Talking tactics: Diamonds aren't forever

What should Vancouver Whitecaps FC expect from Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium (6:30 p.m. PT kickoff – TSN1/3 and TSN 1410 radio)?

Let’s take a look. 

DIAMONDS AREN’T FOREVER

Excuse the attempt at a witty headline.

For years, RSL was almost synonymous with its 4-4-2 diamond midfield. It was their tried and tested formation – and it worked.

Using the diamond, RSL qualified for the playoffs in seven straight seasons, won the MLS Cup in 2009, and were MLS Cup finalists in 2013. But the departure of head coach Jason Kreis in December 2013, coupled with last year’s 5-0 loss to LA Galaxy in the Western Conference semifinals, signaled the end of an era in Utah.

This year, under second-year head coach Jeff Cassar, the Claret-and-Cobalt have been using a new 4-3-3 formation. Here’s why, according to Brian Dunseth, a former MLS veteran and U.S. Olympian who serves as RSL’s TV colour analyst.

“With personnel leaving in the offseason (Borchers, Winger, Grabavoy, Velasquez, Salcedo, Findley), Jeff Cassar and co. had the opportunity to get more athletic in problematic positions, while also adjusting their look to get the best out of their most dynamic players,” Dunseth said.

RSL Starting XI vs. SKC (April 11)

“This specific formation will allow the likes of Plata, Garcia, Jaime, Allen to play in their natural ‘high and wide’ positions, while utilizing a trio of Morales, Beckerman, Gil, Mulholland in the dominant central midfield roles. And maybe most importantly, the ability of the outside backs in Beltran, Phillips, Mansally to get forward with ease in the attack with the athleticism and aerial dominance of Olave, Schuler, Vasquez holding down the fort.”

So is it working?

I’d say the jury is still out (keeping in mind that five matches is still a relatively small sample size and their 2014 leading goalscorer Joao Plata has been unavailable due to injury). 

On the one hand, RSL are undefeated in five matches (2W-0L-3D) and have posted clean sheets on the road at Portland, San Jose, and Kansas City. So clearly, they are fully capable defensively.

At the same time, they’ve only scored two goals from run of play. The other four have come via free kick (3) and penalty (1) – meaning the ‘Caps will need to be wary of committing any fouls in dangerous areas.

Let’s take a closer look at the underlying stats.

One of RSL’s biggest strengths with the diamond midfield was its ability to keep possession. The team’s possession game has understandably taken a little hit early on in the 4-3-3, as you can see below. They’re also creating the least amount of chances per game in MLS, which is surely more concerning than the expected drop in possession.

As you can see, RSL are also attempting fewer crosses per game than they did in 2014, which is surprising because the 4-3-3 offers much more width than the diamond did. It’s also surprising because both of their goals from open play have been scored off crosses this season.

JAVIER MORALES

Speaking of those two goals from open play, they were both set up by attacking midfielder Javier Morales. In fact, the Argentine has either scored or assisted on five of RSL’s six goals so far this season.

I guess you could say the new formation is suiting him just fine.

In the last few games, he’s been lining up on the ride side of Kyle Beckerman. However, if you look at his average position in games this year, he’s still playing quite centrally. The graphic you see below is from Salt Lake's game against San Jose Earthquakes on April 5. Scroll the slider to see how Morales' average position changed over the 90 minutes. 

As you can see below, Morales is creating most of his chances from the centre of the park as well. The idea is that he actually plays stacked above Beckerman with the added freedom of drifting to either side to collect the ball and make plays.

Where Morales has created his chances from in 2015 (courtesy of Squawka)

If there’s one player Whitecaps FC need to focus on, it’s Morales. Case in point: he leads the team with 13 chances created (the next closest player has four) as well as an average of 77.6 touches per game.

Here’s what Morales had to say about how the new formation has changed his game.

“I think I have more options in front of me,” he was quoted as saying in the Deseret News. “When you play diamond in the middle you only have two forwards, but in the new formation you already have three in front of me.”

Cassar also provided his two cents in the same article.

“He’s getting the ball in different areas of the field,” Cassar said. “Maybe it’s just with one defender marking him instead of two defensive midfielders. They can’t zone in on one player there, they’ve got to worry about our other attacking midfielder if we choose to play that way.”

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