In 2018, www.indyeleven.com’s Drew Kamaski will give his three takeaways from the performance of the “Boys in Blue.” This week's edition covers what to look for in the final five regular-season matches of 2018.
At least We have our Health
The “Boys in Blue” ended a seven-game span in 22 days on September 5, when Indy Eleven defeated New York Red Bulls II 3-0. The seven game span started mid-August and finished early September, giving “Indiana’s Team” an average of just over three days in between games. The grueling schedule accounted for 630 minutes of total soccer to be played.
That amount of minutes in such a short span can be detrimental to a player’s health. It’s up to coaches and trainers to find the correct balance of minutes for players to allow the team to be productive and earn points, without resulting in long term injury.
“Seven games in 22 days takes an incredible toll on players, on both levels,” Indy Eleven athletic trainer Brian Gerlach said. “Guys who play 90 minutes must recover quickly and those who don’t play have to maintain fitness around limited amount of training time.”
Indy’s backline took the brunt of battle. Defenders Ayoze and Carlyle Mitchell played the full 90 minutes of all but one game. Defender Karl Ouimette played seven minutes less than his teammates and Reiner Ferreira played a full 90 in five of seven games. Other players that registered close to those minutes were forward in form Jack McInerney and midfielder Dylan Mares, who racked up 452 and 412 minutes out a possible 630, respectively.
Whatever formula head coach Martin Rennie, assistant coach Phillip Dos Santos, and Gerlach came up with, it worked. The “Boys in Blue” took a total of 13 out of 21 points and boasted an undefeated record of 3W-4D-0L in the seven-game span. Rennie accredited the success to a deep team.
“You play seven games in a short span of time with very little recovery and it shows how much depth we have,” Rennie said. “We’ve made a lot of adjustments and changes in that time, which kept a lot of players fresh and getting stronger as the time was going on.”
What’s Left?
The conclusion of the seven games in a 22-day stretch meant there was six games left for the “Boys in Blue” to claim points from. The six-game span will take place in a 31-day period, giving “Indiana’s Team” two extra days rest between games than the previous stretch provided.
Rennie’s side came into the last six games of the season off a nine-game unbeaten streak. The ball got rolling and the streak began after a 3-1 loss on the road to Tampa Bay Rowdies. After that loss, the “Boys in Blue” won four games, drew five, and lost zero on their way to earning 17 out of a possible 27 points from the nine game run. Even more impressive is the fact the unbeaten streak came during the seven games in 22 days.
“You know we played one game in 19 days, followed by seven games in 22 days,” Rennie said. “We’re nine games unbeaten now. We’re scoring goals. I’m very confident in the guys and I think they’re gaining confidence now too.”
The Scotsman’s side found the back of the net 16 times in the nine-game stretch. The defense conceded 10 goals and helped goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams to accrue three more clean sheets, bringing his total to 10 in 2018.
But the streak ended in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on September 12 in a 1-0 loss to Penn FC.
The end of the schedule doesn’t get any easier for “Indiana’s Team,” though. In the next, and last, five games, the “Boys in Blue” face three teams that are ahead of them in the table: FC Cincinnati, Louisville City FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. They also face the team directly below them in the table, Bethlehem Steel FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies, the team Indy lost to before starting the undefeated streak. The team has a combined 2W-4L-3D record in 2018 against the last six teams.
Who to Keep an Eye On
With five games remaining in 2018, every point of the next available 15 is crucial, especially to playoff positions. Four points separate fifth place Indy Eleven from the playoff cutoff, eighth place New York Red Bulls II. With such a small gap of points and three points needed now more than ever, who should you rely on to make sure your team is in the playoffs?
In the back third, Fon Williams will need to be big between the posts. In the nine-game undefeated streak, he accumulated three clean sheets and allowed 10 goals. The Welshman’s recent success can be accredited to the longevity of his backline. The starting group of Ouimette, Mitchell, and Ayoze started all but one game during the streak, with Ferreira missing two.
Captain and midfielder Matt Watson has martialed the midfield for the “Boys in Blue” all season long. The 33-year-old veteran racked up an impressive number of minutes in the short seven-game stretch. Additionally, the Englishman created two goals for teammate. Rennie will be relying on his experience to pick off passes in the high pressure style the Scotsman prefers to run, and create counter attacks that lead to goals.
“The thing about him is not only does he win the ball and play the great pass, and a lot of times you don’t get guys who can win the ball and play the pass,” Rennie said. “He can do both and we’re very grateful to have him as one of our leaders.”
Mares is the second midfielder that will be vital to success in the next five matches. Since making his first appearance on August 22, he’s scored two goals and created one assist in six appearances. Four out of those six appearances were starts. Mares’ four starts came in a row, with each start three days apart. The number of consecutive starts is a testimony to the midfielder’s fitness. Expect Mares to be regular on the team sheet for Rennie in the last five games.
One luxury, and arguably the top luxury, Rennie has going into the last stretch of games is forwards in form. Forward Eugene Starikov never played a full 90 minutes in the seven-games in 22 days, but managed three goals in four appearances.
“He’s had a few injuries and he was out for a long time,” Rennie said on Starikov. “Once we got him back he started scoring and showed what he can do.”
In addition to Starikov, striking partner McInerney has been performing on the same level if not higher. McInerney scored six goals in the nine-game undefeated streak and assisted one teammate. The two combined for nine out of 16 goals during the undefeated streak.
The last five fixtures will be difficult for Rennie. Two matches will be played at home and three on the road, where “Indiana’s Team” faces teams higher in the table. Capturing points in the last five will be crucial in deciding playoff positioning, after the loss to Penn FC leaves a five point gap between fifth placed Indy Eleven and second place Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Indy’s next opponent.
