Feeding Nkufo - Is a lineup change needed?
by Dave Clark on Aug 24, 2010 6:01 AM PDT
in Sounders: MLS Regular Season
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Blaise Nkufo was expected to dominate MLS play. He was expected to get results, putting up goals and even tallying assists. So far, that hasn't been the case, yet the Sounders are doing quite well since the Blaise era started.
Nkufo is making all the runs that one would expect of a target forward, but his calls for the ball go unanswered.
On corners he is finding himself double-marked, and flat near-post service hasn't even given the team the opportunity to flick it on to the big Swissman.
I want to see runs answered with passes, but it seems that the team as a whole is not seeing those runs. BUT, they are winning.
Should we want to see a change in order to magnify the addition of Nkufo? Or should we, mere fans, want the team to stagnate, and yet win? Is there a change that is a simple answer?
I think the answer is a single swap of two players - Nathan Sturgis to the 18, and Nate Jaqua to the Right Wing. Alvaro Fernandez would need to be switched inside as a box-to-box center midfielder. This of course assumes that all players not on the Injured List are able to play (which may not be the case Wednesday).
With Jaqua on the right wing the Sounders would add another player with good vision, decent passing and the ability to hold the ball up at his feet. James Riley would have to provide width in the attack, as Nate's long passes aren't that good.
But when Nate gets the ball and Nkufo, and Fredy Montero as well, make those runs, he has the vision and ability to make those passes. At least much more frequently than is currently occurring.
Of course, the first response to the thought of Jaqua on the wing is that he isn't the type of player you see there. Which is generally true, but specifically wrong. He played there last October with the Sounders (scoring 2 goals in matches), and he played there in his time with the Chicago Fire. In fact he said last year that he enjoys being able to face up against the defense and see the play develop.
The Rave Green would lose a bit of defense. Nathan Sturgis isn't bad there. And while Jaqua is pretty good for a Forward, overall the defensive structure would be weaker in the center of the pitch, but a bit stronger on the right (which may be great in a league with some solid left wide players).
Another added benefit from putting Jaqua on the pitch would be that the Sounders would have two big bodies available as targets on corners and threatening set-plays. Having one of Jaqua/Nkufo at the near post, and the other at the far post with Montero in his usual spot annoying the keeper changes the dynamic needed from the corner taker.
No longer would the flat pass to the near post be the sole goal for Seattle. They could instead use passes over the 6-yard box to the far man who could flick it back into the skirmish or on goal. A pass could go just over the near post target into the several runners. And the near post man could still do what he's been trying to do.
But it would be rare for both of the big target men to get double-teamed. If they did either there is one less player able to run the counter, or there is an unmarked Seattle man in a threatening position.
There would really be only two players left who should supply the service on corners with this change - Leo Gonzalez or James Riley. The other would be left back in their safety role, likely with one of Osvaldo Alonso or Steve Zakuani. Either Alonso or Zakuani could restart the offense if the opposing team tries a counter and fails.
Oddly, Wednesday night Zakuani may not be available and the change is even simpler - Flaco to the left and Jaqua to the right. Sure, the speed wouldn't be there, but there would be plenty on the bench with Fucito, Estrada, Montano and Nyassi, but it would leave Sturgis on the pitch. If Zakuani is healthy I wouldn't want to see the Jaqua on the Right experiment against Monterrey as Seattle needs all the defense it can get.
So maybe we see it busted out against Chicago. Either way, I want to see Nate Jaqua get a long run of minutes on the right again. Seattle will have better overall passers on the pitch, be stronger on set-plays and have better forward defense.
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Why do we assume the loss of defense?
Ozzie is our defensive midfielder. With Fernandez playing box-to-box, he’s meant to pick of some of the defense as well. Plus, as far as I can see, El Flaco can actually pass to the left.
I’ve been saying it since Fernandez came: get Sturgis on the bench, bring Fernandez into the middle and get those balls to Nkufo. There is no reason that Sturgis continues to start except that he has incriminating photos of Sigi.
by Kirsten Schlewitz on Aug 24, 2010 6:30 AM PDT reply actions
Defense
Sturgis defense > Jaqua defense
Also the shift from a 2 DM to a DM & CM would lose some defense.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
by Dave Clark on Aug 24, 2010 7:03 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
The counter to the argument is.....
There is an old adage in American football that the best defense is a good offense, meaning that if the offense has the ball, it is unlikely the other team will score since they don’t have possession.
