Crooks, Tactics and Re-Building the Fortress: 3 Storylines To Watch When RSL Takes On LAFC

Crooks, Tactics and Re-Building the Fortress: 3 Storylines To Watch When RSL Takes On LAFC

Welcome to Storylines.

Matt Crooks has been in Utah all but a couple of weeks but already understands the importance that comes with making the Riot roar.

“Hopefully we can make it a bit of a fortress, and win plenty of games there,” Crooks said postgame last Saturday, looking ahead to this weekend’s match against MLS Cup runner-up LAFC.

In years past, that’s exactly how opponents felt when they played 4,450 feet above sea level in front of a sold-out America First Field, but last year the script flipped. While RSL were warriors on the road, they struggled in front of their home fans.

A new season, with a new story to be told, Crooks and his teammates will look to restore the reputation of their home ground.

Matinee kickoff, reigning Western Conference Champs visiting, and yet another capacity crowd on hand.

Let’s write the story.

Storylines:

1. Only 28 minutes into his MLS career, and Matt Crooks is already tied for 7th in Major League Soccer this season in xAG created. If he starts vs LAFC, how will he elevate those around him like he did in his half-hour cameo in STL?

2. Emeka Eneli had the ‘best game of his career’ according to RSL Manager Pablo Mastroeni following RSL’s draw against St. Louis this weekend. What about his game made him so effective against CITY, and how can his unexpected emergence along with Crooks' introduction supercharge RSL’s new tactical plan?

3. Getting a good result against a team like LAFC at home could do wonders for the Claret-and-Cobalt early in the season for several reasons. The Club from Southern California will be coming to America First Field brimming with confidence after their win against Seattle last weekend, and their last visit to Utah resulting in a 3-0 LAFC victory. What is it about The Black and Gold that makes them so dangerous, and how can RSL kick off the season undefeated at home?

Where to Watch:

You can catch RSL vs LAFC on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass right here, or join in on the legendary America First Field atmosphere by getting your tickets today, here.

Kick off is at 12:00 p.m. MT on Saturday, March 2.

The Deep Dive 

1. Only 28 minutes into his MLS career, and Matt Crooks is already tied for 7th in Major League Soccer this season in xAG created. If he starts vs LAFC, how will he elevate those around him, like he did in his half-hour cameo in STL?

The way Chicho Arango scored his 100th career goal last Saturday in front of a stunned CITYPARK crowd is how you'd imagine the RSL front office dreamed of the Colombian’s centennial achievement happening this season.

Picture this, the Club’s big money striker Arango finding the back of the net thanks to a slick combination off the feet of their marquee winter signing Crooks, and young attacking star Diego Luna. A dream illustrated by the RSL front three, but orchestrated by the man from Middlesbrough.

The Englishman fills out every inch of his 6’4’’ frame. The way he moves across the pitch may look unconventional for those who subscribe to what a traditional #10 looks like, but in his 28-minute debut, it all looked so natural for Crooks and Real Salt Lake. What’s even crazier about this is that post-game, the midfielder admits that this is his first time playing with Luna and Arango, being in a different training group than the two during his brief time in Santa Barbara for RSL’s preseason.

Crooks starts the attacking move that ends in Arango’s opener with a simple layoff to Bode Hidalgo in midfield. He then immediately finds space further forward, as Hidalgo plays a progressive pass to Luna. Luna, absorbing immediate pressure, played a progressive back-heel to Matty Crooks who responded with a one-touch pass of his own, setting up Chicho Arango to promptly deposit RSL’s first goal of the 2024 campaign, and the 100th of his career, into the corner netting.

This frame, right before Arango slides his shot past Bürki, is a great example of RSL’s new attacking tactical principles in action. Arango up top, with his two #10’s, Crooks and Luna below him with wingback Andrew Brody and winger Andrés Gómez providing width. When Mastroeni says he wants to build in a 3-2-4-1, this is exactly what he means. The wings give the 10’s space to operate between the lines under Arango, while the pivots further below, Braian Ojeda and Emeka Eneli in this instance, provide cover and outlets to recycle possession.

It was noted by Mastroeni throughout preseason that he wanted his team to have more possession, play through the midfield and play shorter passes. Crooks’ ability to play quick one-touch passes with Luna in the attacking third, while also being able to stretch back lines with adept through balls makes him a headache for opposing backlines. Not to mention his height, which takes some of the aerial pressure off Arango in open attacking play.

Despite the brief sample size, what Crooks showed on the field in Missouri should excite RSL fans for what’s to come. For instance, if this is what Arango, Luna and Crooks can produce in their first competitive match without even practicing together, imagine what they could do after a week of training under their belt?

After you’re done imagining more quick one-twos from the new “ACL” attacking line, we’ll dive into the base of the Claret-and-Cobalt midfield and why that foundation might help improve RSL’s attacking production even more.

2. Emeka Eneli had the ‘best game of his career’ according to RSL Manager Pablo Mastroeni following RSL’s draw against St. Louis this weekend. 

What about his game made him so effective against CITY, and how can his unexpected emergence along with Crooks' introduction supercharge RSL’s new tactical plan?

Not a bad thing to hear from your manager, huh? Mastroeni wasn’t the only person who noticed Eneli’s emergence in the middle of the park either. Apple TV MLS Season Pass analyst, former USMNT icon Maurice Edu, waxed lyrical about the second-year player’s performance against St. Louis on Saturday, even suggesting him for Man of the Match.

Eneli did many things well, but two very specific things brought individual excellence, and those actions should help “supercharge” RSL’s tactical plan going forward.

Before the match against St. Louis, Mastroeni hinted at possibly bringing Eneli into the center of the park, because he thought the team might need, “more dog in midfield” against CITY.

