‘Hold-up play’ an important element

Brandon Vazquez prides himself on his hold-up play, which could prove invaluable to Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino in the MLS team’s inaugural season.

Like the team’s other pure striker, Kenwyne Jones, Vazquez is big (6-foot-3) and strong, which will enable either of them to hold off defenders long enough to be an outlet for midfielders and defenders to find them with passes, should the pressure start to build near Atlanta United’s goal.

A hold-up, or target, player is a term for someone who can play with their back to the goal, chase down passes, and hold on to the ball long enough for midfielders and/ or forwards to move up the field, where he can find them with passes to start counter-attacks. Or, the hold-up forward is strong enough to hold onto the ball long enough to get fouled by a player on the other team so that the field can be flipped by an indirect or direct kick.

Atlanta United has acquired three midfielders — Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron and Josef Martinez — who should be among the fastest in MLS. If Vazquez or Jones can find them quickly, Atlanta United may be able to outnumber the other team on counter-attacks, which theoretically should increase the chances of scoring.

Even if Atlanta United doesn’t score, moving the ball quickly from defense to offense is an important part of Martino’s strategy.

“My hold-up play is really good,” said Vazquez, who was called up to the Uunder-20 U.S. national team last week. “That’s my job.”

Vazquez is more than a hold-up player. He has shown the combination of having a nice touch with his right foot when needed for bigger player, or as a cannon on free kicks.

Though 18, he said he trained a lot with the first team while with Tijuana, his previous club, so he feels comfortable practicing with the of mix veterans and newcomers to the league being accumulated by Atlanta United.

The most important lesson that Vazquez, a native of California, learned with Tijuana was to be aware, an important trait when acting as a target forward.

“I learned that you always have to be thinking before the ball gets to you,” he said. “You won’t have time when the ball gets to your feet.”