The People Wanted More Goals, and the Oakland Roots Have Listened.
Fresh off a second straight zero-goal performance, this time featuring a grand total of 3 shots, Roots have signed striker Brandon Allen, most recently of Memphis 901 FC, but with experience at NYRB II and the pre-MLS iteration of Nashville SC, among several other pit stops. This is Brandon’s 5th pro season, after he played collegiately for Georgetown. The Hoya team his senior year featured several players that will be familiar to American footy fanatics, including JT Marcinkowski (now with San Jose), Keegan Rosenberry (a right back with Colorado Rapids), and Josh Yaro, who now plays for tomorrow’s opponent San Diego Loyal. (I am compelled to mention that despite this talent, Georgetown’s regional in the NCAA soccer tournament was won by Syracuse.)
In his professional career, Brandon has racked up 113 appearances in the USL Championship (or thereabouts--Transfermarkt and Wikipedia have different numbers), and scored 43 goals. We’ve checked out some of his highlights, and we like what Oakland’s getting. Allen seems to play most often as an out-and-out striker, and makes a lot of very smart runs in the box. He’s got striker’s instincts, and is often around to poach a goal. Perhaps most importantly, he seems to have good skill pulling the ball out of the air, so even though he’s “only” 6-1, he might well function as a target man who then distributes to the other forwards.
Prediction based on flimsy evidence: We’re never losing again. Roots’ attack needed something to bring it to life, and Allen seems like he should be well-positioned to do just that. The Roots’ 3-shot performance against Austin Bold is not illustrative of their season, but the attack hasn’t really seemed to gel at any point yet this season. Allen can serve as a focal point for the attack, and perhaps give it an identity, which may be the cure for what ails them. We won’t get our hopes up for tomorrow, but, fair warning, we will get them up for next week’s rematch with Sacramento Republic.
We lack the IP rights and the technical acumen to put together a highlight reel, but here is a series of time-stamped links to a few of Allen's goals from the last two seasons. (Click on date to view on YouTube) We hope you enjoy:
Prediction based on flimsy evidence: We’re never losing again. Roots’ attack needed something to bring it to life, and Allen seems like he should be well-positioned to do just that. The Roots’ 3-shot performance against Austin Bold is not illustrative of their season, but the attack hasn’t really seemed to gel at any point yet this season. Allen can serve as a focal point for the attack, and perhaps give it an identity, which may be the cure for what ails them. We won’t get our hopes up for tomorrow, but, fair warning, we will get them up for next week’s rematch with Sacramento Republic.
We lack the IP rights and the technical acumen to put together a highlight reel, but here is a series of time-stamped links to a few of Allen's goals from the last two seasons. (Click on date to view on YouTube) We hope you enjoy:
September 28, 2019 (link to recap on Philly Union's website, Allen's goals are back to back, starting at the 1:25 mark)
September 7, 2019 (these are links to the full match, since we couldn't find highlights: Goal #1; Goal #2)
July 20, 2019 (a brace)
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