Tactical Tidbits: Sizing up Ethan Finlay’s MNUFC debut
Photo credit: Minnesota United FC
Well, that was quick. It took all of one match — one half, really — for Ethan Finlay to show why Minnesota United FC forked up $425,000 in allocation money to acquire his services from Columbus Crew SC. The 27-year-old winger scored in his MNUFC debut Sunday and nearly carried the visitors to a difficult road point against the red-hot Seattle Sounders.
A converted penalty by Clint Dempsey in the final minute of stoppage time gave the Sounders a 2-1 win, effectively spoiling the Loons’ party. But there were several positives for Minnesota to build on down the stretch, not the least of which was the play of their shiny new weapon.
SET UP FOR SUCCESS
MNUFC head coach Adrian Heath was well aware of Finlay’s struggles toward the end of his tenure in Columbus; Heath was also very much in tune with the root cause of them.
“You know, they’ve changed the shape, which they’ve never done since I’ve been here,” Heath told MLSsoccer.com’s Jeff Reuter. “Gregg (Berhalter) has played the 4-2-3-1, and Ethan has been the one on the right, coming in the hole, running in behind people. They gradually morphed into something else.”
A straight-line burner with little wiggle, Finlay excels in formations that afford space for wingers to operate. Recognizing this, Heath immediately thrust Finlay into a comfortable role playing on the right wing in a 4-2-3-1.
#SEAvMIN pic.twitter.com/V078RmVGoW
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) August 21, 2017
PERFORMANCE
Finlay kept things simple and played to his strengths. He mostly operated on the right side, often playing the ball backward to maintain possession, which was smart given the situation. Seattle saw 64 percent of the ball, a number that surely would’ve been higher without Finlay’s efforts to work the ball around the midfield.
His passing was fairly sharp, although he didn’t attempt a large number of high-risk balls. Here’s his distribution map, from left to right, which illustrates his efficient-yet-mundane passing:
Image credit: MLSsoccer.com
While Finlay’s performance bordered on conservative, he also selectively found opportunities to get forward. Not one to wait around for an invitation, the twice-capped USMNTer displayed perhaps his two best attributes on his first-half tally: pace and directness.
Watch him recognize the hole in the Seattle defense and capitalize by making a straight, full-speed run up the seam, one of the simplest and most effective off-the-ball runs in soccer when timed perfectly:
Welcome to @MNUFC!@EthanFinlay13 gives his new club the lead. #SEAvMIN https://t.co/kqzmObH1Dl
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 21, 2017
Finlay almost notched a brace after making another dangerous diagonal run and finishing, but was whistled offsides as his shot clanked off the post and in. He finished with two shot attempts.
OUTLOOK
Finlay adds a reliable right-sided attacking element to the MNUFC attack. Always capable of going a full 90, his fitness and pace will not only bring consistency to the lineup, but also a certain dynamism that Minnesota lacks.
As long as the Loons don’t drastically switch their formation, Finlay will have every opportunity to thrive with his new club if given the proper space to make darting runs in behind the defense. His adept passing ability will also likely surface soon, especially once Christian Ramirez returns to health.
Speaking of Ramirez, another interesting subplot to follow is Finlay’s reunion with a taller box striker. Finlay’s best days as a pro came playing alongside imposing 6-3 striker Kei Kamara, when Finlay dished out a whopping 29 assists from 2014-16. Kei spent all of 2015 and part of 2016 with Crew SC before being traded to the New England Revolution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vdn5PFY9V0
Kei was replaced by Ola Kamara, a shorter forward who doesn’t linger in the box as much. Could Finlay see an uptick in his slumbering assist total — he has just one on the season — when the 6-2 Ramirez, whose skill set is closer to Kei’s than Ola’s, starts up top in a true No. 9 role? It’s entirely possible.
If Ethan Finlay’s debut against Seattle was any indication, the Minnesota front office isn’t exactly rife with buyer’s remorse.
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You can follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.
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