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McCarthy's Musings: Mauro Rosales provides touch of class in Seattle's midfield
Rosales has added a new dimension to Seattle's work through midfield, but Sounders FC will miss the potential MVP candidate as he sits out the next 2-4 weeks through injury.
Sep 21, 2011 3:23:00 AM
By Kyle McCarthy
SEATTLE – Maybe the rest of MLS should have anticipated Mauro Rosales' potential impact on the league.
The former Ajax and River Plate schemer certainly possessed the ability to succeed in MLS before he landed in the States. By showing up on trial with Seattle in February and ultimately accepting a $42,000/year (per MLS Players Union documents) contract well below his market value, he exhibited the type of drive and selflessness that usually bodes well in a league that has seen players with inflated senses of self-worth struggle against typically blue-collar opposition.
Rosales has lived up to those promising indicators in his first campaign with Sounders FC. His tangible production (five goals and 12 assists in 23 MLS appearances) reveals why the 30-year-old should feature as a candidate in the MVP race, but his overall performances show why his contribution has proved so vital to Seattle's collective success.
“Well, there's a lot of things that he's been able to do,” Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller said after Saturday's 3-0 victory over D.C. United. “One, he doesn't lose the ball very often, which is always nice. It means you can play it into him. He gets behind players and he puts a good ball into the box. He's got a lot of assists. It's a big reason for our success.”
All of those skills fit nicely into a fluid midfield group with the optimal mix of incisiveness and industry. Seattle coach Sigi Schmid has played Rosales in several spots – his effectiveness anywhere through the attacking half isn't in much doubt at this point – during the course of the campaign, but he has preferred to ship him out to his natural spot on the right flank when possible.
Rosales doesn't boast the blistering pace Steve Zakuani does in that role, nor does he play it in the same way. Instead of leaning on speed, Rosales relies on his guile to carry him into the correct spots (on the right or as a roving menace for opposing defenses) and create opportunities for a group of players with the skill to take advantage of his service.
“He's very important for us because he is the kind of player who builds up the play when he has space,” Sounders FC midfielder Álvaro Fernández said through a translator. “That is important for us to be able to do things (in the attacking third), but, at the same time, we have many players who can do those roles. We're hoping that he gets back into the game soon and that the injury is not too complicated.”
Fernandez's theory will be tested over the next 2-4 weeks after Rosales suffered a slight MCL tear in his right knee as a result of a tackle by Daniel Woolard in the waning stages of Saturday night's game. Schmid may come to lament his decision to keep Rosales on the field instead of withdrawing him earlier, but he can at least pick his potential solution from a staggering number of options as he attempts to compensate for Rosales' loss ahead of Saturday's trip to Vancouver.
(Note: It is somewhat difficult to predict what Schmid will do to fill Rosales' spot on the right because his squad offers him so many possible permutations in midfield. The easiest swap would probably see Fernandez switch to the right and Erik Friberg assume the role on the left side of midfield, but Friberg is listed as questionable with a hip flexor strain. In lieu of the most obvious switch, Schmid could lean on Roger Levesque [on the right] or Lamar Neagle [on the left] or switch Brad Evans out to the right side and shuffle everything entirely. At the moment, there are quite a few options on the table.)
Seattle will miss Rosales' ingenuity as it attempts to work its way through a hectic schedule over the next few weeks, but it may need his tidy work in possession more. Rosales excels as a conduit because he keeps the ball when it is played to him and permits others to join or run off of him into dangerous areas.
Sounders FC has, at times, struggled in that department without Rosales on the field. Mike Fucito and Fredy Montero work earnestly to create openings, but they operate more smoothly off the shoulder of defenders rather than as the principle fulcrum of the attack. Montero, in particular, must carry more of the load in the buildup with Rosales sidelined. The Colombian striker can perform the task to a reasonable standard and has shown an increasing proclivity to do so as the season has unfolded, but he must supply the necessary link play to keep Sounders FC's fluid and mobile attack alive in Rosales' absence.
“If we hold the ball up front, we're a good team,” Keller said. “We're very dangerous when that happens because we have a lot of skill going forward. And it's the support from the guys in the back too. When you have Tyson Wahl overlapping and being able to put a good ball in the box and James Riley overlapping, it gives the guys up front a little bit more space when we're keeping it. When we're quickly losing it or not keeping possession early on, it's hard for our guys to get into the game.”
It will take more than one player to pick up the slack with Rosales consigned to the sidelines. Rosales has benefited from Seattle's fluid attacking approach and his talented teammates as he has adapted to MLS this season, but his individual brilliance provides a dimension that Sounders FC cannot easily replicate. One thing is for certain as Seattle adjusts to Rosales' absence at this juncture of campaign: potential opponents will certainly note his absence from the teamsheet.
