I've been wrong before. But last time you told me I was off my game I was predicting that Dome would start Mata at left back come August. So if my eye for defense is bad, at least I'm in good company?
Toronto - Postmatch
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
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I've been wrong before. But last time you told me I was off my game I was predicting that Dome would start Mata at left back come August. So if my eye for defense is bad, at least I'm in good company?
In my initial post I forgot to mention David Villa -- so good to see him back out there, finally, after six weeks on the shelf. We are unambiguously a better team with him on the field. His moments of brilliance are just a joy to watch. That wasn't the best goal he's scored for us, but it was a beauty. The little move he made to find some space in the box was sublime. As soon as he stepped away from the defender, there was only one place that ball was going. He's still the GOAT.
Also fun to see the obvious relief on his face during the goal celebration. This has been a trying year for him, but I have a feeling he's going to be a major, major part of whatever this team accomplishes over the next four months.
Also fun to see the obvious relief on his face during the goal celebration. This has been a trying year for him, but I have a feeling he's going to be a major, major part of whatever this team accomplishes over the next four months.
Predicting a 50/50 chance of a start versus analysis of a play are two different things, unless you’re admitting to guessing on both.
I addressed this in my earlier post, but I will be more explicit here.
Both Callens and Ibeagha had multiple important mistakes today, and contributed quite a bit to both goals.
Simply not good enough from them.
Both Callens and Ibeagha had multiple important mistakes today, and contributed quite a bit to both goals.
Simply not good enough from them.
My take is this: they both suck at defending. Mata looks high most of the time. But he’s way more skilled and likely to do something good.
Also, if we were looking for a left back, how did we let Brad Smith go to Seattle? That’s a damn shame. And yes, I said it in the MLS weekly thread, but worth repeating here.
I think it’s time to stop rotating Ibeagha and Chanot and let Chanot take the majority of the starts so he and Callens can get back on the same page together. Ibeagha had a great run this year, but rolling the dice over and over will eventually return to the mean - he’s our third CB and we shouldn’t think otherwise unless there’s an injury or fitness issue.
We went from supposedly getting defensive signings to all attacking signings during the summer window.
Not only that, but I was watching the ESPN3 Spanish stream of the game on my laptop and it was about 90 seconds behind. By the time I hit send, Isi had already scored in real time.
That's word-for-word (minus ESPN3 Spanish) what happened to me last time when Vancouver scored. lol
Agreed. Piggy-backing off of what someone said earlier, I think Ibeagha got the start to be able to body up Altidore as he's a bit more physical than Chanot. Once Altidore got the red, that necessity wasn't needed anymore, but there's no reason to make a substitution there.
But yes, please Chanot-Callens going forward.
Any word on Lewis' absence? Did he make the trip? Unless there was some news that I missed, it's not a good sign when now fresh eyes from a coach of Dome's caliber (who also is seemingly a fair and reasonable guy) has concerns about Lewis (whether it’s the lack of defensive awareness and/or otherwise).
I wouldnt be surprised if there was injury concern with Chanot being factored in too. Ibeagha seems to be getting a start every third game or so.
not going off any actual source, but there was the "discontent" rumors going around and I have a feeling it was Lewis, and I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't make the 18 because of a behind-the-scenes penalty.
Lewis did not make the trip. Also, Bedoya, Sands, Scally didn’t go on the trip.
I'm puzzled about the game. Not a good performance by any means, and yet there were a couple of bright spots. I don't know how the team picked all the points, there were so many errors that could have been costly. And at the same time several good chances. If NYCFC had put away half of the chances, they'd scored four or five.
Matarrita is very overrated. His first touch is simply poor, and he can't defend. For the second Toronto goal he was between their players, doing nothing. However, the worst culprit there was Tajouri-Shradi, who was just watching, instead of marking any of their men on the back post, despite being very close to them. Luckily we'll probably remember only his goals, and maybe deservedly so. He earned the three points after all.
Medina is a frustrating player. He seems to have the ability but not the vision, most often he picks the wrong option, loses the ball too easily and should be more direct when he comes into scoring position.
I didn't see a lot of positive in Maxi's game, but he wasn't too bad either. He had his compulsory missed sitter, but the lob to put Tajouri-Shradi one-on-one with Bono was phenomenal. His work rate can't be questioned.
