How to solve midfield puzzle without Albert Rusnák?

The head coach Brian Schmetzer went to Los Angeles with the team, missing some key players such as the captain Stef Frei, João Paulo and Yeimar. However, Schmetzer faced another setback in the last practice before the match, when Albert Rusnák, an important part of his midfield, suffered an ankle injury that could sideline him for a few weeks.

In the LAFC match, Raul Ruidiaz filled the open spot and played as a striker in theory, but he frequently drifted away from the penalty area to look for the ball. He attempted several shots from long range, but none of them threatened the veteran LAFC goalkeeper. Ruidiaz was substituted in the second half by Danny Musovski, who barely touched the ball while he was on the field.

The team clearly lacked preparation for the 4-4-2 system. They had not trained for that situation in their practice sessions. Moreover, Schmetzer rarely changes the formation at the beginning of the game. The questions now are: will Schmetzer experiment with the 4-4-2 during the week? Or will he stick to the conventional 4-2-3-1? And if so, who will play as the number 10?

Assuming Brian Schmetzer is going to keep his traditional system, these are some potential candidates to play as the number 10 in the 4-2-3-1 formation:.

1. Pedro de la Vega

Pedro de la Vega is clearly the best choice, but his fitness level is still a concern. Hopefully, he will be ready to play at least 45 minutes of the game by the end of the week.

2. Cristian Roldan

Cristian is a versatile player who has earned Schmetzer's confidence. He can play as an attacking midfielder. However, this would create a dilemma for Schmetzer - who would fill the right wing position? He could opt for the inexperienced reserves like Dylan Teves or Paul Rothrock. Alternatively, he could use Jordan Morris on the right flank and Raul Ruidiaz (or Danny Musovski) as the striker.

3. Danny Leyva

The versatile midfielder can also fill the number 10 role. He has already played in that position in several games for Tacoma Defiance, the Sounders FC affiliate team in MLS NEXT Pro. He created the best opportunities from the midfield during the preseason games.

4. João Paulo

Schmetzer could assign JP the number 10 role if the Brazilian returns in time for the next game. This is not a new position for him, as he has played it before in various Brazilian teams.

5. Obed Vargas or Josh Atencio

If João Paulo recovers and Schmetzer wants to play him in his usual role, he could choose Obed Vargas or Josh Atencio for the midfield trio. They might also rotate in the more attacking position.

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