Chicago Red Stars go into the 2020 NWSL campaign hoping to finally make one step further than the past few seasons and win it. Last season saw them make it to the playoff finals against the reigning champions North Carolina Courage. The Red Stars have made the playoff semi-finals in four of the past five seasons getting ever closer to the title. The Courage have now won two back to back NWSL titles and will be considered the favourites going into this season.
The Red Stars scored 42 goals and conceded 32 in the process. The majority of those goals came from Sam Kerr. The Australian striker was the focal point of a dynamic team but her departure to Chelsea now means the Chicago team must find another reliable goalscorer. With the exception of Kerr (18), no other Red Stars player managed to record double figures in terms of goals in the 2019 season. Their next best was eight.
With the 2020 season starting next month, it remains to be seen if Chicago Red Stars can scale the heights of previous campaigns now that their star-studded striker has departed. This tactical analysis scout report will explore their style of play and the key players for the upcoming season. We will also explore the different options the Red Stars have in replacing Kerr and whether or not they will have to adapt their play style as a result.
NWSL 2020 Draft
The main topic surrounding the draft was how Chicago are going to replace Kerr after her move to England. The 2020 Draft has begun well for the Red Stars acquiring Rachel Hill, a first-round selection in the 2021 NWSL College Draft, the 19th overall selection in the 2020 NWSL Draft and allocation money from Orlando in exchange for the 3rd and 26th overall selection in the Draft. The Red Stars started the first day of business by trading away their fourth and fifth first-round picks plus allocation money to Sky Blue FC for its No. 2 and 3 picks. They quickly traded away their No. 2 pick to Portland Thorns for picks No. 15 and No. 16 plus allocation money.
After multiple trades, they finally made their first pick at No. 15 by picking up defender Julia Bingham followed by Virginia’s Zoe Morse with the 19th pick, Duke’s Ella Stevens with the 24th pick and Yale’s Aerial Chavarin with the 35th pick.
At the time of writing, these are Chicago’s current new transfers but the plan of replacing Kerr still remains unsolved. Bringing in Hill is a start along with the earlier drafts of Makenzy Doniak who brought in from Utah Royals in exchange for Chicagos second-round draft pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft. Kealia Ohai is the final forward to be brought in with Katie Naughton moving across to Houston Dash and the 18th overall selection in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.
General structure
Chicago Red Stars often lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with a mostly settled team by the latter half of the campaign. The Women’s World Cup had seen the likes of Alyssa Naeher, Julie Ertz and Morgan Brian called up but upon their return, we soon saw a settled back four. Naeher as the first choice goalkeeper who was protected by Katie Naughton and Sarah Gorden. They were flanked by Casey Short and Tierna Davidson. However, after Naughton was dropped, Ertz was shifted from her usual defensive midfield position into a centre-back role. This pushed Gorden out to full-back, with Davidson moved into a central role. Eventually, Rory Dames settled on Naeher, Short, Ertz, Davidson, and Gorden as his first choice back four for the rest of the NWSL season.
Further forward, Danielle Colaprico partnered Brian as the double-pivot. The front four consisted of Vanessa DiBernardo as the number ‘10’ flanked by Yuki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill with Kerr taking her customary place as the number ‘9’.
While we’ll dive into the tactics in more detail and depth, they generally played with a balanced duo in midfield with Colaprico playing a more conservative role and Brian venturing forward. However, both were positionally aware and provided a base for the Red Stars to work off of.
Nagasato was the team’s creative focal point off the left side. The Japanese international often drifted into central areas to play closer to Kerr where the two created a partnership. Nagasato assisted seven of Kerr’s 18 goals in the 2019 season. The understanding the two developed was beneficial for Chicago Red Stars. McCaskill and Nagasato’s role was to supply Kerr with through balls and long passes from their positions in the half-space. DiBernardo would make late runs to pounce on any cutbacks or second balls Kerr won.
Build-up play
Dames has been an advocate of patient yet quick exchanges when transitioning between thirds. Their usual build-up involves patiently passing the ball between the centre-backs eventually finding its way to the full-backs. The two full-backs Short and Gorden push forward with Colaprico or Ertz dropping in between the central defenders to add an extra body whilst the rest of the team push slightly forward. The Red Stars drop ever so slightly so the team can easily collect possession and lull the opposition into playing slightly higher, allowing Kerr and the rest of the attack to run in behind. Once possession reaches the full-backs they tend to drive forward with the wingers dropping into a more central position in the half-space and receive passes.
When releasing possession from the back they reminisce a 3-4-3 structure to allow more bodies in midfield where they tend to have the ball most of the time. The two central midfielders are very flexible in their roles as they adapt to the team’s position and needs. If the build-up is slow and moves up a certain flank, they position themselves nearby to provide a passing option and help facilitate a switch of play. As I mentioned earlier, Colaprico/Ertz are more defensive-minded whereas Brian has played a more attacking role.
Attacking structure
Chicago Red Stars’ attacking structure was built around Kerr last season. Playing in a 4-2-3-1 system, the Red Stars looked to use their two wide players to feed Kerr and have DiBernardo sweep up any knockdowns or loose balls that Kerr contested. Brian and Colaprico/Ertz have an important role by acting as the pendulum in midfield as they both have certain roles. Colaprico or Ertz play a more defensive role, acting as the simplest passing option in case the wide areas are blocked.
