Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Robinson adjusting to new position
Club hopes the move to left wing will provide more scoring in 2021
When Phil Neville took over the coaching reins at Inter Miami CF in January, he knew the team would need to score more this season than it did in 2020, and he’s hoping a change in position for Robbie Robinson will help Inter Miami accomplish that goal.
Inter Miami finished the 2020 Major League Soccer season scoring 1.04 goals per 90 minutes, which was tied with four other teams for the third-worst mark in the then 26-team league (Austin FC will become MLS’s 27th club this season).
After mostly playing as a center forward/striker for most of Inter Miami’s inaugural season, Robinson has used the offseason to transition into playing the left winger position for his second professional season.
Robinson, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, lined up on the left wing for the team that had the projected starters during Inter Miami’s intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday.
He opened the scoring for the scrimmage after heading the ball into the back of the net, with an assist from Lewis Morgan, and impressed with his aggressiveness out wide.
“Robbie’s predominantly a center forward, but what we see in football in this moment in time is a lot of center forwards that gravitate towards the side of the pitch,” Neville said of the 22-yearold Robinson. “I think at this moment in time for Robbie’s devel
opment, that gives him a little bit more freedom and time on the ball. It allows him to play a little bit more freely.”
For Robinson, the change in positions means learning the nuances of the responsibilities of a winger as opposed a striker.
“He wants me to run in behind any chance I get,” Robinson said of what Neville asks from him on the wing. “Also, to stay wide on the wing. It’s a totally different position — left wing to striker. Throughout my life, I’ve played a little bit up there. It’s good to be able to cut in and get that shot on with your right foot. That’s my better foot, so it’s really enjoyable for me right now.”
And the adjustment includes more defensive responsibilities.
“Defensively, my positioning, you have to come back a lot deeper when you’re playing a left-wing role,” Robinson added. “You have to mark the center mid and also try to cut off the path to the right back. It’s a balance you got to find. It’s a lot more running than striker, too. You have to make that run forward and get all the way back and help cover your left back. That’s the main difference I would say.”
While his skill set appears to be a better fit out wide and he showed a comfort with attacking defenders off the dribble in the flanks, Robinson showed there’s still room for growth from him on the wing — specifically being more confident in the final third.
“It’s not easy learning a new position, but the coach has made it as easy as possible for me to understand,” Robinson said. “Lewis, who has played wing for most of his career, he helps me out with things he tells me I should be doing. I always love to listen and learn.”
Investigation update
During his annual preseason media conference, MLS commissioner Don Garber said on Monday that the league’s investigation into Inter Miami’s signing of Blaise Matuidi’s from last summer is “wrapping up.”
“[The investigation] will be resolved by the start of the season [on Friday],” Garber said. “Inter Miami will be roster compliant by the start of the season, as will all 27 teams. We can expect in the next couple of days we’ll be announcing what our findings are.”
The league announced in early March that it was launching an investigation into the club’s signing of Matuidi, specifically whether the signing “complied with Major League Soccer’s salary budget and roster guidelines.”
Matuidi, who was signed with targeted allocation money, will be classified as a designated player for the 2021 season.
Mabika signing imminent
Neville hinted that Inter Miami will sign Aimé Mabika, the 6-foot-6 center back that they drafted with the No. 26 in the MLS SuperDraft out of Kentucky.
Mabika played 45 minutes for team black (the reserves) in Sunday’s scrimmage, subbing in for Ryan Shawcross. He’s been training with Inter Miami since the start of preseason camp.
“Every since he came in, he’s been a sponge in terms of trying to learn so much,” Neville said. “He’s got so much space to develop. There are going to be times where he’s with the USL team. There’s going to be times when he’s training with us. In terms of what we’ve seen so far, we like what we see.
“I think it’s no secret we want him to be an Inter Miami player.”
Neville’s son not staying
One player featured in Sunday’s scrimmage who won’t be with the team for much longer is Neville’s son, Harvey.
The younger Neville was practicing with Inter Miami last Friday and he started for team black in Sunday’s scrimmage, but the elder Neville said that Harvey is only in town for a visit, along with Phil’s wife and daughter.
“He’s obviously with Manchester United at this moment in time and got a contract there,” Phil said of Harvey, an 18-year-old midfielder. “They gave him permission to come out here for 10 days to see his dad, train with us and keep his fitness up. I love having him here, but unfortunately, he’s a Manchester United player.”