New England - Postmatch

[Taurus]

Happy to pull out the point in this match. Almost feels like a win they way it was played. We would not have had the same persistence last season. Good to see.

With Ismael being our top goal scorer, is that enough to see him earn the start next match? It is for me.

Berget. Definitely did not get enough service but in my eyes, he looks like the back-up role. Which is ok when Villa is not available. I can't imagine him playing on the wing. He might be the slowest player on the team. Maybe it's me, but he looks a bit clumsy and just because he is tall, I would still expect him to have better feet.

Maybe not a top priority, but it would be fun to pick up a LB in the summer that can get beat out Mata and Sweat for the starting position.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

he looks a bit clumsy

Brave, that.

Damnit .meant to be quoting Taurus

 

[Seven]

https://twitter.com/x/status/977659867510050817

Ben Baer said that it is the most since 2010, and that the previous high was 56

 

[Sabo]

Credit to the Revs for pulling off the high press effectively. The first half was like watching 2015 NYCFC without anybody hoofing the ball long to Villa. A ton of meaningless possession and very few opportunities in attack.

I am confident Ofori will get better in his role and pass the ball upfield during the next month.

Berget barely touched the ball, but looked like the backup we wanted Okoli to be last year when he did. His holdup play looked good. Hopefully he can shoot when he gets the chance.

It was interesting that SAS and Shelton both started and played 90 yesterday with an assist in 2-2 ties.

I watched a bunch of games yesterday and the East looks so much better than the West

 

[Vallos]

 

[Gotham Gator]

I too thought SAS was impressive offensively, but had a poor day on defense. He was beaten on the cross for NE’s second goal, and beaten earlier on a shot off the post. I think his positioning yesterday was off - he was conceding way too much space and when New England switched the point of attack, he was scrambling to keep up instead of being able to immediately engage with his man.

On the positive side, his offensive contributions were strong. That cut back pass showed so much - the athleticism to get to the end line and the skill to place the pass so well. Most impressively, he showed really strong tactical awareness to ignore the player in the box who was waiting for the cross but was marked - and instead to anticipate Shradi’s run and put it on a platter for him.

Also, this is just one game, and defensively he was a lot better against Orlando.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Another thing worth pointing out is that we have guys still really playing their way into form and onto the team.

Ofori hasn’t played significant minutes in a meaningful game in almost a year. SAS did not get a lot of time last season. Berget is coming off a knock and looked gassed for much of the second half. And all those guys are working their way into a new team.

Side note: I honestly thought Berget would be slower. He was in a foot race for a ball in the second half, and while he didn’t get there first, it was a close finish against a guy who had decent pace.

 

[mgarbowski]

I think he has contributed to some good outcomes going forward.

I also think RJ Allen has played the best pass in the history of the club.

Point being, I don’t always equate positive outcomes to overall positive performances.

That pass in Portland might be my favorite goal this team has ever scored -- so damn pretty, and I still have absolutely no idea how he curled that thing in there like that.

I was never very good at hitting a baseball as a kid: middling at best. I definitely liked the ball up and out, where I could see it and extend my arms. But this one time when I was 11 or 12 I was hitting and a pitch was coming in low and inside. This one time, I saw everything both in slow motion and ahead of time. I knew, even while the pitch was still coming that I would turn my hips and hit a low line drive, sort of a long ground ball, right down the third base line, right where the pitch wanted to be hit. I could see it would get by everyone and I would probably get a triple even on a ball to left. Then I did exactly that. It was perfect. Never figured out what was different about that pitch and why it was so easy for me just that one time.
That’s how I figure RJ feels about that pass.

 

[Ulrich]

Thoughts on Berget....

He played CF in a three man front line, and in that formation the wings play both defense and spread the field on offense. This doesn’t seem to play to Berget’s strengths of being physical in the air (a ton of good flicks) and strong with hold up. The 3-man front needs a fast forward that can make space and run into it; Berget is neither of these.

