Inter Miami 2022 MLS season preview: Tactics, predicted XI, predictions

After another tough year in MLS, Inter Miami are back to prove themselves in 2022.

The Herons have struggled to live up to the huge expectations placed upon them since coming into the league, only scraping into an extended Playoff field in 2020 and failing altogether last year.

Can Phil Neville turn things around and put Inter Miami where they were always meant to be?

Here's everything you need to know about Inter Miami ahead of the new MLS season, including tactics, key players, and predictions.

How did Inter Miami perform in 2021?

Inter Miami's 2021 season can best be described as a prime cut of meat, surrounded by two pieces of moldy bread.

They started with eight defeats in their opening 12 games - including six in a row between May and June. Then they ended with eight defeats in 11, again including a six-game slump. In the middle of that, they lost just one of 11 in a run that had a lot of people genuinely believing they could scrape into the Playoffs.

They didn't defend well enough, and even the notoriously blunt FC Cincinnati scored more goals, leaving Phil Neville with far more questions than answers as he tears up his roster for a 2022 rebuild.

Inter Miami transfer activity

Transfers in

• Emerson Rodriguez (from Millonarios, Undisc.)
• Jean Mota (from Santos, $500k)
• Christopher McVey (from IF Elfsborg, Undisc.)
• Ariel Lassiter (from Houston Dynamo, $50k)
• Bryce Duke (from LAFC, $100k)
• DeAndre Yedlin (from Galatasaray, free transfer)
• Damion Lowe (from El Ittihad, free transfer)
• Mo Adams (from Atlanta United, free transfer)
• Ryan Sailor (SuperDraft)
• Justin Ingram (SuperDraft)
• Lucas Meek (SuperDraft)
• Robert Taylor (from Brann, Undisc.)
• CJ dos Santos (from Benfica, Undisc.)
• Leonardo Campana (from Wolves, loan)
• Clement Diop (free agent)

Transfers out

• Nicolas Figal (to Boca Juniors, $2.6m)
• Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (to River Plate, loan)
• Lewis Morgan (to New York Red Bulls, $1.2m)
• Ventura Alvarado (to FC Juarez, free transfer)
• Kelvin Leerdam (to LA Galax, free transfer)
• Jay Chapman (to Dundee FC, free transfer)
• John McCarthy (to LAFC, free transfer)
• Patrick Seagrist (to Memphis 901, free transfer)
• Sami Guediri (to Loudon United, free transfer)
• Dylan Castanheira (to Atlanta United, free transfer)
• Federico Higuain (retired)
• Justin Ingram (to Indy Eleven, free transfer)
• Christian Makoun (to Charlotte FC, Undisc.)
• Rodolfo Pizarro (to Monterrey, loan)
• Julian Carranza (to Philadelphia Union, loan)
• Josh Penn (released)
• Ryan Shawcross (retired)

Phil Neville: Tactics and style of play

Neville constantly mixed things up last year in an attempt (often a desperate-looking one) to find something to keep Inter Miami competitive. In the end, a back-five system in a low block worked, but it'd be surprising if he stuck with that.

His England Women's teams were always brave with the ball and wanted to attack. You'd assume Neville will look to move back to a 4-3-3 as soon as possible, trying to dominate the ball, and pushing his impressive full-back set of DeAndre Yedlin and Kieran Gibbs forward at every opportunity.

Ultimately, he needs to get his most creative forces as close to Gonzalo Higuain as possible. Nothing else matters if he doesn't score more goals.

Inter Miami predicted XI (4-3-3): Marsman; Yedlin, Quinteros, Lowe, Gibbs; Ulloa, Gregore, Mota; Rodriguez, Higuain, Robinson.

Who are Inter Miami's key players?

Gonzalo Higuain

As mentioned, Inter Miami simply have to create as many chances as possible for Higuain. Too many times last season, he was seen dropping deep to get on the ball, totally starved of service further up the field.

Higuain is good at that job, too. He may be slowing down, but is still top-class on the ball.

But, again, he's Inter Miami's biggest goal threat, by far. Give Higuain the ball in the box and let him do the rest.

DeAndre Yedlin

Neville has basically shredded most of his 2021 roster and brought in an entirely new one. Of all the deals they've done, adding USMNT full-back DeAndre Yedlin as on a free transfer is the most impressive.

His speed and running down the right will make the Herons far more front-footed, while he's definitely got a good cross in his locker, helping with that aforementioned task of providing for Higuain.

There are some question marks around Yedlin's defensive positioning, but if he hits the heights at the other end of the pitch, that can easily be mitigated.

Gregore

A large part of that mitigation will come from the screen Gregore provides in midfield. The Brazilian was first among Inter Miami for so many defensive metrics last season. Tackles, blocks, pressures, recoveries. You name it, Gregore did it. He even found time to be one of Inter Miami's most progressive players with the ball, too!

Gregore was one of the few bright spots in Inter Miami's miserable 2021 season and someone Neville can genuinely include in a spine moving forward. Crazy to think how distinctly average World Cup-winner Blaise Matuidi was alongside him...

Inter Miami 2022 season prediction

There's been so much change down in Fort Lauderdale that it's really tough to predict how things will go. Things could click right away and Inter Miami will finally become a force in MLS. Or, more likely, players will take time to gel and some of the gaping holes remaining on Neville's roster will prove an issue.

We're going to opt for the latter based on what we know so far....

Prediction: 12th in the Eastern Conference