Beaten Saturday in familiar fashion, Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor sees the trend.
His club can dominate possession, out-shoot an opponent and control most every United Soccer League game it plays. But the boys in purple are often doing so up against opponents that sit back, waiting to jump on the counter attack.
“I think concentration becomes really important,” O’Connor said at his regular weekly press conference. “I think, also, not just that but capitalizing on the opportunities you get — that’s something we need to do as well.”
LouCity hosts the Charleston Battery at 5 p.m. Saturday in the third meeting this season between the teams. The other two, both played in South Carolina, ended in draws.
Romario Williams, the Battery forward who for a time led the USL in scoring, will be gone on international duty, but Charleston has six other multi-goal scorers on its roster. True to form, O’Connor is more concerned about his own club than the visiting team coming off a 3-0 loss to Orlando City B.
While two goals came on nice strikes from forward Michael Cox in the first half, “The disappointing aspect,” O’Connor said, “was the goal from the corner that’s, from our standpoint, something you want to definitely try and avoid. Equally, when you have as much of the possessions and shots and opportunities — OK, we’ve hit the bar and the inside of the post. We had a couple opportunities that maybe we could have taken advantage of.
“I think it’s a case of both: You need to take your chances, and you need to make sure you’re dialed in concentration-wise and focused when you have the ball as much as when you don’t. Equally, teams will have a capacity to counter and cause you problems.”
Here’s more from O’Connor’s press conference Tuesday:
Initial thoughts on the Battery: “They’re a very good team, and they’ve got a lot of threats. They’re capable of scoring a lot of goals as well. We need to do our homework and make sure we’re prepared. Again, you get to this stage of the season, and everyone in our sort of position on the league table is going to be a good team. You need to make sure that you’re on point and you understand the aspects of what the strengths and weaknesses are. It’ll be a tough game but certainly one we’re looking forward to.”
On Devon “Speedy” Williams’ call up to Jamaica: “I’m absolutely thrilled for Speedy. I really am. You couldn’t meet a nicer, friendlier guy. He’s someone who works really, really hard. So again, for someone like that to get an opportunity on the international stage is really, really pleasing for us, and especially for Speedy. I think everyone is so fond of him and we’re all really, really delighted for Devon.”
Williams will play against teammate Mark-Anthony Kaye: “I was joking with Speedy and Mark earlier, and said just make sure they don’t kick each other. Hopefully we’ll have a good performance ourselves and then go and watch the game and cheer both the guys on.”
