the midfielders. That's not why Joseph Nane (#5 in black) is turned around barking at a teammate, but it may as well be. Indeed, the spacing issues for Oakland liberated new Toro signee Ricky Ruiz (#17 in the clip below) to find ample room in the half-spaces and dribble to his heart's content. Admittedly, the Roots did a decent job at stifling the progressive passing that saw Ruiz lead League One in assists last year, but his gravity on the dribble is a harbinger of future danger versus players not making their Championship debuts.
Ruiz's eye for space immediately pops in the first two clips. He has a natural talent for finding the ball in good spots, and I'm thrilled to see where he goes this rest of this year and beyond. Of note: something like two-thirds of his passes went forward, a rate that would've placed Ruiz in the highest echelons of attacking midfielders in 2021's USL Championship. Still, Rio Grande Valley was at their most impressive in the defensive and transitory phases of the match, where another new midfielder stood out: Juan Pablo Torres.
You mess with the bull...
The last of three highlights in the prior video spotlights Torres putting in a tackle. Rio Grande Valley sported a 4-1-4-1 in defense, with #22 holding down that all-important lone holding midfield position. Torres only put in three tackles in this game, a respectable but modest tally, but his nine(!) overall possession recoveries were essential within the Toros' pressing scheme. That system is shown in the clip below, and it led directly to the winning goal.
Torres sits mere yards in front of the back four in this instance, his presence liberating that attacking midfield line to push up the pitch. They compress the field for Oakland by virtue of their high positioning, effectively matching the Roots for personnel through manic movement. The assurance lent by Torres lets a central midfielder push high up in the press, supporting the even greater height of the RGV wingers. This wide pressure is particularly crucial in that it cuts off Oakland's fullbacks as passing outlets. Put together, all of this action culminates in a long turnover. After it occurs, the hosts immediately push into the box with numbers, and the high position taken up by that pressing CM distracts Oakland’s back line in a way that leaves Frankie Lopez alone to score. It‘s a classic instance of defense creating offense.
Against this intense press, the Roots struggled to break through in every area of the pitch. Even when they beat the first line of opposition in a controlled manner, Torres was there to make life difficult. As a result, Oakland generated only two shots over the entire ninety minutes, neither of which forced a save. Below, you can see one of those dual looks.
Off of a hopeful diagonal ball, Darek Formella does well to harry the RGV fullback and knock it to Akeem Ward. A natural left back, Ward and his right-sided partner Memo Diaz both rated in the 80th percentile or better for overall performance last season whilst providing a righteous threat on the overlap. Ward is a huge threat in space, and here he finds Mfeka (#10 in black) with a lovely pass, only for the chance to go badly wanting. Mfeka is no one’s idea of a natural striker, and it shows here. I questioned Oakland’s choice to jettison Quincy Amarikwa and Jeremy Bokila in the offseason, and the ensuing dearth of hold-up skill in build and finishing in the box horribly bit the visitors in this match.
The attack for Oakland shaped up into a 4-2-3-1 out of that defensive 4-4-2. Charlie Dennis, who, as mentioned, took on a striker's role without the ball, found himself in the #10 spot when the Roots were on the hunt. His highlights can be seen below; roving all over the pitch like Ruiz, he also did a good job of carving out space and linking play, and he put in three successful crosses on six attempts to boot. Still, Oakland was largely feckless, as seen in their measly shot total and the fact that Ward and Diaz only combined to complete one single pass into the box. The latter facts signifies how Oakland lost the positional battle, with RGV keeping them deep and restricting marauding fullback runs. Indeed, the Roots could hardly get an attack going in the first place against the Toros.
Still, those Dennis highlights seen above hint at something better. Unlike a defensive Nane or Fissore in the middle and distinct from a pacier, less dictatorial winger, the signing from FC Tucson is endlessly bright and incisive in his passing. You see an impetus within Dennis’ game that’s otherwise lacking, one that captures the idea of the “pass before the pass” or the classic hockey assist. This is a player who can set up others and facilitate true offensive brilliance, but is Oakland weaponized to make the most of him?
So where does that leave me in terms of Rio Grande Valley and Oakland's playoff hopes after one week? It's a kneejerk reaction, but I'm feeling quite good about the Toros at the moment. Their pressing system looked strong, and some of the talent is truly promising. I would bet money that they still aren’t a playoff team without another attacking piece and lacking a defensive proof-of-concept against a stronger foe, but the door is wide open. Oakland is in an altogether worse place for me. Sure, they started slow last year and pulled it together, but this conference is too deep to repeat the trick in 2022. Their lack of a roster building vision hamstrings any innovations that well-earned managerial debutante Juan Guerra might bring to the table, and that’s a shame.
Comments