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSsoccer.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
The former Ajax and River Plate schemer certainly possessed the ability to succeed in MLS before he landed in the States. By showing up on trial with Seattle in February and ultimately accepting a $42,000/year (per MLS Players Union documents) contract well below his market value, he exhibited the type of drive and selflessness that usually bodes well in a league that has seen players with inflated senses of self-worth struggle against typically blue-collar opposition.
Rosales has lived up to those promising indicators in his first campaign with Sounders FC. His tangible production (five goals and 12 assists in 23 MLS appearances) reveals why the 30-year-old should feature as a candidate in the MVP race, but his overall performances show why his contribution has proved so vital to Seattle's collective success.
“Well, there's a lot of things that he's been able to do,” Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller said after Saturday's 3-0 victory over D.C. United. “One, he doesn't lose the ball very often, which is always nice. It means you can play it into him. He gets behind players and he puts a good ball into the box. He's got a lot of assists. It's a big reason for our success.”
All of those skills fit nicely into a fluid midfield group with the optimal mix of incisiveness and industry. Seattle coach Sigi Schmid has played Rosales in several spots – his effectiveness anywhere through the attacking half isn't in much doubt at this point – during the course of the campaign, but he has preferred to ship him out to his natural spot on the right flank when possible.
Rosales doesn't boast the blistering pace Steve Zakuani does in that role, nor does he play it in the same way. Instead of leaning on speed, Rosales relies on his guile to carry him into the correct spots (on the right or as a roving menace for opposing defenses) and create opportunities for a group of players with the skill to take advantage of his service.
“He's very important for us because he is the kind of player who builds up the play when he has space,” Sounders FC midfielder Álvaro Fernández said through a translator. “That is important for us to be able to do things (in the attacking third), but, at the same time, we have many players who can do those roles. We're hoping that he gets back into the game soon and that the injury is not too complicated.”
Fernandez's theory will be tested over the next 2-4 weeks after Rosales suffered a slight MCL tear in his right knee as a result of a tackle by Daniel Woolard in the waning stages of Saturday night's game. Schmid may come to lament his decision to keep Rosales on the field instead of withdrawing him earlier, but he can at least pick his potential solution from a staggering number of options as he attempts to compensate for Rosales' loss ahead of Saturday's trip to Vancouver.
(Note: It is somewhat difficult to predict what Schmid will do to fill Rosales' spot on the right because his squad offers him so many possible permutations in midfield. The easiest swap would probably see Fernandez switch to the right and Erik Friberg assume the role on the left side of midfield, but Friberg is listed as questionable with a hip flexor strain. In lieu of the most obvious switch, Schmid could lean on Roger Levesque [on the right] or Lamar Neagle [on the left] or switch Brad Evans out to the right side and shuffle everything entirely. At the moment, there are quite a few options on the table.)
Roll on Rosales | The Argentinian set a franchise record with 12 assists in 2011
Seattle will miss Rosales' ingenuity as it attempts to work its way through a hectic schedule over the next few weeks, but it may need his tidy work in possession more. Rosales excels as a conduit because he keeps the ball when it is played to him and permits others to join or run off of him into dangerous areas.
Sounders FC has, at times, struggled in that department without Rosales on the field. Mike Fucito and Fredy Montero work earnestly to create openings, but they operate more smoothly off the shoulder of defenders rather than as the principle fulcrum of the attack. Montero, in particular, must carry more of the load in the buildup with Rosales sidelined. The Colombian striker can perform the task to a reasonable standard and has shown an increasing proclivity to do so as the season has unfolded, but he must supply the necessary link play to keep Sounders FC's fluid and mobile attack alive in Rosales' absence.
“If we hold the ball up front, we're a good team,” Keller said. “We're very dangerous when that happens because we have a lot of skill going forward. And it's the support from the guys in the back too. When you have Tyson Wahl overlapping and being able to put a good ball in the box and James Riley overlapping, it gives the guys up front a little bit more space when we're keeping it. When we're quickly losing it or not keeping possession early on, it's hard for our guys to get into the game.”
It will take more than one player to pick up the slack with Rosales consigned to the sidelines. Rosales has benefited from Seattle's fluid attacking approach and his talented teammates as he has adapted to MLS this season, but his individual brilliance provides a dimension that Sounders FC cannot easily replicate. One thing is for certain as Seattle adjusts to Rosales' absence at this juncture of campaign: potential opponents will certainly note his absence from the teamsheet.
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSsoccer.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
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