St. Louis City SC: How this team wins and makes history

St. Louis City SC favors the 4-2-3-1 formation. But the team morphs into whatever scheme it takes to win. And then they do it.

So now St. Louis City SC has made MLS history as the only expansion team to win their first-ever four games.  They’ve passed several difficult tests that challenge most MLS teams. They’ve had to come from behind several games, meaning they had to move out of their favored formation

They finished the game against Portland Timbers in a 5-3-2.  With that, they passed the difficult game-adjustment test.

Then comes the most challenging test of all. St. Louis City SC had to face the roster-depth trial.

Defender Tim Parker, team Vice-Captain, and midfielder Njabulo Blom were unavailable to face San Jose Earthquakes on March 18 for St. Louis City at home. So the team lined up against the visitors’ attacking 4-3-3 with a standard 4-4-2 and made MLS history.  They won all of their first four games.

In fact, St. Louis earned first place in the MLS West Conference and became the only team in the league with a record of 4-0-0.

Missing two key pitch components for the fourth match, goalkeeper Roman Burki stepped up for his best game of the season behind a stellar backline that allowed only two shots on goal from San Jose. He got a clean sheet.

All St. Louis games feature the threat of striker Joao Klauss. That threat relentlessly appears regardless of the team’s go-to formation.

Yet, the team was designed from the beginning to feature a disruptive cloud of midfielders that has plagued opponents, even when the other team scores first. So it’s no surprise every game also features an attacking threat from winger Niko Gioacchini.

He has played explosively in every St. Louis match, netting a goal and an assist while averaging 1.3 aerials won and 1.5 key passes per game.  He’s on the attack whether in the front or working from lanes in the middle.

But it isn’t the expected starters who provide the only winning factors for St. Louis City. Center Back Lucas Bartlett started his first-ever MLS game in the shocking shutout of San Jose. Also in that match, midfielder Aziel Jackson came off the bench for his first appearance with the club.

The most surprising thing in this historic first season for St. Louis City is that head coach Bradley Carnell overcomes established MLS teams using the most basic teaching given to new soccer coaches.

The teaching is to evaluate your players, then fit the formations to that roster. The only thing that doesn’t fit this teaching – there might not be a formation that can’t fit St. Louis City SC players.

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