Welcome back to The Tide Chart, Rhode Island FC faithful.

July was the continuation of a turbulent stretch for our club, marked by heated derbies, a tough road trip, and a pivotal cup match. It felt like a month defined more by frustration and inconsistency than progress. The team didn’t earn a single win (despite three of the four matches being played at home), and the tides mostly pulled us further from the results we needed.

Morale among supporters has understandably taken a hit. The offense struggled to create clear chances (stop me if you’ve heard that before), defensive lapses proved costly (stop me if you’ve heard that before), and the momentum we hoped to build heading into the summer simply never arrived (again, stop me if you’ve heard that before). Even the highs, like finishing top of the Jagermeister Cup group, came with an asterisk after the penalty shootout loss to Hartford.

Looking back on the month to write this blog was rough, to say the least. A frustrating 1-1 draw with Birmingham came on the heels of a promising big win to close out June. Then came a disheartening and disjointed 1-0 loss to Indy Eleven, a goalless draw against Hartford, and that brutal cup defeat in penalties after spending more than 60 minutes with a man advantage. 

Woof. 

July’s results tell a story of missed opportunities, and truthfully, it’s a story we’ve seen all season long. But The Tide Chart show must go on, so here’s my attempt at highlighting the players and performances worth recognizing.

Rising Tide 📈

Hugo Bacharach  

Hugo made his long-awaited first appearance for RIFC in the 1-0 loss to Indy Eleven. We saw a glimpse of something promising in that match, but Hugo Bacharach truly began to stand out in his performance in the 0-0 draw against Hartford. His substitute appearance that day was especially impressive and one of only a couple of positives to take from that match. Normally a centerback, and someone who we all presumed would play on the back line, he delivered a standout shift in central midfield that hinted at real versatility and upside. His presence on the ball suggested he could help make playing out from the back a more viable option, in line with Coach Khano’s possession-oriented vision.

Bacharach brought an aggressive, risk-taking energy. He drove forward with pace, took on defenders, and looked confident and composed despite being one of the biggest players on the field. As Ryan detailed in the post match pod, in just 25 minutes, he completed 75% of his passes, created a chance, pulled off two of three dribbles, and won seven of nine duels. He also played a dangerous pass into the final third and registered a touch in the opponent’s box. His ability to break lines through both dribbling and passing stood out, and his technical comfort at his size was hard to miss.

That performance earned him a start in the second derby, though he didn’t particularly stand out in that match. Still, even with a limited sample size, Bacharach has already shown he can influence the game from a holding midfield role. Coach Khano will certainly take a cautious approach as Bacharach builds back toward full fitness, managing his minutes carefully. But there’s no doubt that Hugo is firmly in the conversation for a regular starting spot going forward

JJ Williams 

The return of JJ Williams from injury was a significant boost for RIFC in July. After being sidelined for over two months (notably,getting injured right before the stadium opener), he made his comeback against Indy Eleven and followed it up with an impactful substitute appearance in the league match against Hartford. He was met with huge cheers from the crowd, possibly the loudest coming from the front row of Section 205, and wasted no time getting involved.. He immediately began creating chances and showed the kind of presence the team has sorely missed.

His size, strength, and trademark hold-up play brought a new dynamic to the attack, giving Rhode Island an option to play more through the middle than we’ve typically seen. He won headers, created space, and set up teammates in dangerous positions. 

That said, the team did struggle to get him the ball effectively at times. He had just 14 total touches in the second Hartford match where the midfield struggled to connect him to the buildup, but even when isolated, his influence was clear.. His return, alongside Hugo’s, could be exactly what this team needs to finally unlock its potential. Or at least, that’s what I’m telling myself, because at this point it’s just about the last bit of hope I have left for a turnaround.

Amos Shapiro Thompson 

It was hard to find many Rising Tide players for July. It was a rough month, to say the least… To close out this section, I want to highlight a player who deserves some positive attention for his contributions in the second derby match: Amos Shapiro Thompson.

Amos was fantastic in the Jagermeister Cup match against Hartford and was an easy choice for Defiance’s Man of the Match. His equalizing goal from the edge of the area sent Tidewater into a frenzy and capped off a performance full of energy and intent. That strong finish, combined with his usual work rate and tenacity, suggests his confidence is building.

