Away to Memphis 901 Preview
Date: Saturday May 4, 2024
Kickoff Time: 4:00 pm EST at AutoZone Park in Memphis, TN
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (13 pts 3W-4D-0L); Memphis 901 FC (7 pts 2W-0D-5L)
Standings: The Rowdies are 4th in the East and Memphis are 10th in the West
After a rather emphatic win, the Rowdies seem to have turned a corner in 2024. A somewhat slow start has begun to coalesce around a set of players who’ve displayed some real verve and attacking prowess. A major test lies in their way, as the team travels to play on an unforgiving field in Memphis. Come cheer the Green and Gold on from Barriehaus in Ybor City with us from RBLR Sports!
How did they handle New Mexico so well?
According to coach Robbie Neilson, the Rowdies want to play in the other team’s half. Specifically, he said – in the post-game press conference following the win vs. New Mexico – that he wanted to get the center backs to the halfway line. From there, he would like the Green and Gold to attack using their familiar patterns while compressing the field.
The effectiveness of this concept was on display in the 90 minutes prior to the press conference. Multiple chances were created when Tampa Bay was able to keep the ball in the opposition half, whether through their possession or their press when out of possession. The second goal in particular was a direct indication of how potent this can be.
Cal Jennings, who had already scored off a corner kick, chased down the New Mexico goalkeeper who had the ball at his feet. Properly spooked, he played it hastily to Talen Maples, sitting close to United’s left sideline. Before he could adequately clear it, Manuel Arteaga was on him. The clearance deflected behind Maples, from which Arteaga found Jennings and it was 2-0.
By smushing the field from 120 yards to 60, the Rowdies have shown they can score while playing with or without the ball. This has turned into many chances and an even higher shot count. To nail the point home, the game vs. New Mexico isn’t even the best example. Instead, we must look at a trend of at least three games.
Following what could fairly be called a dreadful 0-0 draw away to Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Tampa Bay has lit the league up. Away vs. The Miami, the Rowdies created 8 Big Chances and took 24 total shots. The figures for the 1-1 draw at home vs. El Paso were 4 Big Chances and 21 total shots. Finally, vs. New Mexico it was 5 Big Chances and a comparatively paltry 16 total shots. (All stats come from Fotmob.)
This has placed the Rowdies third best in the league for Goals per Game and tied for second for Big Chances. (Unfortunately, they are also second in Big Chances missed.) It seems that April could be a catalyst month for the club in 2024. It took a while; but, the formula is there.
This has been a common refrain for RBLR Sports when covering the Rowdies lately. Anyone who looked at the roster would immediately admit there is talent in spades. Finding the right positions for those players available was a little bit of a challenge. Getting everyone on the same page was similarly difficult because there were quite a few new faces.
Now that the patterns are nailed down, damn near everything is looking up. Playing down the right, the fullback and right wingback combine with a roving #8 in midfield. Down the left, the fullback and wingback combine with the third forward. Jennings and Arteaga are the first line of defense, while Forrest Lasso’s tall frame provides as close to a brickwall at halfway as one can get in this league. Let them cook.
Why is it always so hard to play Memphis?
One thing common to the three most recent Rowdies games has been the full length and width of a regulation soccer field. To put it in more appropriate terms, the size of the pitch is perfect. It allows Tampa Bay to stretch their opponents on the wings while still compressing the opposition far away from their own goal. Why, they’d have to score from their own half to have a real chance…
Barring any ridiculous outcomes like that, something that could hurt the Green and Gold is a field of lower quality. Turf is generally harder to play on than freshly watered grass. Thinner or shorter pitches allow for less space where the Rowdies want it. The importance of the fullbacks has been a hallmark of this team since Covid.
Thus, Memphis 901 have always been a thorn in Tampa Bay’s side. Traveling there was once described by former manager Neill Collins as like, “playing on a postage stamp.” In addition, there is a clay infield that takes up a portion of the pitch. Frequently, sod is laid over that. The ability of these strips of turf to hold under a player’s weight is questionable at best.
Memphis is also usually a tougher team. They have provided stiff tests for the Rowdies in the regular season and the playoffs alike. This will be another good benchmark to overcome, should Tampa Bay do so this weekend. While the club from Tennessee has had a tough start to 2024, input from Lawrence Dockery of the 901 Soccer Podcast suggests they still have room to grow.
Injuries and even suspensions have taken a toll on the early games for 901 FC. Reports from Dockery suggest the club, which is partially owned by former US men’s national team legend Tim Howard, has just learned that USL legend Neco Brett will miss the remainder of the season. His record in this league speaks for itself. That would be a huge blow for the team.
Additionally, fullback Akeem Ward has only just returned to play following a multi-game suspension. Oscar Jimenez was also sent off in that first match of the season. Ward was just named the 21st best player in the league by Backheeled.com and Jimenez has been around the USL Championship for nearly seven years. It’s a hell of a duo to lose for any period of time.
In their attack, a Brazilian trio brings typical flair to their play. One of those, Luiz Fernando, had a stint with the Rowdies. Past the injuries that kept him out of nearly the entire 2021 campaign with the west Florida club, he will look to combine with Marlon Santos and Bruno Lapa to create and finish off chances. Luiz Fernando already has one assist against Tampa Bay since leaving.
All those listed above will look to combine up top with teenager Nighte Pickering. He joined Memphis from FC Dallas in 2022 and has one goal so far this year. His league play has also led to recent US youth national team call-ups, which meant another player missing time for 901 FC. Together, they’ll want to create and exploit the chaos of a smaller field and try to inflict the first loss of the season on the Rowdies.
Score Predictions from the RBLR Rowdies Podcast:
Carlos: 2-1 W
James: 0-0 D
Yurika: 2-2 D
Guest: 3-2 L Lawrence Dockery (@ldock93)
