What to watch for: Rowdies vs. Miami

Posted Jul 4, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 4, 2010 at 12:15 PM

What to watch for when the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies face Miami FC at Steinbrenner Field tonight at 7 p.m.

1. TEST OF DEPTH: With four players definitely out, two of them regular starters, the Rowdies will need players who haven’t played as big a role recently to make a difference tonight.

The biggest changes could come in defensive midfield, with both Erik Ustruck and Joe Donoho unavailable due to injury it would see Takuya Yamada will be called upon to fill in at right back. Scott Buete, who filled in well for Jeremy Christie while he was away at the World Cup, will also be unavailable while the team is hoping Christie will be able to overcome a groin injury to help lift the team.

If he cannot, though, there will be decisions to be made. The most obvious choice, to me, would be to install Drew Yates alongside Gordon Kljestan, with either Graham Tatters or Yendry Diaz moving in at left back. Yates has done reasonably well as a substitute in recent weeks, and Kljestan also filled the role earlier in the season, recording a goal and an assist against Minnesota.

2. DEMAND FOR SUPPLY: During their current four-game losing streak in the league the Rowdies have lacked the scoring punch they found up front during their undefeated run through May. Part of this has been down to missed opportunities, but another part has been thanks to a lack of quality possession and service into the front players.

The Rowdies haven’t managed 10 shots in any of their last three league games. That number needs to rise, and the principle way it will is by more passing to feet and getting the ball into dangerous wide positions. Miami goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell has been a thorn in the Rowdies side in their first two meetings, so creating quality opportunities early to get Miami back on its heels will be crucial.

3. CUT THE MISTAKES: As the Rowdies have found in the past month, winning matches can be a very hard task. That task is made all the more difficult when errors allow scoring opportunities for opponents.

With Paulo Araujo Jr. and Christian Gomez both dangerous going forward, at times tonight the Rowdies are going to have to make sure they make the high-percentage play defensively and avoid giving away possession cheaply in their own half. It’s important that the side move the ball forward more fluidly, but they can’t put unnecessary pressure on their back line with risky passes that could open up 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 chances for the Blues.