In part two of this back to school series, I will be giving the defenders their report cards (minimum 90 minutes played)!
Defense wasn’t necessarily a position of strength for Atlético Ottawa. On the positive side, they secured two clean sheets. On the flip side, they allowed the second most goals. The back line also suffered two red cards and subsequent suspensions (re. Neufville and Kapor), in addition to conceding two penalty shots (re. Phillips and Kapor). This defense also failed to hold on to leads in two games. In a 7-game tournament, this level of inconsistency won’t get a team far.
There were still some bright spots in the pack, and as a group they often showed their potential by playing an organized defensive style of soccer that the Atlético brand is known for.
Again, I would like to thank, in advance, all those who voted/commented their own grades on Instagram, Twitter, and in the comment sections below. I love hearing what you think of my grades and what you would grade the players!
Vashon Neufville (Grade: B+)
- 5 Games Played, 1 Assist, 1 Red Card
Here’s the thing, when Neufville is playing, he is the second best player on this team, after Acuña. He is, consequently, a necessary ingredient in Ottawa’s success. The problem is, out of 7 games, Neufville was suspended in one of them and was further limited by injury in half of them.
This is not his fault. And I should start off by saying, his suspension was harsh and, in my opinion, he should not have received a red card in that game against York9.
Nonetheless, when Neufville was on the field, he was dynamic and created so many chances and opportunities for his teammates. He creates opportunities for his teammates in two ways. First, through his own threatening runs and passing. Second, from his own speed creating space for his teammates to operate in and to create for themselves.
I found that the team looked a lot more menacing in attack with him manning his flank. For example, Acuña had more options to work his magic and Malyk Hamilton seemed to play with more confidence on the other wing.
When Neufville was off the field though, Ottawa looked like a different team. They played a lot more conservatively, and struggled to create as many opportunities. For example, Hamilton became the only attacking option from the back, which made counter-attacks more imbalanced. The transition between defense to midfield was poorer and more predictable. As a result, Acuña and the rest of the attackers had to operate in tighter areas and do too much.
All this to say, this grade doesn’t reflect his impact on the field when he was playing. Instead, it reflects his impact on the season overall. I am of two minds: the team sorely missed him when he wasn’t playing, which to me indicates his quality and impact on the team. This means he should receive an A. Unfortunately, he did not play the full season, which is why I think a B+ is reasonable.
Malyk Hamilton (Grade: A-)
- 7 Games Played, 1 Assist
Malyk Hamilton cemented himself as one of the best U21 players in the league this year. Hamilton earned his coach’s trust as he was a model of consistency throughout the season – exemplified by the fact that he was the only player to play every minute of every game.
Hamilton was the breakthrough player of the year, in my opinion. He played like he had a chip on his shoulder after being left out of Cavalry’s squad this year.
As the season progressed, he played with more confidence, and became one of the central figures on this squad. Still only 21, I am excited to see what he has to offer next year, hopefully, as a member of Atlético Ottawa.
Brandon John (Grade B+)
- 7 Games Played, 2 Yellow Cards
Brandon John played like a solid leader in the middle of the back four. To be clear, John plays a simple and safe game. He rarely ever seemed to make a mistake. He was quiet but effective – a calming presence that Ottawa needed in the back.
However, if I was going to nitpick, I did find that the centre-back positions offered little in terms of creativity in transition, often resorting to kicking the ball away instead of establishing possession. Attackers often had to face 50/50 balls, which made it difficult to find a rhythm.
I would be happy to have John back next year to be a positive and calming influence on this team. He plays sound and positional defense that is still necessary, especially for a young team. Most importantly, I hope this off-season he can find peace with his family in light of his father’s passing during the Island Games. He played with his heart on his sleeve and demonstrated true leadership. Few players played with the Courage and Heart that is embodied in being part of the Atlético family.
Milovan Kapor (Grade: C-)
- 6 Games Played, 1 Yellow Card, 1 Red Card
Honestly, I feel like this was a tough season for Kapor. His red card was not as controversial as Neufville’s, but truthfully, Ottawa was never in that game against Valour – even if the floodgates only opened up after his sending off. So, I wouldn’t put that loss on him at all.
My issue is more with the fact that the ball often did not look settled at his feet. Opposing attackers often targeted him, where they would turn him inside out, creating a goal or opportunity against. The team seems quite high on him and I am inclined to believe he is capable of better and that this was simply a string of bad games. However, as I have mentioned before, in a shortened season, these kinds of performances are amplified. Over a longer season, I would have suspected that his bullying style of play would have provided more benefit than negative.
Jarred Phillips (Grade: C)
- 5 Games Played
What I love most about Phillips’ season is that he didn’t give up. In the first game of the season, Phillips subbed in to provide defensive help, after the red card to Neufville. Unfortunately, that game saw Phillips’ give up a penalty shot that completed the collapse for Atlético Ottawa.
In the next game, while Neufville served his suspension, Phillips did not make an appearance, clearly falling out of Mista’s good books. He didn’t give up though, for when he got his second opportunity later in the season, he made the most of it. Playing a much more solid and consistent game.
Although I was much more impressed by Phillips’ contributions later in the season, he likely would not have played much more if Neufville remained healthy. Phillips created less chances and did not offer as much speed as Neufville. Opposing teams also tried to exploit his side of the field often. He did his job though, and that’s good enough for a C.
Gianfranco Facchineri (Grade: C+)
- 5 Games Played
The expectations weren’t very high for Facchineri. He is beaming with potential and the Whitecaps have a lot to be excited about.
In his first appearance, he played wing-back, an unnatural position for him. With the ball, he showed just how good he is. He is smooth, runs like a dear, and makes great passes. This type of talent is what I feel Ottawa was missing in the centre-back position. However, without the ball, he still has a lot to work on. For starters, he needs to improve his gap control. He seemed indecisive at times when closing in on opponents, which often left him in a compromised position for attackers to take advantage of.
In my opinion, Mista should have given him a bigger role. At the same time, Facchineri didn’t take advantage of the minutes he did get to earn more time. During a normal season, I think he would have played his way into the starting line-up more often.
He is only 18 years old and he has the potential to become a top talent for both the Whitecaps and the Canadian National program. Plus, he looks like Batman – what’s not to be excited about?!
Feel free to let me know how I am wrong (or right!) and comment below. Who were you impressed by? Who did you expect more from?
Be sure not to miss Wednesday’s piece on the midfielders!
https://twitter.com/atletiOttawa/media – Original source of photos.
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