Away - 4/15 Atlanta

[adam]

From Doug Roberson at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: https://www.myajc.com/sports/who-will-atlanta-united-nycfc/LsRUpdCYcvmdeH7nPzLdkK/

Atlanta coming out in a 5-3-2, with Villabla out due to injury and Barco starting in his place. Garza comes back from injury and Gressel is playing at RWB.

Vieira will look to exploit that side all day. Tinnerholm and Medina doing overlapping turns with Robinson who's only had 1 MLS start on that side of the centerback trio.

Isn’t Garza listed as out? And most reports say Barco won’t be fit to play either.

 

[adam]

Looking over the highlights from last season when we lost 3-1 to Atlanta some things to note...

- All of Atlanta's goals came from counterattacks. Both of Almiron's goals were from cutbacks without a defender marking him or tracking his run. The Villalba goal came from not enough pressure on the wing and Chanot having to quickly push out to defend him.
- Atlanta played a 4-2-3-1
- NYCFC played a 4-3-3 with Lopez in the midfield and White at RB. We will have upgrades in both of those spots this season with Herrera not suspended and Tinnerholm or SAS in the lineup.

Looking at my post above, Atlanta is being very defensive with three CBs but expect those outside backs to bomb up the field too. I don't think Garza and Gressel are known for their defensive talents. Larentowicz doesn't make the top 5 of CDMs in my book and there should be a hole for Moralez to exploit.

Our full lineups last season: 3-1 win at home. 1-3 loss away (with Mikey in the middle). I think Isi/medina is a Huge leap over Wallace/Jack. Obv Yangel made a huge diff, mikey is a black hole of death in our midfield (glad he started over mix in the playoffs). And mata/tin is also a league above sweat/white. That’s 4-5 positions we have improved. Moreover, we have better chemistry and understanding of the system by the veteran players. I feel good.

 

[Seven]

Worth noting that we never played vs ATL with Martinez because he was injured for both games

 

[Ulrich]

Worth noting that we never played vs ATL with Martinez because he was injured for both games

That also means Martinez has never been defended by Callens & Chanot.

There's a counter point to everything.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Then don’t mention it with Sweat since Mata wouldn’t have done any better. Works both ways otherwise it’s hypocritical.

No. It doesn’t. Mata is very good 1v1. Sweat isn’t.

Get mad. Pitch a fit. Sweat still dribbled past at will.

 

[Ulrich]

No. It doesn’t. Mata is very good 1v1. Sweat isn’t.

Get mad. Pitch a fit. Sweat still dribbled past at will.

Mata is so good 1v1 that he let a diminutive right back dance past him last year in the playoffs to score the goal that ultimately put us out of the playoffs.

 

[mgarbowski]

No. It doesn’t. Mata is very good 1v1. Sweat isn’t.

Get mad. Pitch a fit. Sweat still dribbled past at will.

Mata is so good 1v1 that he let a diminutive right back dance past him last year in the playoffs to score the goal that ultimately put us out of the playoffs.

All day.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Mata is so good 1v1 that he let a diminutive right back dance past him last year in the playoffs to score the goal that ultimately put us out of the playoffs.

Okay. You can’t even be serious. No one in their right mind would believe Sweat comparable.

I don’t even think Mata is a great talent. But I don’t rate Sweat at all.

I don’t equate a few good contributions to qualifying as an objectively good player.

I don’t rate Sweat. I won’t until a whole helluva lot changes.

Sweat at his lucky best creates 5 chances per year. mata, at his best, does that in a game or two.

 

[Ulrich]

Okay. You can’t even be serious. No one in their right mind would believe Sweat comparable.

I don’t even think Mata is a great talent. But I don’t rate Sweat at all.

I don’t equate a few good contributions to qualifying as an objectively good player.

I don’t rate Sweat. I won’t until a whole helluva lot changes.

Sweat at his lucky best creates 5 chances per year. mata, at his best, does that in a game or two.