What seems most suited to his skill set is playing a 2-forward front line of either a 442 or a 352. Having another forward close to him, really a striker, that can work tight spaces and receive close flicks is how we may be able to get the most from Berget. Let him and Villa play off each other with outside Mids/Defenders filling the corners on runs forward to provide the crosses. It was painful to watch Berget have to chase the ball in the corner space or close down with the high press, those just aren’t his game. But give him close-quarters support, and he can dish and run into space. Maybe even try a 4321 or 3421 with Villa and Medina under him where they can take the flicks and give/goes and Sweat/Tinny bomb forward to provide crosses. But as a 433, just doesn’t seem right.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

Thoughts on Berget....

He played CF in a three man front line, and in that formation the wings play both defense and spread the field on offense. This doesn’t seem to play to Berget’s strengths of being physical in the air (a ton of good flicks) and strong with hold up. The 3-man front needs a fast forward that can make space and run into it; Berget is neither of these.

What seems most suited to his skill set is playing a 2-forward front line of either a 442 or a 352. Having another forward close to him, really a striker, that can work tight spaces and receive close flicks is how we may be able to get the most from Berget. Let him and Villa play off each other with outside Mids/Defenders filling the corners on runs forward to provide the crosses. It was painful to watch Berget have to chase the ball in the corner space or close down with the high press, those just aren’t his game. But give him close-quarters support, and he can dish and run into space. Maybe even try a 4321 or 3421 with Villa and Medina under him where they can take the flicks and give/goes and Sweat/Tinny bomb forward to provide crosses. But as a 433, just doesn’t seem right.

I don't know if a big formation change is really needed. Teams play a 433 with a target forward all the time. Maxi had to retreat back into the defensive third alot more with Ofori at holding midfield than Ring. If he doesn't have to do that he can play forward more and act as that connector. The fullbacks can play up the sideline more, which mean the wings can move inside.

I do agree that he gives us some flexibility to play 2 striker formations, but we can make the 433 work with him too. 4231 might have been better yesterday playing Maxi more forward.

 

[Christopher Jee]

Thoughts on Berget....

He played CF in a three man front line, and in that formation the wings play both defense and spread the field on offense. This doesn’t seem to play to Berget’s strengths of being physical in the air (a ton of good flicks) and strong with hold up. The 3-man front needs a fast forward that can make space and run into it; Berget is neither of these.

What seems most suited to his skill set is playing a 2-forward front line of either a 442 or a 352. Having another forward close to him, really a striker, that can work tight spaces and receive close flicks is how we may be able to get the most from Berget. Let him and Villa play off each other with outside Mids/Defenders filling the corners on runs forward to provide the crosses. It was painful to watch Berget have to chase the ball in the corner space or close down with the high press, those just aren’t his game. But give him close-quarters support, and he can dish and run into space. Maybe even try a 4321 or 3421 with Villa and Medina under him where they can take the flicks and give/goes and Sweat/Tinny bomb forward to provide crosses. But as a 433, just doesn’t seem right.

It's not inherent to a 4-3-3 that we don't see a lot of crosses and our wingers are far from our striker. It's a function of our inability to hold the ball long enough or to transition fast enough, or both. There are plenty of 4-3-3 sides who bombard the boxes with crosses. They usually come from overlapping full backs. But it full backs can't overlap with confidence if they think we might lose the ball and they'll get exposed.

 

[canchon]

I was never very good at hitting a baseball as a kid: middling at best. I definitely liked the ball up and out, where I could see it and extend my arms. But this one time when I was 11 or 12 I was hitting and a pitch was coming in low and inside. This one time, I saw everything both in slow motion and ahead of time. I knew, even while the pitch was still coming that I would turn my hips and hit a low line drive, sort of a long ground ball, right down the third base line, right where the pitch wanted to be hit. I could see it would get by everyone and I would probably get a triple even on a ball to left. Then I did exactly that. It was perfect. Never figured out what was different about that pitch and why it was so easy for me just that one time.
That’s how I figure RJ feels about that pass.

Alex Muyl hit his “RJ Allen” pass last night to BWP.

