Originally Posted by
jloome
I think Carver sees two benefits: One, teams saw how we played against KC and RSL and think they need to ensure that the Ricketts-Wynne overlap doesn't kill them all game, so as long as he leaves Ricketts on the right, he'll probably be double-teamed.
Teams WON'T double team Robert on that side becuase the assumption is that, with a historically noted much stronger left foot, he's much less likely to play the overlap with Wynne, which is tough to defend when you've got DD in the box waiting for crosses, and more likely to cut inside, where they have more defenders.
Carver's second reason, however, is that he recognizes something these coaches don't: letting Robert cut inside opens up shooting room for him, inswinging cross room for him, and central channels for Guevara and Edu to run into when a central player drifts left to cover Robert (his left, TFC's right).
The trouble is, with Robert more likely to be the dominating player, that forces Ricketts to play on the drop-back mid side with Brenna, where they'll typically be 15 yards behind the play to compensate in defensive zone coverage for the right flank being advanced. That's not typically his role, although you'll also note going over the video that in both of the last two games, he has tracked all the way back to the byline to cover a winger trying to break loose, so he's certainly working.
And on the odd occasion that he has gotten a ball up the left side, Ricketts has drawn two men again, leaving brennan to move to the top of the box for a run or cross.
All of these scenarios have taken place several times in both of the last two games, so that's my take.