Photo: Paul Rudderow

Following last week’s discussion of the merits of the 4-3-3, PSP’s Eli Pearlman-Storch outlines the traditional 4–4–2 as it would work for the Union in 2012 in the second of a three-part series.

With the continuing turnover in the roster, the 2012 Philadelphia Union must find consistency on the pitch in order to prove that last year’s playoff appearance was no fluke. While the defense appears to again be the strength of a team that was MLS’s second stingiest in conceding goals during the 2011 campaign, the offense must come out of the gates scoring goals if they are to keep up with a vastly improved Eastern Conference. Consistency and chemistry are immediate needs for such a young club and opening up in a straight 4–4–2 would eliminate confusion, provide depth at all positions, and allow players to develop strong relationships all over the pitch.

4–4–2 for 2012

Fig 1. Union Starting Lineup 2012

While many coaches give new acquisitions time to work their way into the lineup, whether out of necessity or inclination, Peter Nowak is no such manager. In 2011’s opening match, a 1–0 road victory in Houston, new signings Faryd Mondragon, Carlos Valdes, Brian Carroll and Carlos Ruiz all featured prominently and immediately for the Union. In 2012, three new signings will likely debut when they walk out in the starting lineup in Portland on March 12, Porfirio Lopez, Josue Martinez and Lionard Pajoy. And while this does represent another year of significant personnel change, each of these players fits smartly into an aggressive 4–4–2.

News that both Freddy Adu and Roger Torres would be returning in 2012 means that the Union must find a space for at least one of them on the pitch at any moment as both have the ability to run the offense from the center of midfield. With Brian Carroll installed as the incumbent holding midfielder, and the most defensive minded of the Union’s central midfield options, whether it is Adu or Torres roaming the center of the park, they will have the freedom they need to display their creativity and set the table for those around them. As with last week’s 4–3–3, Adu will earn the start because, simply put, he’s the biggest name with the biggest contract. And there is nothing cynical meant by that selection. At this juncture in the Union’s brief history, Freddy Adu represents the Union’s most experienced MLS attacker. It was not long ago that all of Philadelphia, myself included, was clamoring for the Union to acquire a highly rated CAM (central attacking midfielder). After time playing that role with the US U-23 National Team, and a full preseason with the Union, the beginning of the 2012 MLS season represents the best chance for a now 100 percent healthy Adu to prove that he is ready, willing and able to lead the Union attack, whether it is with his own piercing runs, or more preferably as the distributor whose vision and savvy allow him to create opportunities for the dangerous wingers and to play his strikers in on net.

The best right side in MLS

There’s no denying the fact that Sheanon Williams and Michael Farfan were two of the biggest surprises around MLS in 2011. While Williams entered the year following some stout defensive showings at the end of 2010, his rapid ascension into one of the most dangerous attacking fullbacks in MLS caught many by surprise, as he forced his way into the US National Team conversation with his searing pace, attacking mindset and continually maturing defensive understanding. His partnership with Carlos Valdes on the right side of the Union defense was simply impenetrable at times as Williams pressed high up the pitch, pinning back opposing wingers, and forcing opposition attacks to build down the Union’s left flank.

Michael Farfan responded to sliding out of the first round in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by growing and improving all year. He not only forced himself into the Union starting XI but also into Rookie of the Year discussions league-wide. His on the ball guile, mixed with excellent field vision, made him a prime candidate to beat any defender one-on-one before providing service into the box or taking a shot himself.

As a unit, Willams and Farfan brought the whole package to the table and they are one piece of the Union formation that must remain in tact. There are no struggles for chemistry between these two as Farfan quickly learned the virtues of having a constant partner in crime with Williams rampaging up the wing, ready to receive the ball or provide the decoy necessary for Farfan to deceive his defender and break into the box. Additionally, with the Union’s lack of defensive depth in 2011, Farfan was as times forced into a defensive role in which, while he did not excel all the time, he learned a greater appreciation for his own defensive responsibilities when Williams went on one of his trademark runs downfield.

The Costa Rican Connection

Fig 2. Second Half subs. Speed, range and the final touch

Costa Rican internationals Josue Martinez and Porfirio Lopez, both of whom have been capped for their full National team, have the speed, ability and experience to form a similar partnership on the Union’s left flank. While there are plenty of others who can play the left midfield position, including Keon Daniel, Gabriel Farfan, and new signing Nizar Khalfan, Martinez is another big money signing with an excellent attacking pedigree who should see plenty of minutes in 2012. When he was signed in December, Peter Nowak made it clear that, “he can play as a central striker or on the wing, we can mix it up. We can be very unpredictable with his skill set and that’s a very important factor to our game.” With more balanced service needed from both sides of the pitch, Martinez could prove extremely valuable out wide and his rapid acclimation into MLS will be a determining factor for how long it takes for the Union to get up to speed, regardless of what position the coaching staff asks him to adopt.

