Home vs. Oakland Roots Preview

Date: Saturday July 8, 2023

Kickoff Time: 7:30 pm EST at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, FL

Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (31pt 9W-4D-4L); Oakland Roots (16pts 6W-5D-5L)

Standings: The Rowdies are 3rd in the East and Oakland are 8th in the West 

The Rowdies have had two tough games in a row that ultimately turned into wins. Differences in talent led to three points vs Loudoun United and then Las Vegas Lights. However, this week will prove even more challenging for the Green and Gold: the search for a new manager begins again. Come to Al Lang this weekend to wish Neill Collins well on his new adventure in England!

Neill is off to Barnsley? What’s a Barnsley?

It’s now confirmed that Neill Collins has a new deal at a new club back in England. The Scot made the vast majority of the appearances in his playing career in the northwest for Wolverhampton and then Sheffield United. There was speculation earlier in this season he would be leaving for a club from around there; but, it turns out that was a few months early. Instead, he will be headed to the English Football League One, the third tier of professional soccer there, looking to earn promotion with Barnsley to the second tier.

As it happens, the game this Saturday against Oakland Roots will be his last in charge of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Inevitably, the focus of this game will shift away from the on-field goings on, even if that’s where the coaching staff would prefer it stay. Keeping his players as motivated and zeroed in as they can be will be Collins’ last task before he flies across the pond again. Getting one final win and the three points that come with it will be all that he asks of his charges. 

Besides the ability to maintain focus, Oakland will ask tough questions of a Rowdies team seemingly in transition from forces other than the impending loss of their head coach. Two weeks ago, Ryan Spaulding and Laurence Wyke completed their loans down south and headed back to their respective MLS clubs. Injuries are still weighing heavily on the roster even while a few players have returned from lengthy absences. A new balancing game is unfolding. 

Where Spaulding was frequently taking up roles as a fullback-cum-winger on the left, Aaron Guillen and Jake Areman have split minutes more recently. Areman then moved into the center of the midfield for the last game against Las Vegas where he played alongside 2023 stalwart Jordan Doherty. The two combined to good enough effect to help eke out a 2-1 win. 

Charlie Dennis, who had previously been playing almost as a throwback #10 in midfield, was himself shunted to the wing to allow Cal Jennings more room centrally. Jennings rewarded this decision with a trademark solo goal, running nearly the length of the Lights’ defensive half before finishing with a sweet half volley off the outside of his boot. Dennis was replaced by Dayonn Harris on the wing, seemingly more reward for Jennings after his exploits. 

Following a Las Vegas equalizer ten minutes after the Rowdies’ opener, it was the home team who had the better of it for much of the game. Ultimately, Lucky Mkosana came on for Jennings, who then sat up top and allowed room for JJ Williams to try to exploit deeper. That’s exactly what he did, scoring an absolute thunderbolt with three minutes and stoppage time left. Yet, it was still the absences and heart-in-mouth moments that would dominate discussion after this one. At least, it would be if the conversation hadn’t suddenly changed afterwards.

Can Oakland exploit the chaos factor in this game?

Oakland Roots came into this week with the odds in the opposition’s favor. It’s likely those will still be pointing to a Tampa Bay win even on Saturday. However, there is more than meets the eye going on here. Not only did the Rowdies have those two lesser performances detailed above, but they also now have the added pressure of knowing what’s coming down the pike. 

While the Rowdies coaching staff will be leading into this game stressing continuity – and putting in place an interim coach who’s been with the club for years now – there is some disruption that will surely take place. Whether that be in the form of a new hire with new ideas or a simple shift in the locker room, something as seismic as this cannot be swept under the rug. 

Neill Collins has been in charge of the Rowdies for the better part of five years. He’s physically been at the club for over seven years now, leading first as a veteran player from a well-respected league before transitioning to manager. He has overseen more than one rebuilding of the roster as well as the execution of high-profile transfers in and out of the club for years. Players will have come to the Gulf Coast bought into his system. Now everyone will have to adjust. 

The Roots seemingly then take on the Rowdies at the most opportune moment outside of the first month of this season. They will want to do everything they can to get into Tampa Bay’s players’ heads and take their focus off the defending and passing and shooting needed to win any game of soccer. It might take a small nudge or possibly a larger one; fans can rest assured that nudging will occur, though. 

Oakland has played a 3-4-3 system for most of the last few months. It will be reminiscent to Rowdies fans who saw something similar for stretches during this season. Key to their success will be the fullbacks who are responsible for carrying the ball and the forwards who will want to not only get on the end of crosses, but often do a lot of the chance creation themselves. 

Polish forward Dariusz Formella plays in a hybrid role where he will start wide and end up coming more inside as the play develops. This is also true for American Johnny Rodriguez, who will likely start on the opposite side to Formella. They have combined for eleven goals and three assists together, forming a formidable front line for other attackers to rotate in and out of. 

Fullbacks, as stated, play a large role here. This is borne out in the stats, with Edgardo Rito and Bryan Tamacas creating the most Big Chances, as counted by FotMob. Memo Diaz, another wingback, is responsible for the most chances created; although, he will be suspended following a red card in Oakland’s last match. His role will likely be filled immediately by Tamacas, who is returning from the CONCACAF Gold Cup where he represented and captained El Salvador. 

At the Gold Cup, El Salvador finished bottom of their group with two points earned from two draws against Costa Rica and Panama. Tamacas started all three games at right back, wearing the armband for two of them. Another international returnee will be Neveal Hackshaw, who played for Trinidad and Tobago at the Gold Cup. He also started all three games in the group stage as Trini were dumped out with only one win in a tough group. Both of these defenders will provide a big boost to Oakland as they try to stabilize their defense against the Rowdies. 

Score Predictions from the RBLR Rowdies Podcast:

Carlos Rueda: 2-0 Rowdies

James Knowles: 1-1 Draw

Yurika Wheeler: 1-0 Rowdies

Special Guest: Derrell Smith @thedjsmith: 2-1 Rowdies