"Ten In, What Now? Early Impressions of the Kickers"

The Richmond Kickers have started the 2025 season off in a manner that feels almost like feast or famine. After ten matches this season, The Roos have one of the more prominent attacks in USL, scoring 17 goals (19 in all comps), having multiple players score goals this season, and providing assists. On the flip side of that coin is the leaky defense, a side that has given up a league-leading 15 goals (22 in all comps), has had multiple errors leading to goals, and has been unable to keep a clean sheet ( outside the one this season against Union Omaha). After watching almost 1000 minutes of Kickers soccer this season, here are the four things that stick out to me and give me hope for the next ten matchups.

• Youth is emerging, but experience is needed 
• I am mainly speaking on the defense at this moment, and look, before I say this, I love what Richmond is doing by not spending money on flameouts and instead giving minutes to youth players who have a high ceiling. But with that high ceiling also comes the known margin that errors are going to happen while these players are gaining that experience. Griffin Garnett and James Sneddon have been good additions to the defense and have shown flashes, but have also shown inexperience at the same time, leading to errors and mistakes. Gui and Khaldi, the two other center backs in the system who have played alongside Griffin, seem to be well-suited as an enforcer type and a clean-up man, allowing for Griffin to focus more on build-up play and playing the ball out. Simon Fitch and Maxi have been pillars in the fullback spots as they have provided strong play in build-up. When watching James Sneddon I have had some emotions range from “OH MY GOD THAT’S A WORLD CLASS SAVE” to “OH MY GOD JUST GET RID OF IT”, with a 19 year old in goal there seems to be no middle ground as of yet but just like Griffin, the ceiling on the him is worth riding out the 0-60 ride.  From what I have seen from this unit so far this season, from a backline to goalkeeper, is that they are an aggressive unit who do well in pressuring and creating turnovers but yet struggle with build-out play, being patient on the ball, and aerial duels. Hopefully, we got the kinks worked out for this group, and we can see them be the anchor for this team going forward. 

• Five thousand is the norm at City Stadium
• Once again, we are talking about the third division in American Soccer that is often at full capacity. The last few games at home for the Kickers have seen them play in front of massive home crowds, making the bowl in City Stadium feel tight. Only once this season at home has City Stadium had an attendance below two thousand, which was for a midweek Open Cup game that we shall not speak of. In a league full of home-field advantages, such as FC Naples Turf and Union Omaha’s Narrow field, the advantage for the Kickers is having a near-full City Stadium that is engaged and rocking before the whistle starts. Now, if we can just get fans in the stadium 15 minutes before the game starts, then we will be on to something. 

• Punk Rock Footy is the brand, and it is strong
• Darren, near the end of last season, switched the style of play for the Kickers from a side-focused and built on heavy possession build-up play to one that was more prevalent on sitting back and creating turnovers. It worked so well, the Kickers snuck into the 2024 USL League One Playoffs. So the question during the offseason was, will Darren stick with the “Punk Rock” Footy or go back to the Ball Control system he's been trying to install for the better part of two years? He chose the former, and let me tell you something, there is never a dull moment with the Kickers, leading the league in goals scored per 90 (2.1), Possession won in the final 3rd (4.8), Corners won (38), 2nd in SOT (5.3) and Big Chances created (17). This team is the equivalent of riding on Hull Street (you know which Hull Street I am talking about) while trying to eat a sandwich. Is it worth yes, but will it be messy, and will you have a stained shirt also, yes. Where this team excels at countering at a breakneck pace, they struggle in the moments of games where they need to put their foot on the ball. Within USL League One, they are 9th in the league in accurate passes per 90 with 277, so control at moments that are needed sometimes eludes the Kickers. The next building part for Kickers is getting Players like Nils Seufert and Dak to have a little more control in replaying the ball in midfield and allowing the Kickers when a play burns out to keep possession and go again. 

• The Attack is thriving, BUT…..Billhardt adds something different 
• So far this season, Richmond has struck gold with  Darwin Espinal, Josh Kirkland, Emi, and Matty Bolduc all contributing and being deadly in front of goal. Billhardt, so far this season, has been a super sub coming back from an injury and working his way back into the form that saw him last season have 6 goal contributions. If we look at the right side of the attack, where Billhardt normally plays, there has been a slight rotation this season as Kirkland and Bolduc have seen playing time there. In Darren’s 4-3-3 attacking system, the role of the Left Winger is slightly different from that of the Right Winger. The LW's duty in the system is to press inside and be an inside forward dropping back in pockets of space to help with build-up and also provide cover in the middle when needed. The RW (Billhardt position) has more room to stretch the back four for the opposing team and is tasked with pressing high alongside the striker in the system. Josh Kirland and Matt Bolduc have both done great jobs in this role, but Billhardt just feels he can take it to another level. 

My overall thought so far on the season goes pretty much like this: 

• The defense needs to clean up some of the errors leading to goals. 
• They are a solid unit that is also youthful, but it is time for the experience to show if the Kickers want to host a play-off game. 
• The Attack is thriving due to the multiple chances on goal created via turnovers.
• Well, the goalscoring keeps up at 2.1 per 90? probably not, but keep creating the turnovers that led to goal, and we will be close to it 

• This team is better than most expected, but still has room to grow 

• This team is currently sitting in 4th place at the time of writing, and honestly, if you would of told me that at the start of the season I would of laughed. Now, since the league is unbalanced due to games played per team, the Kickers sit 5th on the PPG table with 1.4. With that being said, The Kickers have dropped points in the games this season, which can have them higher up the table. 

So with the first ten matches behind us, the Roos have surprised a few people, but there is still work to be done.