Crew Postmatch

Everybody focusing on RB when we're gonna be playing DC in the Conference Final.
Lloyd Sam with the winner in extra time at RBA to knock Red bull out of the playoffs.
That would be ironic.... but I have a feeling RB would play Sam especially tough just because.
 
The 523 we played gave up the center of the park completely. This formation was horrible vs Columbus, it will get shredded by New Jersey, and we only started scoring when we came out of it on Sunday.

Higuain and Meram looked like worldbeaters. Both of them would receive the ball in midfield and run right at that back line. (Meram must wish he plays NYCFC every week, he looks like an all star every time he plays us). Higuain was down right dealing for most of the game, although he ran himself into the ground and had to come out - right around the same time that NYCFC revved it up. I think he was subbed out right after Harrison's goal and that was it for CLB.

From about the 45th minute until CLB equalized they were dominating the 5-2-3. You do not want to let Dax and Sasha deal like CLB did. Sasha will thread that through ball and we'll all be wondering why BWP scored another one.
 
I could absolutely see us opening up in a playoff game. PV is going down with the ship/formation.
 
I just started watching it...it's only 17 minutes...

From the angle at which they shot the first goal, you can see one of my favorite Villa moves, which I hadn't realized he had done. When he is driving down the left, he has this move where he moves the ball from his left foot to his right foot like he is going to cut back, but then immediately touches back to his left foot and then plays it across. He also did this in the home opener on the Mullins goal. Its such a good piece of footwork.
 
Higuain and Meram looked like worldbeaters. Both of them would receive the ball in midfield and run right at that back line. (Meram must wish he plays NYCFC every week, he looks like an all star every time he plays us). Higuain was down right dealing for most of the game, although he ran himself into the ground and had to come out - right around the same time that NYCFC revved it up. I think he was subbed out right after Harrison's goal and that was it for CLB.

From about the 45th minute until CLB equalized they were dominating the 5-2-3. You do not want to let Dax and Sasha deal like CLB did. Sasha will thread that through ball and we'll all be wondering why BWP scored another one.
I'm loving all the discussion of this 3-4-2-1.

A few points made that I wanna respond on, but don't have the time to quote directly:

* How do we fit Pirlo and Lampard into this shape?

Lampard for Mendoza? Or Harrison?

* We gave up the middle.

I'm gonna put this down to 2 things: 1) Bravo's lack of possession ability and 2) perhaps a lack of familiarity. It takes a while to figure out both where to run and when to make that run. These things take time.

Numerically, this formation doesn't really put us at a fundamental disadvantage in the center. Specifically against Columbus's 4-2-3-1, we should have a 4 v 3 overload in the center. If anything I would have expected to get destroyed on the wings (Columbus theoretically had 2 v 1 in wide areas), rather than through the middle. I'd have to watch it play-by-play, but maybe Mendoza and Harrison both went wide in D, leaving us 2 v 3 in the center. That's easily amended though - have one of the two tucked-in forwards go wide if play goes down the side, have the other one drift into the center to give us a 3 v 3 in the center.

I'm not arguing that we didn't give up the middle, just that I can't think of a fundamental problem with the formation that would explain it. Lacking that, I'm more prone to thinking of other factors, like personnel, familiarity, run-of-play (i.e. who wanted it more based on the score), whatever.
 
I'm loving all the discussion of this 3-4-2-1.

A few points made that I wanna respond on, but don't have the time to quote directly:

* How do we fit Pirlo and Lampard into this shape?

Lampard for Mendoza? Or Harrison?

* We gave up the middle.

I'm gonna put this down to 2 things: 1) Bravo's lack of possession ability and 2) perhaps a lack of familiarity. It takes a while to figure out both where to run and when to make that run. These things take time.

Numerically, this formation doesn't really put us at a fundamental disadvantage in the center. Specifically against Columbus's 4-2-3-1, we should have a 4 v 3 overload in the center. If anything I would have expected to get destroyed on the wings (Columbus theoretically had 2 v 1 in wide areas), rather than through the middle. I'd have to watch it play-by-play, but maybe Mendoza and Harrison both went wide in D, leaving us 2 v 3 in the center. That's easily amended though - have one of the two tucked-in forwards go wide if play goes down the side, have the other one drift into the center to give us a 3 v 3 in the center.

I'm not arguing that we didn't give up the middle, just that I can't think of a fundamental problem with the formation that would explain it. Lacking that, I'm more prone to thinking of other factors, like personnel, familiarity, run-of-play (i.e. who wanted it more based on the score), whatever.
Can't replace Mendoza with Lampard - fundamentally that offense relies on three super fast and technical guys to break on every counter. Lampard would stall the break. I think if he doesn't take Bravo's spot, then Lamprd/Pirlo are an either/or situation.
 
Can't replace Mendoza with Lampard - fundamentally that offense relies on three super fast and technical guys to break on every counter. Lampard would stall the break. I think if he doesn't take Bravo's spot, then Lamprd/Pirlo are an either/or situation.
That's fair. I was going to say that maybe we play Lampard for Bravo and Iraola steps a little higher to be a true CDM but at that point we have the 4-3-3 again.
 
I love RJ, but imagine that formation we just played with Mata and Afful as the wingbacks....

giphy.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kjbert
(That said, anyone else think Pirlo was absolutely shocking today? We looked miles better after he came off)


He looked very flat. Almost appeared a bit heavier but it could be the kits they wore. Our opponents speed and the mini Yankee Stadium pitch are not a good fit for Pirlo.

Pirlo as earned the right to have a bad match. He played a huge part in this seasons success. Hopefully he will come back strong in the next match.
 
Can't replace Mendoza with Lampard - fundamentally that offense relies on three super fast and technical guys to break on every counter. Lampard would stall the break. I think if he doesn't take Bravo's spot, then Lamprd/Pirlo are an either/or situation.
I think that's what we'll get if we play RBNJ in plAyoffs.
 
In two years, this game was the first time I clearly heard the chant from 136.

Also, did they just give out empty buckets? Or did they actually give chicken/fry filled buckets?

The chant after we scored the third goal was massive. I couldn't believe my ears and it was beautiful to hear. Can't help but love that kind of atmosphere.

And yes. The buckets were REAL and FILLED. They passed a bucket to my row and I just took a few fries since I had already ate a cheese steak.

Speaking of food, they should really do that again during the playoffs. NYCFC intern, please read this. :)
 
The chant after we scored the third goal was massive. I couldn't believe my ears and it was beautiful to hear. Can't help but love that kind of atmosphere.

And yes. The buckets were REAL and FILLED. They passed a bucket to my row and I just took a few fries since I had already ate a cheese steak.

Speaking of food, they should really do that again during the playoffs. NYCFC intern, please read this. :)

Ok, this goes out to everyone in section 103. We are starting a SCOTCH & STEAK chant!!!! This begins next match and continues till we get ours!