Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Oakland Roots - Match Preview (September 3, 2021)
Oakland travel to Tampa for a Friday night thriller against Tampa Bay Rowdies at 4:30 p.m. Pacific on Friday, September 3, 2021. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ only.
The Club
The Tampa Bay Rowdies that Oakland will face on Friday night are relative newcomers to USL, joining for the 2017 season after seven years in NASL. This incarnation of the Rowdies was founded in 2008, and has completely adopted the aesthetic and, if Wikipedia is to be believed, the fan culture of the Tampa Bay Rowdies that existed from 1975-1993.
In the weird 2020 season, Rowdies made a run to the final, eliminating, in order, Birmingham, Charleston, and Louisville City, before having the final against Phoenix Rising canceled. Much of that 2020 championship-qualifying team remains on the Rowdies.
2021 Season So Far
The Rowdies have ONE draw so far. What the hell.
The Roots don’t play Loudoun this season, but I hope they get on the schedule in the future. I used to live near Loudoun County Virginia and let me tell you--that place sucks and I am ready to talk about it.
Last week, Rowdies beat Charlotte 2-0 on a brace scored by supersub Steeven dos Santos in a 3-minute period ten minutes after coming on in the 64th.
Bloom - coming into writing this preview I was prepared to use the “I’m in danger” meme that Lawson drew up for the second Phoenix Rising match. However, I don’t think this team is significantly better than the Roots--they just have more time playing together. Unlike the MLS B-teams, the Rowdies are a real team that returns most of its roster year-over-year, and I think that’s a big advantage if the team is sensibly managed. But, the Roots have shown a lot of character in the last month, and a growing tactical versatility. Even though it’s only been 5 days, it’s the longest break the Roots have had in a while, and I think they will play well. 2-2.
Lawson - I think Oakland has a squad that take care of a squad that spends a lot of time out of possession. I’ll be honest I haven’t had time to figure out if these possession numbers reflect a Mourinho-like approach to the game, but that’s what they look like. I think Fissore and a rejuvenated back line will limit Rowdies in transition, and someone tall is going to get their head on a Chuy Enriquez cross. 2-1 Oakland.
The Club
The Tampa Bay Rowdies that Oakland will face on Friday night are relative newcomers to USL, joining for the 2017 season after seven years in NASL. This incarnation of the Rowdies was founded in 2008, and has completely adopted the aesthetic and, if Wikipedia is to be believed, the fan culture of the Tampa Bay Rowdies that existed from 1975-1993.
If your fans, jersey, and city are the same, I think you get to claim the history. The Rowdies don’t have quite the history of serving as a retirement community for European legends that their rival Fort Lauderdale Strikers have (having fielded at various times Georgie Best and the late Gerd Mueller), but the Rowdies did apparently field Ray Hudson for a season in between seasons he played for the Strikers.
You may recall Ray Hudson from all of your favorite Messi highlights.
You may recall Ray Hudson from all of your favorite Messi highlights.
Living legend.
With the exception of the 2018 season, where they did not have a great showing, the Rowdies are consistently a good but not great team. They were knocked out of the 2019 playoffs by Louisville City. Tarek Morad got the third most minutes for the Rowdies that season, and featured in that playoff loss.
With the exception of the 2018 season, where they did not have a great showing, the Rowdies are consistently a good but not great team. They were knocked out of the 2019 playoffs by Louisville City. Tarek Morad got the third most minutes for the Rowdies that season, and featured in that playoff loss.
In the weird 2020 season, Rowdies made a run to the final, eliminating, in order, Birmingham, Charleston, and Louisville City, before having the final against Phoenix Rising canceled. Much of that 2020 championship-qualifying team remains on the Rowdies.
2021 Season So Far
The Rowdies have ONE draw so far. What the hell.
[Source: FBRef.com]
Some context, that may or may not mean anything: two of the Rowdies’ six losses are to Charlotte, a team with only 27 points; the Rowdies are 1-1-1 to Pittsburgh, the number one team in the Atlantic Division (although only three points above Tampa and Tampa have three games in hand); and 1-0-2 to Miami, the third-place team in the Atlantic Division. Basically--you can get a long way in your division by winning the games against the lower-ranked teams, and you can afford to lose to the other good teams (no explanation for Charlotte that I’m willing to figure out right now).
Rowdies have not lost since July 31, but after two wins they drew to Pittsburgh three weeks ago in a real turdfest 0-0 draw. They then beat Loudoun United 2-0 in Virginia, including the exquisite header from a centerback at the 49-second mark
Some context, that may or may not mean anything: two of the Rowdies’ six losses are to Charlotte, a team with only 27 points; the Rowdies are 1-1-1 to Pittsburgh, the number one team in the Atlantic Division (although only three points above Tampa and Tampa have three games in hand); and 1-0-2 to Miami, the third-place team in the Atlantic Division. Basically--you can get a long way in your division by winning the games against the lower-ranked teams, and you can afford to lose to the other good teams (no explanation for Charlotte that I’m willing to figure out right now).
Rowdies have not lost since July 31, but after two wins they drew to Pittsburgh three weeks ago in a real turdfest 0-0 draw. They then beat Loudoun United 2-0 in Virginia, including the exquisite header from a centerback at the 49-second mark
The Roots don’t play Loudoun this season, but I hope they get on the schedule in the future. I used to live near Loudoun County Virginia and let me tell you--that place sucks and I am ready to talk about it.
Last week, Rowdies beat Charlotte 2-0 on a brace scored by supersub Steeven dos Santos in a 3-minute period ten minutes after coming on in the 64th.
Players to Watch
The Back Three - Jordan Scarlett # 5 and Aaron Guillen # 33 flank Forrest Lasso #3 in a back three. Scarlet and Guillen have not missed a minute of game time so far this season, and Lasso has missed about 56 total minutes. We should expect to see these three this afternoon.
Sebastian Guenzatti # 13 - The 30-year-old Uruguay CF leads the team in goals with 9, but a remarkable four of those have been penalties. He also has two assists. Guenzatti has played for the NY Cosmos and now several seasons for the Rowdies, making the classic cross-over Ray Hudson/Franz Beckenbauer.
The Back Three - Jordan Scarlett # 5 and Aaron Guillen # 33 flank Forrest Lasso #3 in a back three. Scarlet and Guillen have not missed a minute of game time so far this season, and Lasso has missed about 56 total minutes. We should expect to see these three this afternoon.
Sebastian Guenzatti # 13 - The 30-year-old Uruguay CF leads the team in goals with 9, but a remarkable four of those have been penalties. He also has two assists. Guenzatti has played for the NY Cosmos and now several seasons for the Rowdies, making the classic cross-over Ray Hudson/Franz Beckenbauer.
Predictions
Bloom - coming into writing this preview I was prepared to use the “I’m in danger” meme that Lawson drew up for the second Phoenix Rising match. However, I don’t think this team is significantly better than the Roots--they just have more time playing together. Unlike the MLS B-teams, the Rowdies are a real team that returns most of its roster year-over-year, and I think that’s a big advantage if the team is sensibly managed. But, the Roots have shown a lot of character in the last month, and a growing tactical versatility. Even though it’s only been 5 days, it’s the longest break the Roots have had in a while, and I think they will play well. 2-2.
Lawson - I think Oakland has a squad that take care of a squad that spends a lot of time out of possession. I’ll be honest I haven’t had time to figure out if these possession numbers reflect a Mourinho-like approach to the game, but that’s what they look like. I think Fissore and a rejuvenated back line will limit Rowdies in transition, and someone tall is going to get their head on a Chuy Enriquez cross. 2-1 Oakland.
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