{"id":14160,"date":"2018-04-20T20:41:31","date_gmt":"2018-04-21T00:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonsoccer.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=14160"},"modified":"2018-04-20T20:42:23","modified_gmt":"2018-04-21T00:42:23","slug":"dillon-serna-still-learning-wing-back-role-but-getting-comfortable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2018\/04\/20\/dillon-serna-still-learning-wing-back-role-but-getting-comfortable\/","title":{"rendered":"Dillon Serna Still Learning Wing Back Role but Getting Comfortable"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editorial – After several years of bouncing around to different roles and positions, Dillon Serna<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n

Dillon Serna Still Learning Wing Back Role but Getting Comfortable<\/h1>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Finding a suitable position:<\/h3>\n

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).<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

“I enjoy playing wing back. I’m willing to do whatever’s asked of me,”<\/em> adding “if I do the job, I’m going to keep playing,”<\/em> 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.”<\/em> <\/p>\n

Doing work:<\/h3>\n

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”<\/em> reasons according to Hudson in the first half of Saturday’s match against Toronto FC. <\/p>\n

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,”<\/em> he said. <\/p>\n

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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<\/a> #MLS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hPGrcTu55i<\/a><\/p>\n

— Matt Pollard (@LWOSMattPollard) April 20, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n