Throughout this latest offseason, Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff indicated that there would be a renewed emphasis on “defending as 11.”
Fullback Jon Gallagher noted that he and the other outside backs would be staying home more this season, whereas early in the 2023 season, he had much more license to go forward.
And Matt Hedges, reflecting on the job he and the rest of the backline did in Verde’s 0-0 draw with Seattle Sounders FC, marveled not only on the job they did to get the shutout, but on how difficult it is to secure a shutout at the home of one of the West’s best teams.
But do the early 2024 stats reflect this renewed emphasis on defense? Even though it’s a stunningly small sample size of 180 minutes of soccer so far, Verde’s among the league leaders already in several key categories — though there are also worrying numbers that foretell the need for additional defensive heroism.
Let’s dig into some FBRef-delivered statistical goodness.
