Let me start off by saying it is way too early to be writing this. Sacramento Republic FC have only played a single league match under new Head Coach Paul Buckle and it is a bit too early to be making generalizations and definite pronouncements about how he is molding the team to fit his vision. That, however, is not going to stop us here at Indomitable City Soccer.

Right from the very beginning of his tenure as Sacramento Republic FC’s coach, Paul Buckle has been saying that he is not going to make significant changes to the team. It has always been stressed that the Republic will continue to play an attacking style of play, but that there would also be more of a focus on keeping a balance between attack and defense so as not to leave the team vulnerable.

Although it is definitely true that Buckle has not come close to overhauling the team, it is already becoming apparent that things are changing. These changes are not so much drastic as they are simply refocusing the team in certain areas, such as formation and chance creation.

The most visible changes that Buckle has brought to the Republic thus far were seen in the win over Seattle Sounders 2 last Saturday. The Republic’s change to a 4-3-3 system from a 4-4-2 came suddenly and without much warning, surprising both fans and the assorted media. Despite the initial shock, the new setup has been generally greeted positively. The general feeling is that it seems to better utilize the roster that Sacramento has, particularly in regard to the midfield trio of Ivan Mirkovic, Danny Barrera, and Rodrigo Lopez.

Both Barrera and Lopez had been used primarily as outside midfielders in previous matches, with Mirkovic and either Gilberto or Octavio Guzman making up the 4-4-2’s central midfield tandem. By moving both Lopez and Barrera centrally with the 4-3-3, Buckle changed how they functioned. In a previous interview about the difference in playing outside midfield and centrally, Barrera said “in the midfield it’s much more crowded and decisions have to be made much quicker; out wide you get it with time and you see the field.” Although the move deprived both Barrera and Lopez that time on the ball, it was a good move overall because they are two of best players on the team at making quick decisions with the ball at their feet. Getting both Barrera and Lopez in the same midfield, with Mirkovic acting as a strong defensive cover, all but ensures that Sacramento will win the battle in the middle of the field.

While the overall formation change has been the most recognizable change that Buckle has brought about, it is something that could always change. The decision to go with the Mirkovic-Barrera-Lopez grouping against S2 was made to counter the visitors’ tendency to utilize the wide spaces by filling up the middle of the field without letting the fullbacks, Klimenta and Kiffe, get exposed. Whether that will end up being the go-to formation in the future remains to be seen. It is just too early on in Buckle’s tenure to tell if the 4-3-3 that the Republic ran out on Saturday is the new norm or just one of many clubs in the tactical bag.

Although it may be too early to say for certain how the Republic will be lining up in the future, one thing can be said for certain: they will be creating more chances from the middle of the field than from the wide areas.

Although USL and the Republic do not keep track of open play crosses and through balls, it was plain enough to see just with the naked eye that Sacramento was attempting many more through balls than crosses against S2. Barrera and Lopez were threading balls behind the defense all night and were rewarded with an assist each. “For me, that’s the most dangerous pass, splitting through the defense,” said Thomas Stewart, the man who was often the target of those through balls. “The defenders don’t like that ball, that’s why they try to play you out wide.”

The reliance on through balls is much more fitting with the Republic’s roster, which is bursting at the seams with technical ability and has quite a few clever and speedy wingers and forwards. Coach Buckle seems to have the same assessment of the roster, saying “we have the players in the team that can thread those balls through” after the win over S2.

Even though it may be way too early to make any definite conclusions about the long term look of Buckleball, it is not too early to see the nature of the changes coming to the Republic. Rather than a complete overhaul, the team is simply refocusing away from the long switches and crosses of Preki to the clever combination play and through balls of Buckle.