Home vs. Birmingham Legion Preview
Date: Saturday May 3, 2025
Kickoff Time: 7:30 pm EST at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, FL
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (3 pts 1W-0D-5L); Birmingham Legion FC (5 pts 1W-2D-3L)
Standings: The Rowdies are 12th in the East and Legion are 8th.
Despite improvements made in recent games, the Rowdies are winless since late March. Even this early in the season, they’re starting to sink down the potential final table for the Eastern Conference and playoff positions. This weekend, they have a good chance to try to put a full game together against opposition they know well. Make sure you have your tickets to go to Al Lang on Saturday so you can cheer the boys on to victory!
How do we get back in the winning column?
In their first ever match for the USL Jagermeister Cup, the Rowdies played 45 minutes of very good football. They reacted well to Miami’s possession, and they built positively when in control of the ball. Even if one goal came from a deflection, and another from a set piece, the third was really the icing on top as Manuel Arteaga finished off a beautiful build up that he helped start.
The second half is where it all fell apart. While the visitors adjusted at halftime, the hosts were slow to react. Dubious calls aside, it was possible that Miami could have taken the lead in the final ten minutes after having equalized in the 77th. It laid bare the defensive problems that have shaken the team despite what was actually a good performance going the other way.
This actually followed a similar game against Louisville City. Tampa Bay can put in a good shift in spite of injuries, transition, and any other off-field distractions. Closing out the full 90 minutes has eluded them. When Birmingham come to town, they’ll have a chance to do this against a side that hasn’t been in great form – although, naturally, theirs has been better so far in 2025.
Birmingham will likely line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, or some variation thereof. They did some smart shopping in the offseason, bringing in USL vets in Ronaldo Damus and Danny Trejo. Add them to a base of players that have been part of the Legion for several years, and you have what looked like a very potent team. It hasn’t played out that way just yet.
Trejo is likely to take up his usual place on the wing, with Canadian Tyler Pasher the most likely to occupy the other. The latter of those has also played more centrally at times, interacting with Kobe Hernandez-Foster to build up toward Damus in the striker’s position. The Haitian forward has one Jager Cup goal to go along with his four in the league, suggesting he at least is firing on all cylinders.
On the more defensive side of things, a regular villain to the Tampa Bay area will take up his regular role. Enzo Martinez is known by Rowdies fans for his beard and for his barbarism. Tackles that go un-cautioned are followed by constant bleating to the referee for more favorable calls. He will also look to get under players’ and fans’ skins in an effort to put someone – anyone – off their game.
The Rowdies will have to line up against this with some number of injuries. At this stage, it’s not known if Lewis Hilton will be back and ready to go – he wasn’t able to get off the bench last weekend. Blake Bodily, Nick Moon, and Laurence Wyke have all been missing as well. This will impact how Tampa Bay lines up even if manager Steve Coleman is able to use his preferred formation.
Aaron Guillen will likely stay at left back just as he did last Saturday. Thomas Vancaeyezeele has shown himself adept at providing cover on the opposite side. They will both have to be prepared to defend with Trejo, Pasher, or possibly another running at them all game. The final piece is in the midfield, where yet another injury could harm the team.
Cammy MacPherson has started the majority of games this year, playing alongside Danny Crisostomo or him and Lewis Hilton when the latter was fit. MacPherson and Crisostomo have developed good chemistry so far. However, the Scot may be out as well after a recurring shoulder problem was triggered against Miami. Without him, options start getting dire, particularly in front of the back line.
Score Predictions from the RBLR Rowdies Podcast:
Carlos: 3-1 W
James: 2-2 D
Yurika: 1-1 D