His play here speaks to what Mastroeni was hinting at

The Cornell grad ended the night with the team-high in tackles (5) and the game-high in combined tackles and interceptions (8).

It was a classic destroyer No. 6 type of performance that stood out on the eye and analytical tests alike. Alongside Braian Ojeda in the pivot, both midfielders did an excellent job snuffing out potential CITY counterattacks and winning back possession for their team. The duo had a combined 17 ball recoveries and a combined 15 tackles + interceptions. 

A vacuum at the heart of CITYPARK. 

The other aspect of Eneli’s game that shined was his progressive carries. 

With Pablo Ruiz playing higher up the pitch as one of the double 10’s in attack, RSL was crying out for a progressive dribbler or passer in the pivot to help connect the midfield with the attacking contingent. Enter Eneli:

Postgame, Eneli mentioned postgame how new RSL Assistant Coach Nate Miller told him in preseason to not be afraid to use his dribble to break lines and find pockets of space or potential passing lanes. 

The Ivy Leaguer obviously paid close attention, and waited to pick his spot to make his runs. In the clip above you can see the St. Louis defenders swarm their attention to Eneli as he breaks their lines, allowing Crooks to run free to his right and create a chance for Arango. 

As Eneli works toward nailing down a starting spot in the midfield, Crooks’ introduction to the squad could also possibly push Ruiz back into the pivot next to any combination of Eneli, Ojeda or Nelson Palacio. This could add an entirely other wrinkle to RSL’s attack. While Eneli is rapidly improving at progressive dribbles and his defensive work, Pablo Ruiz in the pivot is one of MLS’s very best progressive passers.

According for Fbref, during the 2023 MLS season before Ruiz was injured, compared to other MLS midfielders, the Argentine was in the 99th percentile in through balls per 90, the 86th percentile in progressive passes and the 93rd percentile in progressive passing distance. Not to mention in the 88th percentile in tackles.

A potential pivot of Ruiz and Eneli would give RSL the double-edged sword of midfielders who can pick out passes up field or dribble up field themselves, to create an assortment of problems for opposing defenses. All the while, being elite defensively at the top of the RSL backline.

With Eneli’s defensive cover next to him in the pivot, Ruiz could also focus more on his offensive output. His progressive passing from a deeper spot than the 10 role he has been playing might make RSL even more dangerous in transition.

Crooks and Goméz thrive in transition, and with Ruiz supplying them through balls from the base of the midfield, RSL’s counterattack becomes that much more effective (RSL had 0 registered through balls against STL and Miami).

On the flipside, while in possession with Ruiz further back, it allows Luna and Crooks to operate in the 10 spots together, which gives Luna a partner to do what he does best, which is to break down dug-in opposing defenses with his creativity.

Crook’s ability to play quick passes in tight areas and then move to find space should complement Luna’s style of play well and give him another target in the air for crosses. Hopefully all of this combined also creates more chances for Arango up top.

While all hypothetical at the moment, it’s an exciting hypothesis for RSL fans.

Against Miami, RSL created 0.8 xG while giving up 1.4 xG. Against St. Louis, RSL created 1.7 xG while only giving up 0.7 xG. Quite a bit of that xG for RSL was built up while Crooks was on the pitch.

A positive trend through the first two games of the season against quality opposition, both of which were undoubtedly positively affected by Eneli and Crook’s play.

Speaking of quality opponents…

3. Getting a good result against a team like LAFC at home could do wonders for the Claret-and-Cobalt early in the season for several reasons. The Club from Southern California will be coming to America First Field brimming with confidence after their win against Seattle last weekend, and their last visit to Utah resulting in a 3-0 LAFC victory.

What is it about The Black and Gold that makes them so dangerous, and how can RSL begin the season undefeated at home?

There were loads of questions about LAFC going into their season opener. Whether they had too much turnover during the offseason, whether they would have a hangover from losing MLS Cup last year, etc. They then went out and put together a dominating performance against one of the Western Conference favorites in Seattle Sounders, and won 2-1 to begin the season.

This team is good, and they’re only going to get better.

2018 World Cup Champion Hugo Lloris is now between the sticks for the Black-and-Gold, former MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI midfielder Eduard Atuesta rejoined the side over the winter and LAFC seems to have already found a ready-made replacement for 2022 MLS All-Star fullback Diego Palacios as Omar Campos showed out with a fantastic game against Seattle.

All the while, Club and MLS legend Carlos Vela didn’t feature in the 18 against Seattle, and LAFC still have 2 Designated Player spots to fill. As tough as they seem now, again, they’re likely only going to get better.

There’s never a good time to play the 2022 MLS Cup Champions, but before they get Vela back and fill those two DP spots seems as good as ever.

Against Seattle, LAFC conceded possession to the Sounders, but still took more shots and could’ve easily had more than two goals. RSL will especially have to keep an eye on 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner Dénis Bouanga, who was unlucky not to open his 2024 account last week.

In order to keep LAFC at bay at America First Field, RSL will need to win the midfield battle and be smart in possession, especially if LAFC is content with letting the Claret-and-Cobalt keep the ball.

Most of all, RSL will need to finish its chances if the home side is going to secure the full three points against LAFC. It’s been a running theme for Real Salt Lake this season, which has shown flashes of brilliance in all aspects of play, but will need a complete game to beat the defending Western Conference Champs. That especially includes precision in front of goal.

No better time for Arango to remind his old team what they're missing, exactly like how he did when he visited BMO Stadium late last season.

You won’t want to miss this one at America First Field on Saturday. Make sure you get your tickets before the match sells out: