Wrote about the things I loved, hated, and remain unsure about after the disappointing result on Saturday.
The biggest takeaway: the growing tension between the Roots' best style of play and the roster, and where that leaves Ryan Martin down the stretch.
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve written one of these because I was on vacation.
Saturday's loss to El Paso gave me plenty to write about.
Like so many other times this season, the Roots looked like two completely different teams in the first and second halves.
I wrote about what worked, what didn’t, and what Saturday’s lineup might tell us about Ryan Martin’s options heading into a critical stretch.
What stood out to you all?
The Roots capped off their disappointing USL Cup run with a 3-1 loss to Spokane Velocity.
With nothing to play for, the match did offer some interesting insights into the young players, Ali Elmasnaouy, and Raphael Spiegel.
What stood out to you all?
What'd you all think of the experience at Merritt?
With the Roots having nothing to play for in this weekend's USL Cup match and the team hitting the midway point of the season, I figured this was a good time to switch things up and do a midseason stock report instead of the three questions post I typically do.
Who's stock up so far? Who's stock down? And who are you still holding onto?
Curious to hear everyone's takes before the second half of the season gets underway.
The Roots hit the midpoint of the season with a disappointing loss to New Mexico. There was at least one positive: Peter Wilson played and should benefit from the upcoming schedule.
More importantly, the biggest thing I'm unsure about right now is how to evaluate Oakland's season as a whole.
What do you make of the first half of the season? Happy? Disappointed? Somewhere in between?
Saturday feels like another huge match for the Roots. They’re ahead of New Mexico in the standings, but New Mexico has two games in hand. A win would create breathing room in the tight Western Conference. Three big questions could shape the outcome.
What questions do you all have heading into the match?
After a wild one, it felt like the Roots had finally broken out of their scoring rut with a small tweak to Peter Wilson's role. Now the big question is what it looks like if he misses time.
It also raises another one: how does Wilson's possible absence reframe the last month of the season?
What stood out to you all from this Saturday's match?
The Roots have leaned more into pressing and counterpressing lately, but Phoenix is the strongest team in possession they've faced in a while.
Does this feel like a good match to continue with the press, especially with temperatures projected around 100 degrees? Or do you adjust for this one?
Broke that down along with a couple of other questions for this match.
What are you looking for heading into Saturday?
The Bravo truthers might have been onto something.
Check out what I loved, hated, and remain unsure about after the match against Miami.
What stood out to you all?
Saturday was less about results and more about trying to figure out what works.
Saturday may have offered some answers and more questions to ponder.
Biggest one: should Bravo start at CB over Hackshaw?
What stood out to you all?
With the USL Cup effectively out of reach, Saturday feels less like a must-win and more like an opportunity to gather information for the Roots.
What are you hoping to see or learn this weekend?
Not much to be positive about from Saturday. If anything, it just re-raised a lot of the same questions about this team.
I broke down what I loved, hated, and am unsure about. What stood out to you all? Even better if you can identify some positives.
The Roots are facing another team defying advanced metrics this week. Only this time, it's going the other way. The Switchbacks are heavily underperforming their underlying metrics.
I put together my three questions heading into Saturday. What are you all watching for?
Who can guess the Roots' third leading scorer this season?
Hint: It's not who you think.
I broke down what I loved, hated and am unsure about after Saturday's match. Check it out to find out the answer.
What stood out to you all?
The Roots have had some issues on offense lately and now they face one of the stronger defensive teams in the league.
Previewed the Orange County match and three questions that could define it.
What questions do you all have heading into tomorrow?
Losing to Sacramento probably ended the Roots’ Cup run, but it might help them more than it hurts.
Covered that, along with an emerging issue: what happens when this team has the ball but no one who can break a defense down?
What stood out to you all from the game on Saturday?
Three questions heading into the USL Cup match against Sacramento this weekend.
The biggest question: is it worth it for Martin to play his strongest eleven?
What do you all think? Is keeping the USL Cup hopes alive worth it this weekend?
Put together my usual "loved / hated / unsure" breakdown of the El Paso match.
Biggest takeaway: Tucker Lepley may help fill a massive void in the Roots' attack, but his arrival could complicate line-up decisions going forward.
Curious who you all think might be squeezed out with the added depth. What else stood out to you all on Saturday?