Dor Turgeman is used to playing as a striker, but in the current tactical setup of the New England Revolution, his head coach Marko Mitrovic, believes he is best served playing out wide.
Against Nashville SC, in order to get Leo Campana and Turgeman on the field at the same time, Mitrovic played the Israeli as a winger opposite Griffin Yow, while Campana was the lone striker.
The choice didn't appear to be a success. Turgeman only managed 11 touches and struggled to handle his defensive duties. He was replaced by Luca Langoni, who managed to get 17 touches and be more active while featuring for just 30 minutes.
The Blazing Musket asked Mitrovic how he felt Turgeman played out on the wing on Thursday.
“I think Dor [Turgeman] tried [hard]," the head coach said. "It’s not something that is a common position for him, and we are very aware of that. I would say the way we play, it’s easier for him to play on the flank than for Leo [Campana], for example. We have one forward position, not players. The last couple of weeks [Turgeman] was really giving his best and trying to help the team on the field.”
If the Revolution are set on playing just one striker, which appears to be the case based on Mitrovic's response, the head coach is correct. Turgeman's speed makes him a better fit than Campana.
The issue is that no one is forcing the Revs to play with just one striker. The ideal formation would see both Campana and Turgeman playing up top. And if Mitrovic is set on playing with one striker, then Langoni should be starting, and Turgeman or Campana would start the match on the bench.
Even though Turgeman might have struggled, Campana talked about how he enjoyed the opportunity to combine with the 22-year-old out on the wing.
“It’s really good, to be honest. I really like playing with Dor [Turgeman], playing with Luca [Langoni], now Griffin [Yow]. I think they’re really good players to combine with," Campana said. "Carles [Gil] also makes things easier for you. We need to connect even more, rely on each other more, compete, and give everything for each other. That’s what a team is made of.”
The Nashville game was just one match. One data point out of 34. It is hard to make any firm conclusions. Turgeman could go out and dominate out on the wing against New York and he might be hailed as the next Tajon Buchanan.
But if Turgeman continues to struggle, something needs to change.
