August 13, 2016
Earl Gardner/Philly Soccer Page
Alejandro Bedoya played a smart, two-way game in the United States' 1-0 win against Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field in June.
If training is any indication, Alejandro Bedoya will play Vincent Nogueira's position in his Union debut in New England this weekend.
Bedoya was paired with Warren Creavalle during Wednesday drills, implying that the club's record signing will slide in at the number eight spot against the Revs.
It's the most obvious choice for the American international. Bedoya is a versatile player who can fill a number of roles, but with depth and potency across the Union's three-man midfield line, it just makes the most sense to play him deeper.
This is how I think Jim Curtin rolls out his eleven on Saturday.
The back five shouldn't change, despite the bit of inconsistency at right center back. Ken Tribbett has been preferred to Josh Yaro in recent weeks, though both players have made mistakes.
Bedoya alongside Creavalle at the six gives you a presumed front four of Chris Pontius, Tranquillo Barnetta, Ilsinho, and C.J. Sapong.
When a player comes in, someone goes out, and that appears to be Roland Alberg, who actually sat on the bench last week.
Curtin tried Fabian Herbers as a withdrawn striker/attacking midfielder in the D.C. draw, and the rookie steadily improved throughout the game, but I don't think it's Herbers' best spot on the field, and I don't think Alberg is a true number ten either. Herbers would do well in a 4-4-2, and Alberg plays more like a second striker than a typical CAM.
If you're looking up and down the roster for the best #10, it has to be Barnetta. The bulk of Philly's early-season success came with the Swiss veteran in that advanced role, where he can be creative offensively and add to the press without having to drop into a deeper area.
I'd even take Ilsinho at the #10 before going with Alberg or Herbers. It's nothing against the latter two players, it's just about fitting guys into shapes and formations that maximize their strengths. I'd like to see the latter two in something other than a 4-2-3-1.
If we're writing out the depth chart in mid-August, the front four might look something like this -
CF – C.J. Sapong, Charlie Davies, Fabian Herbers, Chris Pontius
LM– Chris Pontius, Alejandro Bedoya, Leo Fernandes
CAM – Tranquillo Barnetta, Alejandro Bedoya, Ilsinho, Roland Alberg, Fabian Herbers, Leo Fernandes
RM – Ilsinho, Alejandro Bedoya, Walter Restrepo
That's how I'd do it. There's a lot of talent in there, but it's four positions for a pool of talented players.
You run into trouble at the six and eight, where Maurice Edu and Brian Carroll are unavailable through injury. If Creavalle goes down, you're looking at Ken Tribbett in the midfield. If Bedoya goes down, then Barnetta probably comes back to the eight, and the Union go back to square one.
There's one trait that pops up in every Bedoya highlight video, and that's his ability to make intelligent runs from a variety of positions.
This is his most well-known Nantes' goal.
In this sequence, he's playing right midfield and starts to trend backwards and inside to provide a bit of defensive shape. When the ball is turned over, he's making a light and late run towards the penalty area. With time and space, he takes a touch and hits a screamer into the back of the net.
This is the game-winning goal against Ajaccio. Similar to the PSG goal, Bedoya is on the right side and trending centrally with a late run. In this case, he sees the cross early and dashes to the unoccupied back post.
Just like the first goal, Bedoya's timing is impeccable. He's unmarked on both strikes and ghosts from that wide position in clinical fashion.
This is the goal against Caen. Bedoya is playing behind the striker in this sequence and starts the play with a smart far-post run to complement Emiliano Sala's near post run. When Sala is pulled wide and out of the play, Bedoya holds that vacated position inside the box. After a failed clearance, he's in prime position to hit a side footed shot past the goalkeeper.
Watch any piece of game film on Bedoya and the concepts are the same. He's a smart, two-way midfielder who can do a little bit of everything.
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @kevin_kinkead
