Orlando Postmatch

[canchon]

I'm back boys, did you miss me?

Snark aside, I've got to give some credit to Lopez, he played a controlled game, didn't make any major mistakes (and not even a yellow card). It's as if PV told him to just make the simple pass and let the other players take it from there and he did. I've been very critical of him in the past...he had a good game. Definitely fits more in this MF than Tommy Mac.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

(and not even a yellow card).

 

[gbservis]

I wasn't able to watch the game, but how did RJ Allen when he subbed in for White? The only memorable play on the condensed game was Villas last goal where he made the interception and tapped the ball forward to villa to start the break.

Lopez was invisible on the condensed game besides the yellow card, but it probably a good thing. How did the midfield look defensive/pressing wise? Maxi looked great again.

RJ looked like RJ, although I'd say he went forward a bit less than normal, assuming that was part of the instructions since he was trying to fill the White spot. I didn't spot any major defensive issues although there were a two crosses Orlando players got their heads to that may not have happened with the taller White in the game.

I think the main challenge with RJ is that he lacks elite speed and defensive footwork/positioning. He makes up for it with chips and shoves and holds. Last night the ref let most of it go but with his play style his effectiveness is dictated by how tightly the ref is going to call the game. If you wanted you could probably call a foul on RJ every play he marks a guy with the ball.

With regards to your midfield question I thought the high press looked great and was a big reason we won. Ring and Maxi were great, Lopez closed spaces and stayed were he was supposed to. Wallace was a wrecking ball as usual and the back line is getting really good at moving forward together consistently to compress the midfield in the way PV wants. Balls over the top don't hurt us because Callens and Chanot are both considerably faster than any other CBs in our teams history and Johnson knows when to come off his line and is quick in doing so.

Only issues that stood out to me were Sweat getting exposed defensively a few times for the second game in a row and a quiet offensive night from Harrison with a few camera shots of him with the English man struggling in hot weather look on his face. Although I do think he worked very hard on D and that he was just gassed from that.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

By the way, for Jason Kreis, this is what domination looks like:

 

[sbrylski]

He's going to try one of these every game, isn't he? David Villa really wants to win Goal of the Week.

View attachment 7037

I don't think he was shooting there actually. Larin had been laying on the ground for almost a full minute, I think Villa was clearing it deep to allow stoppage of play. But as he kicked it, Larin got up. Villa immediately started barking at the ref, I think that's why.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

RJ looked like RJ, although I'd say he went forward a bit less than normal, assuming that was part of the instructions since he was trying to fill the White spot. I didn't spot any major defensive issues although there were a two crosses Orlando players got their heads to that may not have happened with the taller White in the game.

I think the main challenge with RJ is that he lacks elite speed and defensive footwork/positioning. He makes up for it with chips and shoves and holds. Last night the ref let most of it go but with his play style his effectiveness is dictated by how tightly the ref is going to call the game. If you wanted you could probably call a foul on RJ every play he marks a guy with the ball.

With regards to your midfield question I thought the high press looked great and was a big reason we won. Ring and Maxi were great, Lopez closed spaces and stayed were he was supposed to. Wallace was a wrecking ball as usual and the back line is getting really good at moving forward together consistently to compress the midfield in the way PV wants. Balls over the top don't hurt us because Callens and Chanot are both considerably faster than any other CBs in our teams history and Johnson knows when to come off his line and is quick in doing so.

Only issues that stood out to me were Sweat getting exposed defensively a few times for the second game in a row and a quiet offensive night from Harrison with a few camera shots of him with the English man struggling in hot weather look on his face. Although I do think he worked very hard on D and that he was just gassed from that.

Thanks for the detailed response. Ring played the middle?

 

[mgarbowski]

Moving this over from the wrong thread:

I don't think he was shooting there actually. Larin had been laying on the ground for almost a full minute, I think Villa was clearing it deep to allow stoppage of play. But as he kicked it, Larin got up. Villa immediately started barking at the ref, I think that's why.

Yes. An Orlando player was on the ground --I don't know if it was Larin but no reason to doubt it either -- and Orlando had the ball in our end and obviously didn't want to stop play so the ref let it go. Then we got the ball and it came to Villa and he sent it on the ground at goal from our side of the field. I thought he was half kicking it out of play but forcing Orlando to do it.

 

[Rimil]

He's going to try one of these every game, isn't he? David Villa really wants to win Goal of the Week.

View attachment 7037

I think he's just padding his fantasy stats. Every 4 shots = 1 pt; his sub was coming soon and he has to get that point.

 

[canchon]

View attachment 7039

He was so invisible I forgot the yellow card!

 

[LionNYC]

First penalty kick attempt of the season for NYCFC. And we're 1 for 1. Only SJ and SKC haven't attempted a penalty.

First penalty kick allowed of the season for NYCFC. And we're 1 for 1. The English mentality of taking penalties has inflicted the Queen's colonies. Canadians can't score them.

 

[gbservis]

Thanks for the detailed response. Ring played the middle?

