Home - 7/14 Columbus

[LionNYC]

New York City FC vs Columbus Crew
Yankee Stadium
Saturday, July 14 7 PM ET
YES, WNYE 91.5 FM, WADO 1280 AM

NYCFC look to make it 9 points in 7 days, following back to back wins 1-0 vs. New Jersey and 3-0 vs. Montreal at home.

New York City v Columbus Crew
Yankee Stadium (7PM ET)
REF: Armando Villarreal
AR1: Richard Gamache
AR2: Jeffrey Greeson
4TH: Nima Saghafi
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez

Villarreal refereed our 2-1 win at San Jose in March 2018. 6 yellow cards were issued in that match. 5 for NYCFC and 1 for San Jose. 0 reds. 0 penalties. Nothing that I recall as blatantly wrong or anything egregious.

In 2017, he referred out 3-1 win vs. Minnesota. 4 YC (2 each). 0 RC. 0 Penalties. 3-1 loss at Atlanta. 5 YC (3-ATL; 2-NYC). 0 RC. 0 Penalties.

 

[The Toe]

First game I'll have missed since Lamps' hat trick vs. Colorado. Pls win. (Forecast is 80 at kickoff and some clouds)

 

[LionNYC]

We know Columbus is a well managed team and has a talented roster on paper. They also knocked us out of the playoffs last year. But they aren't on form right now at all. They've lost three of four and only won one in the past six.

They average 0.3 goals scored away from home, having scored 1 goal once and 2 goals once and 7 games without a goal. On the goal scoring front, they only have two multi-goal scorers. Zardes has 11 this season and Higuain has 4.

However, they have a stingy defense. They 0.9 goals conceded away from home, having given up 4+ goals once, 2 goals once, 1 goal twice, and 5 clean sheets. Jonathan Mensah, their starting CB, is questionable with a concussion.

Here are Dylan Butler's Projected 11s...
https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/m...-new-york-city-fc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/preview

NYCFC
Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Sean Johnson — Anton Tinnerholm, Sebastian Ibeagha, Alex Callens, Ben Sweat — Alex Ring, Ebenezer Ofori, Maxi Moralez — Jesus Medina, Tommy McNamara, Ronald Matarrita

Columbus
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Zack Steffen — Harrison Afful, Josh Williams, Lalas Abubakar, Milton Valenzuela — Wil Trapp, Artur — Pedro Santos, Federico Higuain, Mike Grella — Gyasi Zardes

 

[Gotham Gator]

So, if Villa is available tomorrow night, do you play him? Or do you just let him sit out and get an extended rest since we don't play for another 11 days?

Original estimate was 1-2 weeks. Tomorrow night will be 3.

 

[Shwafta]

I would think he would get some minutes towards the end if we're winning. He needs some match fitness, or else the 11 days will not do much good, I would think.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

So, if Villa is available tomorrow night, do you play him? Or do you just let him sit out and get an extended rest since we don't play for another 11 days?

Original estimate was 1-2 weeks. Tomorrow night will be 3.

You play him if available. Just have J-Lew ready to come in.

 

[SoupInNYC]

We know Columbus is a well managed team and has a talented roster on paper. They also knocked us out of the playoffs last year. But they aren't on form right now at all. They've lost three of four and only won one in the past six.

They average 0.3 goals scored away from home, having scored 1 goal once and 2 goals once and 7 games without a goal. On the goal scoring front, they only have two multi-goal scorers. Zardes has 11 this season and Higuain has 4.

However, they have a stingy defense. They 0.9 goals conceded away from home, having given up 4+ goals once, 2 goals once, 1 goal twice, and 5 clean sheets. Jonathan Mensah, their starting CB, is questionable with a concussion.

Here are Dylan Butler's Projected 11s...
https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/m...-new-york-city-fc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/preview

NYCFC
Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Sean Johnson — Anton Tinnerholm, Sebastian Ibeagha, Alex Callens, Ben Sweat — Alex Ring, Ebenezer Ofori, Maxi Moralez — Jesus Medina, Tommy McNamara, Ronald Matarrita

Columbus
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Zack Steffen — Harrison Afful, Josh Williams, Lalas Abubakar, Milton Valenzuela — Wil Trapp, Artur — Pedro Santos, Federico Higuain, Mike Grella — Gyasi Zardes

Would be great if Mensah is not available and they have to start Josh Williams.

