RootsBlog

I am thrilled with this initial group of players the Roots are bringing back. With one glaring exception, this is essentially the entire defense (which, as you may recall, conceded zero goals in 210 minutes of playoff soccer). As our readers are surely aware, RootsBlog loves a large lad , so I am personally thrilled about Greene returning.  John Morrissey, of USL tactics, a much more reliable source than I am, is focusing on the fullbacks: I’m more amped about Diaz and Ward than anything. I thought they were dynamite all year, as good as basically any fullback combo in the league. — john morrissey (@USLTactics) December 2, 2021 The team could probably go into next season without bringing in any new starters on defense, although both fullbacks surely need backups.  I am not advocating for the team to go into the season with only these players plus backups.  But I think it is a very good start on defense. Outside of defense, though, there is a lot of work still to be done...

Welcome to Friday's edition of the blog's live coverage of Oakland Roots' playoff opener against El Paso Locomotive, typing alongside a rowdy group of supporters at Old Kan Beer & Co. Wish me luck. Saying the season had its lows and highs are all too obvious; trailing in last place at 2-5-8 and climbing all the way up to fourth in the Pacific Division. Here we are, Roots fans, in the playoffs in the organization's first USL Championship season.  To the Soccer Gods, please don't let this be the Roots' last game. Helping build RootsBlog while getting to know the staff, front office, and supporters has been an indescribable joy. We don't want the season to end; Bloom and myself both put 2-1 Oakland victories in the universe in his official preview.  Lawson, meanwhile, is going the late, heartache and devastation route with El Paso winning 4-2 in PKs.  John Morrissey predicted a 3-0 El Paso win in his annual playoff preview, noting that Akeem Ward and Memo ...

For coaches of sport at any level, the cliche always goes, "We're taking the next game in front of us." Well, with Tacoma Defiance tonight at Las Positas, the next game could perhaps be their most important up to this point.  With a 6-6-9 record and 24 points, a Roots win tonight slices Tacoma's six-point lead in half while bringing the organization to fifth-place above Sacramento Republic, for the time being.  As mentioned this morning , Oakland is on a 5-2-1 run of form since its 3-1 loss to Tacoma on Aug. 8, while Defiance hasn't played since a 3-1 loss on Sep. 5. Although the 0-0 draw with San Diego last Saturday left more to be desired from the players and coaches, it was a positive step towards challenging for a playoff spot.  Here's a copy of the lineup against Loyal, and it reflects on our talking points: GK Paul Blanchette, LB Akeem Ward, CB Emrah Klimenta, CB Kai Greene, CB Max Ornstil, RB Memo Diaz, Mid. Matias Fissore, Mid. Wal Fall, RM Jose Hernan...

It's matchday and your assortment of OaklandRootsBlog previews is on the docket for your necessary reading going into tonight with Las Vegas Lights.  The Roots are coming off a 3-nil loss on the road in Tampa Bay but walk into Vegas with a chip on their shoulder after defeating the Lights 3-1 back on Aug. 21, which started the three-match streak before heading to Tampa.  The Lights are dead-last in the Pacific Division and are leaking goals with 52 allowed. It's a prime opportunity for three points for Roots and get itself on track for the final two months, but the club certainly can't afford to overlook the young LV squad.  Oakland's most recent lineup against the Rowdies included:  GK Taylor Bailey, LB Akeem O’Connor-Ward, CB Emrah Klimenta, CB Kai Green, RB Memo Diaz (Soya Takahashi 45'); Mid, Ariel Mbumba (Max Ornstil 45’), Mid. Wal Fall, Mid. Matias Fissore (Jose Hernandez 62’), Mid. Lindo Mfeka (CB Tarek Morad 85’), FW Brandon Allen (Quincy Amarikwa 45’), FW J...

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. L...

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...

