Away - Red Bulls 08/09

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You play Mix out of position as Pirlo's enforcer then people complain that he's not scoring goals, not getting assists and that he's the world's worst player.
Of course, you are right, people will complain. Except ... this is the lineup I proposed.
2mqEzyu.jpg

I would argue that with this lineup
  • (A) We are scoring in bunches. So claims of needs for more offense from Mix will sound hollow.
  • (B) Moving Mix up the field will necessitate either playing Pirlo alone in CDM (a dangerous defensive proposition) or pulling TMac or Poku for AJ. That's a significant downgrade at CDM for a comparatively smaller upgrade if you take off TMac or Poku for Mix.
  • (C) We'll be winning. Not every game. And every loss will bring screams from the peanut gallery. But this is a lineup built to win more games than it loses. And complaints about players playing out of position again sound hollow when the team is winning.
  • (D) Playing next to Pirlo out of the CDM position will open up Mix's creativity so he will look better in this role than he has in the past. The two of them could be a great pairing. Who do you leave open? Either one of them with time and space on the ball looking up field can pick you apart. Mix has looked bad as a CDM for us in the past because he had garbage in front of him and defenses could focus on him. That won't be the case with this lineup.
Of course, if you really hate this then listen to LionNYC LionNYC.
We have too many attacking minded players. Trading McNamara, Mullins, Grabavoy for defensive players would really make our lineup choices easier.
You could add Shelton to that list and even (heresy) Poku. That would certainly reduce some of the glut we have in central attackers and TMac or Poku would probably get you a pretty damn good CDM in exchange.

If it were up to me though, I'd keep them and go with my lineup. Too bad it's not up to me.
 
Of course, you are right, people will complain. Except ... this is the lineup I proposed.
2mqEzyu.jpg

I would argue that with this lineup
  • (A) We are scoring in bunches. So claims of needs for more offense from Mix will sound hollow.
  • (B) Moving Mix up the field will necessitate either playing Pirlo alone in CDM (a dangerous defensive proposition) or pulling TMac or Poku for AJ. That's a significant downgrade at CDM for a comparatively smaller upgrade if you take off TMac or Poku for Mix.
  • (C) We'll be winning. Not every game. And every loss will bring screams from the peanut gallery. But this is a lineup built to win more games than it loses. And complaints about players playing out of position again sound hollow when the team is winning.
  • (D) Playing next to Pirlo out of the CDM position will open up Mix's creativity so he will look better in this role than he has in the past. The two of them could be a great pairing. Who do you leave open? Either one of them with time and space on the ball looking up field can pick you apart. Mix has looked bad as a CDM for us in the past because he had garbage in front of him and defenses could focus on him. That won't be the case with this lineup.
Of course, if you really hate this then listen to LionNYC LionNYC.

You could add Shelton to that list and even (heresy) Poku. That would certainly reduce some of the glut we have in central attackers and TMac or Poku would probably get you a pretty damn good CDM in exchange.

If it were up to me though, I'd keep them and go with my lineup. Too bad it's not up to me.


And who comes in to play a vital sub role ? I think Poku is such an important sub right now.
 
And who comes in to play a vital sub role ? I think Poku is such an important sub right now.
Agree that Poku is fabulous off the bench. But he also put in 3 assists in his last 90 minute starting shift. He's getting stronger as the year progresses. I don't think you bottle him up on the bench to give you something extra in the second half. He's too good for that.

Get your best XI out there. As for subs ...

Best options are (1) Mullins. His goals have come as a sub. (2) Ballouchy. He has had chemistry with Villa for a couple of goals. (3) When Shelton is back to form he provides outstanding speed. (4) Calle. (5) AJ.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, get our best XI on the field!!!
 
If we can just win one more game this season let it be this one. And LA too. Also Orlando would be nice. And capping the year off with a win at home against New England would be delightful. So yeah, those four games plus the rest of the season.
 
Did I give my scoring prediction yet? I don't even know myself. But I'm not giving any fucks. We win 9-0. Poku with 4. Mix with a hat trick. Pirlo and Lampard with one for themselves too.
 
So we first chanted, "We want Pirlo!" And we got Pirlo. Then we chanted, "We want Lampard!" And we got Lampard. How about "We want Pellegrini!" at this game. We could use a better coach.


Call me crazy but i would prefer marcelo bielsa.
 
I really hope we see AJ start tomorrow. I fear for the lineup if he isn't in. 4-5-1 will get our best 11 out there. What's nice is that Mix is so versatile that you can sub out a defensive midfielder, put in an offensive mid, and have Mix slide back and still provide offensive prowess that AJ is lacking. I have concerns that Frank can go 90 yet, so I bet we see him start, then subbed. Too many options.
 
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