I’d love to have a birdseye view of the conversations that happen on the training pitch to see how the experienced players (Messi, Busquets, etc) and coach Tata Martino are coaching players into a new vision of the game.
What tactics do you think they are emphasizing? How have they shifted players perspectives? What bad habits are they trying to break?
As a MLS fan, some games feel like I’m watching high schoolers play the sport. Players like Messi and Busquets are miles beyond the MLS talent pool, even at the end of their careers. I’ve thought for a while that MLS should focus themselves as a farm system for the European leagues as well as a retirement home for aging players. It would be great publicity for MLS to have big names joining the league.
Yeah I agree. So what do you think has unlocked the inter Miami players abilities?
I feel like Tata and squad has been helping the players slow down and play more to space, among other things.
I completely agree. MLS teams tend to run the pitch rather than building up attacks. These veteran players understand pace and waiting for the right opportunities to attack.
One thing I’ll say: the huge tactical shift makes it much more difficult for opposition to prepare for Miami in the Messi/Tata/et al. era. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miami regress as time passes and teams get more info to prepare with. Also, don’t forget that they HAVE drawn* games this season against good clubs like Nashville and (ugh) Cincy, as well as a middling club like Dallas. *draws were in knockout games but still were draws in regular time/AET.