There is still a real question about how he fits into this midfield, especially given the overlapping skill sets he shares with Ybarra and the emergence of Bacharach as another holding midfielder option. This is something Timmy has pointed out a few times in his Player Ratings and on the Tide Talk pod. For a team still struggling to generate consistent offensive chances, how will Khano manage a midfield stacked with holding-style players?

Whatever the answer may be, it’s good to see Amos making his case for a bigger share of the minutes.

Falling Tide 📉

While July brought some individual high points, the team’s overall performance continued to be a source of frustration, with persistent issues impacting consistency and results.

Aldair Sanchez: 

Aldair Sanchez made this same list last month when I pointed out his “notable defensive vulnerabilities” . In July, those cracks in his defensive armor remained visible. Most importantly, his minutes dropped off significantly as a result. After being a locked-in starter for much of the season, he started only the first match of the month against Birmingham Legion and then made three brief substitute appearances in the games that followed.

He carried a heavy workload earlier in the year, and maybe that played a role in the recent dip in form, followed by a dip in playing time. It’s hard to say for sure if fatigue was the cause, or if that’s just a convenient explanation. Either way, I still feel optimistic about his future and his role with this team. But there’s no question that July was a tough stretch for Aldair.

In fairness, it was a tough month across the board when looking at individual performances.

Clay Holstad

It hurts to put Clay Holstad in this section. He’s my favorite player on the team and probably our MVP of the season so far. But let’s call it like it is. Clay didn’t look like himself in July, and that’s likely due in large part to how he was deployed.

Usually the engine of the midfield, known for his relentless work rate and creative spark, Clay was asked to play as a right wing-back throughout much of July. That shift out wide significantly limits his ability to impact the game. He looked out of sorts, indecisive, and far too isolated on the flank to do what he does best: break defensive lines, drive the attack ,and disrupt opposing defenses.

His passing accuracy took a hit, he struggled in duels, and he rarely beat defenders one-on-one. The first derby match might have been his worst performance of the season, but the rest of July wasn’t much better. It’s frustrating to see one of our most influential players used in a role that so clearly neutralizes his strengths. 

Pulling him out of the midfield, especially when that area of the pitch is already struggling, is one of my biggest criticisms of Coach Khano right now. Clay has suffered for it, and the team hasn’t gained anything in return.

#LetClayCook

Fanbase Morale & Fading Optimism 

The high hopes and “Never Say Die” attitude that once embodied Rhode Island FC throughout the 2024 season have noticeably faded over the course of this season. What once felt like a team and fanbase defined by courage and confidence now seems to be missing both. Fans are openly frustrated and increasingly doubtful that this team can turn things around. By the end of July, the hope that had carried us through much of the season felt all but gone.

Speaking of courage, Ryan Healey’s fantastic blog entitled Courage notes that the team appears “stuck in safety”, something I also highlighted with Timmy when breaking down the team’s tactical struggles in the latest episode of Double Pivot. (Shameless plug, but please check it out if you haven’t already!)

Rhode Island’s matches have all been difficult to watch, and that’s led to recurring conversations on the podcast, in our blogs, and throughout the supporter community about the team’s struggles to create chances and score. At this point, we all sound like broken records. The continued disappointments, especially the inability to win a single match in July, have left the fanbase as deflated as ever.

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The Horizon Ahead 

While individual performances have offered glimmers of hope, they continue to be overshadowed by the team’s inconsistent play. Every time a promising result sparks optimism, it’s followed by two steps in the wrong direction. The truth is hard to avoid. This team is no better now than it was at the start of the year. There’s been no clear improvement, and right now, there’s little evidence to suggest one is coming.

Despite strong attendance and passionate support at home, the poor results and lack of a clear identity have raised real questions about whether this team will even make the playoffs. That was unthinkable at the start of the season.

As we move into August, with critical games still ahead, the path forward demands collective improvement, sustained intensity, and a return to the “never say die” mindset that defined last year. The Jagermeister Cup remains the only realistic shot at silverware, but the league form needs urgent attention. Without a turnaround soon, this season will go down as a huge missed opportunity.

What do you think of the tides after July? Who stood out to you, good or bad? Let me know in the comments or on social media.

As always, UP THE TIDE!