Nogueira At The 10? Union Short On Weekend Options
By Kevin Kinkead
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We're only four weeks into the season, but the injury list looks more like a late-summer write-up.
Philadelphia squares off with Chicago this weekend minus the services of Sheanon Williams (hamstring), Cristian Maidana (knee), C.J. Sapong (facial fracture), Conor Casey (sports hernia), Andre Blake (knee) and Eric Bird (hernia).
Throw in Zach Pfeffer's two-game red card suspension and that's seven players who will be unavailable for Sunday's nationally televised game.
Some of the fixes seem simple enough. Ray Gaddis will slide over to right back, while Fabinho comes in on the left. Dzenan Catic and Eric Ayuk should be bench options for the second straight week.
It's the attacking midfield spot that presents a concern.
The likely scenario would see Michael Lahoud come in at defensive midfield, which would push Maurice Edu into the #8 role. Vincent Nogueira, who probably does better in a deeper role, would then play in the #10 spot.
"Vincent is an exceptional player," manager Jim Curtin told reporters at his midweek press conference. "Talent-wise, he's a top player in our league, for sure. Goal-scoring wise, if you look through his career, he's not a goal-scorer. That's not in his bag really. Can he strike a ball from distance? Yes. Is he capable of getting a goal for us? Yes. I think as he's a little higher up the field, and we worked on it a little bit (this week), he has a pretty good understanding with Fernando (Aristeguieta) and knows (how to) combine with him."
Nogueira has played the role before, and even started in the #10 spot to begin his Union career. That midfield combination included Edu and Brian Carroll, but it didn't seem to flow well with three players who are more accustomed to deeper roles.
That midfield evolved after the departure of John Hackworth.
Curtin's first move was to swap Edu with center back Amobi Okugo, which bolstered the defense but moved his captain out of his natural position. Nogueira and Maidana went through different injury phases during Curtin's interim reign, and Okugo then saw a bit of the bench when Carlos Valdes rejoined the team and Ethan White was promoted to the starting XI.
Arguably, however, the midfield was most fluid when Okugo played behind Nogueira, who played behind Maidana.
Fast forward one offseason, and Edu is back in the #6 spot.
"It just depends on the person we move and how we decide to lineup," said Edu in regard to the midfield changing. "Regardless, with injuries, and guys coming in and out of the team, it's just an opportunity for someone else to come in and do well. My position, whether it's the #6 or the #8, whatever it is, it's similar roles. Obviously the #8 there's a little bit more of an onus on me to get forward and create a little bit more, whereas the #6, it's more about protecting the back four and allowing the other guys to create more. I think it's a slight change, but it's not dramatic. It's not anything too drastic and it's something that I'm pretty comfortable with.
Before coming to Philadelphia, Nogueira played every midfield spot during his time with Sochaux. That included wide midfield roles and shapes that featured four midfielders instead of three or five.
"(Nogueira) took reps at the 10 spot (Wednesday)," Curtin said. "He's a guy who knows how to move on the field. He's a very intelligent soccer player. You try to work on little exercises that help with the final pass and final shot. He does find himself on the ball in dangerous spots on the field. Giving him the freedom in that role to be aggressive, to take a shot from distance, don't be afraid to whip an early ball into the box - all those messages are being conveyed to him. He's a real talent, he's a guy who is aware. He had a little injury in the preseason and he's definitely getting his legs under him now, you start to see that. Once he gets his confidence going he's a very tough midfielder in our league."
Philadelphia could also try the veteran Fred in the attacking midfield, and keep Nogueira and Edu at the #8 and #6 respectively.
Another option would be to try the 4-4-2 again, but that might be difficult without the services of Casey and Sapong.
