Nashville SC are back at Geodis Park on Saturday, taking on Minnesota United in their third match of the MLS season.
To get the latest on the Loons, we chatted with Ashle Paige of Northland Soccer Journal.
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Ben Wright (SixOneFive Soccer): Eric Ramsay is gone and Cam Knowles is in charge. What are some of the similarities between the two, and how are they different?
Ashle Paige (Northland Soccer Journal): Eric had a very specific way of the club playing, colloquially called "Ramsey-ball", a sit back and take-it-on-the-chin style that heavily relied on the counter to score. This, at times, left the attack out to dry, but was simultaneously extremely successful.
Cam has taken that solid defence and ran with it while adding in more offence. This is a team who can sit back and take it on the chin for ten, fifteen minutes (see the first 15' against Cincy) and stave off every attack. But now they also have an offence that isn't totally reliant on the counter.
Cam does want to make their shot selection better, which is a work in progress. But the biggest change is Minnesota actively looking to control the match rather than sitting back.
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BW: How would you describe Minnesota's current tactical identity?
AP: In one sentence, and to partially reference an old manager for the Loons; defence might win championships, but goals win you games.
After the departure of forward Tani Oluwaseyi last year, this is a team still figuring out its attacking identity, but it's coming. Formation-wise, he's sticking with Ramsey's flow of having four or five back when defending and sending the wings forward on the attack. It will be interesting to see how Cam's approach changes as the season goes on.
BW: James Rodríguez was obviously a massive signing from a narrative perspective. How do you see him fitting into the team, and do you expect to see him play on Saturday?
AP: He's been fitting in with everyone pretty well. A hard worker during training, and has said he wants to get out in the community as well. Overall, he's been doing well and as the weather warms up, I only expect him to fit in even better, both on and off the pitch.
It's hard when he will make his debut – and I would love to see it at Allianz Field – but he was available from the bench last week. Based on how the club has been, if I had to guess, he'll come off the bench for a few minutes this week in Nashville, then get more minutes as a sub the following week, then make his first start in a few weeks back in St. Paul.
BW: Who are some other players you're expecting to impact the game on Saturday?
AP: First and foremost; Anthony Markanich. If a club leaves him open, he will make you pay. Markanich is a player every single team in the league should be man-marking in the final third.
Kelvin Yeboah is also going two goals in two games, and I would expect him to really push for a third. He's coming off injury from last season and is just itching to show everyone that last year's relatively poor performance was due to injury.
Joaquín Pereyra is also another player to watch out for, and I think with Ramsey's changes he is going to flourish this season.
BW: Do you have a lineup/score prediction? Any injuries to note?
AP: Honestly I would say take the Starting XI from Cincy and MAYBE there will be one or two changes. Everyone has performed well so far, and Cam has liked what he's seen.
Score prediction... okay so I'm the first person to admit I don't always pick MNUFC to win, but this week that's different. 2–1 Minnesota win, with a Yeboah goal and a couple of big Drake saves.
As for injuries, nothing confirmed right now but Michael Boxall is day-to-day after taking a shove to the face last weekend. You can check our site on Saturday for more updates. *wink emoji*
Thanks so much to Ashle for chatting with us! Check out Northland Soccer Journal for everything Minnesota soccer.