In 2018, www.indyeleven.com’s Drew Kamaski will give his three takeaways from the performance of the “Boys in Blue.” This week’s edition covers what to look for in the final five regular-season matches of 2018.
At least We have our Health
The “Boys in Blue” ended a seven-game span in 22 days on September 5, when Indy Eleven defeated New York Red Bulls II 3-0. The seven game span started mid-August and finished early September, giving “Indiana’s Team” an average of just over three days in between games. The grueling schedule accounted for 630 minutes of total soccer to be played.
That amount of minutes in such a short span can be detrimental to a player’s health. It’s up to coaches and trainers to find the correct balance of minutes for players to allow the team to be productive and earn points, without resulting in long term injury.
“Seven games in 22 days takes an incredible toll on players, on both levels,” Indy Eleven athletic trainer Brian Gerlach said. “Guys who play 90 minutes must recover quickly and those who don’t play have to maintain fitness around limited amount of training time.”
Indy’s backline took the brunt of battle. Defenders Ayoze and Carlyle Mitchell played the full 90 minutes of all but one game. Defender Karl Ouimette played seven minutes less than his teammates and Reiner Ferreira played a full 90 in five of seven games. Other players that registered close to those minutes were forward in form Jack McInerney and midfielder Dylan Mares, who racked up 452 and 412 minutes out a possible 630, respectively.
Whatever formula head coach Martin Rennie, assistant coach Phillip Dos Santos, and Gerlach came up with, it worked. The “Boys in Blue” took a total of 13 out of 21 points and boasted an undefeated record of 3W-4D-0L in the seven-game span. Rennie accredited the success to a deep team.
“You play seven games in a short span of time with very little recovery and it shows how much depth we have,” Rennie said. “We’ve made a lot of adjustments and changes in that time, which kept a lot of players fresh and getting stronger as the time was going on.”
What’s Left?
The conclusion of the seven games in a 22-day stretch meant there was six games left for the “Boys in Blue” to claim points from. The six-game span will take place in a 31-day period, giving “Indiana’s Team” two extra days rest between games than the previous stretch provided.
Rennie’s side came into the last six games of the season off a nine-game unbeaten streak. The ball got rolling and the streak began after a 3-1 loss on the road to Tampa Bay Rowdies. After that loss, the “Boys in Blue” won four games, drew five, and lost zero on their way to earning 17 out of a possible 27 points from the nine game run. Even more impressive is the fact the unbeaten streak came during the seven games in 22 days.
“You know we played one game in 19 days, followed by seven games in 22 days,” Rennie said. “We’re nine games unbeaten now. We’re scoring goals. I’m very confident in the guys and I think they’re gaining confidence now too.”
The Scotsman’s side found the back of the net 16 times in the nine-game stretch. The defense conceded 10 goals and helped goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams to accrue three more clean sheets, bringing his total to 10 in 2018.
But the streak ended in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on September 12 in a 1-0 loss to Penn FC.
The end of the schedule doesn’t get any easier for “Indiana’s Team,” though. In the next, and last, five games, the “Boys in Blue” face three teams that are ahead of them in the table: FC Cincinnati, Louisville City FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. They also face the team directly below them in the table, Bethlehem Steel FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies, the team Indy lost to before starting the undefeated streak. The team has a combined 2W-4L-3D record in 2018 against the last six teams.
Who to Keep an Eye On
With five games remaining in 2018, every point of the next available 15 is crucial, especially to playoff positions. Four points separate fifth place Indy Eleven from the playoff cutoff, eighth place New York Red Bulls II. With such a small gap of points and three points needed now more than ever, who should you rely on to make sure your team is in the playoffs?
In the back third, Fon Williams will need to be big between the posts. In the nine-game undefeated streak, he accumulated three clean sheets and allowed 10 goals. The Welshman’s recent success can be accredited to the longevity of his backline. The starting group of Ouimette, Mitchell, and Ayoze started all but one game during the streak, with Ferreira missing two.
Captain and midfielder Matt Watson has martialed the midfield for the “Boys in Blue” all season long. The 33-year-old veteran racked up an impressive number of minutes in the short seven-game stretch. Additionally, the Englishman created two goals for teammate. Rennie will be relying on his experience to pick off passes in the high pressure style the Scotsman prefers to run, and create counter attacks that lead to goals.
“The thing about him is not only does he win the ball and play the great pass, and a lot of times you don’t get guys who can win the ball and play the pass,” Rennie said. “He can do both and we’re very grateful to have him as one of our leaders.”
Mares is the second midfielder that will be vital to success in the next five matches. Since making his first appearance on August 22, he’s scored two goals and created one assist in six appearances. Four out of those six appearances were starts. Mares’ four starts came in a row, with each start three days apart. The number of consecutive starts is a testimony to the midfielder’s fitness. Expect Mares to be regular on the team sheet for Rennie in the last five games.
One luxury, and arguably the top luxury, Rennie has going into the last stretch of games is forwards in form. Forward Eugene Starikov never played a full 90 minutes in the seven-games in 22 days, but managed three goals in four appearances.
“He’s had a few injuries and he was out for a long time,” Rennie said on Starikov. “Once we got him back he started scoring and showed what he can do.”
In addition to Starikov, striking partner McInerney has been performing on the same level if not higher. McInerney scored six goals in the nine-game undefeated streak and assisted one teammate. The two combined for nine out of 16 goals during the undefeated streak.
The last five fixtures will be difficult for Rennie. Two matches will be played at home and three on the road, where “Indiana’s Team” faces teams higher in the table. Capturing points in the last five will be crucial in deciding playoff positioning, after the loss to Penn FC leaves a five point gap between fifth placed Indy Eleven and second place Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Indy’s next opponent.
