The Dawn of Dixon
"Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still."
- Chinese proverb
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress."
- Frederick Douglass
I didn't feel right commenting on this year's Triumph, one marked by a season of change, until I had seen them live and in person for at least two games. As my family road tripped for spring break, I had to watch the league and cup openers, both losses, from the confines of various Airbnb couches dotting the upper Midwest.
But I was there on Wednesday as Greenville won its first game of the Dave Dixon era over the New York Cosmos, and I had the distinct pleasure of watching another win last night during a riveting display of attacking soccer in a 4-2 victory over Westchester SC.
First off, let me say how much I have enjoyed watching the team play at Eugene Stone Stadium. It has been a vast improvement from the aesthetic challenges inherent in the gameday experience about a five-minute walk away in Paladin Stadium. No sport depends on the playing surface more than soccer, and the House That Clint Dempsey Built™ has ably served its purpose as a stopgap before we eventually move into our forever home at GE Vernova Stadium.
Now let's dig into a few things I've been clocking:
The Early Results
The loss in the season opener was mostly encouraging. When considering the insatiable appetite of the injury bug, the Triumph put forth a solid effort in the 2-1 loss to Chattanooga; if that game is played 10 times, Greenville probably wins it five, draws four, and loses twice. It was an unlucky defeat against an opponent whose game model (direct, vertical, low-possession) produces those types of results from time to time.
The US Open Cup loss up in Asheville was far more concerning, as the team was pinned in—with zero big chances created and only 12 touches in the opposition box—and displayed poor spacing throughout the game. The lineup had some slightly ill-fitting parts (see Lucas Meek leading the line), but the overall quality should have been enough to see off our "hippie hillbilly" cousins. Asheville's third goal was a masterclass in shithousery, and I would be remiss if I didn't properly doff the cap to such enterprising endeavors. I think the loss will be more of a blip than something replicable, and the steady improvement in the two subsequent games has erased much of the creeping concern that this loss created.
Player Spotlights
Azaad Liadi is a special player and will put up monster numbers if his health permits this season. Liadi's physical and technical profile allows him to effectively stretch back lines by running the channels, utilize his strength in hold-up play and aerial duels, and shift to wide spaces, allowing other attackers to interpret the space he has created (see his assist for Boyce's goal against Chattanooga). But Liadi's real superpower may be his relentless pressing, a skill that dovetails nicely with Dave Dixon's out-of-possession principles. The win against Westchester was a perfect showcase of this synergy, as Liadi's nuisance directly created the first two goals. His overall performance was among the best in team history (two goals, one assist, and starting the sequence that led to the other goal), and watching him hustle and close down opponents in the 90th minute demonstrates his intense competitiveness and desire. I've dreamed of seeing this player in our green for some time, and the early returns are living up to my expectations.
Ezra White deserves a chance to be a part of this team moving forward. White, a professional rookie out of the College of Charleston, signed a 25-day contract earlier in March in the face of the Triumph's injury crisis, and he proceeded to start the games against Chattanooga and Asheville. Though his performances were mixed in those two games, it's definitely a tall ask to put a player on a short-term contract into your No. 10 role and expect them to provide exceptional performances. But White has looked especially bright while coming off the bench in the past two wins, and his work rate and attacking instincts demonstrate a player with real quality and hunger. I hope he gets a longer run with this squad; if not, I hope the Daniel High product has done enough to catch the eye of another professional team and earn a contract.
Tactical Growth
Considering the multiple moving parts and health concerns, Dixon has the guys playing hard and showing growth, particularly across the first three games of the USL League One campaign. The attack looks very promising, and you can see little synergies developing between Liadi, Rodrigo Robles, Deshane Beckford, Lucas Meek, Leo Castro, and Ezra White. Once Boyce and the yet-to-debut Jason Bouregy return to health, the club will be blessed with numerous options and internal competition.
Greenville will welcome back Chapa Herrera soon, perhaps as early as this weekend's away match at FC Naples, but the Evan Lee-Connor Evans pairing at the base of midfield has demonstrated a similar growth across the early part of the season. I particularly thought Lee raised his level in the two home games last week, and Evans continues to befuddle opponents with his range of passing. Ivan Agyaakwah has displayed bite as a late defensive-minded sub in the past two wins, and the return of Chapa will further round out Dixon's options for selection.
The Triumph's defense has been the lowest-performing group of the squad. This is not anything I'm worried about in the long term, as Dixon stressed in the preseason that the returning guys were being asked to do very different things than under the previous coaching staff. That being said, Brandon Fricke and Anthony Patti have both been solid, and Kimito Fritz and Patrick Seagrist have shown flashes of their abilities. I think this unit will also improve over time with the return of some injured players, particularly Zane Bubb. This is the area of the pitch I will be watching most closely over the next few games, looking to see how this unit is bonding.
Closing Thoughts
The Triumph have weathered the built-in challenges of coaching transitions, offseason roster restructuring, and an injury crisis across the season's first four games. Greenville has had the higher xG in all three league contests, and the developing attacking chemistry is evident. It's a promising start for the Dave Dixon era, and fans will look for continuing signs of growth and success.
