Rowdies aim for more decisiveness in final third

Posted Jul 14, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 14, 2010 at 01:44 PM

After producing only three shots on goal and forcing only one save from Minnesota’s Joe Warren last Saturday, the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies have been working hard on their play in the final third of the field ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Puerto Rico Islanders.

“That’s what we’ve been working on all week, just getting our timing right and curving our runs a little bit and definitely getting goals in the net,” midfielder Drew Yates said after Wednesday’s practice.

Making decisive movements and runs to create chances was an aspect of the game that seemed to be lacking against Minnesota. Part of the reason for that could be attributed to a reduced level of confidence, especially with the injuries that have hit the team taking away a good amount of its experience and leadership. The younger Rowdies players, though, appear to understand the need for them to step up into leadership roles to help turn the team’s season around.

“Somebody has to step up and score goals, but it has to come through teamwork,” winger Pascal Millien said. “Coming into tomorrow’s game we need to get it together, we need to start playing the way we used to when we were playing well in the first five games.”

A big part of finding that form again is confidence. Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish has been working to get the team feeling positive it can replicate the 2-1 victory the team earned against the Islanders earlier in the season. That victory, in fact, was the last time the Rowdies took all three points from a game.

“We’ve worked on getting back to basics for the last couple of weeks,” Dalglish said. “Trying to create goal-scoring opportunities, the movement of the front three again and just trying to get them in as many goal-scoring opportunities as possible and try to get their confidence back in the final third.”

With a four-game home stand to start the second half of the regular season offering a big opportunity for the team, Millien said he believes the team is ready to start moving in a positive direction.

“Tomorrow is going to be a new beginning for us,” Millien said. “We need to get back on track, we can’t have a fear of losing. We’ve got to get out there and do what we’ve got to do and we’re all ready. Let’s hope we can shine in everybody’s face and put a big smile on all of the Rowdies’ faces.”