MLS 2022/23 Season: Part 2

Adam Myers4 said:There are clearly strategic reasons behind wanting to play this way long-term, and it all boils down to tempo. It feels to me like he wants to use pace as his primary weapon to overwhelm the league. Sticking to a predictable, cookie-cutter 4-2-3-1 might net him more points right this second, but it wouldn't provide that essential leap forward in quality.

You can absolutely kill a game with high tempo regardless of which formation you run, but his assessment is that this specific approach is how they reach the next level. That’s just my logic. Don't hold it against me, though—I'm honestly just exhausted from this endless, schizophrenic cycle of hype and heartbreak.

You can push a Chevy Cavalier to 75 mph if you really want to, but don't expect to get very far before the whole thing falls apart.

It’s the same story with this Hajduk roster and their playing style. They want to control the tempo—which sounds great on paper—but they don't have anyone on the pitch who actually has the lungs to run that game or the tactical sense to know when to push.

Look, if that's really the style of football you want to play, you might as well hand the captain's armband over to someone at Al-Nassr instead of giving it to Livorno.

Adam Myers4 said:When you look at the tempo, I’d say we’re seeing an incredibly high frequency of direct attacks paired with intense pressure to regain possession. It’s exactly the kind of relentless energy that looked absolutely brilliant during the second half against San Diego when we had the man advantage.

Alright, my take on that is we simply don't have the roster for that kind of style. That’s why we managed to play even remotely decent for maybe thirty minutes out of all ten or whatever of Leki’s games. I know how it works—people watch soccer, see a team struggle for nine weeks and then suddenly play one good game, and they’re like, "Why can't they play like this every week?" But the reality is they can't play like that constantly because they just aren't mentally or physically built to sustain it.

wiredfalcon2 said:Alright, my take on that is we simply don't have the roster for that kind of style. That’s why we managed to play even remotely decent for maybe thirty minutes out of all ten or whatever of Leki’s games. I know how it works—people watch soccer, see a team struggle for nine weeks and then suddenly play one good game, and they’re like, "Why can't they play like this every week?" But the reality is they can't play like that constantly because they just aren't mentally or physically built to sustain it.

Look, if a player like Vukcevic can make that system work for a team like Seattle Sounders, then surely we have at least seven or eight high-motor players who could handle it.☕

wiredfalcon2 said:The defense at Hajduk wasn't some unbreakable fortress even when they were sitting pretty with a 4-2-3-1 setup—four at the back plus two holding mids. Let’s be real, these guys aren't invincible; they're definitely going to make mistakes. Now that Leko has switched things up to a 3-5-2, we’re playing with one less defender in the backline, and since our fullbacks clearly don't have that Panucci-level stamina to drop back into a 5-3-2 during defensive transitions, you basically just left a pair of center-backs out there catching the wind. It was painfully obvious on that first Rijeka goal, too. You’ve got this 2-on-2 situation in the box, and then some 16-year-old kid fails to track Frigan’s movement, leaving him with about 100 yards of open space to run into. Honestly, the whole tactical idea is just a disaster.

Even with a 4-2-3-1, we’re still missing the right personnel, though given our current roster, I suppose I have to agree it's our best bet.

But that isn't going to fix any of these other issues:

1. Grgić, and especially Fosatti, are players who belong on the level of teams like FC Cincinnati or maybe a mid-tier MLS side... nothing elite.

2. None of our current center-backs are heavyweights like, say, a Virgil van Dijk or even someone like Šutalo over at the Galaxy—and I'll throw Perić into that mix as well. Ferro reminds me quite a bit of Tonela, but not the version of Tonela from his prime years, rather the version toward the end when he was barely moving on the pitch compared to how he used to play. Elez is a top-tier defender, truly, but the question remains what kind of player he will actually become. As for Borevkovic and Awaziem, they are constant threats to our own goal.

I could use Benrahou as another example. To me, he's like a left-footed Morales. While I doubt anyone would argue he won't be good enough for the domestic league, I can guarantee that for the kind of modern, high-intensity football Leko seemingly wants to implement, he'll never quite fit the mold.

And since this is a discussion about the league and "modernity," I might as well draw a comparison between the old-school wingers from the Dinamo days—guys like Soudani and Fernandes—and someone like Spikic today.
Soudani absolutely dismantled Rijeka and Hajduk more times than I can count... both of them even took down Arsenal, if we're listing achievements. But personally, I find Spikic ten times more impressive than both of them combined simply because he's more modern; he drives forward, and he contributes vastly more to the defensive phase, not to mention everything else.

I bring up that comparison because I suspect we'll see a very similar pattern with Benrahou after a while. He might turn out to be important for Hajduk, as they certainly need quality players to compete domestically, but in my estimation, he will never be the type of player suited for the specific vision of football that Leko—if my assumptions are correct—is trying to build.

Now, look, Ben actually clocked in at about 12.5 miles of pure, unadulterated distance last round. That’s exactly why he’s such a standout! It isn't just that his technique is absolutely flawless—though it really is—it’s the sheer volume of running he puts in. He just keeps going!

Gary Cooper3 said:
We’re also missing key players for a 4-2-3-1, though I guess I agree it's probably the best setup we've got.

