https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/8azv7j/rowdie_takeaways_week_4_tbr_v_ott/
Rowdie Takeaways Week 4: TBR v OTT (self.TampaBayRowdies)
The Fury were in bad form- I could tell in the first five minutes that the Fury were not ready for this contest. Their passing and touches were immediately sloppy out of the gate and they were turning the ball over as if their starting XI was a field of former Cleveland Browns QB's. They held on for dear life and Portillos nearly gifted them a goal early on but the Fury were lucky to make it through 60 minutes scoreless. I could tell it was only a matter of time before the mistakes and tired legs caught up to the Fury. The Fury only had one match to their name and hadn't played in three weeks so there was a ton already going against them. The Fury may be more difficult to score on when we face them in their park. If Porter is starting that game I would advise the Rowdies to send all the offense at him and let the strikers and wingers feast for another 5 goal rout.
Player opinions update- I'm still going to be hard on Portillos as a defender until I see significant improvement, but a shoutout to him for getting his first career goal in four seasons, that had to feel great. My opinion on Flemmings has soured for the time being until he can make quicker and smarter decisions on the ball. He's been holding onto the ball too long when he's had clear passes to make. His vision has to improve, BUT we did see him go a run that nearly earned a penalty so he's still valuable for his counter attacking and pace. I've been eyeballing Georgi for the first couple weeks but just as I'm about to say he's washed he goes ahead and opens the floodgates with a spectacular header. I apologize to Georgi and every Rowdies fan for even considering the thought. Georgi is just a pure scorer.
ALL IN on Fernandes- I'm giving Fernandes his own section because he deserves it. Leo has been lethal in and around the box and he's so good at making those two or three dekes to get the defender to bite and create enough space to put the ball on target. He's blessing the Rowdies with that Brazilian football flair.
Mizell update- He's allowed only two goals in four games and he's had some difficult saves to make. The Fury didn't test him too much, but he'll have his hands full with the Red Bulls II next week.
Eyes on the next three contests- A revenge matchup with the Red Bulls next week, a new foe in the Monarchs that have 3 wins in 3 matches, and then a road matchup against a tough Battery team makes the rest of April a big test for the Rowdies after a feel-good win.
Alex "Witness Protection" Morrell- It's been only four matches and it's killing me that we haven't gotten one Morrell sighting. After underwhelming performances from Guenzatti and Flemmings, I'm hoping it opens the door for another crack at the lineup in April for Morrell.
Leo has been so remarkably brilliant. I was thinking this morning - what would happen if we had a front line of Leo, Graf, Georgi? Someone would have to move to the right side (which Georgi did for about 5 minutes in Louisville). Georgi tends to be better up top than on the wing and I'd hate to move Leo anywhere from exactly where he is today. Not sure how we could make it work.
Right now it feels like our attack is all of the creativity on the left and guns-blazing speed on the right. But I can't say I'm unhappy with that. The attack, even when the finishing isn't there, has been fun to watch.
I really want to see Graf get a start but he's a pure striker, so the only person you can move is Georgi. I think Georgi's production would be the same or maybe better if you move him to the wing because he's a high motor guy. Georgi is a cerebral enough player to do it and if he can make it work with Paterson, I think Graf could be even better. And Georgi will always get his goals, he's an opportunist.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/905794?referrer_id=2364194
Newton Nabs Fans’ Choice Save of the Month
Outstanding double-save against Indy takes top spot in online poll
Newton’s saves finished 1-2 in voting in the online poll conducted at USLSoccer.com that concluded on Monday morning, with his excellent reflex stop against the Charleston Battery in Week 1 garnering 18 percent of the vote. The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Cody Mizell and Las Vegas Lights FC’s Ricardo Ferriño finished tied for third on 12 percent for their respective saves that helped earn victories against Bethlehem Steel FC and Fresno FC.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/905796?referrer_id=3198080
Kunga Takes Fans’ Choice Goal of the Month
Individual finish by ATL UTD 2 standout takes top spot in online poll
Kunga's strike received 72 percent of the online poll conducted at USLSoccer.com that concluded on Monday morning. Jack Blake’s first goal for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, which capped a 3-1 victory against North Carolina FC on March 17, finished second on 12 percent, while Sacramento Republic FC’s Cameron Iwasa took third on 10 percent for his outstanding finish that proved the game-winner in a 1-0 victor against Orange County SC.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/905720?referrer_id=2349190
11 Things – Heads of the River
Road victories by Louisville, Monarchs set marker for respective conferences
6. HIGH FIVE: The Tampa Bay Rowdies wanted a response to their first loss of the regular season when it returned home on Saturday night to host Ottawa Fury FC, but while the hosts put in a solid first half, they were held at bay by a Fury FC defense that limited Tampa Bay to only nine touches in the attacking penalty area. A second-half that saw the Rowdies almost triple that number, however, produced the incisiveness and openings that led to the first five-goal victory in the club’s modern era. The Rowdies’ finishing was such that every shot it recorded after the break was either on target or blocked, with all five goals coming from 15 yards and in. Tampa Bay has already put itself among the contenders to Louisville’s title in the Eastern Conference – its loss at Slugger Field the mark against it – and Saturday’s performance will have the rest of the conference alert to what the Rowdies are capable of.
7. ORANGE JUICED: While the Rowdies were among those expected to be near the top of the Eastern Conference at the start of the season, the continued early surge by Orange County SC has been one of the more interesting storylines in the West. A third consecutive shutout victory, this time at the expense of its 405 rival the LA Galaxy II on Saturday night, moved OCSC into the top spot in the Western Conference on goal differential at the end of the week. There will be bigger tests to come – notably this Saturday’s trip to San Antonio FC – but there’s very little reason to doubt what’s going on at Champions Soccer Stadium, considering the pedigree of the players leading the way and the inconsistency we’re seeing elsewhere.
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4XenTRqM58
Rowdies Front Row - Ottawa Fury FC - April 7, 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on Apr 9, 2018
Relive all the action from the Tampa Bay Rowdies dominating performance over Ottawa Fury FC!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ms3IebGOQ
Rowdies Front Row - Bethlehem Steel - March 24, 2018
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on Apr 9, 2018
It's our first Front Row of the 2018 season! Watch all the action from the Rowdies' home opener against Bethlehem Steel FC
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bRwF-HV5_0
Joe Cole's Offseason Adventures
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on Apr 9, 2018
We caught up with Joe Cole and chatted about his past offseason and what he was up to. Watch and find out!
(Follow link for full article.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-6KiVdbtI8
Rowdies' Golf Skills
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Published on Apr 9, 2018
Who’s got the best golf skills on the team?
Watch and find out!
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