MNUFC Postmatch

Watching Matarrita's injury again. He seemed to initially hurt himself when he made a fine tackle on the sideline. The player fell on his legs after the tackle, and Mata was slow getting up. Then, as he ran back downfield, something happened that made it worse. He starting limping noticeably and went down once the ball was played out.

They called it metatarsal injury instead of ankle, which sounds bad because I don't know how you can injure your metatarsals without having some kind of fracture or crack.
 
Add Chanot to that statement. Without his steadiness in the back, we're midpack with a GD of about 0.
After Villa, I have a hard time deciding. I think it's probably Ring, but as good as he was even then, he wasn't making nearly the difference at the beginning of the year that he is now.

When we were still finding our identity Wallace really stood out and scored and assisted some important goals, and now he continues to be an attacking force and defensive stopper.

We're undefeated with Herrera on the field.
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Harrison has been great. Chanot, great - the passes he threads sometimes are just so good and the kind you rarely see from CBs in any league.

Wouldn't call him our MVP, but look at Callens these days. I was never been down on him because my take on him was he's an athletic, fast CB who can play with the ball at his feet. A few misplaced passes then and fewer now, but many of the big mistakes people point to were things the guy has seen play stopped for a foul his entire career. He's better adjusted now - amazing how that familiarity and consistency can work in a defensive pairing. We now have starting CBs that could have us among the top pairings in MLS for 5-7 years. All I'm saying is we shouldn't underestimate just how much better he is than we've ever had back there, other than Chanot. I'm not sure I could name 3 teams where he wouldn't a starter. He's our Opara.
 
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tackled under control
Except for one in the second half. Scraped the top of the ball and the MN player turned out of it, but he went in mid-calf. Scared the hell out of me. I am betting you couldn't see it from your side of the pitch. It was just one of those where it was redlining the engine a bit, and thankfully, luck was on our side to the extent he won the ball and the ref didn't even call a foul. But that was the only one.

A few more times he got bailed out when he squared himself to a guy on the sidelines at nearly midfield when he didn't have cover behind. More competent players would burn his ass /force him into a yellow if he pulled that.

Fortune favored the bold last night, I guess. So otherwise, agree.
 
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They called it metatarsal injury instead of ankle, which sounds bad because I don't know how you can injure your metatarsals without having some kind of fracture or crack.
At the risk of sounding like a DB for suggesting that I could see his ankle/foot on the bench, I was surprised that there was no noticeable swelling whatsoever for the several minutes before he ultimately was carted off. Others are better equipped to discuss the medical stuff, but in my experience with ankle injuries, the ankle swells up pretty quickly initially. I did break some of the metatarsals in my foot when I was younger and it was mostly severe pain, I don't recall my foot swelling up too badly. The lack of swelling may be a clue (or not).
 
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After Villa, I have a hard time deciding. I think it's probably Ring, but as good as he was even then, he wasn't making nearly the difference at the beginning of the year that he is now.

It seems to me, that Ring is getting better each game, and this can only be a consequence of his self-confidence growing day by day. At Kaiserslautern, I think the fans never gave him the recognition that he deserved, and each coach tried to make him do things that didn't fall naturally to him. I can't of course talk for him, but it looks to me that he's got Vieira's unlimited trust, and that shows.

Now get your shooting boots right, Alex! ;)
 
I know i come off as a pirlo defender but its hard not to with all the pirlo haters and people hoping this was his last game they ever see him come on for. What possibly did you see wrong from Pirlo to warrant never wanting to see him on the field again? He was brought on to slow down and control the game when we had a lead and thats exactly what he did. In his limited time he had a few balls where we squandered it that could have easily led to goal scoring opportunities. Again.... please tell me how this was bad.
 

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Mikey Lopez wasn't just better than usual or not so bad - he played a great game. It's a tough spot coming in that early, and playing out of position. His touches were great, his positioning was solid (assuming his instructions included the freedom to overlap), he hustled like crazy, and tackled under control. It could have been a weak spot for Minn to exploit, and it generally was anything but.
Was just about to comment on this. Lopez carried the ball more than I've ever seen. His confidence must be up, or Minny was laying off to compact our front 6-7 leaving him a bunch of space. It was kinda nice to see, to be honest, and he looked pretty comfortable.
 
I know i come off as a pirlo defender but its hard not to with all the pirlo haters and people hoping this was his last game they ever see him come on for. What possibly did you see wrong from Pirlo to warrant never wanting to see him on the field again? He was brought on to slow down and control the game when we had a lead and thats exactly what he did. In his limited time he had a few balls where we squandered it that could have easily led to goal scoring opportunities. Again.... please tell me how this was bad.
I don't think it's that he did anything wrong last night. He didn't. Sentimental value aside, it's that it's an immense waste to have a DP who doesn't fit the system serve as a role player or a DNP. Sentimental value aside, that's a drain on our chances of reaching our optimal talent level. And sentimental value aside, that substantially reduces our chances of winning hardware. Truthfully, I almost felt bad watching one of my soccer heroes perform mop-up duty.
 
I know i come off as a pirlo defender but its hard not to with all the pirlo haters and people hoping this was his last game they ever see him come on for. What possibly did you see wrong from Pirlo to warrant never wanting to see him on the field again? He was brought on to slow down and control the game when we had a lead and thats exactly what he did. In his limited time he had a few balls where we squandered it that could have easily led to goal scoring opportunities. Again.... please tell me how this was bad.
I think you're projecting with the reason you say Pirlo was brought on: to slow down and control the game.

