Idea: Montero to the Right Wing

by Dave Clark on May 21, 2009 9:59 AM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

MLS teams have learned to stop Montero by marking him hard. By crowding him when he's on ball, and to never give him a shot inside the box. They know that his vision, while good, is sometimes limited when in traffic.

At the same time Montero seems to be expecting the game to be called differently than it is and looks to the referees. He was a young stud, and is now just a young good player. Those calls will not go his way, at least not as often in this league, at this time.

The good news for Sounders fans is that Fredy will likely be here for the entire season. After March we didn't think that was true.

Now though, Sebastien Le Toux is showing that he fits well into Sigi's system. Steve Zakuani is making a name for himself as the Left Midfielder, but really a Left Wing. Now, the team needs to find a way to get the most talent on the pitch. Talent that is most likely to win games.

This week, against Colorado we can either see something innovative from Sigi, or he can go with simply replacing Brad Evans (Likely out with knee injury) with Seb Le Toux. This though would leave Sounders FC with Nate Jaqua as the Target Forward who works the pivot, and the Freddyain issue.

Is there a way to solve these multiple problems?

I say yes.

Fredy Montero should be the right side version of Zakuani. 11 and 17 on the wings. This would get Montero into open space, replicating the success he had along the right wing and elbow against Dallas.

This would be a slight shift from the 4-1-3-2 to a 4-1-4-1 almost, as Le Toux comes back often enough that he would play as a second CAM at times. He gets back defensively much better than Montero which would help as well in the central third.

While Montero would be weaker than Le Toux defensively as the Right Mid, Seattle has Riley running up the touchline on the right, as well as both Alonso and Hurtado used to swinging wide to prevent the attack.

For me though the key to success is to reestablish that transition game, the box-to-box in 10 seconds or less thing. For Montero to take part in that he needs to get his touches when he has space, plus in less crowded situations he is more likely to get the call in his favor.

This idea, this change, would force him into a slightly different role, but it is one that has precedent. There are several great goal scorers who play as RW/RM rather than as Forwards. While I don't claim that Montero is their equal, he may be their analog.

C.Ronaldo in a 4-4-2
L.Messi in a 4-3-3
A.Arshavin with Arsenal's 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 as a LM or RM

Men who use space to score, who aren't "traditional" forwards. Players who when isolated can beat a man on the dribble or with a deft pass.

Montero can do that in MLS, maybe at different levels, but certainly here. He has the flair, and pace. He can run the ball down in direct play along the touchline.

Do you really think that Jordan Harvey can stop Fredy? If he can't it forces someone from the defensive triangle wide which leaves one of Jaqua, Le Toux or Ljungberg open in a channel or pivot.

Sure, this is just an idea, but could it work? Do you have a different idea for the Right Mid while Evans is out?

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think the “almost a 4-1-4-1” idea is really good idea and totally worth a shot.

Montero has done his best when in space. I think he is used to playing in Columbia where the players are shorter and smaller and he probably isn’t as used to getting bumped off the ball like he is in the MLS.

Jaqua always draws a crowd no matter where he is at. I was a big fan of putting Ljungberg out at right wing when Evans was in, but your article has gotten me thinking a bit.

I can see Zakuani having a few long crosses out to Montero where Montero will have some space to move/shoot. On those crosses, most people will be drawn to the Seba who will be streaking towards goal, Jaqua’s 6’4" frame, or eyeballing Ljungberg at the 18.

Also, I completely agree with you about the transition game. It almost seems like our first two games our team was amped to play in front of an at capacity Qwest, and they were totally amped to come out and play, while the Bulls and RSL seemed, well, intimidated. Then off to TFC where it’s still the crazy crowd, although not at home and not quite as big.

Then back at home again, where now our team is getting used to the large crowd. Other teams know what to expect with our crowd now –AND- Keller is sent off.

Is it me, or is it… hold your breath… maybe our large crowd is starting to work in favor of the other team while other teams smaller crowds work against us…?!?!? Am I crazy? The first 3 games our transition game was GREAT. The last 6? Not as good as the first 3. You might be able to argue Toronto it actually started to tail off some there. I know that for 3 of those 6 we have played a man down, but it just seems like we haven’t quite gotten the transition game back to those first 2 or 3 games of the season.

by soundersfcfanboy on May 21, 2009 12:24 PM PDT reply actions

Sports in general are games of adjustments. You do something well and your opponent works to take it away. Our opponents have begun to sell out on defense with 10 men back, which leaves us little room to make our fast break transition.

