Although the Red Bulls’ winning streak was cut short by RSL on the last outing, Jesse Marsch has a good opportunity to get back to their usual ways in a game against lower-placed Columbus Crew.

Columbus possess an interesting team which adapts its tactics frequently, so we can expect an intriguing clash on Saturday evening. In this article, I’ll be looking at the tactical pointers which could be pivotal in the outcome of this match-up.

Prepare for a Tactical Battle

Managed by Gregg Berhalter, Columbus Crew have a reactive approach to many games and will adapt appropriately depending on the tactical characteristics of their opposition. As a result of this nature, they are a very difficult team to predict and will be one of the more interesting propositions for the RBNY staff’s pre-match planning.

Considering Marsch’s distinct playing identity, one can be certain they will shape their team specially to play against the Red Bull playing style on Saturday evening. Although Columbus like to maintain the core principles of their game, many intricacies change often depending on who’s occupying the opposite dugout.

Berhalter isn’t afraid to make his adaptions mid-game either. An example being in their most recent match against Montreal. Fairly early in the first half, the coach changed the dynamics of his midfield as we saw Saied dropping into deep positions instead of Trapp (who formerly had this responsibility) for periods of the game.

Shut Down Trapp

As far as key players go, defensive midfielder Wil Trapp is a crucial figure in the operating of Columbus’ attacking game, and particularly influential during their build-up phases.

The 23-year old midfielder in particularly shows a fine understanding of the game, demonstrated in his positional ability which not only helps him, but his teammates around him too. During Columbus’ construction of possession, it is often his responsibility to drop into deep areas – often a position between the centre-backs.

In doing so, he doesn’t only make himself available to collect possession from the technically-inferior defenders, but he initiates a shift in his whole team’s shape. The back-3 gives better security if they were to lose the ball and allows Columbus to have a more stable base from which they can build from.

On the ball, Trapp is a competent passer and has an expansive distribution. The midfielder has a tendency to try and penetrate the centre of the midfield with sharp vertical passes through multiple bodies in a congested area. For this reason, McCarty and Felipe must be on high-alert in order to intercept these and protect their back line.

Due to his passing threat, it may be an option to restrict his influence through more closely following him in the pressing. If the Red Bulls’ forwards maintain a close enough distance so that they can press him effectively, then they may have a better chance of stopping the midfielder. Note that this does not necessarily mean man-marking, as Trapp could then use his intelligent movement to disrupt the Red Bulls’ press.

Counter the Compactness

Out of possession, Columbus defend in a fairly compact shape which is particularly narrow between the two wingers. Although they change their shape often, we can expect them to defend in either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-4-1 formation. It’s possible that they could choose the latter in order to keep a closer grip on Sacha Kljestan in RBNY’s 10 position.

What is just as, if not more, important than the formation itself is the distances between each player. In Columbus’ case, they’re short as they try to keep a tightly-knit defensive block by packing the centre. Through doing so they often try to force the opposition into wide areas, where they become easier to press. This is one of a few similarities the Crew’s defence share with Marsch’s team, so one would expect that the Red Bulls would have an answer.

A common tactic is to play around the press. Accepting the invitation into these wide areas, some teams have had more success by positioning a greater number of players in these zones. By doing so, they help create better support around the ball through increased connections and thus developing possession closer to the touchline becomes more feasible.

Alternatively, Marsch could adopt a more direct approach to the game. This method was used against him recently by the Sounders, and although they succumbed 2-0 to a fantastic Grella showing, they generated a number of dangerous shot opportunities. By going long, a team can bypass an opposition’s space and look to exploit the larger amounts of space left behind in deeper areas.

Create in Transition

Marsch’s may find attacking potential on the counter-attack against Columbus Crew. With both full-backs taking up very high positions on the pitch, the defence at the back can be somewhat vulnerable on the break.

Due to the expansive attacking shape, Marsch’s side may look for his side to fashion opportunities on the break. During transition, the now-defending team is generally disorganised to some extent and unless they can counterpress effectively, the opposition may benefit from the larger space now available.

Especially considering the pace of the Red Bulls’ front line, counter-attacks are a tool which can be used to some potency. The extra space available allows the team to move the ball upfield more direct and quickly, whilst the quality of chances is usually heightened too as a result of the absence of defensive support.

Conclusion

The match in Columbus promises to be an interesting one. One of the key questions will be how the Crew approach the game and the pressing of the Red Bulls, whilst the tactical pointers mentioned above could be vital in determining the outcome.