NYCFC dominated control of the game and history shows we play best when we aren't playing slowly. With he exception of the D.C. and Atlanta losses, we get ourselves into trouble only when we change our game plan to close out a match (like taking off midfielders or forwards for defenders). I don't believe for a minute the Pirlo sub was a tactical decision - it was literally the first opportunity PV had to play Pirlo since he came back from injury where the balance of the game wasn't in question.

I'm not a Pirlo hater, hell, I've got the Pirlo party Tee and wear it proudly, but I'm a realist, and I cannot see how Pirlo sees the field again except in mop up duty or a rash of injuries/team discipline/league suspensions.
 
After Villa, I have a hard time deciding. I think it's probably Ring, but as good as he was even then, he wasn't making nearly the difference at the beginning of the year that he is now.

When we were still finding our identity Wallace really stood out and scored and assisted some important goals, and now he continues to be an attacking force and defensive stopper.

We're undefeated with Herrera on the field.

Harrison has been great. Chanot, great - the passes he threads sometimes are just so good and the kind you rarely see from CBs in any league.

Wouldn't call him our MVP, but look at Callens these days. I was never been down on him because might take on him was he's an athletic, fast CB who can play with the ball at his feet. A few misplaced passes then and fewer now, but many of the big mistakes people point to were things the guy has seen play stopped for a foul his entire career. He's better adjusted now - amazing how that familiarity and consistency can work in a defensive pairing. We now have starting CBs that could have us among the top pairings in MLS for 5-7 years. All I'm saying is we shouldn't underestimate just how much better he is than we've ever had back there, other than Chanot. I'm not sure I could name 3 teams where he wouldn't a starter. He's our Opara.

Don't disagree with any of the above, but it seems natural to add this to the mix.

 
I think you're projecting with the reason you say Pirlo was brought on: to slow down and control the game.

NYCFC dominated control of the game and history shows we play best when we aren't playing slowly. With he exception of the D.C. and Atlanta losses, we get ourselves into trouble only when we change our game plan to close out a match (like taking off midfielders or forwards for defenders). I don't believe for a minute the Pirlo sub was a tactical decision - it was literally the first opportunity PV had to play Pirlo since he came back from injury where the balance of the game wasn't in question.

I'm not a Pirlo hater, hell, I've got the Pirlo party Tee and wear it proudly, but I'm a realist, and I cannot see how Pirlo sees the field again except in mop up duty or a rash of injuries/team discipline/league suspensions.

I will bet you a beer that Pirlo gets another start this season.

ETA: youre saying im projecting when youre literally doing the same shit. We are BOTH projecting. Your opinions arent facts my friend.
 
I will bet you a beer that Pirlo gets another start this season.
Why would I take that bet when PV has proven on numerous occasions that he'll insert players for no logical reason? I gave a myriad of reason I could see him play, but if we are full strength, not a chance in hell.
 
Why would I take that bet when PV has proven on numerous occasions that he'll insert players for no logical reason? I gave a myriad of reason I could see him play, but if we are full strength, not a chance in hell.

so youll make a statement that hell only get mop up time but then you wont back it up got it.
 
I will bet you a beer that Pirlo gets another start this season.

ETA: youre saying im projecting when youre literally doing the same shit. We are BOTH projecting. Your opinions arent facts my friend.
I'm not projecting - you are. Analyze past games and you'll see that we play better when we don't play slow. Game slows down or we bunker and we end up losing points.
 
so youll make a statement that hell only get mop up time but then you wont back it up got it.
You want me to buy you a beer, fine, I'll buy you a beer sans any bet.

Pirlo has been healthy for a few games now and we've been missing Maxi and he still hasn't gotten playing time except as mop up duty. We even tried Jack in the role and have used TMac with all of his deficiencies. Pirlo still wasn't the answer and it's his normal position. Stop being argumentative for the sake of arguing. It's tiring to refute everything on a damn iPhone.
 
You want me to buy you a beer, fine, I'll buy you a beer sans any bet.

Pirlo has been healthy for a few games now and we've been missing Maxi and he still hasn't gotten playing time except as mop up duty. We even tried Jack in the role and have used TMac with all of his deficiencies. Pirlo still wasn't the answer and it's his normal position. Stop being argumentative for the sake of arguing. It's tiring to refute everything on a damn iPhone.

look what happened when we rushed Mata back in after an injury.

ETA: Im not saying Pirlo is the best choice for every game or even that he fits the speed role we've been trying to play. Im just saying the people who never want to see him play another game for us are ridiculous.
 
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look what happened when we rushed Mata back in after an injury.

ETA: Im not saying Pirlo is the best choice for every game or even that he fits the speed role we've been trying to play. Im just saying the people who never want to see him play another game for us are ridiculous.

roles like yesterday are fine....already up against a team that really was not much of a threat after the 3-1.

starting him in starting XI in a playoff game when everyone is healthy....nope.
 
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look what happened when we rushed Mata back in after an injury.

ETA: Im not saying Pirlo is the best choice for every game or even that he fits the speed role we've been trying to play. Im just saying the people who never want to see him play another game for us are ridiculous.
Geez, we do not know why Mata got reinjured. It could be from rushing back, or maybe that felonious tackle that KLawrence put on him against RB. He went down there and most people didn't expect him to play this match even if he hadn't left yet for Costa Rica NT duty.

his situation and Pirlo's are not comparable.