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To possess or not to possess? That is the very nuanced question.

In global soccer, teams like Barcelona’s star-studded sides of the past decade-plus and Premier League champion Manchester City have set the standard for winning games while making opponents chase them all over the field for the ball.

Yet, time and again, teams also show possession isn’t everything. Just look at Chelsea — with 42 percent of the ball — in their win over Manchester City in this year’s UEFA Champions League Final.

That brings us to our Riverhounds, who have had the ball for an average of 48 percent of their 13 matches thus far. But that very middle-of-the-road number doesn’t accurately illustrate the radical highs and lows in individual matches this season.

Interestingly, of the Hounds’ three best games for possession — vs. Austin (73 percent), at Charleston (69 percent) and the first meeting vs. Charlotte (57 percent) — the team earned only one point out of a possible nine. While the Charlotte match comes with the caveat that the Hounds had a man advantage for the final 24 minutes, both the loss to Austin and draw at Charleston followed the same pattern: The Hounds fell behind by an early goal and were slow to get ambitious searching for an equalizer.

“It’s easy to pass the ball around in front of them, but at some point, you have to get behind them,” Hounds coach Bob Lilley said after the Charleston game.

To Lilley’s point, the Hounds in those three matches had a combined eight shots on goal, scoring only in the Charleston draw.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Hounds three lowest possession games — at New York (37 percent), and both matches at Tampa Bay (37 and 31 percent) — yielded two wins, but that is deceiving as well.

The Hounds opener at Tampa Bay, a 3-0 loss, saw the side get outplayed in just about every facet of the game, including mustering just one shot on goal. The 3-0 win at New York was a match the Hounds were able to sit back after getting an early lead, while the 2-1 win at Tampa Bay saw the Hounds nearly blow a lead because they were unable to hold on to the ball late.

While every coach wants their team to hold the ball more, and in turn, defend less, something more than running out 90 minutes has to be done with that possession.

That brings us to the July 3 match against Charlotte, a 1-0 Hounds win. In that match, the Hounds were able to put the pieces together — 55 percent possession and a season-high nine shots on goal — against a fellow Atlantic Division playoff contender.

Not only did the Hounds have more of the ball, leading to a season-high 10 corner kicks, they made it very difficult for Charlotte to get anything in attack, holding the Independence to one shot on goal.

It’s matches like that, where all the boxes are checked in terms of possession, chances and territorial dominance, the Hounds need more of as they approach the midpoint of the season.

The Charlotte match two weeks ago shows the team is capable of it, and hosting Loudoun United FC at 7 p.m. today in the first home match since then, the question now becomes, can the Hounds replicate that performance on home turf?

Even the most meticulous of coaches know that, sometimes, a break can be a good thing for a team.

The Hounds got as close to a break as the condensed USL schedule allows after drawing 1-1 with the Charleston Battery on July 7, as head coach Bob Lilley gave his players Friday and Saturday off after traveling back on the Thursday after the match.

The intent, of course, was to give the Hounds — shorthanded with injuries and international call-ups — a chance to recuperate ahead of this Saturday’s 7 p.m. home match with Loudoun United FC, and early returns in training seem promising.

“It was nice to give them (time off),” Lilley said. “We played four in 12 days and had a busy schedule before that, as well. I thought they came back pretty well on Sunday, Monday, even today (Tuesday). I think we got some good work in that, hopefully, we can tighten things up and get ready for Loudoun.”

Having lost their previous meeting at Loudoun, the Hounds know that the last-place team in the Atlantic Division poses a threat. But having traveled to Virginia for both of the previous meetings, Lilley hopes to garner an edge by playing at Highmark Stadium.

“We played two games there and split with them. I hope we’re more aggressive offensively and make it harder for them to play. We had a lot of changes in the lineup last time at Loudoun, and I thought we were a bit tentative. (This time) we won’t have as much rotation, so hopefully we can take a positive approach right from the start and create our chances, have more of the ball than we did in the two Loudoun games,” Lilley said.

The short form of that thought? In Lilley’s words: “They’re dangerous when you let them play, so for us, we have to make it hard and own our field, basically.”

Owning their home turf will require a tight defensive effort, as the Hounds have been unusually vulnerable to the big through ball this season. Responsibility for that, according to the coach, sits with more than just the four or five players at the back.

“Well, our lines need to be together, for one thing, and our defending the front areas has to be better. Teams are breaking through our lines, not just our back line, and the game gets easier when you’re not collectively defending, or you don’t get numbers in areas, and that requires good defending throughout,” he said. “I think pressure on the ball is a big thing as well. If you don’t get pressure on the ball, things are going to find ways to get behind you.”

With the time off, the Hounds also got a chance to be spectators, watching the finals of the European Championship and Copa America on TV, as well as the start of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In the opening match of the North American tournament, Hounds defenders Jelani Peters and Mekeil Williams both played a big part for Trinidad & Tobago, which got off to an excellent start with a 0-0 draw against Mexico in front of a large pro-Mexican crowd in Texas.

“I’m happy for them. It’s a big point for them,” Lilley said. “They’ll have a better chance of going through the group now, and I guess it’s good and bad — good for them and bad for us — because we may miss them a bit more. But I’m happy they get this opportunity, and hopefully they’ll represent Trinidad well, and also they’re representing the Riverhounds.”

Coach Lilley’s full comments from after Tuesday’s training session can be seen in the video above.

Riverhounds midfielder Todd Wharton has done a good job fitting in — with the Hounds and in Pittsburgh.

Wharton has been an asset to the team due to his versatility. Playing some in the center of midfield, some out wide and even a few times on defense, he has been all over the field, and he’s almost certain to be in the side again for Wednesday’s 4 p.m. game at the Charleston Battery.

“Being adaptable and open to new challenges helps when it comes to playing,” Wharton said.

It has helped in his personal life, too.

Wharton recently moved to Shadyside as a full-time Pittsburgh resident with his girlfriend, a Western Pa. native. When he’s not on the pitch, you might spot him on the streets of Shadyside walking his 7-month-old golden retriever puppy — a dog who is a ball of energy, but Wharton is grateful to have in his family.

A long list of items came to mind when Wharton was asked about his favorite things being with the Hounds. For starters, he loves the team dynamic created this season.

“We have a great locker room and a group of guys who are willing to put in the work when needed,” Wharton said. He added that he loves the beautiful skyline view from Highmark Stadium and looks forward to coming to practice.

Prior to his Pittsburgh move, Wharton never found himself staying in one place for an extended period. 

Wharton grew up in Richmond, Va., and graduated from University of Virginia with his girlfriend, who he met there. He relocated to Texas to play for his first USL team, Rio Grande Valley FC. After three years, he joined Portland Timbers II in 2019 and later made the move to Saint Louis FC. Eventually, he signed with the Hounds in 2021 and has made a true home for himself.

Away from the stadium, there are plenty of places he likes to visit within the city.

“I mostly hang out in Shadyside, since I live there, and Lawrenceville. Another one of my favorite places to go is the North Shore because of all the events that happen there,” Wharton said.

Like so many who move to Pittsburgh, Wharton has quickly scouted out the city’s food scene.

“I love barbecue and Thai food, so I’m always looking for good restaurants to try. One of my favorite places is a barbecue place called Walters in Lawrenceville,” Wharton said.

Having only been in the city a few months, Wharton has time to find new spots around town. But as one of just six players who has appeared in every match this season for the Hounds, the most likely place to find him is on the field on game day.