Nycfc V Columbus Crew - Postgame

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

We started in a weird 433 with mix in the right playing as a true winger, and villa on the left playing like a forward. So right there you only have one wing to move the ball up. Columbus reacted by stacking the right side of our midfield. Notice how clogged it was when mena tried to bring it up, or every time mix or iraola got it in midfield. So the choices left were try to go through the middle which worked when Jacobson was channeling Pele for a while, or lump it up to Villa.

Poku coming on for lampard replaced one of the CMs with a CAM, so now the central route is gone. I think the McNamara sub was an attempt to open up the whole midfield, but it didn't work, I think because with one CM and a CDM we were conceding too much possession and everyone was too exhausted to bring it out of the back.

Looked like tactics in response to villas complaint last game. (If so, that is weak coaching)

Mena is the CB we need. He is comfortable on the ball and you can't play possession football without CBs who can dribble without panicking. Hernandez is trying, but he gets happy feet when he's under pressure.

 

[FootyLovin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/637756572526055424

Oooooffffff.

I find this hysterical.

For almost 20 years I've done executive coaching and leadership development. Ask anyone in my industry what causes employees to work hard and want to stay with an employer. The answer will always be the same - relationship with the manager.

With this statement #TheGenius is basically saying, "Regarding my biggest responsibility - I have completely failed."

Motivation is 100% driven by manager relationship. If the players don't want to be there, it's because he is a bad manager.

 

[Davo15]

I understand what Pirlo does sadly he's likely a terrible fit for what else we have. We can't afford a luxury player like that when we have no true defensive midfielder , fullbacks who would rather attack than defend, and mediocre central defenders. While It's been nice to ooh and aah over his few moments so far of brilliance he's probably been directly responsible for as many goals at the wrong end as the right. MLS players are going to harass and not give him much time on the ball and sadly MLS refs overall are not going to protect him and call fouls that aren't blatant. He also thus far has not been anything near the standard expected on set pieces. This is a concern particularly when remembering that just prior to Pirlo's arrival Villa was on fire scoring direct from free kicks which have now been mostly wasted by Pirlo. There's no denying he's a great player so far on balance I'm not sure he's contributed more positive than negative and if we don't get a new keeper, someone in for Angelino who can defend as much as attack (we're likely stuck with Iriola ) a quality D mid etc. not sure we can expect him to.

Idk. Maybe I'm watching something different. If we are playing a 4-3-3...then Mullins needs to either hold and let the wings cut or play in front and the wings make trailing runs. He did neither. I thought he was good, but that's it. Mix had a really good game, but he gets to a point where he doesn't know what to do with the ball....because he is not a friggin winger, actually I don't think he's an attacker to begin with...but that's just me. Speaking of Mix. He was playing more defense and deeper than AJ. Ya'll are gonna flame me and I hate beating up the only one who scored, but that was a fluke. He was good in the 1st, as were others. Except for his one shot in the 2nd...he did nothing that whole half. If this team is putting Jacobson as an attacking midfielder than we have no friggin business being in the playoffs. Which brings me to Pirlo, I don't know what JK or you guys think his game is. He's never been a defensive player. We have a soft back like, fullbacks that don't stay back and you want him to be the only defensive midfielder out there? You had Lampard attacking, AJ attacking and only Pirlo and two soft CBs back there. Not defending the guy, but what do you expect. He's useless in this team if nobody is gonna make runs off the ball. We've seen it before, we play a nice stretch and then go into a shell. The whole 2nd half everyone off the ball just watched. I like T-Mac, but he looks spent and out of shape. Poku didn't have that same swagger, Villa would rather shoot falling down backwards off his left than pass and Pirlo has nobody to pass to so he just launches it forward. The players have lost faith in each other and JK had lost control of the team. He's made too many personnel, tactical and formation changes that the players must think he has no clue. We aren't making the fucking playoffs so pick a formation and starting 11 and stick with it for the rest of the season you asshat. Get some god damn continuity.

 

[Narrowback gal]

That loss really bothered me. The game was a sell out, yet I think that was the quietest crowd in a long time- it just seemed like the team quit on us, and the fans picked up on that vibe.

And I'm just going to say, I was disgusted that Saunders was the only one who went over to the supporters section after the game. Fair play to him, there's a reason he's a fan favorite. Not one of the rest of them had the cajones to acknowledge the supporters. Seriously, guys? Get your asses over there and thank your supporters! I don't care if they were mad or upset or whatever- they let us down, not vice versa, and the very least they could do was to walk over and wave or clap for the supporters. Not cool.

