Ben Olsen Sees Chris Pontius As A Forward?

If Pontius does play forward, that probably drops DeRo into the point of the diamond, and shift Boskovic out left. Knowing that Boskovic pinches in centrally quite a lot, and knowing that Najar has that propensity as well (though less pronounced), we start to look (in style) more like RSL than we look like last year’s team. That would be a team very big on possession, and we’d be counting on the brilliance of our front 5 to unlock defenses.

That also means any potential pure speed forwards (Alfonso) and faster wingers (DeLeon) provide a change of pace.

Interesting to think about, but I’m still operating under the assumption of Pontius on the left until I see something on the field indicating otherwise.

Just last week Benny reviewed positions and talked about each of the players on the roster. He did not mention Pontius as a forward. Now that doesn’t mean that Benny will never play him up front. What is great about how the team is coming together is that there’s room to shift players around (lots of guys that are strong in the attack). But unless we’re decimated due to a combo of International duty and/or injuries, we won’t see Pontius up front regularly…

We want to be two deep at every position. Benny intimated that Bosko’s backup is Stephen King in his press conference.

“Two deep at every position” strongly supports pairings of Pontius-DeLeon, Najar-Cruz, De Ro-Wolff, Salihi-Santos, Kitchen-Saragosa.

The fact that De Ro, Salihi, Wolff, Santos, and now this Brazilian all being in the pool makes Pontius inclusion in this category overkill.

Earlier in the year, I wanted him up top because DC wasn’t going to bring in a better option. In Salihi, that option seems to have been acquired.

I don’t doubt Steve Davis, who is one of the best in the business. Where I think the confusion might stem from is that Olsen, like Bruce Arena (who I’m quite sure is the biggest influence for Benny’s approach), isn’t particularly focused on being specific with reporters about positions. We’re not going to hear him talking about false nines or anchor midfielders, even though he’ll probably use both at some point (possibly even frequently).

Example: Olsen called Rodrigo Brasesco a “defender” and a “center back,” then primarily used him at right back.

For Benny, the question of whether Pontius is a forward or a left midfielder isn’t that important. As such, he’s not going to spend much time delineating the difference.

Also adding to the confusion was that Chivas game, which has an outsized place in the memories of people league-wide. It was a simple tactical victory brought on by injuries for a Goats team that was foolishly built to only play one way (high line to aid possession). If we had another truly fast potential forward available that night, Pontius would have played midfield, and we’d have probably scored 4 or 5 because we’d have had one more speedy player sprinting past the glacial Chivas defense.

I didn’t think Benny primarily used Brasesco at all. ;)