The Morning After: Rowdies vs. Puerto Rico Islanders

Posted Jul 16, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 16, 2010 at 11:43 AM

Some thoughts on the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies’ 0-0 draw against the Puerto Rico Islanders at Steinbrenner Field on Thursday night.

1. HALF FULL, HALF EMPTY: After Thursday night’s game, it appeared as though the team was relatively happy with earning a point. After a tough game in tough conditions against a physically taxing team, you can understand that sentiment, especially when a defeat would have meant the Islanders jumping over the Rowdies and dropping them out of the playoffs places.

But at the same time, it felt as though with some more guile and sharper finishing, this was a game that could have been won by the Rowdies. The chance that stood out most was Pascal Millien’s in the second minute, which if taken not only would have been a huge confidence boost, but could have led to a result more akin to the 3-1 victory against Minnesota earlier this season. Hopefully the team can build on this and string together a run of results to close out this homestand, but if it can’t, the more this result could be viewed in retrospect as two points dropped.

2. FINDING THE ANGLES: As we all know at this point, the Rowdies play on one of the shortest, and as such tightest, fields in the league. Because of that, it was disappointing to see so much of the Rowdies’ movement and passing continue to move in straight lines, or back in the direction the ball had come from initially.

With the way the Islanders packed the center of the field, it seemed the best way the Rowdies would be able to take advantage would be to get the ball into wide areas and attack the opposing full backs. But too often when they were on the verge of switching the ball from flank to flank the ball would arrive in the center of midfield and be played straight forward into the teeth of the Islanders defense.

The side has worked on its passing and movement in the attacking third, especially this week, but making the angled runs that are going to unlock a defense is still something that needs tuning before the Rowdies face Rochester.

3. SILVER LININGS: Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish said after last night’s game the team was hopeful that midfielder Jeremy Christie could be available for Thursday’s game against Rochester, depending on how test results come back when Christie next gets evaluated by the team doctors.

That would obviously be a welcome return to the line-up with the experience Christie would bring to the center of midfield, especially with two games in four days next week. Hopefully more good news will come soon for Aaron Wheeler and Gordon Kljestan, both of whom would be starting if healthy.

But if there has been a silver lining to the injury troubles that have hit the Rowdies lately, it’s been the way the younger players have tried to step up. Mozzi Gyorio was again a positive influence against Puerto Rico, and Millien was for me the most dangerous player on the field. We also started to see flashes of what Andre Akpan could be capable of after he was brought on as a substitute.

For players like Gyorio, this season was meant to be a learning experience behind players like Christie, Yamada, Buete and others. But the experience he and others have gained in the last three weeks could prove invaluable later this season and beyond.