Ethan Finlay (13) works his way around a Philadelphia defender during last weekend’s match. Andrew Maniskas/The Pit
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]fter a dominating two match homestand that saw Columbus Crew SC take all six points and outscore Orlando City SC and Philadelphia Union by a combined 7-1, the Black and Gold are on a roll and brimming with confidence.
Kei Kamara is emerging as an early MVP candidate with five goals and two assists. Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram have been dangerous on the wings, while Federico Higuain’s work rate continues to be second to none, though Kamara has been giving him a run for his money.
If I had said to any Crew SC fan before this season started that they would be in this position and would be doing it without a healthy Wil Trapp, however, I would have been laughed at.
Trapp was a part of one of the best pivot pairings in the league last season alongside the rejuvenated Tony Tchani, but with Trapp’s early season injuries that included a knock in the leg that cost him a trip with the USMNT U-23 squad and now concussion-like symptoms that will leave him out of action for an undisclosed amount of time, the question was who would fill the role while Trapp heals up?
Mohammed Saeid has been the answer, and not even Gregg Berhalter could have envisioned just how well Saeid has slid into Trapp’s role. The midfielder from Sweden, who joined Columbus Crew SC on a free transfer from Örebro SK in the top flight of Sweden’s football league, has been yet another diamond in the rough for the Sporting Director, whose list of successes in the transfer market include Steve Clark and bringing back Kei Kamara. The yet-to-be-seen transfer of Cedrick from La Liga, right now, could be just as great of a transfer, though he will not join until midseason.
Let’s get back to Saeid, though, and analyze just what his role has been since Trapp went down with an injury. We’ll start with the basics.
Columbus Crew SC Base Formation: 4-2-3-1
The standard formation for Gregg Berhalter’s side is the 4-2-3-1, which is one of the most common formations that is seen around the world, along with the 4-3-3 and the 4-4-2, whether it be a “flat” or “diamond” version. Kamara sits as the lone striker, or the #9 role. Federico Higuain sits behind him in the central attack role, or the #10. Meram and Finlay are out wide and will play dual roles as midfielders and wingers, so they will help out on the flanks with defense, but they want to push up as much as possible.
Saeid and Tchani are in the central defensive roles, otherwise known as the pivot. Their job is to stifle the attack of the offense while being the middlemen from the back four to the attackers.
Francis and Grana are the fullbacks in the system, while Pogatetz and captain Michael Parkhurst sit in front of Steve Clark.
That’s your standard 4-2-3-1, a very balanced formation that provides support for your striker with three attacking midfielders while not abandoning your back four by providing two defensive minded midfielders. However, in the last few weeks, we’ve seen Berhalter’s influence on this.
Standard Attack 4-2-3-1
This is what a standard attack ends up looking like in a 4-2-3-1, give or take a few changes to tactics. Here are the important things to note:
- Kamara will push up into the penalty area and wait for service, whether it’s via a cross or feed from his flanks or Higuain.
- Meram and Finlay will push into the final third, making themselves also available for runs behind the defensive back line.
- Higuain has more of a free role, but will try to stay central as he will look to feed or even shoot if he gets a chance
- Francis and Grana will push up into the attacking half of the field while Tony Tchani provides a cushion for Higuain in case he is dispossessed
- Mohammed Saeid will push up just enough to be a secondary support, but he’s still hanging back in case of a counter-attack
- Pogatetz and Parkhurst will widen out a bit, but not too much, as the final line of defense before Clark is called into action.
In this form of the 4-2-3-1, there’s still great balance. The fullbacks have pushed up and are looking to feed the ball up, but they are not overlapping with their runs. It simply allows Meram and Finlay to push higher and get into more dangerous positions.
Now, here’s what we’ve seen the last couple of weeks:
Ultra Attacking Formation, 4-2-3-1
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Someone reading this just looked at this formation and envisioned using this attack in FIFA 15. Guaranteed.
There’s a lot going on here, so let’s break it down role by role:
- Not much changes for Kamara. He’s still in the penalty area, looking for service.
- Meram and Finlay have pushed higher and will even sit on the edge of the penalty area, almost making them second and third strikers.
- Francis and Grana are so high up they will eventually overlap Finlay and Meram as they look to cross into the box.
- Higuain, while still in his free-roam role, has pushed back into the attacking third and continues to look for options
- Tony Tchani is so high up that he now acts as a second central attacker, though he tries to hang back just behind Higuain
- Pogatetz and Parkhurst are so wide on the flanks that they are now essentially fullbacks until a counter-attack comes.
- Mohammed Saeid is now in a true DLP, splitting the difference between the spread-out center backs.
Kei Kamara (23) works his way around the Philadelphia Union goalkeeper en route to the goal. Andrew Maniskas/The Pit
So, Berhalter has put his trust into Mohammed Saeid in being what we call a DLP, or deep-lying playmaker. That’s still his role in the standard attack, but it hasn’t been this pronounced. He is essentially the mid-center back in a 3-4-3 once the attack gets set. This puts a lot of pressure on the midfielder, but he has owned this role.
I’ve mentioned multiple times on Twitter and in recaps that his passing accuracy has been incredible (He only missed two passes Saturday) and it has looked like he’s played with this team for years and not months. The depth of this club is fantastic.
Going back to the attack, I cannot stress enough how dangerous Kamara has been playing in the lone striker role.
Last season, this team desperately needed a striker like Kamara. Jairo Arrieta wasn’t bad, but he was missing his finishing touch. Adam Bedell simply wasn’t ready. Aaron Schoenfeld provided a spark later in the season, but he was more of an impact sub and not quite ready for the Starting XI. Kamara has injected life into this attack in ways nobody expected. Yes, he’s familiar with the club, the city and the fans, but he wasn’t familiar with the system.
You wouldn’t know that, though, because he has hit the ground with his feet running at full speed.
Higuain has had two of his best matches of the season the last two weeks while Ethan Finlay broke free from his drought of goals and was involved in three of the four goals on Saturday to earn Man of the Match. Meram has been dangerous from the left side and his form has not dipped at all this season.
Tony Tchani is getting back into the form we saw from him last year even with the change in the pivot to Mohammed Saeid, who has been killing it in the DLP role.
Let’s give some love to Hernan Grana as well, who has been a lock down defender on the right side while providing ample support in the attack. His battery mate, Waylon Francis, was lethal on Saturday getting service into the box. It made the lives of Parkhurst and Pogatetz nice and easy for most of the night while Steve Clark’s distribution was magnificent.
If this attack continues the way it’s going, this is arguably the most dangerous team in the league. Everyone is clicking together, possession is fantastic, and everyone is stepping up when someone goes down with an injury or suspension.
We’re going to know more about this team the next two weeks with stiff tests in D.C. United and Seattle Sounders FC, but right now there’s a lot to be excited about with the Black and Gold.