Playing in front of an established, naturally left-footed fullback like Lopez will help the young attacker, as Lopez, whose career took him briefly to the Chinese league in 2010-11, will look to provide the Union back four with the consistency it lost when Jordan Harvey made the move to Vancouver. Gabriel Farfan deserves credit for his work in the role that was surprisingly thrust upon him, but with a true left back now on the roster, Lopez can develop the relationship with captain Danny Califf that Williams and Valdes share on the other side of the pitch, hopefully turning a stingy defense into an unsolvable one.

While the projected play of both Martinez and Lopez remains largely conjecture until the season is off and running, Nowak recently stressed that while Martinez has featured at forward in the preseason, “He can come from the second line because of his speed. We can use him in different fashions.” Nowak is no stranger to converting players and if Martinez grew into the role, he could became a fixture opposite Michael Farfan.

Big Men up Front

Fig 3. Olympic Lineup changes only 3 without altering shape

What good is service into the box without big, strong strikers who can turn chances into goals? In Lionard Pajoy and Danny Mwanga, the Union have two such strikers. With Lajoy as the more veteran target man, Mwanga will get to play in his preferred role, as the second striker, allowed to face goal and run off his partner’s knock downs and hold-up play, firing shots and creating havoc all over the area.

That is not to say that in 2012 far more will not be expected of Mwanga when it comes to throwing his body around and winning a significantly larger number of aerial challenges than in past seasons—that is the requisite and logical next step in his development. With the physicality, pace and predatory instincts of both Pajoy and Mwanga on the pitch, the Union will create enormous matchup problems for any defense. As much as any team would want to put a second body on both of the Union’s big, versatile strikers, the threat of Martinez and Farfan joined by Lopez and Williams, respectively, coming from wide positions is too great. Any chance that either striker finds themselves in a mano a mano situation, the Union have won and they must capitalize. With Freddy Adu or Roger Torres pulling the strings from the midfield and occupying the full attentions of a defensive midfielder, the Union’s ability to attack in numbers creates mismatches and holes all over the pitch.

After that it is down to converting those chances, because with five players all looking to get in behind the defense, cracks will inevitably emerge. While not in the starting lineup, Jack McInerney’s strong offseason and improved play make him the first attacking weapon off the bench, allowing the Union to sit Pajoy should they want to get quicker and more dangerous on the ground, or Mwanga, if Pajoy’s back-to-goal play is proving fruitful and needs only a poacher’s touch to find the back of the net.

Substitutions

Fig 4. Focus on possession and physicality

A deep roster means plenty of choices and regardless of what alterations the Union coaching staff must make during match play, they have options. Should they be in need of a goal to break a deadlock or become a comeback, see Figure 2. Replacing the spine of the team with quicker players allows the Union to possess and hold the ball higher up the park. Amobi Okugo provides improved distribution to partner with the exuberance of Roger Torres late in games. The Union have physical options as well.  In Figure 4, Keon Daniel and Gabriel Gomez enter the fray to provide strength and calm in the midfield. With Gomez out wide, and Daniel occupying a more natural central role, the Union can avoid the single, biggest problem they have faced when employing the 4-4-2 in their first two seasons.

The empty bucket.

No matter how good or bad an opponent, if the Union insist on playing two, flat defensive midfielders—aka “directly next to each other”—and cede the entirety of the midfield to their opponent, they will lose. It is a formation that echoes the shaky performances displayed by the US National Team when it plays in the same alignment. The best defense is a good offense, which is saying something considering the Union’s defense IS the best defense. But no matter how they perform, if the opposition can set up camp 30 yards from the front of goal, they will get chances and there will be no fingers to point at the tireless efforts of the back four and Zac MacMath. In 2011, the Union solidified their backline, an important task given their low goal count and how top defenses can influence matches down the stretch. Too often though, the team allowed their opponent to dictate play, despite the Union’s position-for-position superiority. By maintaining a proper midfield diamond and deploying two wide pairings of aggressive and attack-minded players, the Union can avoid again falling into this trap and so impose their will on the vast majority of squads in MLS.