Editorial – After several years of bouncing around to different roles and positions, Dillon Serna seems to be finding a nitch in a system with a coaching staff that believes he can grow into a role. The Rapids Homegrown has made three substitute appearances in three games, all at wing back.
Dillon Serna Still Learning Wing Back Role but Getting Comfortable
The 24-year-old signed a homegrown contract in 2013 with Colorado Rapids after playing a year for the University of Akron. After a good 2014 campaign that saw him grow, playing in 27 league matches and logging three goals and four assists, he has yet to 1000 minutes in a season since.
Finding a suitable position:
In recent years, Serna has ridden the bench and played in various out of place roles. In comes first-year Rapids Manager Anthony Hudson, his 3-5-2 formation, and a need for fast players who can play wide roles but also put in the work defensively at times (i.e. wing back depth).
Serna has now come off the bench in three straight games, all at the wing back position. In each game, he’s contributed something different and helped the squad get a result. Furthermore, the Brighton, CO native is taking to the position.
“I enjoy playing wing back. I’m willing to do whatever’s asked of me,” adding “if I do the job, I’m going to keep playing,” Serna told Last Word on Soccer. When asked why the position suits him best in the eyes of the coaching staff, the player responded “energy and work rate.”
Doing work:
Compared with the other players brought in to play wing back, Serna is energetic if nothing else. Marlon Hairston (who’s still recovering from a knee injury) is probably fast. Edgar Castillo is more experienced and probably more positionally/tactically aware of what his job is at a given moment. But Serna seems to be with it, compared to the others, including Kip Colvey, who Serna was subbed in for “tactical” reasons according to Hudson in the first half of Saturday’s match against Toronto FC.
Furthermore, Serna’s the only left-footed player to feature at right wing back so far this season. “The right and left doesn’t change much [for me] with the gameplan,” he said.
Dillon Serna's chalkboard for the last three games: 10 min @ DAL, 30 min vs PHI, 51 min vs TOR. All off the bench. Not too shabby defensively. Always looking forward with service. #Rapids96 #MLS pic.twitter.com/hPGrcTu55i
— Matt Pollard (@LWOSMattPollard) April 20, 2018
His ability to cut inside and create danger from what would normally be a right-sided player’s off foot is valuable. His service from wide hasn’t been bad either. When he gets the ball, he gets it moving forward to players upfield and he’s still doing work defensively.
Last Word: Potential to grow
Serna hasn’t mastered the position just yet but he is on his way to being a serviceable wing back who’s regularly in the 18.
“I’m definitely still learning. I’ve got a good understanding. The right and left doesn’t change much [for me] with the gameplan,” Serna said.
What’s Serna’s ceiling in this role? Can he finally lock down regular minutes with the Colorado Rapids? That’s what the next few months are for.