 

[FootyLovin]

Regarding players who did or didn't look good yesterday:

We were in game #27 of the season and we (a) inserted 3 players into the starting XI who have had minimal playing time and didn't play the last game, (b) changed our formation, pushing 3 more players into roles different from what they have played all year and (c) benched 3 players who represent the heart of our defense and midfield.

Zero continuity.

No. Wait. I'm sorry. There is continuity.

Andrew Jacobson has started every game (except the one after his red card).

Kreis, who thinks everyone and everything can be tinkered with, believes the one untinkerable is Andrew fucking Jacobson.

Great goal yesterday, but that's his first. He has two assists on top of that. If he is an offensive midfielder that's unacceptable. If he's a defensive midfielder, well, do we really have to go into his lacking there? I don't want to hate on AJ. But Jesus Kreis! He's our one and only must have starter?!?!?!

#thegenius

 

[FootyLovin]

I understand what Pirlo does sadly he's likely a terrible fit for what else we have. We can't afford a luxury player like that when we have no true defensive midfielder , fullbacks who would rather attack than defend, and mediocre central defenders. While It's been nice to ooh and aah over his few moments so far of brilliance he's probably been directly responsible for as many goals at the wrong end as the right. MLS players are going to harass and not give him much time on the ball and sadly MLS refs overall are not going to protect him and call fouls that aren't blatant. He also thus far has not been anything near the standard expected on set pieces. This is a concern particularly when remembering that just prior to Pirlo's arrival Villa was on fire scoring direct from free kicks which have now been mostly wasted by Pirlo. There's no denying he's a great player so far on balance I'm not sure he's contributed more positive than negative and if we don't get a new keeper, someone in for Angelino who can defend as much as attack (we're likely stuck with Iriola ) a quality D mid etc. not sure we can expect him to.

This is only true if the team is coached to the talent it has. Right now it isn't. Regarding free kicks:

Pirlo's corner kicks have been generally sub-par with a couple of exceptions. But we also really don't have any good targets for those. He placed a free kick on Villa's forehead 8 yards from goal yesterday. I'm not sure how much better you want from him. And since he has been here we have had exactly 0 free kicks in threatening locations. Villa's 2 goals off free kicks came from perfectly placed fouls off center a few yards outside the box. We haven't had anything remotely close to that since Pirlo arrived.

Regarding play in the field:

Pirlo needs a tiny bit of time and space (not much and much less than other players) and he needs intelligent runs off the ball. He is constantly paired with Jacobson who enables opposition to put extra pressure on Pirlo as AJ is no threat and the coaching has done nothing to help players understand how to move to make themselves available for his passing.

You can't pass judgement on Pirlo without first passing judgement that Kreis's (#TheDemotivator) tactics have completely failed to make use of his skill.

(And yes, in fairness, goal #1 yesterday was totally Pirlo's fault. I'm not a blind Pirlo apologist.)

 

[northernburbs]

Kreis "I'm not so sure all the players care about what we're trying to do."

It's a damn circus.

He said that publicly? If he worked for me fired on the spot!

 

[Classicist]

He said that publicly? If he worked for me fired on the spot!

It's possible that's what he wants. Would explain a lot.

 

[D_RoyJenkins]

After Lampardgate the last thing CFG needs to do is fire Kreis. He has another year by default.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

After Lampardgate the last thing CFG needs to do is fire Kreis. He has another year by default.

I understand that line of thought, but here's where I find fault with it: if you keep Kreis, you have to completely overhaul the roster because I don't think he knows what he really wants to do. Maybe he finds (stumbles into) it over the last few games, but insulting the team doesn't seem like the best way to keep them motivated.

What do you think is easier/more cost-effective, replacing him or half the players?

 

[Z4CH3B99]

I understand that line of thought, but here's where I find fault with it: if you keep Kreis, you have to completely overhaul the roster because I don't think he knows what he really wants to do. Maybe he finds (stumbles into) it over the last few games, but insulting the team doesn't seem like the best way to keep them motivated.

What do you think is easier/more cost-effective, replacing him or half the players?

When you put it like that...

 

[D_RoyJenkins]

I understand that line of thought, but here's where I find fault with it: if you keep Kreis, you have to completely overhaul the roster because I don't think he knows what he really wants to do. Maybe he finds (stumbles into) it over the last few games, but insulting the team doesn't seem like the best way to keep them motivated.

What do you think is easier/more cost-effective, replacing him or half the players?

Seriously? Replacing expansion draft players is much easier than finding a coach than can succeed in MLS. You guys want Kreis out so bad, who would you replace him with that would be a guaranteed upgrade?

 

[The Toe]

I had really high expectations for Iraola, but I'm really looking forward to RJ Allen starting the 12th. Whatever he is, he's a physical, fast player, and his work rate is twice that of Andoni. We'll have to figure out some on the offensive end, but I think he's going to give us a little more through the rest of the season.

