If you’ve been checking this space for a tactical breakdown of Indy Eleven versus Rayo OKC – and in the world of my ego you’ve been checking at least six times a day – I am sorry to have disappointed you. In spite of the scoreline and Jair Reinoso’s wonder strike, it’s not that the Eleven performance was so transcendent that any analysis would be so base and vulgar that it would only sully the match’s singular beauty, but that I had my tibia and fibula snapped in half Sunday afternoon and the screws, plates, rod, and copious amounts of hydrocodone in my system have banded together to keep me off the internet.

Pro tip: Try not to break your lower leg in half. It really hurts.

The good news – at least for me – is that I’m feeling better and not quite as high as I felt most of Wednesday and Thursday so I’m here to rattle off a few things to watch for tomorrow night at The Mike when the Indy Eleven take on FC Edmonton.

Two Teams, Similar Story

Yes, Indy Eleven is the only unbeaten team in the NASL at the moment, but with only four or five matches played for each team, it’s tough to draw too many conclusions about where teams will finish the spring. What’s been interesting and encouraging in watching the Eleven is Tim Hankinson’s willingness to tinker both in a match and in the approach to a match if results aren’t trending the way he would like. The “Writ in Stone” 4-2-3-1 has seemingly been scrapped at this phase for a more dynamic two front system and the change has produced two wins in a row.

FC Edmonton’s season has followed a similar arc and Head Coach Colin Miller has, like Hankinson, shown a similar willingness to tinker – although injuries have also forced his hand. In Wednesday’s win against Jacksonville, Edmonton had only two available substitutes. The Eddies started the season committed to playing Tomi Ameobi and Daryl Fordyce together in a 4-4-2, but the goals were not forthcoming. In recent weeks, the Eddies have switched to a 4-1-4-1 and the results have started to come. Tomorrow they’ll be looking for their third win in a row and haven’t given up a goal in two straight matches. They have, however, had injuries to key players, Cristian Raudales is one. Miller has deployed Raudales as the lone holding midfielder in the last two wins, but he picked up an injury in the Jacksonville match and his ability to go 90 minutes tomorrow – if at all – could be an issue. Any 4-1-4-1 is only as good as that lonely one in front of the back four. Miller may have to change it up again, which I’m sure he’ll be reluctant to do.

Albert Watson

Albert Watson is the least likely looking professional athlete in the NASL. If he were an actor, long ago he would have been typecast as a Depression Era factory worker or plucky, underdog boxer. His body shape is one straight, thick line and he’s a toe walker with clunky shinguards and thinning hair.

Here’s the thing though, he’s incredibly effective and I’m sure opponents hate playing against him. He’s strong in the challenge, good in the air, and reads the game well. He’s as likely to pick up a red card for a poorly timed challenge as he is to pop up at the end of a match and head home the game winner off a set piece. He’s infuriatingly fun to watch. In scouting FC Edmonton last season, I recall one report on Watson stating simply, “Goofy. Effective.”

Touché, Albert Watson. Touché.

Most center backs, including superlative ones, are only as good as the back they’re partnered with however, and FC Edmonton has found Watson a heck of a better half. Papé Diakité was signed by Edmonton after the end of the fall campaign and he’s not yet missed a minute for the Eddies. As effective as Watson is, he can be pretty thoroughly undone with pace if he has no cover. Diakité’s inclusion has given Watson license to go be goofy and effective and he’s also contributed on the attacking end. Watch for these two getting forward when Edmonton had an attacking set piece.

Spoiled For Choice

When Hankinson first pulled the trigger on starting a match with a two forward system, his options were somewhat limited. Basically, he had to decide who to partner with Éamon Zayed and that was it. Fast forward a couple of weeks and Hankinson has legitimate selection concerns. If he plays a 4-4-2, what’s the midfield look like? If Dylan Mares or Sinša Ubiparipović is accommodated for their creativity centrally, who makes way between Brad Ring and Nicki Paterson? Who starts in the wide(r) midfield spots? Duke LaCroix? Dylan Mares? Justin Braun? Omar Gordon? Jair Reinoso? Don Smart? Is it a midfield diamond or a straight bank of four? Does he attack the flanks or look to combine centrally and release forwards into the channels?

If Hankinson is going to continue on with a 4-4-2 – and at this point why wouldn’t he – it really does seem like finding the best two front combination as quickly as possible will be the key to maintaining the club’s current good form. The appropriate players with the needed skill sets to support those two front runners will likely fall into place once the best combination is found. My guess is that Zayed has locked down one of those spots. Who do you think should win the other?

Bigger Match Than You Might Think

Last point and then I’m off to slam more hydrocodone, this is a much bigger match than it might initially appear to be. Unsexy FC Edmonton with unsexy Albert Watson coming to town to take on suddenly hot Indy Eleven is not the most compelling story line in the NASL. However, a win and three points for Indy puts them in a really good spot with half of the spring season played. A loss and suddenly two draws and two wins doesn’t seem like something that warranted all that partying.

The NASL is a brutal slog. It’s nice for Eleven supporters to finally have something to be excited about, but it’s only been four games. We’ll see tomorrow if the team can get down to the business of winning.