The Oakland Roots are coming off its strongest two performances of the season in its 0-0 draw with Sac. Republic and the recent 2-1 victory over Los Dos. Roots out-possessed both teams 59 and 53 percent respectively, and created their most chances to score with seven shots on target against LA—though the early red card helped that. Walking into Wednesday’s meeting with New Mexico United, we’re beginning to draw more from the squad and  Jordan Ferrell  little by little.   Ferrell mentioned that the Roots played 4-4-2 defensively and transitioned to 4-2-3-1 in attack against LA, while  The Blog eyed a variation of 4-1-4-1 on Saturday . “We went from 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, and dropped Lindo Mfeka in the #10 role to give us an extra midfielder. We didn't do as well at securing possession but when we did, you could tell that extra midfielder made a difference. Then we brought in Chuy Enriquez because we thought he'd be important on his side running at people,”  said Ferrell...

At 1-8-4, the Roots are still looking for its first win since May 23 when beating Galaxy II 3-2 in their first meeting. It’s been quiet the journey since then with the documented field issues thus far resulting in more matches at Livermore’s Las Positas (three) than their home at Laney, now leading to the club returning to Oakland at a different venue, Merritt College over in the Oakland hills. The Roots are coming off a 0-0 draw with Sacramento Republic, where The Blog notes that Oakland did better to fill the center of the park, keep a solid back four, and finally find some of its attacking formula. In our preview of today's match against Los Dos , our guy Peter Bloom takes a look at Galaxy’s recent run of form. With the team coming back to full health and a near-complete roster formulating for head coach/technical director Jordan Ferrell, we’re now enabled to pull from his thoughts and perceived playing style to make more valid speculation.  Ferrell’s recent comments o...

In another sudden move, the Oakland Roots announced on August 11 that they are switching its Aug. 14 match against LA Galaxy II from Laney College to Merritt College in the Oakland hills. The team still plans on honoring ticket sales, meaning it seems capacity isn’t an issue. “All tickets purchased for this Saturday’s match will still be valid. A limited number of tickets are still available to secure,” wrote the club. It marks the club’s eighth match moved away from its usual home field, but new transportable field allows them to remain in Oakland instead of playing at Las Positas in Livermore. The club announced on Twitter that its Aug. 14 deadline couldn’t be met in order to prevent disruption of Laney College’s sporting programs despite the field only requiring four hours to install. Hi fam, install time is currently not fast enough to meet the deadline we set in order not to disturb the college sports programs at Laney. We are excited to be in The Town this weekend at Mer...

First things first, we have to acknowledge how nice it was to be back at Laney Stadium for August 4’s match against Phoenix Rising. For most of the attending fans, you couldn’t remember a 1-0 loss or the early-season drama. The party was back on East 10th street and around the Lake Merritt Channel, and with $1 beers by the can; the atmosphere was exactly what Roots fans were hoping for. The dark clouds seemingly dissipated for Wednesday night, it was a joy to be there. Smiles were on another level at Laney. We go again Sunday away at Tacoma. #KnowYourRoots pic.twitter.com/SfJcTqL8QY — Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) August 6, 2021 So great being back at Laney for the @oaklandroots game! Proud that they held their own against the top team in the league! #heywegotagoalie #tellmewhentogo #oaklandroots #laney #dollarbeers @ Oakland, California https://t.co/RhSgCV6Y38 — Cassandra (@cassmoni_) August 5, 2021 Now that the sentiments are over, the Roots travel north to Tacoma...

First things first, it’s the Oakland Roots' first home game at Laney College and it feels like New Year’s Eve with kickoff being the stroke of midnight. We’re watching for the home fans to be going completely stupid.  And does that new field look slick. Personally, I love it.  Some Phoenix fans have aired gripes on Twitter, but I’m certainly not taking stylistic advice from anyone living in Arizona, where camouflage is considered fashionable.  Manager and technical director Jordan Ferrell pointed out that he’s hopeful Wednesday’s game provides the “spark” toward Oakland’s final two months.   “For a lot of the guys, they don’t even know what the energy of Laney is like. I think that’s going to be something very unique. Phoenix is a tough opponent, for sure, but I think the group will be ready. They’re hungry. I think the energy at Laney will provide them with the perspective on the club and community that they haven’t had yet. I think we’re looking at that to be ...