What we’ve learned from Memphis 901 FC’S restart
Memphis 901 FC picked up its first point of the season over the weekend in a 2-2 draw at Atlanta United 2 Saturday. Despite a better result than the first two matches of the year, 901 FC clearly has work to do if it wants to finish in the top two of its group and advance to the postseason come October.
The boys in blue will play their first home match of the restart this weekend, looking to pick up their first win of the season against Charlotte Independence, which has yet to play a match since the restart.
Here's what we learned in the first two games since the COVID-19 forced break came to an end.
New signings have made an impact
Defender Rece Buckmaster and striker Cal Jennings, whose signings were announced last week, have already seen significant minutes. Buckmaster started both matches since the restart and Jennings was used as a sub in both. Jennings, who was picked 17th overall by FC Dallas in the MLS Superdraft this year but not signed, secured Memphis' first point of the season, scoring the tying goal against Atlanta in stoppage time.
He's a proven goal scorer — in his college career at the University of Central Florida, Jennings netted 46 times in 64 appearances — an important addition to a squad that thus far has struggled to finish on the opportunities it has created.
Buckmaster made seven appearances for MLS side New York Red Bulls and 19 appearances for New York Red Bulls II last season. Both teams play the kind of high-pressing system 901 FC coach Tim Mulqueen is implementing in Memphis. Having been in the Red Bulls system since he left college, Buckmaster is familiar with what Mulqueen wants to do.
Defensive troubles persist
Mulqueen praised Buckmaster after the Birmingham match, but the defender did make a few mistakes, and he wasn't the only one on the backline to do so. Memphis' defense looked slow against Birmingham, though it tightened up in the second half, and several failures to clear coupled with an apparent lack of communication gave the Legion ample opportunity to punish Memphis.
Memphis 901 FC has conceded nine goals in three matches this season and scored four, which is simply untenable for a team harboring playoff hopes, which Mulqueen said before the restart was still the season aim.
“Our goal is to make the playoffs. That's our goal whether we have a 34game schedule or a 16-game schedule like we have now. That's our goal and we'll move heaven and earth to make
that happen,” he said.
Some midfield work to do, too
All three of Birmingham's goals came after midfield turnovers and some sloppy passing in the middle third helped Atlanta unsettle Memphis, despite 901 FC having more possession throughout the match and getting off more shots.
Mulqueen's midfield will have to tighten up in the coming matches or they'll continue to be vulnerable to the counter-attack and as the game gets more stretched out.
What needs to happen Saturday
Memphis has to finish on the chances it creates. Finishing was a persistent problem in the 2019 campaign. Memphis has gotten off plenty of shots in the first three games of 2020, but not enough of them have found the back of the net for them to take all three points.
Charlotte beat Sporting Kansas City II in its March season opener despite only having 36% possession and getting off nine shots all game. Charlotte goalkeeper Brandon Miller has registered impressive stats in each of his professional seasons and made 10 saves in the opening match against Kansas City.
Mulqueen has said multiple times this year that his team needs to be more clinical with its finishing. That will have to happen Saturday if they want to secure their first win of the season in their return to Autozone Park.
I always want to hear from you. Let me know what you've thought of Memphis 901 FC'S play since the restart and your predictions for Saturday.