The LA Galaxy and Zlatan take their show on the road to Chicago.
How many minutes will Zlatan play?
He was in about 20 minutes against LAFC and 30 minutes against SKC. Some speculate 40 minutes in which case, might as well go 45 for a full second half.
My "guts" tell me to look for 30 minutes again. This is his first road trip and the weather is likely to be miserable in Chicago so I'm thinking they play it safe with 30 minutes.
Any changes to the line-up that was used against SKC?
That line-up played SKC got their chances and played them pretty even with the exception of two defensive lapses in the early part of the second half which cost LAG the two goals. Thus, I don't see any line-up changes. The only two that could perhaps be considered is putting in Ciani for Steres but I think that unlikely. The other would be to start Lletget instead and have Boateng enter as his sub. But I think that unlikely as well but more possible than Ciani starting.
4-2-3-1 or something else?
As a relatively new soccer watcher, formation watching isn't always so clear to me. I know that at the beginning of the TV match coverage, a formation is shown. When I watch the game, it is sometimes pretty much as described. But clearly in the flow of the game, players push forward when the opportunity is there.
I was in the stands (behind the goal) on the side LAG were moving toward in the first half of the SKC match. There were times when Jonathan dos Santos (listed as one of the defensive midfielders) looked like he was in the offensive front! Alessandrini was listed as a central midfielder and he was often out wide. Pontius was listed as a wing midfielder and he was central. So clearly, these 4-2-3-1 formations are allowed to be fluid to capitalize on the situation. Perhaps that is part of why the defense sometimes gets over-run as the back line doesn't have any help when the other team comes pouring forward off a turnover by the LAG offensive players.
In the Premier League, the formation shown at the beginning is often a 4-3-3 that is favored by Liverpool. Could the LA Galaxy play something like that?
Kitchen would clearly be the "6" with 100% of his mindset on defense.
JDS would be 50% defense and 50% offense and link the movement of the ball from defense to offense.
Alessandrini would be offense minded looking to feed the ball to the three guys in the forward line or taking the shot himself.
The three forwards would be Pontius, Kamara, Boateng.
My guts tells me that this set up might be too offense minded and could expose the defense more especially since Feltscher and Cole do like to push forward and get into the offensive actions.
4-4-2
When Zlatan comes in, the team appears to go into this formation with Zlatan and Kamara as the two upfront. Perhaps, the team could play that from the start and have Pontius and Kamara as the two upfront? Alessandrini/Kitchen/JDS/Boateng as the midfield?
At the 70 minute mark, sub in Zlatan to pair with Kamara, Lletget replacing either Alessandrini or Boateng depending on who looks more tired and Pontius gets reassigned to the midfield?
Anyway, as the team chemistry improves, the players will have a better sense of when to pour forward on attack and when to play it safe and not rush too far ahead. With those subtle adjustments in decision-making, I think the team can compensate for the slightly slower feet of the defensive line.
Fearless (clueless) forecast:
1-1 or 2-2 draw on the road.
UPDATE: LAG win it 1-0! Zlatan with the game winner in stoppage time of the first half. Zlatan started and played 80 minutes.
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