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Writer's pictureTristan Figueras

Season of Change: San Antonio FC's Tactical Revamp

Hello everyone and welcome to Early Doors Football! This week, we are doing something a little different. After attending a handful of games at my local club, San Antonio FC, I wanted to jump in and analyze their play style. 


Their philosophy this season has been incredibly different from the previous, with head coach Alen Marcina swapping a rapid transition style for a more methodical alternative. Having such a sudden and large change in style often leads to growing pains, but SAFC has had a solid start to the 2024 USL season, with the players showing early signs of comfort in their new system. 


Night and Day: Early Differences from Previous Seasons

In previous seasons, San Antonio FC were a particularly hard team to play against. When you played SAFC, it was going to be a battle. They led the league in fouls per match and successful tackles per match, and were very provocative, to say the least. 


The squad earned the moniker of “Mentality Monsters” over the years, because no matter the outcome of the match, they were going to outwork opponents. Despite holding a league low possession % per match, they had a league high shots on target, thanks to their lightning quick counter attacks. Last season, they were led by Tani Oluwaseyi, who returned to Minnesota United following his loan to SAFC.


This rough and tumble style has been heavily subdued, but still holds onto the hard-working attributes of the “Mentality Monsters”. Still eager to press, and not opposed to counter-attacks, there is an increased emphasis on maintaining control on the ball. Marcina had built a squad that controlled the game out of possession; trying to deny the opposition any chances to break them down and making the game disjointed enough that there was little flow. This season, the focus has shifted. From the 2023 to 2024 season, the possession per game for SAFC has swung from 44.3% to 60.4% (from last in the league to 2nd in terms of possession %)(FBref). Let’s take a look at how the Canadian Manager has rebuilt his side while on the ball.


Come and Take It: Patience in Possession

The additions of Kendall Burks at center back and Pablo Sisniega in goal have been where the change in philosophy has centered. This pair have brought a calming presence to a side that are new to holding possession in dangerous areas at the back. 


Burks, who has slotted into the central center back role, with SAFC veterans Manley and Taintor flanking him, has been great to watch. Burks often provokes the opposition to press, as we see in the video below. The 3-2-2-3 SAFC has employed also is clear in the brief clip.



As I noted, the swing in possession from last season to now is nothing short of incredible, and this is a large reason why. Even when Burks isn’t LITERALLY standing on the ball, SAFC are willing to possess the ball far deeper. In previous seasons, the ball would have been hit long into the forwards, with good effect in fairness. I thought this sudden shift may lead to issues for Manley and Taintor, who are not used to playing in this fashion, but overall, they have transitioned well. This is not to say there have not been errors or overly zealous passes, but considering the stark contrast in style, I have been pleased. 


Moving into midfield, two players stand out every match: Kevon Lambert and Jorge Hernandez. 


Lambert plays deeper, and is crucial on both sides of the ball. He is key in ball circulation, as his composure on the ball allows him to pick the right pass. To my eye, he is quite press resistant, and can manipulate his body shape very well. On the defensive side, he provides the balance. Lambert is often tasked with covering large spaces in midfield when SAFC are high up the field in possession, and he does so expertly.



Using data from Fotmob, Lambert ranks highly in many defensive actions (bars represent percentiles, so longer bars = higher percentiles). It is particularly impressive he has started the season with these numbers, as he has large spaces to cover, often alone. When you combine this, with his security in possession, you have a phenomenal holding midfielder.


Moving into the attacking midfield role, we have maestro Jorge Hernandez. I could go on for paragraphs about him, but I will (mostly) let the numbers speak for themselves. The past two seasons, he has been one of the top creators in the league, ranking in the top 3 in big chances created and assists. Few players have the eye for a pass that he does, and even fewer can pull it off with such regularity. If you think of a creative metric, he is almost certainly in the top 10 in the league.He also works extremely hard off the ball, ranking in the 95th percentile in counter-pressing actions, and highly rated in possession won in the final third (Soccerment). To have a player that has this level of creative ability and off-the-ball work rate is rare. 


To put it bluntly, I am surprised he’s not in the MLS. His size may put some teams off, but his tenacity makes up for it. If you aren’t a SAFC fan, it's worth tuning in just to watch him play.


Let’s look at SAFC off the ball now.


Ol’ Reliable: SAFC off the Ball

Compared to seasons past, there are some similarities in their defensive tendencies. SAFC are known for their relentless pressing, and that still holds true. For the second consecutive season, Marcina’s men have the lowest passes per defensive action in the league (Soccerment). 


Passes per defensive action is a way to measure pressing intensity, as it calculates the number of passes the opposition makes before a defensive action is recorded.This number is heavily tied to two aspects of their game: the high press, and counter press. When the opposition has a goal kick or deep free kick, SAFC presses man-to-man. Even when the goalkeeper has the ball in his hands, they often move into man-to-man, as seen in the screenshot below.



In transition from attack to defense, they are equally aggressive. Committing to an intense counterpress means they often win the ball back in the final third, or will gain control through opposition clearances; something that may be further highlighted now that Marcina has adopted a more patient style. 


Everything points to SAFC maintaining their relentless pressing, which will surely pair brilliantly with their possession style, giving them the opportunities to pass teams off the park.


Closing Thoughts

On a purely personal level, it has been amazing to see this transition to a more possession oriented style. I became very accustomed to the chaotic way of play and while it was certainly entertaining, and often effective, it was a bit tough to watch when it wasn’t “working”. Games often devolved into constant transitions and stop-starts due to fouls and scuffles.


While I’m sure the rough nature of play will still be there, more patience on the ball is very welcome. It will be fascinating to see how this team develops as the season progresses, as I’m sure this is still an unusual way of play for some of the returning players. Since Marcina’s appointment for the 2020 season, SAFC has made the playoffs each season, winning the title on one occasion. Despite the drastic change in style, Marcina will not want to see any regression in terms of results. Having watched him on the touchline for years, I do not imagine he will let that happen.


That is all for today. I really enjoyed this one, so I would appreciate any feedback or shares! Now that we are a ways into the USL and MLS season, I am looking to incorporate some “bigger picture” articles alongside the Match Reviews, as often as ideas and time allow. If you have any recommendations on that front, feel free to send them my way.


Thank you for reading and have a great day.

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