Teams often struggle as new players come in and out and fitting into a system becomes more critical. No team is immune. Some of the best teams have found their struggles to be centered around tactical and non tactical issues that can make or break seasons. No stranger to this now, and struggling to find their way, Indy Eleven sit at the bottom of the table, a place just a few short weeks ago seemed almost untouchable. Beginning the season undefeated, with a win and three draws, along with only dropping a goal per game and Indy Eleven seemed poised on upsetting the entire North American Soccer League landscape and securing the clubs first playoff berth in just two seasons.
Fast forward to a three game losing streak which includes a 3-1 thrashing by Minnesota United at home, and you have a team that is just attempting to escape the Spring season higher than they finished 2014. After some performances that no one would dare to write home about, it begs the question:
Is it time for Indy Eleven to panic?
In short, the answer is no. There are a lot of things to be critical of, but to toss around the word panic isn’t worthwhile. Indy by all regards is sitting in a better position than they were this time last year. Their freshman jitters took over a lot of the momentum in the beginning of last season but now there is little excuse as to why the team has struggled to score and stop being scored on over the last three games.
Defensive struggles
During the Ottawa game, in what even the announcers knew was slow burn of a game for 85 minutes, Indy had a good 2-4 chances that if they held it together with the attack they could have seen a goal come in the first half. The issue though isn’t with the goal scoring, but rather what caused them to lose three points
While the formation stuck together and followed the ball, there wasn’t anyone anticipating where the next move would come from. As a result to everyone following the ball, Nicki Patterson snuck in behind the line and shot a rocket past the backline.
Head Coach Juergen Sommer after the loss against Louisville, “If we can’t finish then we’re not going to win these types of games. I know the group is disappointed with the ability to put the ball in the back of the net because we’re better than what the scoreline showed tonight.”
While each week it’s become easier and easier to point out some of the defensive faults, there is a larger theme that’s coming across as time has gone on with Indy Eleven. From the lack of goals, to the struggle for possession, and the late goals being given up team chemistry has become the ever dominating issue pressing the club.
Team Cohesion
If you can’t move fluidly and passionately as a club in soccer, you won’t win. Taking out the common and obvious variables of goals being scored or given up, Indy Eleven have lost the intensity that they had in the beginning of the season.
Much of this can be tied back to the new parts. While Indy Eleven have now four strikers/forwards to play with up top, all four are relatively young and inexperienced. Brian Brown, who is on loan after playing on loan in the MLS for the Philadelphia Union hasn’t put up the goals he has been known for with his speed. The other name that hasn’t done much is Charlie Rugg. The 25 year old forward from LA Galaxy came in last season at the tail in to pump the ball up forward and create chances. So far this season, Rugg hasn’t been able to produce what he was able to do last season.
All of this comes down to a lack chemistry from the midfield. With Kleberson out, and a relatively young front line Indy hasn’t been able to push forward and produce the same manner that they did last year. It’s unclear if Indy will attempt to add another midfielder as the Spring season goes out as they have now added a defender and another forward but don’t be shocked if after the Spring season a loan or a signing is made in the midfielder if Kleberson isn’t able to at least work his way back onto the bench.
Whatever the case may be and whatever it will take to get back on the right track for Indy Eleven, six goals after eight games is certainly not where the club wants to be and it might take until the Fall to get the results that Head Coach Juergen Sommer desires. All in all though, it’s not time to panic for Indy Eleven supporters. After the loss last night, Juergen Sommer had some positive words of encouragement heing into the club’s first match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2015, “It is another test for us, and that just shows the quality of the teams in our league week in and week out. There’s no rest for the weary. We just have to step back up and be ready to play a great game.”
