NYCFC vs. Montreal Impact
February 24, 2018, 5 PM ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, FL
Broadcast: NYCFC YouTube Channel
February 24, 2018, 5 PM ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, FL
Broadcast: NYCFC YouTube Channel
Al Lang is such a cool looking stadium. How is it in person?I extended my vacation by a day and will try to make it to this one.
I heard they made some renovations since the last time I was there. It was a decent stadium but nothing special. Basically a spring training baseball stadium at best.Al Lang is such a cool looking stadium. How is it in person?
So, one final preseason game where fans can actually see the game. And it's a week and a day before our first regular season match. I've been critical of the team this preseason.
We can't seen real starting lineups. We haven't seen tactics. We've seen more guys earning their spots and academy players getting minutes in front of Vieira.
I just hope he knows how to put the pieces together when it matters.
I seem to remember PV using a (mostly) first-choice XI in the last preseason game last year. And the fact so many non-starters played yesterday gives me reason to think none of those players will see action tomorrow. It certainly seems likely that we'll see a very good XI tomorrow.
EDIT: Indeed I just went through the archives ... this was the XI last year in the final preseason game. Ten of these 11 players started the following week in the season opener (Pirlo started for Herrera against Orlando last year).
Johnson, Allen, Chanot, Callens, Matarrita, Herrera, Ring, Moralez, Harrison, Wallace, Villa (C)
https://www.nycfc.com/post/2017/02/25/match-recap-nycfc-1-0-sporting-kc
If by fixing the glaring LB weakness, you mean Mata is healthy and not injured, then yes, the team did what it needed to do.Super exciting that we should see a glimpse of a close to opening day lineup as possible. I know someone else already posted this elsewhere but I can't find it now for so apologies for not giving credit but working back from who played against RSL starters tomorrow should be:
Johnson, Tinnerholm, Chanot, Callens, Matarrita, Herrera, Ring, Moralez, Medina, Wallace, Villa (C)
Props to Wallace for possibly keeping his spot even with all the new wing players. Will be interesting to see if
Tajouri (who seems very promising), Berget, or Lewis can push for the starting role in that LW spot as the season progresses.
If this is our day one starting XI we fixed our most glaring weakness from last year at LB and are seemingly banking on a bump from continuity and health by rolling it back with 10 returning players. Will be interesting to see how that plays out compared to the moves other teams made with the pile of TAM that dropped this off season.
If by fixing the glaring LB weakness, you mean Mata is healthy and not injured, then yes, the team did what it needed to do.
And IF PV plays the players who play the best in games and not just who two foots people during rondos.Sorry meant RB, my mistake. But yes if Mata can stay healthy (a big if) he should be a major upgrade as well over sweat.
Don't agree with this characterization at all. But it was funny. Just felt the need to qualify my "like".And IF PV plays the players who play the best in games and not just who two foots people during rondos.
Honestly, I think PV demands respect. Lewis looks like he has fun. PV wants the progress to look hard because if it doesn't look hard it's not progress. It's just the kinda player he was.Don't agree with this characterization at all. But it was funny. Just felt the need to qualify my "like".
I can't wrap my head around that philosophy. Not saying you're wrong, I'm categorically saying the philosophy is wrong.if it doesn't look hard it's not progress
you're allowed to be wrong. (ass smack emoji not available)Don't agree with this characterization at all. But it was funny. Just felt the need to qualify my "like".
I can sorta see why he thinks that way.I can't wrap my head around that philosophy. Not saying you're wrong, I'm categorically saying the philosophy is wrong.
For the squad, maybe he worries that somebody having fun erodes overall squad work ethic. Maybe he's right.
I'll be disappointed if we don't win this game, no matter what team Montreal puts outs there. These are the big guns playingWe have a lineup and Vieira finally showing his cards. If we're not leading after 45 minutes (depending on the Montreal roster), then it's time to be worried.