So, what little the team gives up in defensive ability, the team gains in offensive ability and possession with Fernandez being substituted for Sturgis.
All this being said, Sigi like Sturgis in the middle. I don’t, but he trumps me (I know, weird isn’t it?), so I think Sturgis will continue to start and we will continue to complain about it.
I think it is ironic that Sigi will move players around (Freddie, Jaqua, etc), but he has talked like he is reluctant to move Fernandez inside because they scouted him playing outside.
I'm sure there are specific examples of Sigi saying this...
But whenever I’ve heard him talk about Flaco, it’s always in the “he can play all over midfield” way. I have no doubt that if Sigi thinks Flaco can offer an improvement at CM, he’ll do it. I think his reluctance now is more tied into not wanting to mess with something that is getting results.
Read me at Sounder at Heart and Dreaming of Wigan
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 24, 2010 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions
agree
Bring Alvaro into the middle. He’s a better range passer, and quicker than Sturgis, plus NS can’t take corners. Someone needs to get the ball back to Nkufo quickly. Montero doesn’t seem interested in doing that, but he’s had plenty of opportunities and needs to, or Blaise will get as frustrated with him as Ljungberg was.
And I’d get Fucito on LW until Zak gets back, so everyone can see what havoc he wreaks when he finally sees decent minutes..
by roadrunner11 on Aug 24, 2010 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Sheesh
“Should we want to see a change in order to magnify the addition of Nkufo? Or should we, mere fans, want the team to stagnate, and yet win? Is there a change that is a simple answer?”
Really? Those are the only options?
So all you’re seeing during this streak is stagnate losing? I know you don’t believe that. Let me ask this….. Of the worlds top ten strikers, how many of them have never gone through a scoring drought?
There are a ton of factors in this and, yes, for the record I’ll go with your stagnate winning no-option. Let’s review:
He’s a new player. Should go without saying.
He’s a player who’s style (classic target forward) is largely unfamiliar to sounder players (heck, to most of the .
Our players pretty much suck at crossing the ball….. Even just into dangerous areas. If there was any adjustment to be made, that would be it. I’m of the opinion that we’ll improve that over time.
Have you not noticed that his opportunities have become more frequent since joining the team (albeit, at a snails pace)?
He’s had some quality opportunities that were turned away by some well above standard saves. Sometimes quality players bring out the best in the other team…..
We need to be patient. I’ve seen improvement nearly every single game… From him as well as the team in general. I’m not sure where you’re getting “stagnation” from, but I assume it’s related to the lack of a noticable uptick in scoring. There’s been some upheaval during this spell that adds to the overall lack of continuity: Evans out, Sturgis in, Alonso back after a long absence, el flaco in….. We just need a chance to settle, get a little more comfortable, and I believe the goals will come in bunches…… Right about the time it matters most, end of season/playoffs.
So you see Nkufo doing better each game?
His touches are less and less. Enough so that he’s started glaring at teammates (Nyassi, Montero) for not seeing his runs. He was brought in to increase the overall scoring of the team, and that hasn’t really happened. I don’t think this is a cold streak by Nkufo, because he hasn’t gotten the ball enough to shoot.
While the team is winning, are they dominating? Is there a simple lineup change that could improve things?
You actually see Sturgis as the answer on corners? You haven’t noticed that he doesn’t pass to the left?
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Good points
As always damn you! ; )
There has been some glaring, but it is fairly recent. I think that reflects poorly on N’Kufo, since he should be able to see that he’s playing with some young and inexperienced players. Again, I believe ALL of the players around him will get better vis-a-vis his service so, no, I don’t think Sturgess is the answer, but that the team as a whole will improve incrementally and that collectively the situation will get better.
No, I don’t think a simple line-up change will help, but given our schedule, I believe we’ll have a chance to see that question answered. Jaqua’s play has been promising enough that he’ll almost certainly see more time, likely at a variety of positions. Fucito is back. Oh, and I do believe N’Kufo is off his form a little and that it started for him towards the end of the season in Holland and continued here.
Just to be clear, I think your suggestion has merit, I just happen to believe that we’ll see some dramatic improvement in every area of our play over the next couple of weeks. Call me stupidly optimistic…..
If it ain't broke don't fix it
Right now we’re getting the results we need. The guys we have out there now are gelling pretty well and getting it done. Maybe Blaise isn’t getting the superstar numbers people expected, but he’s sure helping Montero return to the form we know he has in him.
by freethehenge323 on Aug 24, 2010 9:37 AM PDT reply actions
Montero was on a streak before Nkufo came here
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Not even remotely agreeing with that, Graham
If this is “broke” what was it when we actually sucked?