You’ve now completely changed the subject - all I originally wrote was that everybody was singing the praises of Mata without acknowledging that he got undressed on D a handful of times, and that if Sweat had done it everybody would be tearing him apart for shitty D since he’s a defender (like Mata is). And you’ve changed it to being you don’t rate Sweat so you won’t acknowledge Mata’s deficiencies on D.... but that wasn’t my original point - it was that Sweat is being held to a different standard on D than Mata. Just admit you only highlight what makes your point and ignore the parts that tear a hole in what you’re saying.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

You’ve now completely changed the subject - all I originally wrote was that everybody was singing the praises of Mata without acknowledging that he got undressed on D a handful of times, and that if Sweat had done it everybody would be tearing him apart for shitty D since he’s a defender (like Mata is). And you’ve changed it to being you don’t rate Sweat so you won’t acknowledge Mata’s deficiencies on D.... but that wasn’t my original point - it was that Sweat is being held to a different standard on D than Mata. Just admit you only highlight what makes your point and ignore the parts that tear a hole in what you’re saying.

I didn’t change it. I said there was no reason to mention it because Sweat wouldn’t have done better. You equated that to me saying they made the same overall contributions. I did not.

They are both flawed defenders. mata is actually good at soccering, though. Ergo, give me mata. The end.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

As long as Villa and Ring have a clean bill of health, the only real lineup question is what side Medina and Tajouri wind up on.

 

[Gotham Gator]

As long as Villa and Ring have a clean bill of health, the only real lineup question is what side Medina and Tajouri wind up on.

I think Matarrita vs. Sweat and Shradi vs. Wallace are reasonable questions.

 

[Kangaroo Jack]

I think Matarrita vs. Sweat and Shradi vs. Wallace are reasonable questions.

i dont think either should be questionable to be honest. But specifically Shradi vs Wallace. Shradi's production should speak for itself.

 

[Gotham Gator]

i dont think either should be questionable to be honest. But specifically Shradi vs Wallace. Shradi's production should speak for itself.

I agree that Shradi is on great form right now and is ahead of Wallace, but they bring different things. I could see Coach V favoring Wallace for his defense and pressing in a game like this where we are on the road against a strong offensive team.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

I agree that Shradi is on great form right now and is ahead of Wallace, but they bring different things. I could see Coach V favoring Wallace for his defense and pressing in a game like this where we are on the road against a strong offensive team.

I agree but Shradi has done fine pressing and brings more on offense. We aren't going to beat a team like Atlanta by bunkering. We are going to beat them by physical dominating the midfield and exploiting their questionable backline.

The fact that Shradi was subbed early with the great game he was playing is a sign that Patrick was saving him for Sunday.

 

[dummyrun]

The fact that Shradi was subbed early with the great game he was playing is a sign that Patrick was saving him for Sunday.

Probably right, but also we were up 3-0, Ring needed warmup minutes, and that sub created a low-risk chance to see Ofori play higher. I'd put Shradi/Wallace at like 65/35 to start tomorrow.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

Probably right, but also we were up 3-0, Ring needed warmup minutes, and that sub created a low-risk chance to see Ofori play higher. I'd put Shradi/Wallace at like 65/35 to start tomorrow.

Could have subbed Maxi.

 

[dummyrun]

Could have subbed Maxi.

Blasphemer.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I agree but Shradi has done fine pressing and brings more on offense. We aren't going to beat a team like Atlanta by bunkering. We are going to beat them by physical dominating the midfield and exploiting their questionable backline.

The fact that Shradi was subbed early with the great game he was playing is a sign that Patrick was saving him for Sunday.

I’m now in the Shradi should start camp, but I do think there is an argument for Wallace to start in certain matchups.

And your point is valid, but you seem to be ensinuating that we’ll be bunkering if Wallace is starting over Shradi and that’s simply not the case

 

[D_RoyJenkins]

Anyone know how many times Atlanta have played up a man at home? It feels like playing on turf is a huge advantage for them, the ball runs faster which makes it harder for defenders to adjust which leads to more fouls.