Forced to Make Radical Changes, Loons Hope to Keep Up Momentum

Riding high on its first-ever winning record in Major League Soccer, Minnesota United will have the obscure task of continuing its winning ways despite having to make numerous changes to the starting XI, primarily so in defense.

It has to be frustrating for head coach Adrian Heath who’s team’s goal differential is positive for the first time in franchise history.

The team has, for the time being, steadied its defensive woes, but in a cruel twist of fate, most the players that have contributed to this early success will be unavailable Saturday when the Loons take on the New York Red Bulls.

Club captain Francisco Calvo and his centerback partner Michael Boxall will both be gone on international duty with Costa Rica and New Zealand, respectively. Those two hold down the middle of the defense, but it appears both outside backs will be unavailable too. Tyrone Mears (calf) and Jerome Thiesson (hip) are both carrying injuries. Mears has already been ruled out while Thiesson appears to be doubtful.

When it comes to replacing the starting four, United has two suitable replacements with MLS experience, but everyone else is unproven in America’s top division. Brent Kallman, who has worn the captain’s armband in the past, played and started in 23 games last season.

He and starting goalkeeper Matt Lampson will likely be leaned on heavily to lead the defensive unit this weekend. Left-back Marc Burch, 33, has played in more than 200 MLS games in his career.

But the other two likely starters are Wyatt Omsberg and Carter Manley, both rookies taken in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. Omsberg is a centerback who captained Dartmouth College and is a two-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year. While Manley, a right-back by trade, was a three-year starter at Duke.

Heath said he told the newly constructed back-four to take their opportunity.

“I have every faith in these kids,” Heath said. “I told you when we drafted them that we think they’re going to have an MLS career. It might come a bit earlier than they expected but opportunity is coming.”

One positive for the Loons is that though they may have to change their entire backline they can do so by inserting the entire second unit which has been practicing together since the preseason.

Omsberg and Manley both agreed this would fact will likely help their performance.

“I think we’re pretty comfortable with each other,” Omsberg said. “We’ve played a lot of minutes in preseason together and we’ve been working with each other pretty much every day at practice, so I think we’re pretty comfortable with each other and hopefully that helps us out.”

Despite the pressure of potentially having to make his professional debut, both rookies appeared confident.

“This is what I’ve been training for and I’m ready for it,” Manley said. “So if my number is called then I’m ready to step in and help the team.”

Adding some complexity to the narrative is that the Red Bulls prefer to employ a high-pressing tactic, which aims to apply strong pressure specifically to the defense. A tough task for any unit, but especially an inexperienced one. But Heath said he felt the team had a great week of training.

“We know they’re going to press us, try to suffocate us,” Heath said. “Hopefully we won’t turn the ball over cheaply.”

Heath added that it is a bit difficult to scout New York because they’ve been playing more games than most MLS teams this season due to their success in the CONCACAF Champions League.

“The biggest challenge for us is having an idea who’s going to play and what shape they’re going to play because they’ve — virtually — had a different shape and different personnel for every game,” Heath said. “But regardless of what they do, what team they put out, they way they play will be exactly the same. Probably the best team in the league at putting you under pressure.”

Heath said that Sam Cronin and Luiz Fernando remain out with injury, while Rasmus Schuller will be unavailable as he is with Finland on international duty.

However, forward Abu Danladi (hamstring) is back to full fitness and is available for selection. Midfielder Frantz Pangop has had his paperwork fully cleared so he, too, will be available to play for the first time.


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