What is currently wrong with Inter Miami?
Taking a closer look at what is plaguing La Rosanegra seven weeks into the 2023 season
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A confused coach. A punch-less attack. An injured captain. An ugly and familiar skid.
The 2023 MLS season is only seven-weeks old, but already Inter Miami finds itself in a chaotic and concerning state.
Inter Miami’s fall from (relative) grace continued this past weekend, as the South Florida side dropped a fifth consecutive match via a 1-0 home loss to FC Dallas. The latest disappointing defeat not only sunk Inter Miami to 12th place in the Eastern Conference near the quarter-mark of the campaign, but it also raised more serious questions as to the direction the team is heading in and what needs to change in order to snap the abysmal run that has the team sitting at 2-0-5 on the year.
It is clear that Inter Miami needs to take a hard look in the mirror and make some adjustments, alterations, and tough decisions. The good news, however, is that the team has two weeks to address its shortcomings. The Herons are off this weekend and do not play again until April 22, so there is some time to work on improving this faltering side.
Here is a closer look at some of the things that are plaguing Inter Miami and that need to be addressed during this bye week:
NEVILLE IS STRUGGLING TO FIND THE TEAM, TACTICS
Inter Miami head coach Phil Neville has been unable to find the right combination of players and the right system for them thus far.
It was as clear as ever this past Saturday when Neville deployed a 5-3-2 system to start the game vs. FC Dallas, only to see his team deliver a haphazard first half that could and should have ended with a bigger deficit than the 1-0 that ultimately proved enough for the visitors. DeAndre Yedlin playing as a right centerback made little sense give the natural fullback’s qualities and lack of experience there, and is an obvious sign that in trying to find a solution to the ongoing collective struggles Neville has lost the plot.
There is a bigger element at play here with Neville, who has seemingly overcorrected by trying to become so attack-minded with this iteration of Inter Miami. Neville was previously seen as, and criticized for, being a defensive-minded manager who looked to absorb pressure and counter. He was reactive, not proactive.
However, the tail-end of last season, when an inspired Gonzalo Higuain and effective Alejandro Pozuelo led the Herons to the playoffs, appears to have changed Neville’s mind. The Englishman has now become so aggressive with his tactics that his defense is getting left exposed time and again — as noted in the analytical Twitter thread linked below.
https://twitter.com/FrancoPanizo/status/1645046130089119746
Pumping the brakes a bit on those attacking tactics that are not proving fruitful, getting back to basics, and simplifying things for the players seems like a potential remedy. It might make for less attractive futbol, but it could make for a more winning formula.
Of course, this all too familiar losing streak under Neville has only strengthened calls from some fans and media for him to be fired. Truthfully, though, it is difficult to envision him being ousted given his strong ties to co-owner David Beckham and the fact that it is still early in the year.
Change is not likely to come in the managerial position, so instead it will have to come via tactics and player personnel.
MARTINEZ AND OTHER STARTERS ARE NOT PERFORMING
While a lot of the blame can fall on Neville, he is not alone in underdelivering.
The likes of Josef Martinez, Nicolas Stefanelli, Bryce Duke, Christopher McVey, and Yedlin are not performing well enough right now. Martinez is the biggest and brightest example of these individual struggles, as the Venezuelan has gone scoreless in six starts while looking an uninterested shell of his former self in other facets of play.
You could certainly point the finger at Neville and the tactics for Martinez not having an abundance of chances to score, but the striker has had some opportunities and should have done better with a few of those.
Still, it is not entirely Martinez’s fault. Yes, he has shown little up top to inspire confidence during this run of games and his fitness remains a question, but it is Neville who has time and again started the center forward despite the consistent lack of production and performance levels.
Others like Yedlin, Stefanelli, Duke, and McVey are also not providing enough at their respective positions, and could be out of the lineup the next time Inter Miami takes the field. Neville, who has probably come to the conclusion a little late, said as much this past Saturday albeit without naming specific names.
“I think what we have got in the team are players that are comfortable,” said Neville. “From now on those players will not be comfortable anymore because they are not playing to the levels I expect, and we have players that have not had opportunities that I think now deserve an opportunity.”
TEAM IS LACKING A TRUE LEADER
The injury loss of Gregore has really impacted the team in a negative way, not only because his tenacious play has been lost but also because there is no true leader guiding this group on the field right now.
Yedlin has been sporting the armband as of late, and there is no denying he is a good locker room presence that boasts experience and is a veteran that younger players turn to. That said, he has never in his career really been the captain-type, one who can lead the troops on the field by barking orders as much as he can help motivate.
The lack of overall leadership extends beyond the field, too. It was telling this past Saturday that key figures within the group like Rodolfo Pizarro, Leonardo Campana, and Josef Martinez all skipped out on doing press while a newcomer like Stefanelli and young goalkeeper Drake Callender showed face and did.
https://twitter.com/FrancoPanizo/status/1644890171664375809?s=20
Neville has a tough task here because it is hard to make someone captain material and a leader if they are not already. You either possess those traits or you do not.
Sergii Kryvtsov could be a possible solution, but communicating is key as a captain and the language barrier that he has plus the fact that he is relatively new to the group makes it less than straight forward.
Nonetheless, Neville will likely have to rethink and reorganize here in order to provide a needed boost in another area that Inter Miami has to better.
Food for thought. I hope we see a vastly different lineup April 22. I don't think you can give a guy in his first year with the team the "C" unless he is of such obvious quality there is no other choice. What about Callender or Mota?