Yeah, I'd say Ring played the 6. Maxi roamed very effectively and Mikey went box to about 10 yards above Orlando's box breaking forward to help with the press but not really on offense. I actually don't recall Mikey ever making an offensive run. It worked well and allowed Maxi to fully join the attack and focus on link up with Villa and the wings while knowing he had solid midfield coverage behind him.

In the second half Orlando tried to key in on Maxi and Ring to disrupt our link up play and a couple of time Callen's responded by bypassing both of them an dribbling the ball through the midfield himself until he was across midfield and close enough to distribute to the forwards himself. Ring dropped in to cover him and Mikey slid over to cover the middle, it worked perfectly.

JK's plan was to press and press hard and we broke it easily, you can tell the players are getting very comfortable executing the system. JK even took Kaka and Nocerino off early in the second half in favor of more speed I assumed to help with the press and it did nothing. The Nocerino sub was a bit strange as I thought he was having a decent game.

 

[Ulrich]

I said before the match that I would've bet money there was a Players-only meeting. From the total level of effort, I still believe it. That was such a thorough ass-kicking with the second half looking like practice with traffic cones. If a ref would ever protect our players from defenders hacking them, we'd run up the score every game (provided we have the best 11 out there: I.e. w/ speed to defend and press)

 

[Gotham Gator]

View attachment 7039

The most interesting thing about this is how long it took for Pereira to get a yellow card. He had 2 borderline yellows on Villa in the first ten minutes.

I will say I thought Geiger did a pretty good job this game. People like to criticize him, so only fair to be kind when he performs well. I would have liked a couple more cards on Orlando given how persistent they were in fouling, but Geiger didn't swallow his whistle either. Both penalties were good calls. I do think the Orlando player dived a bit on ours, but Sweat put two hands on him, and it's hard to get the benefit of the doubt when that happens.

 

[Gotham Gator]

One thing I take away from this game is that it confirms how very well we can play when the right people are on the field and everyone is playing hard. When you look at our games against DC, Philly, Atlanta and this one, you see a team that is dominant. We are playing the way we want, controlling the tempo, and creating many chances. I would even add the first two games to that list as well - where only poor finishing prevented better outcomes.

I think we are a lot more comfortable playing short passes to get through a crowded defense than at any point last season. The players are effective and confident with that approach. Plus, when we play the ball backwards this year, it is often for a good reason, and not just because a guy has run out of choices. Often, the play back to the defense or goalie is to help move defenders around and open up space.

It's really been beautiful to watch at times.

 

[adam]

By the way, for Jason Kreis, this is what domination looks like:

View attachment 7040

Don't you know that's how we dominated the league in 2015!

 

[gbservis]

I said before the match that I would've bet money there was a Players-only meeting. From the total level of effort, I still believe it. That was such a thorough ass-kicking with the second half looking like practice with traffic cones. If a ref would ever protect our players from defenders hacking them, we'd run up the score every game (provided we have the best 11 out there: I.e. w/ speed to defend and press)

On the flip side though if RJ starts and a ref is providing protections from hacking we are going to be playing with 10 men in about 5 min.

The most interesting thing about this is how long it took for Pereira to get a yellow card. He had 2 borderline yellows on Villa in the first ten minutes.

I will say I thought Geiger did a pretty good job this game. People like to criticize him, so only fair to be kind when he performs well. I would have liked a couple more cards on Orlando given how persistent they were in fouling, but Geiger didn't swallow his whistle either. Both penalties were good calls. I do think the Orlando player dived a bit on ours, but Sweat put two hands on him, and it's hard to get the benefit of the doubt when that happens.

I agree it was a decent game for Geiger, he let a lot of stuff go but it was consistent in both directions so I'll take it. It was nice to see Ring allowed to play with a bit of the bite I enjoy in his game without the constant whistles. There's been a couple of games where I felt Ring was making very strong, technical and legal challenges but since he comes in so hard and maybe because he's a new unknown player to the refs he was getting whistled way more often than warranted.

 

[Ulrich]

I'll add that in addition to Ring's great positioning and defense, he is a hell of a technical player. He's got acute awareness around him and he's able to shift the balls direction quite easily when dribbling through people..... if only he could shoot on net....

 

[Keith Putnam]

By the way, for Jason Kreis, this is what domination looks like:

View attachment 7040

Tifo for the next ORL match?

ORLANDO CITY: TEAM HAS NO SIGNIFICANT STRENGTHS

 

[Kjbert]

In this league, you are only as good as your 3rd CB, 5th MF and 2nd ST. Injuries happen. People go on international duty. There are midweek games and 3.500 mile road trips.

McNamara will be sold because he will return value above and beyond his value here. Matarrita will be sold for the same reason. GAM and TAM is a necessity for how we need to build right now with no Academy players to bring through.

Guys like Lopez, McNamara, Sterzer, Brillant, Sweat and Okoli are important cogs. This is why I am concerned that we haven't seen a real opportunity for Lewis or Awuah yet.

 

[Seven]

Someone is in a good mood on the plane...