Are we now two-forward? Learning about Austin FC's possible 4-4-2 future from a refreshingly open Nico Estevez

In the Josh Wolff era, it’s not like we didn’t learn things at press conferences — it was just sporadic, selective, and entirely whim-dependent.

That was not at all the case on Sunday with Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez, who spoke to media before a practice session at Q2 Stadium for season ticket holders — which was in itself an unusual move that would be unheard of in the prior era.

(It was made more unusual by a cold front plunging temperatures into the 30s.)

We also got our first official Austin FC audience with Ilie Sánchez, who projects as the starting No. 6 and seems on track to become the club’s new captain, though he was very mindful of his answers about the type of leadership he’ll look to bring to Verde — with an answer that was very diplomatic and … captain-like.

Let’s get to some of what we learned.

A two-forward formation?

As we’ve discussed recently, including in the most recent Emergency Podcast, new Austin FC designated player Brandon Vázquez can certainly play as a sole target center forward, but had his best days in MLS with another forward to key off.

Estévez, who largely gravitated toward a 4-3-3 formation during his time coaching FC Dallas, said some variations from that base formations could be in the works — including a two-forward system.

“I'm always thinking on what profile of players we have,” he noted. “I’ve played in different formations my entire career. Last year, I had to adapt based on the availability of the players that we had in the roster. And this year, I think we are going towards different formations, and not only attacking, if not defending, is going to be different when we build up than when we're finishing attacks.

“We will have different other plans based on the opponents, if the opponents change things. And I think we have very, very adaptable players that can fit in different positions. And this will help us to be more unpredictable to the opponent. And we're still working on different ways also defending. We could gravitate between the 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 4-2-3-1.”

Indeed, when the teams scrimmaged Sunday in the open practice, both 11s set up in 4-4-2s.

And who could those forwards be?

While rumored new signing Myrto Uzuni wasn’t mentioned, Estévez did mention a left winger with center forward proclivities who is currently on the roster as a distinct possibility to spell Vázquez — or pair with him.

“When I was analyzing his profile, that’s something that I brought to the staff,” he said. “He has a really good profile to be more central, to be more like a target type of player, but also because he has played as a winger, he has a really good understanding on runs in behind. His strength is arriving to the box, because he's a really good finisher.”

In addition to Fodrey seeing more time at that spot, expect Diego Rubio to shuttle between No. 9 and No. 10 roles when he gets time on the field.

He mentioned that in the build-up phase, the two-forward approach looks more like two 10s — not quite saying that wingers will get higher up the field, but that’s certainly possible given the two 10s clue — and then shifting to become two forwards in finishing attacks.

“Rubio fits really well in those pockets, because he's a really smart player, and he has shown in the preseason, he understands really well he is on this kind of 9/10 role, and has provided really good actions during the trainings.”

Other clues on who plays where

As we’ve surmised based on offseason acquisitions and who’s on the roster, it’s likely that Owen Wolff and Dani Pereira will occupy central midfield, possibly together as dual 8s at times, and that Pereira in particular will seek to be deployed more forward than he was in previous seasons. (Pereira was at practice on Sunday, but sitting out actual on-field action as he started for Venezuela in yesterday’s match at Inter Miami’s stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — a 3-1 win for the USMNT.)

Estévez mentioned new acquisition Nicolás Dubersarsky in passing, saying, “He's gonna learn a lot from Ilie in those aspects, but he has the energy, he has the physicality to help us in different kind of situations,” which sounds like he’s the backup No. 6 and potential heir apparent to Sánchez when he leaves.

(Sánchez did say he expects Austin to be his last stop in MLS, leaving the door open to one more move overseas, but said his stay in Austin could be as short as one year or as long as five.)

‘I’m fine with any number’

Sánchez was utterly charming in his 10 minutes with media; I described it to colleagues after as “basking in his handsomeness.” He started with a sober acknowledgment of the fires still ravishing Los Angeles, where some of his family and friends are still “struggling with the situation,” before answering the first question out of the gate — the number swap that has Pereira moving to the perhaps-more-position-appropriate No. 8 and Sánchez to retain the No. 6 he’s worn at his previous MLS stops at SKC and LAFC.

Noting that Pereira initiated the number switch with the club, Sánchez said, “I'm fine with any number. I don't mind that, obviously, six, it's the number I wore since I joined MLS, and it's good that he was nice to also think about that kind of change for him, stepping with the number eight and leaving that six for me.”

Answering my question about what level of leadership he might offer, he said, “There are many players that have that role in here, that are leaders within the team. Believe me, I get every day from Brad Stuver that I'm the oldest player on this team, so I'm very aware of what my role can be within the group.

“But I don't feel any pressure, because I can already tell how much they can also fill in those kind of roles,” he added. “I'm just going to be focusing on what I can do on the field and off the field, first to be able to do my job to the best of my abilities, but also if I can help any of them in any other areas of their roles, that's my mentality going into this season.”

He’s impressed with how his new teammates are responding to the (mostly) new coaching staff, noting, “What I could feel in this week so far is that we are already more advanced [compared] to where I expected us to be for just one week of preseason. So that tells you, and that links with how intelligent and focused these players are, with what the coaching staff wants from us.”

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