We need to make our opponents pay for that style and so far we haven’t. In fact, our opponents have been the fast counterattacking teams of late.

I think your idea of moving Fredy outside is a great one. It would allow him to get into space and he can either cross or even shoot from outside as he has a great foot.

by Coug1990 on May 21, 2009 2:04 PM PDT reply actions

Just to be clear, this would mean putting Le Toux in at forward, right? If so, yeah, I think it could work. I think Le Toux has better distribution than Montero and having him up front might help free up some options.

by CarlosT on May 21, 2009 2:23 PM PDT reply actions

Le Toux and Ljungberg would flip between the Withdrawn Forward and Attacking Mid roles. That’s kind of where I was going with the “almost 4-1-4-1”

by sounderatheart on May 21, 2009 2:30 PM PDT reply actions

I think this could work well. Montero’s best goal of the season is probably his long range strike against Salt Lake. He basically collected the ball in the middle third and carried it through space forward. He is deadly coming at the defender but is worthless with his back to the goal. If he can collect the ball with space in front defenders are afraid to come at him, but when he has to come back for the pass and the defender is at his back he just gets pushed over.

Another issue i’ve seen is the lack of good runs by our forwards. We seem to be mostly coming back for the ball and trying to make a turn on the defense instead of getting through passes that leave us with 1 v 1’s on the keeper. Is Montero fast enough to make outside runs for through balls from a center forward in this kind of position? I’ve never been much of a tactician but that kind of run is my bread and butter in FIFA ;)

by Darth Greedo on May 21, 2009 2:41 PM PDT reply actions

Are you sure that’s Montero in the video? Looks more like Zakuani, with Montero on the right side up top. I see him making a good run that could have translated into another goal had Zak made the light touch over to him. I do agree that this formation should work, as it seems Montero would be much better in space at mid to avoid the double or triple team from the defenders he tries to dribble around.

by Agtk on May 21, 2009 4:13 PM PDT reply actions

Listen to the audio to confirm that it is Montero.

by Dave Clark on May 21, 2009 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

It’s Zakuani coming from the left vs Salt Lake… Montero can be seen by the 6 after the ball goes out…

by HSounders on May 21, 2009 4:45 PM PDT reply actions

Ugh, that’s brutal. MLSnet called that a Montero wide highlight, and the audio says Montero.

That’s my bad, i’ll find a better highlight.

by Dave Clark on May 21, 2009 5:03 PM PDT reply actions

I like the idea of this formation, and I think some noticeable changes need to be made (as opposed to minor tweaks), but unfortunately I just can’t see Sigi making any changes like these. He hasn’t shown me that he likes to adjust in that way. He gives a good halftime talk, but FC Dallas’ formation change last week completely changed the game, and Sigi couldn’t overcome it. That was the first time I felt that we were outcoached.

I’d like Sigi to prove me wrong by making a significant change. That is, not a major change, or a drastic change, but a change with significance.

by Cornchops on May 21, 2009 5:33 PM PDT reply actions

I don’t think we were outcoached. The Sounders dominated the first half. Dallas scores right before the half and it completely changed the mental aspect of the game. Dallas perhaps played the best they had all year and the Sounders came out flat in the second half.

You can say that is coaching, I think it is human nature. Also, with all the freak injuries, Sigi had less than a full hand.

by Coug1990 on May 21, 2009 7:29 PM PDT reply actions

Interesting idea, but I would be apprehensive about this kind of move for a few reasons…

- I think this move would leave us vulnerable in the center midfield. In the previous games the right mid has pinched in to the center to assist with maintaining possession through the midfield. Montero on the wing would be expected to stay wide and create down the sideline (similar to Zak’s role).
- This move also limits Riley’s effectiveness because he typically plays the wing when the right-mid is pinched in the center. Without the space available on the wing Riley would have limited opportunity to sneak forward.
- As much as I like Le Toux at forward. I think it is asking a lot of him to rotate back on a regular basis to cover for Zak or Freddie or Freddy (depending on who is pushing foward on the attack).

I think it is a high risk (and potentially high reward) strategy. I could see using this type of strategy against a team that sits back on defense (like how LA played against us), but I see it as a little to risk on a regular basis.

by Skee on May 21, 2009 8:27 PM PDT reply actions