Tinnerholm did well, he's got a strong engine. Ofori had some slips, but put in an ok shift, freeing Ring to act more as a play-maker. Ring tackles less than last season (but managed to get booked for a 50/50 challenge), but does so much invisible work in directing others, that it's clear he dictates the play both ways. Not his best game, but far from weak. What the team misses the most (apart from Johnson getting back between the posts) is the imposing presence of Chanot of last season.
Stuver I should not even mention... Toronto's first goal was a very soft one and caught him in deep sleep. You can't be that careless when Giovinco has the ball within that short distance of goal.
Lastly, Altidore's sending-off seemed to be the decisive factor, but we never know. Had he not been sent off, maybe both teams had played a bit differently, and during the first ten minutes NYCFC were clearly the stronger side.
Just my view on things, of course.
Matarrita is very overrated. His first touch is simply poor, and he can't defend. For the second Toronto goal he was between their players, doing nothing. However, the worst culprit there was Tajouri-Shradi, who was just watching, instead of marking any of their men on the back post, despite being very close to them. Luckily we'll probably remember only his goals, and maybe deservedly so. He earned the three points after all.
Medina is a frustrating player. He seems to have the ability but not the vision, most often he picks the wrong option, loses the ball too easily and should be more direct when he comes into scoring position.
I didn't see a lot of positive in Maxi's game, but he wasn't too bad either. He had his compulsory missed sitter, but the lob to put Tajouri-Shradi one-on-one with Bono was phenomenal. His work rate can't be questioned.
Tinnerholm did well, he's got a strong engine. Ofori had some slips, but put in an ok shift, freeing Ring to act more as a play-maker. Ring tackles less than last season (but managed to get booked for a 50/50 challenge), but does so much invisible work in directing others, that it's clear he dictates the play both ways. Not his best game, but far from weak. What the team misses the most (apart from Johnson getting back between the posts) is the imposing presence of Chanot of last season.
Stuver I should not even mention... Toronto's first goal was a very soft one and caught him in deep sleep. You can't be that careless when Giovinco has the ball within that short distance of goal.
Lastly, Altidore's sending-off seemed to be the decisive factor, but we never know. Had he not been sent off, maybe both teams had played a bit differently, and during the first ten minutes NYCFC were clearly the stronger side.
Just my view on things, of course.
I have to wonder if the Villa extended injury caused them to sign Taty instead of a defender.
Flight cancelled. Stuck in Toronto for another day.
Joys of winnings. Pains of travels.
Joys of winnings. Pains of travels.
The first goals that Stuver gave up vs. Couver and Toronto were very similar. Guys not stepping up to stop the ball, and that's inexcusable, but the shots aren't perfectly placed either, and I think Sean would have made either quite easily.
I think this was one of those games where we simply got the lucky bounces that we hadn't at other parts of the season. Our xG was probably on point instead of being higher than our score in this one, so we finally caught a break -- and Isi is becoming a clutch player for us. 3 points on him from LAFC and Toronto because of his positioning late. He's got a good knack for putting his shots on frame and hitting them hard, and it'll always be more effective than blasting it over the bar.
Villa and Maxi are probably still underrated in the attacking third for us. So many decisive passes, dummies, 1-2s that break down the defense and have become one of our trademarks. We're lucky to be able to play attractively whether playing through the middle with short passes or overlaps and crosses. This team feels to move much more fluidly than the last two years, and I think that'll give us an edge in getting away goals in the playoffs.
I think this was one of those games where we simply got the lucky bounces that we hadn't at other parts of the season. Our xG was probably on point instead of being higher than our score in this one, so we finally caught a break -- and Isi is becoming a clutch player for us. 3 points on him from LAFC and Toronto because of his positioning late. He's got a good knack for putting his shots on frame and hitting them hard, and it'll always be more effective than blasting it over the bar.
Villa and Maxi are probably still underrated in the attacking third for us. So many decisive passes, dummies, 1-2s that break down the defense and have become one of our trademarks. We're lucky to be able to play attractively whether playing through the middle with short passes or overlaps and crosses. This team feels to move much more fluidly than the last two years, and I think that'll give us an edge in getting away goals in the playoffs.
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