 

[gbservis]

I think not starting Poku was kries way of sticking it to the front office, essentially saying fine if I have to play Pirlo, Lampard and mix I have no room for Poku so go deal with it with the fans.

I also feel like it's a cop out to say he can't be fired because cfg screwed him on the lampard thing. Let's not over look the fact that the biggest taking point to start the season was that what Kries really needed to run his beloved system was good fullbacks to provide width in the attack. Cfg gave him two high level fbs in iraola and angelino and he's done nothing with them.

 

[Gene]

That loss really bothered me. The game was a sell out, yet I think that was the quietest crowd in a long time- it just seemed like the team quit on us, and the fans picked up on that vibe.

Couldn't agree more.

When the first half ended my son and I were high-fiving and all worked up over what a great half it was. Hell, if that bicycle kick attempt by Mix went in I think the building would've come down.

When the match ended we looked at each other and wondered WTF happened?

 

[FootyLovin]

After Lampardgate the last thing CFG needs to do is fire Kreis. He has another year by default.

Not this.

I also feel like it's a cop out to say he can't be fired because cfg screwed him on the lampard thing.

This.

If CFG were to fire him based on record that would be horrible decision making. I'd even be pretty against firing based on tactics. He's done a lot of experimenting. Some has worked. Some has not. First year team. Maybe that's a show of him being a great coach with a first year team.

The reason for the firing would be this:

Win or lose, Kreis is toxic.

He berates his players publicly. He never seems to take personal responsibility. (If I'm wrong about this, someone please provide the quotes.) Those are the marks of atrocious, and I mean the absolute worst, leadership. Almost every organization struggles with the question of how to deal with talented but toxic people. Most make the huge error of promoting them because of their talent and they build even more toxic environments and wonder why their great young talent leaves them.

The organizations that stand firm against this tend to be those that thrive. People love working there. They have camaraderie, high work ethic, support for one another. They look a lot like that video of Mix and Khiry singing in the car, but from top to bottom. When they win they are on a collective high. When they lose any number of people can walk into the locker room and give a rousing speech or a joke or something to lighten the mood and get the team back to being positive and focused.

I'm willing to bet money that the feeling in Kreis's locker room is one big fuck you. And that will do tons of long term damage to the young talent and the team as a whole.

That's why you fire him. #TheDemotivator

 

[Davo15]

I'm not a Kreis fan but you don't fire him just to fire him. We have to have someone specific in mind who can make use of the core of our team and with a solid vision of the tweaks he wants to make to make us better next season. I'd like CFG to have a plan before just fire him and then search for the replacement, hopefully they do...

 

[LeeNYCFC]

We dominated possession in the first half while AJ played as a CM and did not hang back with Pirlo. Second half he played back with Pirlo as a CDM and were gradually subbed into a 4-4-2 and we were awful. I haven't understood the AJ hate all year. He's nobody's DP but he obviously cares a lot about being on the field and putting in a shift. Win or lose I'll take 11 players that can be bothered every time.

 

[SayWhat44]

The team was much better with Frank on the field. Some have said otherwise but I thought Mena was very good and the team suffered when he went off. I thought all 3 subs hurt the club and I can't for the life of me think who to be upset at for this...

I can't believe we didn't even get 1 point I thought it was almost certainly going to be a win. I guess our only saving grace is Orlando is a dumpster fire and Montreal is trying very hard to not make the playoffs.

Villa sucked he didn't pass the ball once. Pirlo's defending on that corner was pathetic... Nothing more you can say it was utterly pathetic. Mix played great and it's good he needed a good showing.

 

[S1ARK5]

I think Mullins, Rowe and Fagundez are all good to potentially very good players. NE had two forward options, so they locked up Fagundez and Rowe and let go of Mullins.

You're being a little obtuse. I presume intentionally, but I don't understand why it is important to beat on Mullins. He has been a consistent contributor when he's had minutes. That's more than most anyone on our roster except 2-3 other guys.

Nothing against Mullins. He seems like a great kid and he certainly has a place in mls for the next handful of years but to act like he is some kind of savior is not correct. Last year there was talks about both fegundez and Nguyen leaving the Revs during the off season so the talk about having a plethora of attacking options wasn't a foregone conclusion for the revs. Listen Mullins hasn't done anything special and the only goals he has had was a gimme vs the Revs in week 2 and the lucky goal at Philly where it differed off a union defender.

Like I said Mullins has a place in this league over the next handful of years but as mls continues to improve guys like Mullins will not be an important piece of any team. Maybe out of.the league. Like I said regardless if Mullins started every game we still would suck. You don't count on guys like Mullins to put you over the top in this league.