 

[Christopher Jee]

I was never very good at hitting a baseball as a kid: middling at best. I definitely liked the ball up and out, where I could see it and extend my arms. But this one time when I was 11 or 12 I was hitting and a pitch was coming in low and inside. This one time, I saw everything both in slow motion and ahead of time. I knew, even while the pitch was still coming that I would turn my hips and hit a low line drive, sort of a long ground ball, right down the third base line, right where the pitch wanted to be hit. I could see it would get by everyone and I would probably get a triple even on a ball to left. Then I did exactly that. It was perfect. Never figured out what was different about that pitch and why it was so easy for me just that one time.
That’s how I figure RJ feels about that pass.

This was quite beautiful. I hope everyone has one or two of these moments in their sporting histories.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I was never very good at hitting a baseball as a kid: middling at best. I definitely liked the ball up and out, where I could see it and extend my arms. But this one time when I was 11 or 12 I was hitting and a pitch was coming in low and inside. This one time, I saw everything both in slow motion and ahead of time. I knew, even while the pitch was still coming that I would turn my hips and hit a low line drive, sort of a long ground ball, right down the third base line, right where the pitch wanted to be hit. I could see it would get by everyone and I would probably get a triple even on a ball to left. Then I did exactly that. It was perfect. Never figured out what was different about that pitch and why it was so easy for me just that one time.
That’s how I figure RJ feels about that pass.

Muyl RJ’ed one for BWP’s second last night.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Alex Muyl hit his “RJ Allen” pass last night to BWP.

My bad. Ugh. Sorry.

 

[Christopher Jee]

Solid tactical analysis that was posted on r/nycfc: https://tacticsplatform.com/2018/03/25/new-york-citys-complicated-tactics-almost-cost-them-a-game/.

I guess it's still surprising to me that even though Herrera and Ofori may have been instructed to play as a double pivot, they still played so flat. I mean it's called a double pivot because it's supposed to pivot. One goes back the other goes forward. Switch. :Shrug:

 

[gbservis]

Solid tactical analysis that was posted on r/nycfc: https://tacticsplatform.com/2018/03/25/new-york-citys-complicated-tactics-almost-cost-them-a-game/.

I guess it's still surprising to me that even though Herrera and Ofori may have been instructed to play as a double pivot, they still played so flat. I mean it's called a double pivot because it's supposed to pivot. One goes back the other goes forward. Switch. :Shrug:

It's also strange when two professional players don't understand how to move in a reasonably common tactical arrangement. I think it essentially broke because Ofori started the game nervous and played very conservative, as you said he never pivoted. He seemed to settle in by the second half. I'm willing to write it off as first start jitters.

 

[dummyrun]

It's not inherent to a 4-3-3 that we don't see a lot of crosses and our wingers are far from our striker. It's a function of our inability to hold the ball long enough or to transition fast enough, or both. There are plenty of 4-3-3 sides who bombard the boxes with crosses. They usually come from overlapping full backs. But it full backs can't overlap with confidence if they think we might lose the ball and they'll get exposed.

You and Ulrich are both right but you're talking about different phases of the game.

Ulrich is right that Berget showed surprisingly good holdup play yesterday during the middle phase of the buildup, which would have been more effective if he'd had high narrow wingers or a second striker nearby.

You're right that we've struggled all season to work our way into an attacking set where fullbacks can overlap the wingers and provide wide service.

But the second problem isn't really related to the first, since the skillset we'd need from Berget if we ever managed to control the ball in the attacking third would be different from the one we needed from him yesterday, when we were struggling just to get out of our own half.

 

[mgarbowski]

Muyl RJ’ed one for BWP’s second last night.

That was like a curve that starts behind your head and then ends up splitting the plate.

 

[Christopher Jee]

You and Ulrich are both right but you're talking about different phases of the game.

Ulrich is right that Berget showed surprisingly good holdup play yesterday during the middle phase of the buildup, which would have been more effective if he'd had high narrow wingers or a second striker nearby.

You're right that we've struggled all season to work our way into an attacking set where fullbacks can overlap the wingers and provide wide service.

But the second problem isn't really related to the first, since the skillset we'd need from Berget if we ever managed to control the ball in the attacking third would be different from the one we needed from him yesterday, when we were struggling just to get out of our own half.

You're right, I really misread that. My b Ulrich