Stats & Analysis

Friday, July 5th, 2019 – Detroit City FC 1 Grand Rapids FC 1
Sunday, July 7th, 2019 – Detroit City FC 3 AFC Ann Arbor 1

Depending on your level of indoctrination into the support of Detroit City Football Club and your knowledge of its lore, you may be aware of the odd year phenomenon.

As the term suggests, City tends to have its best seasons in odd years, while even years are less successful (records listed in W-D-L format):

2012: 5-5-2, L in Midwest Regional Semifinal
2013: 11-1-0, L in Midwest Regional Final
2014: 8-3-3, Missed playoffs
2015: 8-2-2, L in Midwest Regional Semifinal
2016: 4-4-4, Missed playoffs
2017: 9-3-2, Midwest Regional Champions
2018: 5-3-4, Missed playoffs

The term is a bit misleading; 2012 was a pretty solid first season for a brand new club, and the 2014 team juuust missed the playoffs on a PPG technicality, but there’s a clear overall trend.

The causes for this season’s success are wide and varied, but I’ve narrowed it down to a few I feel are most prominent:

(1) Roster stability

I haven’t done a statistical comparison with previous seasons, but City seemed to be hit with far fewer mid-season player departures this year. A few guys have left in search of more playing time or other opportunities, but the starting XI has remained intact.

Speaking of the starters, the consistent lineups and tight rotation appeared to have the effect of greater team cohesion and unity. It’s logical that the same group playing together, week in and week out, would build familiarity and perform better as the season progressed, and that’s precisely what’s happened.

Finally, up to this point, there have been a low number of injuries, and none of the particularly serious variety.

Continue reading “Odd Year Magic”

Friday, June 7th, 2019 – Detroit City FC 5 FC Indiana 0
Sunday, June 9th, 2019 – Detroit City FC 0 Grand Rapids FC 0

We’ve reached the season’s midway point, and something that was a promising development over the first few weeks has now come to the forefront, demanding to be acknowledged.

Detroit City is an elite defensive team; the level at which they’re performing is unprecedented in the club’s history. Going further, defense has become the identity of the 2019 squad and may ultimately be the chief factor in determining how successful the season turns out.

City has given up a paltry 0.43 goals per match and is on pace to allow just 6! over the course of the 14-match regular season. Obviously, the clean sheets won’t go on forever and they’ll give up a goal at some point, but what we’re seeing is remarkable.

DCFC Goals Allowed Per Match

2012 – 0.83
2013 – 0.67
2014 – 1.21
2015 – 1.17
2016 – 1.75
2017 – 1.36
2018 – 1.25
2019 to date – 0.43

City hasn’t approached this level of stinginess in six years, and even in their most successful season, 2017, they still allowed well over a goal per match.

Aside from the numbers, this team also looks different to the eyes. In the early years, City’s defensive success appeared to be based in large part on big saves, timely tackles from Josh Rogers, and the general ineptitude of the opposition.

Post-Cass, competition has gotten better, and opposing forays into City’s defensive end have generally been breath-holding events. To be fair, there were a few such moments on Sunday in Grand Rapids, but those were exceptions to what’s been established in the aftermath of the loss to Kalamazoo.

Continue reading “Silent Killer”

Sunday, June 2nd, 2019 – Detroit City FC 3 FC Columbus 0

Sunday was one of the most complete and dominant performances City has ever put together. If it were a baseball game, it would’ve been a no-hitter. If it were a round of Mortal Kombat, it would’ve been a Flawless Victory. If it were a battle, it would’ve been Cannae, with Columbus playing the role of the encircled Romans, unable to move, waiting all afternoon in the Italian summer sun until it was their turn to die.

The only remotely nervy moments came in the first half, when the ball from a Columbus corner bounced around in front of Owen Finnerty a few times, and when City’s dominance in possession failed to result in any real quality chances.

In the second half, though, they started to wear Columbus down, mixing in a few more long balls and crosses until one finally found the head of Shawn Lawson for the breakthrough.

The sender of said cross, Kervin Kenton, changed the game when he came off the bench and was the fenceline’s unoffical Man of the Match. I’m not privy to front office dealings, but if he hasn’t been offered a pro contract yet, it should happen today. Quality left-sided defenders are hard to come by, and those who are equally proficient in attack are even less common. Grab him with both hands, sign him up, and never let him go.

At the end, Cyrus Saydee’s goal to make it 3-0 resulted in a picture which summed the match up perfectly.

City calm and in contol, Columbus utterly defeated after huffing, puffing, and chasing all evening, coming away with absolutely nothing to show for it.

Continue reading “No-hitter”