August 18, 2016
Daniel Gajdamowicz/Philly Soccer Page
Tranquillo Barnetta earned 'Team of the Week' honors for his performance in the 4-0 win against New England.
Tranquillo Barnetta will give you quality at any position on the field.
Well, maybe not goalkeeper or center back, but you get the point.
The veteran Swiss midfielder started his career on the wings with St. Gallen and Bayer Leverkusen, then moved inside as he entered his late twenties. He pulled right back spot duty for Schalke in the Champion's League and most recently filled the gaping hole left by Vincent Nogueira at the Union's number eight spot. The flexibility is important, especially in that kind of emergency situation.
But it's clear that the 31-year old is better when he's closer to the goal.
That's once again the case with the addition of United States international midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, who looks more comfortable in a deep-lying role. Bedoya's insertion at the eight allowed Barnetta to return to the No. 10 spot against New England, and the Union proceeded to clobber the Revs four-nil in Foxborough.
"I played it in the beginning of the year, and I really like to play there," said Barnetta of his switch to the ten. "So, it wasn't that hard to change (positions) again. I'm a little bit closer to the goal and I can make final passes. That's what I like."
.Barnetta and Pontius make @mls Team of the Week after @PhilaUnion 4-0 win over @NERevolution. https://t.co/jwiC1cO5Yh
— Union Rumors (@UnionRumors) August 15, 2016
On his return to the ten, Barnetta logged four shots, two shots on goal, seven fouls drawn and 12 recoveries. Not since June first, the final game before the Copa America break, had the midfielder reached those individual marks in a match.
He had previously made six starts at the No. 8 after Nogueira's June departure. The Union went 2-2-2 during those games and slumped to fifth place in the eastern conference. Barnetta also played the position during the 1-1 penalty shootout loss in the U.S. Open Cup.
The defensive shape looked fragile and the ball movement just wasn't the same.
There were, of course, other factors for the slump. C.J. Sapong was missing with an ankle injury. Fabian Herbers later joined Sapong on the shelf and the Union were forced into a false 9 at Houston. Individual mistakes began to pop up, and the defense and goalkeeping wasn't as sturdy as it had been at the start of the season.
Still, the team needed a replacement for Nogueira, and Barnetta was given an unfamiliar role.
"For sure you have to work more defensively as an eight," the midfielder explained. "Sometimes I failed at that. (I was) in the wrong spots because I wasn't used to it as much, unlike the ten. But it was okay and I tried my best. But for sure, I like to play more offensively than in the defense."
Such a strong game from Barnetta. He's drawing all these fouls because he's driving at players, shielding the ball, no choice but to foul.
— Philly Soccer Page (@phillysoccerpg) August 14, 2016
In a strange way, you could argue that Barnetta actually defends better while playing further up the field.
He's a smart presser and reads cues well. He knows when to pressure opposing midfielders or center backs, which creates turnovers in prime positions. It's easier to take risks and make charging runs when you know you have help behind you.
That's not necessarily the case when you play as the No. 8.
"Exactly, I mean, that's what I prefer," said Barnetta of the advanced defensive role. "It doesn't mean that you don't have to work as a number ten. You're just not as far from the goal. So if you can win (the ball), and they find me, or even if I win it, we're closer. Maybe you need one more pass and we're in front of the goal."
Head coach Jim Curtin sees the versatility in Barnetta's game and feels like his first-choice attacking mid doesn't receive the proper recognition.
"He’s been good almost anywhere you put him," said Curtin. "He played wide for us last year and did a good job there. He played at the ten at the beginning of the year and was, I think, a top player. He doesn’t get any credit in this league still, I would say, compared to some of the other players that are having good years; he finally got a 'Team of the Week' (honor) this week. But, for me, he’s our engine, he’s the guy that defensively does the work. When he gets on the ball, he’s dangerous. He adjusted quickly to the eight. Were the pieces around him perfect in the eight? No, we gave up some goals, but that wasn’t a fault of his, I don’t think. He’s just a good player, adapts well to any situation."
One thing that has been noticeable is the attention Barnetta receives from defenders, and the ensuing complaints leveled at the referee. He's been fouled 49 times this season, which is good enough to put him into a top 10 category that you don't necessarily want to be in.
He might not be getting the whistles or the calls he needs, but he's earning free kicks for his team and forcing defenders into difficult situations.
He's helping while being hacked down.
"I almost see him a little bit like a boxer now," Curtin added. "As the game goes on, and the rounds get later, he gets stronger and stronger, it seems. The more we get him on the ball, maybe there’s a turnover or two early and he’s getting his legs under him, but once he gets going, teams don’t like dealing with him. That’s what you saw in New England, all the fouls they have to commit. He wears them down. And he needs volume, you know, over and over again, and that’s kind of the role he plays for us at the ten, it’s kind of volume based, we want him on the ball as much as possible. Is it tough on his legs? For sure. But, again, he seems to get stronger as the game goes, and wears teams down. He’s like a savvy, smart boxer and has a way of kind of, blow after blow, he'll wear you down over the course of the 90 minutes."
