Predicted Lineup: Oakland Roots vs. Phoenix Rising (August 25)

The squad is in form on a four-match unbeaten run after its 3-1 victory over Las Vegas Lights. The squad is past COVID woes and only Tarek Morad and Tarn Weir are apparently unavailable due to injury.

Ferrell has mentioned 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 as his choice methods, while we’ve been able to discern a 4-1-4-1 formation where a CDM plays behind the attack.

Saturday, August 21's  lineup versus Las Vegas included: Soya Takahashi, Max Ornstil, Lindo Mfeka (subbed by Johnny Rodriguez, 66’), Jesus Enriquez (subbed by Akeem Ward, 81’), Jose Hernandez (subbed by Jeremy Bokila, 66’), Paul Blanchette, Emrah Klimenta, Memo Diaz, Quincy Amarikwa (subbed by Matias Fissore, 72’), Kai Greene, Yohannes Harish (subbed by Wal Fall 45’)

Unused subs: Ariel Mbumba, Taylor Bailey.

Ferrell’s variability in mixing midfielders to the attack, like Yohannes Harish, can leave a lot open to interpretation. So without further ado, the Blog takes its crack at at our predicted (or preferred) lineup choices.

Lawson’s prediction:

Defense--GK: Zeus de la Paz; LB: Akeem Ward; CB: Emrah Klimenta and Kai Greene; RB: Memo Diaz

Photo courtesy of Oakland Roots SC

I know the shocking moments on Zeus's resume are...particularly shocking, but his numbers overall are not appreciably worse that Blanchette's, and that includes both Rising matches and the two goals gifted to Tacoma by the officials. (If you take out the second and third Defiance goals, Zeus's stats are better.) 

I think Jordan Ferrell still prefers Zeus, and I think he has reason to. Zeus didn't travel with the team to New Mexico or Las Vegas, but this team is so opaque with respect to squad decisions that I frankly don't know how much you can read into that. I think Zeus is between the sticks on Wednesday.

Ferrell has played Ward on the left and Diaz on the right of the back 4 in each Rising match so far. I think that is the best defensive combo, and I think we see it again here. 

Midfield--Matias Fissore, Jose Hernandez, Wal Fall, Chuy Enriquez, Johnny Rodriguez

The prediction here is that we see a 4-2-3-1. Fissore and Hernandez will be in a double pivot. I think you put Hernandez on the left side to account for the fact that the left back, whoever it is, will not be going forward very much. 

The attacking mids will be Rodriguez-Fall-Enriquez, left-to-right. Johnny Rodriguez got a cameo against Las Vegas in that left wing role, and I think we'll see it again. Enriquez has been logging a lot of minutes, and may be due for a rest, but he's also such an attacking threat that it's hard to sit him. 

One possible wrinkle would be to have the fullbacks be Soya Takahashi (LB) and Ward (RB), and then slot in Ward in the RW role instead of Enriquez. But even if Diaz doesn't start on the backline, this feels more like a late-game substitution.

Striker--Quincy Amarikwa

If we're playing on the counter (not a real big if), having Amarikwa at the top of the formation seems like a no-brainer. He's not as tall as Bokila or Allen, but he's just as strong and is a better passer. 

I see Bokila coming on at the 75th minute.

Comeaux’s prediction:

Defense—GK: Paul Blanchette; LB: Akeem Ward; CBs: Emrah Klimenta, Kai Greene; RB: Memo Diaz. 

Seems like an obvious choice with Blanchette until proven otherwise, he’s been a game-saver and consistently good. 

Ward entered late in the 81st minute against Las Vegas, so he seemed primed to start. On the opposite side, Diaz gets the start with Takahashi resting after playing two full matches in a row. At center back, Klimenta and Greene continue to start with Morad on the mend. 

Midfield—Matias Fissore, Ariel Mbumba, Lindo Mfeka, Chuy Enriquez. Quincy Amarikwa.

Mati was another player to come on late in LV. I could see Jose Hernandez getting more minutes given Ferrell recently saying that playing him is a “priority,” but Fissore gives the midfield Ferrell’s preferred central defender with Max Ornstil getting rest after playing in three straight games.

Perhaps Wal Fall gets the start, and it seems like Ferrell would be hard-pressed not to given his recent run—but a veteran also needs rest. Perhaps another second-half sub is on the horizon.

Mbumba was among the unused subs against LV and Mfeka, a natural #10, had that dimer of a pass to set up Chuy. They give mobility similarly to Hernandez and Mfeka from Saturday.

Chuy, meanwhile, turned his swag on after his goal and I’m hoping to see more. Both Amarikwa and Bokila have a natural ability to hold off defenders, gather the ball, and drop passes to teammates in traffic—it seems like a goal/assist combination waiting to happen. 

Striker: Jeremy Bokila

How Ferrell will manage minutes for his forwards is hard to guess, but Bokila's brings an instant presence on the field and I'm aching to see the combination-playu between Amarikwa and Bokila. I could see Brandon Allen getting the start up top as well, but I’m going Bokila.

Bloom’s prediction:

Defense—GK: Paul Blanchette; LB: Soya Takahashi; CBs: Emrah Klimenta, Kai Greene; RB: Akeem Ward. 
Midfield—Wal Fall, Max Ornstil, Chuy Enriquez, Jose Hernandez, Johnny Rodriguez
Striker—Quincy Amarikwa

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think Ferrell does the same thing that worked in Saturday's match but with some slight adjustments.

In the midfield, I expect his first choice #8, Wal Fall, getting the start. On defense, the only change is Akeem Ward slotting in at right back. 

I can see Amarikwa moving to an outside-forward role around the 60th minute when Bokila comes on as a super sub.