For some reason, matches between Minnesota and Indy just can’t be civil. This was an ugly game and an ugly loss. But thankfully chalktalk is here to make art out of a turd pile.

The Left Problem

Carl Craig has been struggling with a few problems that come together in the left wing role. He needs to get a player in that position who can run when the team is off the ball and apply pressure. Without everyone pushing in a high press, you’re just creating holes for the opposition. Craig also needs to find a way to keep the embarrassment of riches he has in the attack happy. And so Stefano Pinho played his second game in place of Lance Laing.

The average position chart above shows how absolutely squeezed the match was. Indy took to their wagons and circled and Pinho, in order to play a more active part, was drawn in centrally. Every time I use the average position chart, though, I need to add the caveat that it lies, somewhat. It doesn’t really take into account the times when Pinho moved out to the right to play on the wing.

Hoof and Turf’s Disease

As in their disappointing 2-2 draw in Ottawa, Minnesota found themselves undone by ye olde hoof the ball up to the big man tactic. But Indy Eleven’s stats were something to behold.

Indy spent the game bunkering in to defend and then hoofing the ball up top. A full third of their few passes were long. I’m not criticizing, mind you, because obviously it worked. But why?

Look at how deep Minnesota engaged the opposition. For all the talk of the high press, the Loons, too, were unable to turn the ball over high up the pitch. Sure, Indy lost possession from many of their long passes. But the Loons allowed too much time on the ball for those long passes to get away. Retaking possession in their own half, they were then forced to slowly bring the ball back into Indy’s half, where the Elevensies were reassembled in bunkers.

Trying to play a possession-based passing game like the Loons do on turf is like trying to ice skate on poorly-mixed pancake batter. Once again it was their downfall. The question is: would a “Plan B” help? Would having a Justin Braun up there to shepherd the ball down with his Harlequin ponytail work? Perhaps, but it seems unlikely. I also think there might be another problem that crept up in the last match.

Youth Versus Experience

Tiago Calvano has found himself sidelined by the impressive play of Damion Lowe and Brent Kallman. Lowe and Kallman provide the speed and athletic ability that you need to pull off a high press. Tiago has become notably slower since the middle of 2015.

But. Here’s the big but: the team desperately could have used Tiago on the weekend. Both of the centerbacks found themselves dropping deep and failing to push forward as their teammates needed.

When the Loons found themselves down a goal again in the 75th minute, they began to really push forward. This is a good thing, but many of Lowe’s and Kallman’s passes were hurried. With fifteen minutes to go, they were hoofing the ball forward, only to find their attackers muscled out of possession. Calvano’s cooler head might have picked better passes and maintained possession.

On Saturday, the Loons will face a different beast in the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a quicker, smaller beast. So my call for the reinstatement of Tiago may not be relevant for the upcoming match, but in these slower, more muscular games, Tiago’s experience could win points.