You want to leave a way to improve the team on the table?
Have we been getting results? Sure. Have we maximized the performance of the personnel on the field? Obviously we have not. Getting Nkufo involved in the offense — while subsequently improving the center mid — adds more to the team and gives them something they need in order to make a run to the MLS Cup and in the cup contests we’re in.
by Brian Floyd on Aug 24, 2010 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions
It assumes
That it’s broke. I think we’re just on the very lead edge of the fix and that time, experience, and patience will get us there. Tinkering just adds more time onto the process of continuity and unsettles the team.
It assumes that it's broken because it is.
Not irretrievably broken, but allowing it to continue leads to more problems throughout the rest of the season. The tinkering really isn’t that severe, either.
Sturgis has his deficiencies (can’t go left) and a simple fix opens up the offense even more. If the scouting report that we’re gonna go up the right side, then we have a problem.
It's not like Sturgis' foot is broken or something
Nyassi has had some good crosses. If Stugis gets a chance to work on it and concentrate on his passing, I think he’ll be able to go left. I don’t remember this being an issue for him earlier in the season.
Nyassi isn't seeing Nkufo's runs either
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Another reason why I'd like to have Fernandez there
I think Sturgis is more effective than Nyassi generally, so I’d rather see Fernandez replace Nyassi than Sturgis overall.
But if a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, does it make a sound?
Somebody has to get Flaco the ball for him to send in service and Sturgis has shown no ability to do lately for whatever reason.
Because Sturgis rarely passed left in the last couple of matches
with Fernandez on the right, this isn’t an issue.
Just because you are getting good results does not mean you are playing the correct system
Nor does it mean you will continue to get results.
by Graham MacAree on Aug 24, 2010 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
First off, I'd say this is just unrealistic based on teh # of upcoming games
Sigi will generally want a target-forward type out there. That means Nkufo and Jaqua will either sub for each other or simply play in alternating games. I doubt we’ll see both of them in a game for any amount of time together (at least for a good long while). I was also not very sold on Jaqua being out wide. He did okay, but I’m not sure I’d like to see him there on a regular basis based on lack of speed, not great long passing, and overall being better when he plays more directly or is set up by others.
2nd, considering Zak is still questionable on the wing (at least for the moment), I think Sigi will continue to play Fernandez wide until Zak comes back. Just a hunch. I know we’ve all heard the Fernandez can play anywhere in the midfield line, but the most recent comments I remember hearing have been that he’ll be playing out wide where he’s used to playing until he gets more comfortable with the team or something like that. I think eventually he’d be great in the middle, but I just don’t see that happening now either.
Sturgis has played better than he has the past couple of games and I hope he’ll get back to better service on corners (he used to be better, no question) and I also don’t remember his no passing to the left problem before more than a few games ago, so that gives me hope there.
I don’t want this team to stagnate and I actually think unless these changes are made, the team is headed for another frustrating scoring drought. You can only ride a hot scorer so far and then other guys have to pick up the slack. For that to happen, those other players have to be set up in positions for them to do something positive. I liked the Montero-Nkufo-Levesque goal @ Marathon and thought Nkufo showed his quality with that pretty back-heel, but someone besides Montero needs to be able to set that kind of thing up.
right on
we’re gonna need to be 2-deep or at the minimum “3 guys for 2 spots” with our grueling schedule from here on out.
target men (1 spot): Nkufo and Jaqua
2nd striker (1 spot): Montero, Levesque?
wide mids/wingers (2 spots): Flaco, Zak, Nyassi, Levesque, Montano, Estrada?
DM (2 or 1 spot): Alonso, Sturgis, Vagenas?
CM: (1 spot if just one DM) Flaco?, Seamon, Evans???
LB: Gonzo, Wahl
RB: Riley, Scott?
CB (2 spots): Ianni, Parke, Marshall, Graham
so not all those guys are on the active 24-man roster, and I’ve left out Fucito, but the point remains, the realities of roster management with all our matches coming up dictate that using Jaqua as a wide mid won’t really work…
nice idea, though
...that's MISTER Keller to you!!!
by malcontentjake on Aug 24, 2010 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Late substitutions
Could provide rest for one of the target men.