Also, it's amazing to me how incredibly ridiculous these projected lineups can be from the matchcenter. I would give it a 0.001% chance that our starting front 3 is Medina, TMac, and Mata.

Edited to fix my incredibly terrible spelling above (after I noticed my quote in Rox's post)

 

[roxfontaine]

I would give it a 0.001% chance that are starting front 3 is Medina, TMac, and Mata.

The only one questionable for me is Mata. It could certainly happen though. As a matter of fact, I think I'd like to see it.

 

[LionNYC]

Would be great if Mensah is not available and they have to start Josh Williams.

Also, it's amazing to me how incredibly ridiculous these projected lineups can be from the matchcenter. I would give it a 0.001% chance that our starting front 3 is Medina, TMac, and Mata.

Edited to fix my incredibly terrible spelling above (after I noticed my quote in Rox's post)

I don't think it's that crazy to be honest. Have TMac do whatever he can to tire the defenders then get Lewis onto the field.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I don't think it's that crazy to be honest. Have TMac do whatever he can to tire the defenders then get Lewis onto the field.

I don't see TMac matching up well against the athletic back line of Columbus. This is a much different back 4 (along with the DMids) than what Montreal had.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Would be great if Mensah is not available and they have to start Josh Williams.

Also, it's amazing to me how incredibly ridiculous these projected lineups can be from the matchcenter. I would give it a 0.001% chance that our starting front 3 is Medina, TMac, and Mata.

Edited to fix my incredibly terrible spelling above (after I noticed my quote in Rox's post)

Yeah. Dylan is usually reasonably reliable, but these lineups look like he picked them out of a Scrabble bag.

 

[Seven]

I also don’t see TMac starting 3 days after he started vs Montreal. Just don’t think he can be that match fit considering he hasn’t played much this year

 

[Kjbert]

I don't think it's that crazy to be honest. Have TMac do whatever he can to tire the defenders then get Lewis onto the field.

You're kidding

 

[Kjbert]

If you're going to play him, why not play him as the False 9. He just stands around in the middle of the field anyway.

 

[Schwallacus]

If you're going to play him, why not play him as the False 9. He just stands around in the middle of the field anyway.

Make him into a shittier version of Mario Gomez. If only TMac was a few inches taller, he'd be the perfect (lazy) we need a fucking goal 85th minute sub style striker.

 

[Kjbert]

Here's the other thing - McNamara still has a rocket right foot. If you have to use him, put him in a position to be useful

 

[The Toe]

Dome has his work cut out for him, and I really hope that he emphasizes getting a goal in the first half. Dragging this game out and risking some beat-down legs late in the game needing a goal will suck. If we can get on the board early, I think that'd be enough.

 

[canchon]

Dome has his work cut out for him, and I really hope that he emphasizes getting a goal in the first half. Dragging this game out and risking some beat-down legs late in the game needing a goal will suck. If we can get on the board early, I think that'd be enough.

Yeah, given the depleted roster and 3 games in seven days you don’t want to be chasing this one. That said, one goal might be enough. CLB’s goal scorers this year are Zardes with 11, Higuain with 4, and no one else has more than 1. For comparison, I believe NYCFC is Villa with 8, ITS with 8, and Maxi with 7 and going down from there.

The key here is not to let Trapp and Artur start to dictate the rhythm of the game and give Higuain space and time to deal.

I’m still pissed at how the team blew the first leg in CLB last year. It was a classic case of not matching intensity - the whole moving the team came out the week before and there was a huge rally on “save the crew”, and the crew literally blew their wad that day, scoring four goals. CLB would then not score another goal in their following three playoff games before being eliminated. Yeesh.

A full strength team at home should dispatch the crew, but given the short week, the numerous injuries and depleted roster, it’s going to be a tough fight.

 

[Seven]

Let’s just make sure Callens keeps his elbows down

 

[mgarbowski]

So, if Villa is available tomorrow night, do you play him? Or do you just let him sit out and get an extended rest since we don't play for another 11 days?

Original estimate was 1-2 weeks. Tomorrow night will be 3.

Has anyone seen a report whether Villa practiced with the team yesterday or today? He was training onsite but by himself Monday or Tuesday, I forget which. Given that, I doubt he is ready for 90. I can see him available as a sub, if he trained with the team after Wednesday, and I see no reason not to use him if he is available.

Also, per Butler's twitter, Berget was upgraded to "Questionable."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1017803379194650625

I doubt he plays, but this should mean he is progressing well.