Looking Forward to Madison
Consider this a brief preview for Tormenta's matchup Saturday as they take on Forward Madison back at the friendly confines of Tormenta Stadium. At some point someone is going to come up with a great nickname for the stadium that will catch on. If I start calling it the Storm Shelter are you going to object? (You should object, I'm sure you can come up with something better.)
Tormenta comes in having fallen to Fuego last week 2-1. Madison, meanwhile, will be opening their 2024 campaign in Statesboro where they are 3-1-1 in their last five meetings in South Georgia. As we recently talked about, I don't think that really matters for Saturday's game as it's likely very few players on this year's squads were a part of all five of those meetings. Even if there are still some players from those games, the 2024 versions of their respective teams are very different form the versions from last year or the year before.
In that same vein, Tormenta has scored four goals in each of their previous two meetings with Madison. Does that matter? Probably not, but if your a Tormenta fan, it's nice to think about.
I'm fully aware that what I'm about to type isn't some sort of in depth, breaking analysis that's going to revolutionize the game, but for Tormenta to be successful, they'll need to be better in the attacking third when it comes to finishing and keep their shape and structure on defense following turnovers.
Tormenta had chances against Central Valley last week and Gabi Rodriguez was able to capitalize late with a goal, but South Georgia had several more chances as well that they weren't able to finish. As the game wore on, Tormenta seemed to be able to create more and more chances. How much of that was due to the game situation with Fuego not looking to press with a two-goal lead and how much of that was Tormenta executing their gameplan to create opportunities? I am not smart enough to answer that. Likely some of both.
Defensively Tormenta will be without center back Jake Dengler who will be out serving a suspension following his red card late in last Saturday's match. (It's my understanding it was appealed but as of late Thursday night I hadn't seen anything regarding the outcome of that appeal.) (Update: Dengler posted on Twitter that his red card had been rescinded.) (Approximately 45 minutes after Dengler's tweet, USL League One posted on their website that the red card had been rescinded.) That should cause some resuffling across the back line to compensate. On Saturday, Dengler was joined by Preston Kilwien in the middle with Nick Akoto and Alsadiq Hasan flanking them on the right and left, respectivley. Early in the second half, Aaron Lombardi came on for Hasan. On the always helpful LeagueOneUpdater, the only other center back listed on Tormenta's roster is Callum Stretch, who saw action in the team's final preseason match but didn't get any time against Fuego. It's not a stretch to see Stretch get the start Saturday, but I say that with no real insight or knowlege and mostly as an excuse to write "It's not a stretch to see Stretch..."
Manager Ian Cameron did say following last Saturday's match that some of the substitutes who saw action may be asked to play a bigger role this week even if they're fitness level won't let them go for a full 90 minutes. Those substitutes last week included Lombardi, Conor Doyle, Rodriguez and Mason Tunbridge. Which, if any, of those four see the starting line up is yet to be seen.
Madison, meanwhile, will debut their new away kit designed in collaboration with their supporters group, The Flock. You can read more about that here and I certainly encourage you to do so.
Kickoff at the Storm Shelter (Is it growing on you? Maybe? Just a little?), anyway, kickoff at Tormenta Stadium is set for 7:30 Saturday night.
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