Say Nkufo is subbed out for Nyassi? Slide Jaqua up top. Then sub off Jaqua in the next match.
I’m not asking for each to go 90 for the rest of the season
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Nkufo's drawing defenders to him
If you can’t see how much more space Montero and our wingers have to work in because of Nkufo, you’re not looking hard enough.
He pulls defenders way out of position allowing other guys to make back post runs – which is largely a foreign concept in this league.
Montero’s goal against SJ: completely unmarked in the box because Nkufo was being doubled. Roger’s goal against Marathon: the center backs were drifting toward Blaise and leaving him free to slot it home.
I do agree that we need to be more intelligent about finding his runs off the ball and we need to get him more touches in and around the box. But I think his contributions to the team are obvious.
by Michael Wiegand on Aug 24, 2010 10:44 AM PDT reply actions
The issue, I think, isn't Nkufo's play
It’s whether he could be more effectively utilized with better service. I think Blaise is doing generally what we expected, minus the goals, but we could get all that PLUS goals if we did a better job of getting him the ball.
Read me at Sounder at Heart and Dreaming of Wigan
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 24, 2010 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I haven't said that he isn't contributing
I have said that he isn’t scoring, and his runs aren’t getting rewarded. No one on the team is seeing clear and obvious runs that Nkufo makes (including those back post ones). In addition the team is still underperforming on corners this year.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
You can find me, and the guys I watch with, screaming about the back post nearly every game
It’s apparent he’s there, yet nobody recognizes it.
by Brian Floyd on Aug 24, 2010 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
There are two things where I'm like a broken record on MLS play..
The first is what I like to call “MLS runs.” MLS players do not tend to do well at making threatening runs in the front half. Almost all runs are straight and not exactly clever, so (and this could just be my ignorant impression) compared to the more respected leagues, players generally seem to pass to stationary people a lot more often. As such, our guys are not that experienced at sending a properly-paced through ball (it happens, but not nearly as often as it should).
The second is “MLS crosses.” MLS crosses are balls sent vaguely in the direction of the other side of the box. Threatening crosses generally are attempts to pick out players, who hopefully can receive the ball between the 6 and the spot somewhere that makes the keeper move. MLS ones are either too close to the goal, just about at the 18, or just flat out not near anybody on the offense. A few guys aren’t so bad at it, and even Nyassi’s sent some quality ones in a couple times, but the quality is not nearly as good as it should be. If it were, there’s no way we’d have been blanked by Chivas.
Both of these things significantly affect Nkufo’s amount of chances, and I have noticed his frustration the past few games…. along with the frustration at officiating. He’s doing everything right, and quite frankly, I think his form is not an issue. Think about some of the goals we’ve had the past month…. Flaco’s header, Montero’s header, Flaco’s through ball from Montero, even Levesque’s goal teed up by Nkufo – if you do those things right, you get outstanding chances. But also think about all the times Nyassi has the ball, has two guys picking him up, and Nkufo is in a perfect spot to receive a pass, only to watch Nyassi do nothing with it. Even a one-two here and there would loosen up defense – it’s available, and a guy like Nkufo would do well with it, but we just aren’t there yet. It’s frustrating to watch, especially after we do so many other little things well.
by mistuhp on Aug 24, 2010 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I just made a post about this kind of thing in the CCL threat
For me, passing (especially) in the final 3rd is a pretty noticeable difference between MLS teams and others teams in the competition, even the lesser-quality opponents. If the Sounders could pass and cross with the accuracy of some of these teams, all their scoring problems would go away.
hmmmm... dont know about Jaqua on the right.
I still think we need to just get Flaco in the middle. Zak needs to get healthy and stretch the defense out wide. Alvaro does a good job of that as well but Sturgis doesn’t pick up well on that. With flaco in the middle with good space he has proven he can give beautiful service. I don’t think we need to give up on Nyassi on the right. Him and Zak are very similar but his cross to Montero in SJ shows he is capable of making those connections. I think Flaco will have better vision than Sturgis resulting in better service to N’kufo. Sturgis has done well though but not a really “10” material. He’s like a way better version of PV. good at possession but not good at creativity, which Flaco is. With that our boys should be able to compete with anyone in North and Central America. I really hope we don’t see more of Marshall… geez that guy always has a F*@#%! moment every game.
I like Nate but...
he’s not really a wide player. Seems to me that to play wide you have to be fast, shifty, and good at crossing (or at least one of those things).
All aboard the Nyassi hate train
Next stop, same as the last.
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