Ben

STL CITY | STL Blues | Barca | MMA

[Soccer DataVizer @soccerdatavizer]

We are live! https://t.co/bAe2WbRcFj is a project in development from @stlsoccernews and @chatcitytactics bringing analytics, stats, data, prediction modeling, and visual tools to content creators and fans of all MLS clubs. Thanks to all who helped with development and testing!

[Ben @BenByers3]

@BallWatchingSTL @ChatCityTactics Can’t rely on that guy

[Ben @BenByers3]

@ChatCityTactics @Untd_StL @42Danielgavura x

[Michael @ChatCityTactics]

Best Korean in MLS

[Ben @BenByers3]

@BallWatchingSTL @HoffmannBros @stlCITYsc I say special allowance for both Bürki and Lundt to be in goal

[Michael @ChatCityTactics]

They did it. Three points. The best players were difference makers. It wasn’t all good, but it was good enough. Let’s talk about it. #STLvPOR

Team Selection:
CITY, on paper, lined up in the standard 4-2-3-1, but let’s talk about something a little more interesting. In possession, it’s looking more like a 3-2-5, shown here in the pass map (h/t @BeGriffis):
The idea is that Hartel sits in the pocket created by Klauss and Cedi roaming and occupying defenders, allowing him to receive the ball facing the goal and try quick combinations with the two center forwards to break the defensive shape.

Totland does his thing; he’s really pushed high and wide, aiming to time runs and stretch the defense vertically. We discussed week after week, CITY’s lack of a right-sided presence, which coincided with not having a fit Totland. And if/when Kessler returns and that deep, pinged ball becomes a threat, Totland’s importance will only grow.

In shifting to the 3-2-5, it also positions Yaro better as the CCB by removing his advanced responsibilities. You might remember that months ago, I criticized Kessler as the CCB, because while it allowed him to sweep like a Shop-Vac, it didn’t let him use his passing skills. But when that role is applied to Yaro, with the task of moving the ball horizontally to the wide centerbacks or backward to Roman, his on-ball limitations are much less evident. Most of this season, both Yaro and Hiebert have been noticeable triggers for opponent presses. Portland did not adopt that approach, with a 21.5 PPDA, and mostly let Yaro stand there with his studs on the ball (a misstep by Portland and a reflection of my frustrations with MLS coaching on exploiting opponents, but that’s a discussion for another time), which helped CITY achieve a 50.9% field tilt.

And all of that is good and all, but it’s completely, totally, absolutely, entirely, collectively reliant on the players in midfield. Having lost count, CITY has used countless different midfield pairings in 2025. Some were balanced, while others were ultra-defensive, ultra-offensive, square pegs in round holes, etc. This one, with Ostrák/Wallem, was built around risk.

The Midfield

Wallem, the more defensively minded of the two, has struggled centrally. He often has a loose first touch, which puts him under pressure, and has a very limited passing range. However, he is very willing to take on pressing defenders, and when it works, it results in an immediate line break and a quick attack. When it doesn’t work, it can be detrimental—risky.

Ostrák, similar to Wallem, is much more comfortable receiving the ball with his back to a defender or on the half turn. In his transition from W10 to a 10 or midfield role, he shows a good sense of when to play the ball centrally and when to shift it out to either flank. The long, vertical passes typical of Löwen and other deep-lying playmakers aren’t Ostrák’s primary strength.

Like Wallem—and possibly because both have played higher up the pitch—he tends to try beating defenders off the dribble. That’s a well-known need for CITY, especially alongside Löwen and Morales, as it offers a second option for advancing the ball. And CITY reaped the benefits of this when Ostrák made an incredible solo effort, moving the ball up the pitch and leading to a Hartel goal.

Progression through the midfield has been a challenge this season, and Critchley is clearly aware of this.

Those are the positives this pairing brings. We also need to address the negatives.

