Editorial (March 22, 2019) – As pre-season training & conditioning gathers pace, it is natural that we as fans, start looking for key players on Pacific FC’s roster. Marcel de Jong and Marcus Haber undoubtedly are the headline acts. They are almost certain to be the most authoritative voices in the dressing room, bar a late headline signing.

Analyzing Pacific FC: Key players, strengths and weaknesses

However, news that Marcel de Jong has suffered a ruptured Achilles comes as a major blow as many fear he could be out for the season. De Jong has undergone surgery and has vowed to return, while continuing to stay with the team and provide valuable leadership.

Here’s a look at how the Pacific FC roster is shaping up for the inaugural CPL game and likely leaders in each part of the pitch. The team is still in the process of adding more players to the roster, so this assessment is likely to change.

Goalkeepers

Mark Village, formerly of Whitecaps II and Vancouver Island’s very own Nolan Wirth are in contention for the spot between the sticks. Both players have a point to prove and have had a tough time finding sustained appearances at the pro level. At the moment I’d guess that Village is likely to start.

Defense

Pacific FC’s defense is threadbare at the moment, with Marcel de Jong’s injury leaving well laid plans in tatters. Hendrik Starostzik, the only international recruit so far, brings a wealth of experience from his time in the second and third divisions in Germany. Hendrik, along with new signing Lukas MacNaughton are likely to make up the center of PFC’s defense. Lukas is a Canadian youngster who learned his football in Belgium and is a young prospect, so there is room for more experienced options at center back.

PFC also have Kadin Chung a pacey, attack minded right back from Whitecaps FC II offers a great deal of promise. Matthew Baldisimo, another young Whitecaps FC 2 product can also play in the defensive line, although he is more of a defensive midfielder.

Verdict: 4/10. PFC need more full backs, and at least 1 more experienced name to organize the back line.

Midfield

The midfield is arguably where PFC can win or lose the season. Seven of the 15 players on the official roster can play in this part of the pitch. There is also reasonable variety and depth with a healthy mix of experience and youth.

The biggest names are Ben Fisk and Victor Blasco. Blasco was once a part of La Masia, the famed Barcelona youth academy offers creativity and drive from the flanks. The Spain-born Canadian can play on the wing or as a wide midfielder. Similarly, Fisk offers significant attacking threat with an ability to play on the flanks or as a center forward.

The onus of breaking up play will likely fall on utility players such as Baldisimo and Starostzik who can play in both midfield and defense. Of course, this depends on the roster being beefed up with a sufficient number of pure defenders.

Young signings Terran Campbell, Jose Hernandez and Alessandro Hojabrpour provide significant depth and attacking verve. However, there is still a lack of tactical nous and maturity to dictate play from the base of the midfield.

Verdict: 6/10. Lots of potential, a little too attack-minded, further signings will dictate how the midfield shapes up. Blasco and Fisk are likely to be mainstays.

Forwards

The front line is undoubtedly the strongest suit for Pacific FC, with Marcus Haber and Issey Nakajima-Farran both likely to start most games. Both players are well-traveled veterans and could be a potent pairing with complementary strengths.

Marcus Haber can be crucial to PFC’s playing style, using his body well to create chances with hold-up play. Nakajima-Farran’s finishing, combined with runs off the wing are likely to be the go to attacking template for PFC.

Verdict: 8.5/10. Looks remarkably strong and central to PFC’s playing style, as long as they can get the ball up to Haber.

Coach and playing style

Michael Silberbauer had a playing career spanning more than a 100 games each for Danish clubs Aalborg BK and FC Copenhagen, winning three Danish Superliga titles with FC Copenhagen. He became an assistant at Swiss Super League club FC Luzern in 2016 under chief coach René Weiler.

Silberbauer’s tactics are something of an unknown quantity as the PFC squad is still shaping up, but Weiler favored a 4-2-3-1 at Luzern. Given the current roster, I suspect that Silberbauer would be better off playing a 4-4-2 diamond to best utilize the strengths of his squad. However, if the lack of fullbacks on the roster persists till the start of the season, he might stump for a dynamic five at the back instead.

I can’t wait for the new Canadian Premier League season to start, and am eager to learn more about what to expect from PFC on the pitch. I plan to do a deeper analysis on the expected playing style, tactics and formations as we get more familiar with the players in the next few days.

Embed from Getty Images