If you’re writing an introductory article about Minnesota United gaffer Carl Craig, there’s a checklist of things that you have to cover as background.
- Craig has a thick Geordie accent. (1a: Usually, you follow this point up by saying this reminds you of someone you know with an Irish accent, which he’ll rib you about later.)
- He has a punk rock past. Extra points if you mention that one of his bands toured with Chumbawumba. Further cred if you get him to admit who his favorite punk band is (The answer to this? 1970s English collective Crass.)
- Craig believes that a successful player treats the mental component of the game as having equal importance to the physical. As The Guardian put it, “In his coaching, he broaches into New Age territory. Meditation. Even hypnosis.” And as some determined players go so far as taking up hypnosis, we should aspire to exhibit that level of dedication, which’d eventually be sufficient just for our survival, in most cases. Using free scripts for hypnosis would help you focus on your work in a significant way, and bring about visible changes.
Given Minnesota United’s recent slump (just two points in their last four matches), the players’ collective mentality is going to be the only way for the team to get back into the thick of the Fall Season title chase. Last week, I used this space to outline all of the injuries that have plagued the club this fall as well as the lack of reinforcements brought in during the now-dormant summer transfer window. There were encouraging signs during the match against Edmonton, between Ben Speas going a full 90 minutes and the continued integration of formerly-injured veterans like Jamie Watson and Ibson. Still, the club found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline, falling 1-0 to an Edmonton side that looks like they’ve already clinched a spot in the postseason.
Indeed, the NASL table makes it seem as if three teams have already confirmed their entries into the NASL Championship pool.
The league still has 13/14 games remaining, so all isn’t lost yet (at this point last season, United was behind Atlanta Silverbacks in the combined table, who ended up finishing in eighth, eight points out of postseason play. However, Minnesota lost a total of five matches in 2015. At this point, they’re already at 7.
The split schedule has drawn both the praise and the ire of various fans and commentators alike, but despite clinching their playoff berth early, Indy has proven they weren’t a 10-match case of good fortune. Meanwhile, Edmonton has made their home field a nearly-guaranteed trap for any opponent, while the Cosmos have been who we thought they were all along. Minnesota is still in fourth, but four teams are within five points of them, magnifying the points they’ve dropped along the way to an even greater degree.
It isn’t time to retreat to doom-and-gloom yet, as nine wins in their final fourteen matches would automatically give the team a higher point total than last year’s squad. If this is going to happen, however, two things will need to take place.
1. Players will need to return to full fitness.
This comes with time, but a lot of the injuries that have hit the hardest are finally reaching resolution. After missing every match since the season opener, midfielder Greg Jordan was back in action today, running and training indoors before starting on-ball work again. Considering the initial game plan relied on Brovsky and Jordan as double-6s, this is great news.
Likewise, winger Bernardo Añor is back to moving without a limp or any sort of brace on his ankle. Right back Kevin Venegas was working with coach Jarryd Phillips to get back to full fitness after his operation, testing his leg (and passing) after quick directional changes, sprints, and laps around the pitch. Center back Damion Lowe was back on the field training with the full team after his ankle injury, and winger Daniel Mendes was back to full strength as well.
After the club only had five players on the bench in Edmonton, having the full squad available again will give a notable boost. However, unless the players are able to re-acclimate themselves to the lineup immediately, this process could cause further hiccups.
2. Every player will have to keep their focus on the next game.
This is where Craig’s “New Age” coaching strategies come in. Frankly, the idea that mentality affects results isn’t rocket science. Between visualization exercises and watching footage, a lot of preparation for every match happens without a ball at the team’s feet. That said, the team will need to treat their next match like the most important one every week from here on out.
“If one person steps up and has a brilliant game, it obviously makes things easier. If Christian (Ramirez) scores a hat trick tomorrow, that should do the trick,” Watson joked after practice when asked what’ll help end this slump. “Honestly, I felt like we were in good spirits leading into Edmonton. Last time on the field, we were beaten by a better team on the day with Miami. We didn’t let it take a toll more than it needed to. We didn’t get a result, but with a quick turnaround and where we’re at mentally, it’s a good time to have a quick turnaround.
“We can get back out and play a game at home on Wednesday against a good Tampa team. If we play to our ability and our strengths, we can give them a tough fight… Everybody needs to buy into what we were talking about on the training ground. We’re being told the right things and right tactics–it’s just a matter of us doing them.”
Watson in particular has looked to be playing with more confidence in recent matches. After failing to see the field in nine of the ten Spring Season matches, Watson has subbed into the past two matches and made an impact, helping spark the offense with shots and dangerous crosses. He admitted that the team needs to get back to being the same clinical finishers that set an NASL record for goals scored in 2015 and were on pace for topping that mark before this swoon.
There was a dust-up between two players during the team’s seven-on-seven, short-field drill today. One player called another out on being out of position when the other team scored. It resulted in the two players getting into a verbal altercation, while other players and coaches physically separated them. After cooling off (both metaphorically and literally under blistering heat), the players were able to finish the drill on the same side and move past the dispute.
“There’s no problem with the team as far as cohesion goes,” Watson asserted. “Honestly, we would’ve been more worried if they didn’t get upset about that play. Even when guys get into altercations like that, it’s because they’re giving their all out there. That’s a good problem to have. It’s not complacency at the moment. When things aren’t going well, that’s a place where most people will check out because it’s on a practice field. But when these guys care about letting in a goal in a drill on a Tuesday afternoon on the day after flying back in? That’s where you need to be.”
Watson may be called into starting action on Wednesday night as Danny Cruz looks to rest an foot injury going into the weekend. Whether it’s Watson, Mendes, or another player on the wing, the team must collectively buy into the idea that results matter from here on out. If the team is going to exit the NASL by making the postseason, the club has to get back into the wins column.
That’s where they need to be.
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