Defensively, the awareness just isn’t there. For Portland’s goal, you’ll see that Orozco pushes Moreno inside with the ball, 10 yards inside of CITY’s half. Yaro is covering the space Orozco vacates, and JGR is two yards behind Kelsy, close enough to make it difficult for him to receive if that were the case. Wallem is standing in the middle, effectively doing nothing. There is no passing angle he’s cutting, no one to mark, etc, and Ostrák similarly. They’ve given the angle for Moreno to split them into Kelsy, hoping JGR can prove a nuisance, and they’ve left a chasm of space outside of Ostrák, which Portland exploits, and Costa has all the time in the world to drive forward and score.

(Think I’m going to start doing more of these types of tactical stills. Let me know if you like/dislike)

That’s a complete lack of awareness of the best player on the pitch wearing Portland colors, but it doesn’t end there.

This is unacceptable effort from Ostrák. Full stop.

Wallem, not redeeming himself here either, but neither is the complete disorganization of the backline. Sure, Costa is lining up to shoot, but he could very well dummy that into a rolled ball beyond JGR, and Tots/Yaro are both poorly positioned to defend. There’s way too much space, and they’re probably allowing Kelsy to stay onside in the process. Additionally, Pompeu isn’t recognizing the wide threat in time, which could prove costly if Roman makes a heroic save and pushes it out, away from the goal.

Individual errors lead to goals in professional soccer. Physical mistakes happen—that’s sports, and understandable. Mental errors are less forgivable, and this whole sequence starts with two non-defensive midfielders standing 5 yards apart, watching the ball and doing very little.

Will I keep ruining the mood by pointing out that it should’ve been 2-0 to the bad guys after yet another failed attempt by a CITY midfielder to track a runner leads to a 0.72 xG chance three minutes into the second half? No, I won’t mention it. Because CITY won the game. CITY won the xG battle. Is that the best game we’ve seen in 2025? Some say yes, I say no (Colorado), but the wooden spoon is hanging over this City.

CITY needed three points, CITY deserved three points, and CITY had us all leaving happy because CITY got three points. Marcel Hartel now has 4 goals on 4.3 xG. Positive regression.

That felt good, kind of like a nice October evening with crisp autumn weather. It’s not autumn, but Fall is here in St. Louis. Fall is my favorite season, and left-footed centerbacks are my favorite.

Thanks for reading. Let’s be happy again this weekend.

#AllForCITY, forever and always.

[Ben @BenByers3]

@JFreshHockey when he makes his comeback, kuznetsov should at least be in the conversation

[Ben @BenByers3]

@ByronMBader Cole Reschny welcome to the St Louis Blues

[Ben @BenByers3]

@JFreshHockey kuznetsov

[Ben @BenByers3]

@ChatCityTactics He’s massive

[Ben @BenByers3]

@ChatCityTactics Any idea what it feels like outside?

[Ben @BenByers3]

@ChatCityTactics Let us live, number boy

[Michael @ChatCityTactics]

Rumor has it MLSNP g+ cards have dropped. Good timing with Critch at the helm.

Some #AllForCITY @STLCITY2 standouts:

(h/t @BenByers3)

[Michael @ChatCityTactics]

Yep.

Bouanga 2022 edges out on g+, but he played just over 550 minutes compared to Vela's 3k.

[Michael @ChatCityTactics]

🚨Added Net g+ rank🚨

Provides a clearer illustration of how that individual season ranks among all qualified seasons from the past 13 years.

Doing this at 17 years old? Sheesh.

[Ben @BenByers3]

@domluszczyszyn Blocked

[Ben @BenByers3]

@FriedgeHNIC How would he know? Does he have a medical degree?

[Ben @BenByers3]

@JFreshHockey Reported

[Ben @BenByers3]

@BarstoolGruden Please do @stlCITYsc next

[Ben @BenByers3]

@STLBluesChirp I have been BEGGING for our two main to be the 2017 and 2022 winter classics