Look, man, a formation on the pitch is just a blueprint. It doesn't mean much unless you know what you're actually trying to pull off with it. You can run the exact same shape and just sit back, hand the ball over, and pray you catch them on a counter, or you can try to actually dictate the tempo. But honestly? That’s step two. Right now, we’re stuck on step one: fixing this disaster in the backline. We're leaking goals like a broken faucet in a cheap motel.

Adam Myers4 said:Now, look, Ben actually clocked in at about 12.5 miles of pure, unadulterated distance last round. That’s exactly why he’s such a standout! It isn't just that his technique is absolutely flawless—though it really is—it’s the sheer volume of running he puts in. He just keeps going!

Yeah, sure. But sprinting? Look at how Livaja and Puki play. How many times do they actually make a run into space?

It’s basically just standing around playing soccer. I mean, sure, they put in some cumulative distance, but there’s zero actual pace. If the ball isn't delivered perfectly to their feet, they’re basically lost.

That’s the whole damn issue right there.

Adam Myers4 said:Now, look, Ben actually clocked in at about 12.5 miles of pure, unadulterated distance last round. That’s exactly why he’s such a standout! It isn't just that his technique is absolutely flawless—though it really is—it’s the sheer volume of running he puts in. He just keeps going!

I can dig up the stats if I really need to, but I'll bet my bottom dollar that Morales had plenty of wasted mileage as well.

In my view, he isn't built for high-pressure situations—which is something Coach probably hinted at the moment he was brought onto the roster...

Jakirović is doing an incredible job for Rijeka, but honestly, he’s also doing wonders for Dinamo, the U-21 squad, and even the National Team when you look at the long-term vision. He’s a truly top-tier coach, and what he's accomplishing with Rijeka is stellar. As for Duje Čop—out of all the goals he ever scored during his time with Dinamo, the most convincing, impactful, and vital ones were scored right against them. Thanks for that one, Duje, you legend.

lonefox22 said:Yeah, sure. But sprinting? Look at how Livaja and Puki play. How many times do they actually make a run into space?

It’s basically just standing around playing soccer. I mean, sure, they put in some cumulative distance, but there’s zero actual pace. If the ball isn't delivered perfectly to their feet, they’re basically lost.

That’s the whole damn issue right there.

We were just talking on the last home thread about how Ben is really the only one on our squad who’s constantly moving and looking for the ball during transitions. Maybe he isn't exactly a speed demon—he doesn't have that elite top-end sprint—but that constant movement and him always offering himself up to his teammates is just different from our usual average. It honestly doesn't surprise me at all given those distance covered stats that John Kim posted earlier.

The thing is—if you follow the old-school logic—his mileage per game is probably going to drop. I guess as he gets more used to this standing-style football, he won't have to cover as much ground. Maybe that's just how it works.

Germanijak says Zekić is getting ready to hand in his resignation

Thomas Hayes said:Germanijak says Zekić is getting ready to hand in his resignation

Hmm, strange.🤷

Thomas Hayes said:Germanijak says Zekić is getting ready to hand in his resignation

Honestly, at the very start of the season, I was convinced they were the top candidates for getting knocked out.😁

Thomas Hayes said:Germanijak says Zekić is getting ready to hand in his resignation

Well, damn—as if we don't have enough headaches already—and besides, Toplak isn't exactly sitting there on a free agency deal.😵

hiddencyclist112 said:Bloom, oh flower of the coast!! You serve as a constant reminder to us all that no one can truly be broken by the yoke of a regime. May you bloom forevermore!

I suppose if you look at how the Funkos performed during their game against the Gorics and then compare that to how the Demons handled their away trip to Vazraždinu, the difference is somewhat striking, I guess.

Thomas Hayes said:Germanijak says Zekić is getting ready to hand in his resignation

Management denied it.

Olivia Taylor2 said:Management denied it.

It’s the classic final move right before someone gets canned.

Olivia Taylor2 said:Management denied it.

Honestly, when boldbadger1 says something like this, it’s usually the final step before someone gets the boot. 😁
But if they actually fire him, then management is just being stubborn—I mean, we have enough talent to fight our way out of the bottom tier, and besides, Zekic is the one who got us right into the hunt for a European spot and that cup semifinal run.

Thomas Hayes said:Honestly, when boldbadger1 says something like this, it’s usually the final step before someone gets the boot. 😁
But if they actually fire him, then management is just being stubborn—I mean, we have enough talent to fight our way out of the bottom tier, and besides, Zekic is the one who got us right into the hunt for a European spot and that cup semifinal run.

For all we know, the issue might have nothing to do with results. In his interviews, Zekic always comes across as a pro who does his job, but clearly doesn't care for the club's atmosphere or the decisions being made.

A lot of what he says boils down to "I'm doing my best with what I've been given." That’s an easy way to get on the bad side of the higher-ups.

If this is purely about results, it's insane. This was easily the cheapest roster out there—everyone except me thought they'd be relegated from the league.

Thomas Hayes said:Honestly, when boldbadger1 says something like this, it’s usually the final step before someone gets the boot. 😁
But if they actually fire him, then management is just being stubborn—I mean, we have enough talent to fight our way out of the bottom tier, and besides, Zekic is the one who got us right into the hunt for a European spot and that cup semifinal run.

Honestly, there isn't much to celebrate here, I suppose. Even a small-town team like FC Cincinnati might have struggled with that kind of bracket; they were knocked out by the first major powerhouse they happened to run into.