Oakland Roots talking points ahead of Las Vegas Lights

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The Roots head to Las Vegas for Saturday night’s game with the LAFC Development Academy… I mean Lights FC… touting a three-match unbeaten run with five points during the span. 

Oakland comes in after its 1-1 draw with New Mexico United. Technical director/interim head coach Jordan Ferrell said after the match that the team is increasingly building synergy. 

"It’s a decent result, but I think tonight we feel like we dropped two. It’s not a good feeling, but it’s a better feeling than we’ve had recently where we’ve been happy to get one point. I think it shows how this group is coming together,” said Ferrell. 

The Lights defeated Oakland 2-1 back on July 10 at Las Positas, which was the start of the Roots’ COVID-19 spell when just Matias Fissore and Saalih Muhammad were available subs. 

The Roots are a much different team since then and are able to deploy its favored systems with better fluidity. 

Here are some things to keep an eye on:

Can the vets bully the children?

LAFC runs its academy through Las Vegas Lights with 20 of its 31 players on loan from the MLS club or their development team. With 13 teenagers on LV and their oldest player being Raheem Edwards at 26, can the Roots’ veteran squad impose their will?

Ferrell said that the veterans will begin to make their presence felt game-in and game-out, and this is the perfect opportunity to put that grown-man strength and mentality to use. 

"You're starting to see more of our experienced guys play for us game-in and game-out; these guys know what it takes to win at this level..." said Ferrell after the 2-1 win against LA Galaxy. 

We’d love to see Quincy Amarikwa get underneath someone’s skin or Wal Fall pull off another WonderWal.

Can Roots get off to a better start? 

Oakland trailed after six minutes against New Mexico and 13 minutes versus Los Angeles. Moreover, NMU held 70 percent possession after 26 minutes. 

Ferrell is aware of Roots’ tendency to start slow and knows it’s correctable. 

"I think the guys were excited to play with a lead after shooting ourselves in the foot early in our last couple of games," said Ferrell following the LA match on Aug. 14.  

Can the strikers make an impact?

With Jeremy Bokila not in the lineup against New Mexico, it’s unclear if he’ll be listed for Las Vegas. However, it appears the veteran striker made the trip out to Las Vegas, so perhaps he’ll be included against the Lights.  

The Roots struggled to find a path to goal behind Brandon Allen and Johnny Rodriguez versus NMU. Tyler Blackwood, meanwhile, has been missing time.

Regardless of whether Bokila is included, it seems like a certainty that Allen or Rodriguez will be deployed at some point. Allen has struggled with an average rating of 5.79 in six appearances with no goals or assists--so he's due. 

Danny Flores departs for Virginia Tech, roster fill next?

This isn’t related to Saturday’s match, but will the Roots look to fill Danny Flores’ roster spot after his recent departure for Virginia Tech? Flores is still under contract with Roots under an academy deal.  

The club currently has nine midfielders; Flores typically lined up centrally with an ability to spring out wide and has started in the #10 role alongside Lindo Mfeka and Jose Hernandez. Wal Fall seemed to rotate there as well against New Mexico. 

Flores made 12 appearances, scored the Roots' first USL goal back on May 24 and had an assist against Sacramento on June 3. He ends his USL season with a 6.86 overall rating, which ranks No. 2 on the team behind Akeem Ward's 6.91. 

With Blackwood and Weir missing extended time, Tarek Morad still nursing an injury, and now Flores heading to Virginia Tech for the fall semester, there’s certainly room for an addition. 

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