Leo Gonzalez - Answering the Left Back Dilemma

by Dave Clark on Dec 17, 2009 3:49 PM PST in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

When the season started we were all surprised that Zach Scott was the starting left back. A role and position that he had clearly earned, and every match he answered that call. He was gritty and determined, a strong defensive presence and not quite what Sigi wanted. Coach tried Nate Sturgis there to see if a bit of offense could be mixed in, and that didn't work well, nor poorly. He tried Tyson Wahl due to injury. Once upon a time there was rumor of Costa Rican Roy Miller being brought here on loan from a Norwegian side, and all of the frustrations that Sounders fans had with the Left Back would have been solved.

Midway through the season, the question of "Who is the correct Left Back in Sigi's system?" was answered, but only sort-of, as Graham pointed out a while ago. Leo has played both the Left Mid and Left Back at times in his career, and it is apparent that he has strong defensive skills, good on-ball skills and is a talented short passer. He lacks the booming entry pass that creates an effective target forward.

Offense: Leo Gonzalez can bring the ball forward, and with it at his feet he can beat a man. As a wide player he tends to the type that darts and dashes with shorter passes on entry. Leo offers possession and creativity in a position typically lacking in MLS and could play LWB in a 4 or 5 man backline, likely a LM or LDM as well. His ball skills are versatile enough. What we haven't seen is his shot.

Defense: Gonzalez' defense was generally impressive. Sturdy enough to body up deep in the corner, and quick enough to get back when forward. His positioning within the system seemed proper. Use to facing players with better technical skill than the typical MLS he was not often beat on a move.

Set-Plays: On the offensive set you won't find Leo in the scrum, he's back with Riley preparing to defend against the rapid outlet, and maybe that says something about his shot. While tall, he isn't in the box to try and score. Defensively Gonzalez helps clog the area and has the height to trouble most MLS player.

Defining Moment: Against Barcelona. It wasn't that he didn't get beat, he did. It was that Leo played an attacking left back that was missing for the first half of the season. No longer would the backline be uneven, but instead had both ends that could get forward.

Statistics
Plus/Minus - 7 | 1
Plus/Minus Per 90 - 0.64 | 0.10
Productivity in League Play - 0
Productivity in Non-League - 0
Ratings from Prost Amerika - 6.38 (7th)

Second +/- listed uses Climbing the Ladder's data.

Short Term Peak - Gonzalez is currently at his peak. He will not be an All-Star, but instead can be a featured player on a good team. I don't expect to see him much in non-League play, as a back-up must be discovered. His National Team career seems to fading, particularly with Costa Rica out of the World Cup.

Past Reviews

Rights Controlled Players - Parke, Karkas, Smith

Lightly Used Developmental Players - Neagle, Brown, Fucito

Other Keepers - Boss, Eylander

Reserves - Graham, Sturgis, King, Scott

Subs - Nyassi, Wahl

USL Rotationals - Le Toux and Levesque

MLS Rotationals - Ianni and Vagenas

James Riley - MLS quality wingback or not?

Tyrone Marshall - Veteran Centerback

Jhon Kennedy Hurtado - First Sounder lost to Europe?

What are your thoughts on Leo as the left back of the present and future for Seattle?

Tweet Comment 5 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

He was fun to watch

but Zak and he were not on the same page the all the time. I do think that will come with the familiarity of playing together along with Zak just improving because he is still young.

I think Gonzalez was a great addition to the team and what you wrote is just about right.

by Coug1990 on Dec 17, 2009 9:14 PM PST reply actions

I was fine with him

but it seemed to me that he very heavily favors his left foot. Maybe this isn’t that big a deal, but I noticed it several times. And if I notice it, then coaches and other teams will notice it. There were a few times when he took the extra touch or the extra turn, and thus took too much time. I can’t remember the game (maybe one of the Houston playoffs), but I have burned in my memory of an open one-touch right-footed shot that he passed up.

He seemed generally effective despite this hindrance, so I’m not sure if it’s even relevant. But that’s what I think when I think of him.

by Cornchops on Dec 17, 2009 10:02 PM PST reply actions

would be unusual for him to be in offensive set plays

Nice series of posts Dave.

“On the offensive set you won’t find Leo in the scrum, he’s back with Riley preparing to defend against the rapid outlet, and maybe that says something about his shot. "

It’s fairly normal for outside backs to play a covering role. On set plays you need physical players who are strong in the air, which matches the typical description of the skill set needed by central backs. Hence you move the central backs up and have the outside backs cover.

by PeterJH on Dec 18, 2009 10:25 AM PST reply actions

On a team with so few over 6'0"

I might want another one in there.

From memory – Jaqua, Levesque, Hurtado, Marshall, Gonzalez, Le Toux (gone now). That’s only 3 head targets on the typical set.

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Dec 18, 2009 10:44 AM PST up reply actions

if you ignore corners...

we’re brutal on set plays. I think this is the driving force behind the talk of needing to make the team more physical. Not so much that we resort to chippy play, but that we can actually punish teams for playing that way against us by having people in the box that will will win balls and create space.

It would have been really nice to have a forward like that for the last Houston game when the field conditions really hurt our ground game.

by PeterJH on Dec 18, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions