Minnesota United: 3 key takeaways from the Dallas match
By Tyler Hanson
Despite putting up a good fight, Minnesota United came up short against FC Dallas on Saturday night in Frisco, losing 2-0. There were some positives, though.
Minnesota United FC may have come up short against FC Dallas, but the Loons had a few positive moments. Here are three key takeaways for the Loons:
A Sam Cronin and Collen Warner midfield pairing is too defensive
Now, this isn’t to say that either player had a bad match, as they both performed fairly well. The only problem is that, while both players are solid defensively, the Loons didn’t get enough going forward out of the midfield.
In an attempt to solve this issue, Minnesota should consider starting Rasmus Schüller with Cronin in the midfield. Cronin is so solid defensively that it should allow the other central midfielder to roam forward and help out the attack.
Schüller has shown the ability to offer more in terms of offensive ability, so he and Cronin as a midfield pairing makes sense. Cronin could position himself right in front of the back four, while Schüller can roam forward and spread the ball around to Minnesota’s attackers.
Sam Cronin and Marc Burch are welcome additions
The two new additions, particularly Cronin showed why Minnesota’s front office targeted them. Cronin was excellent, breaking up Dallas attacks, and providing an experienced leader in the midfield. He should help Minnesota’s defense immensely moving forward.
Burch, while not particularly standing out, had a decent match. If nothing else, he proved to at the very least be a more experienced over Justin Davis. Though he wasn’t really able to showcase it, Burch’s crossing ability will be a welcome addition.
Brent Kallman continues to perform
While not perfect, center back Brent Kallman continues to perform well, as he tries to cement his place in the starting XI. The Woodbury native once again showed the type of relentless effort that has made him a fan favorite among Minnesota fans.
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With Kallman and Francisco Calvo both performing well, it will be a tall task for the likes of Vadim Demidov, Joe Greenspan, and Jermaine Taylor to earn a starting place. With the way Kallman and Calvo are performing though, they may have to wait until an international break before they get their chance to start.