Conrad Wallem arrived at St. Louis CITY SC this winter on loan from SK Slavia Prague. And while CITY has struggled to produce goals in the face of key injuries, Wallem has proven to be a sort of Swiss Army knife for the club.
Through the beginning of manager Olof Mellberg’s era in St. Louis, the 24-year-old midfielder has started seven matches up and down the formation. Wallem has pushed high on the right, dropped low on the left, and everything in between. His malleability has resulted in 600 minutes over the first eight matches. In those minutes, the Norwegian has created seven chances, made seven crucial interceptions, and had 30 recovery runs—a stat line that indicates a player who’s able to contribute with and without the ball at his feet.
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To Wallem, it’s anything to help the team stay nimble. ”It’s getting to understand what the coach wants of me and the team and in different types of roles,” Wallem says. “Different types of my game get out in different positions.”
This season, the difference has sometimes come down to inches. “It’s the small details,” Wallem says, reflecting on a near goal against Sporting KC. “If I score the goal [against SKC], the one that’s off the inside of the post, I’m sure we score three goals that game. So it’s small details. It’s just very frustrating at that moment, but then you have to look at the bigger picture.”
Following four straight losses, Wallem is focusing on what’s in front of the team. “You have to move on because the next game can change everything,” he says. “We try to put the game behind us and focus on the next game.”
As CITY prepares to face the league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps this Saturday, Wallem remains optimistic about CITY turning around its season. “It’s part of being a player, but I think the goals will come,” he says.
Whether Wallem returns to Prague also remains to be seen, but he is focused on St. Louis and soccer at the moment.
“I like the city,” Wallem says. “The fans are amazing… I’m enjoying life here.”
