San Jose Postmatch

[NYCFC_Dan]

Not our best game but we got the W and closed it out (though a bit scary at times).

Highlights

Jack 1-1

https://twitter.com/x/status/848242217722535938

https://twitter.com/x/status/848238622239313921

Mac 2-1 (after I complained about the sub for 5 minutes)

https://twitter.com/x/status/848257806553763840

This Guy

https://twitter.com/x/status/848247681759801344

Pirlo had some amazing passes today but damn is he pissing me off. First goal was largely on him.

Whose your MOTM? 2 votes allowed

Also, we looked like the team of our first two years when we went ahead AND up a man. Not through any fault of the players, has to be PV's decision to switch off and park the bus, what's the logic in that when you're bossing the game? We have up more chances playing defensive football (not our thing) than we did taking it to them.

 

[Seven]

Chanot is such a boss in the back. Had a great game.

Both goals we scored were beauties.

Still don't understand the decision to bunker when we are up a man. It was like we didn't want possession. A couple of times guys had space to dribble with the ball, or maybe make a pass, and instead they just booted it up field to the SJ center backs.

 

[NYCFC_Dan]

Chanot is such a boss in the back. Had a great game.

Both goals we scored were beauties.

Still don't understand the decision to bunker when we are up a man. It was like we didn't want possession. A couple of times guys had space to dribble with the ball, or maybe make a pass, and instead they just booted it up field to the SJ center backs.

Yeah, we didn't even play counter attack football. That was just park the bus and boot it out football.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Chanot is such a boss in the back. Had a great game.

Both goals we scored were beauties.

Still don't understand the decision to bunker when we are up a man. It was like we didn't want possession. A couple of times guys had space to dribble with the ball, or maybe make a pass, and instead they just booted it up field to the SJ center backs.

Agree with everything said above.

Very happy with the win but the team's play after the red card was bizarre—we completely abandoned our strengths right at the time when it became even easier to leverage them, in favour of giving SJ chance after chance after chance to launch balls in to our box or pelt our goal.

If not for Johnson, Chanot (my MOTM), and Callens we would have likely drawn on the reaction alone.

We did a lot right today, though it wasn't our best match, but the lack of self belief and the fear of making a mistake at the end has to be addressed (and soon). When we get in those positions we need to have the confidence and belief to run the other team ragged and put them to the sword, not lump it forward in the hope that we can then lump it forward again enough times in succession to see out our slender lead.

 

[dannd23]

Saw the last 25 minutes and some highlights. I think this was Jack's best game not just because he scored, but he absolutely was killing defenders.

Mata deserves a shout IMO. Had some very good passes today, including the one to Villa which set up Jack's goal.

I said in the chat pre-game Chanot might be a top 3 CB in MLS. If he keeps it up, he might be the best.

 

[Annagram]

Pirlo was a liability, but once he went off and Ring dropped one step deeper, it all went off the rails. Ring couldn't play because one rash tackle could have meant a second yellow for him. He should have been replaced by Herrera. Ironically, taking Pirlo off took all aggression out of the team's play.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

We didn't look worse after the first sub. In fact, much better.

Second sub was insanity. Why pull a midfielder for a center back? You give up midfield in a stroke, and fuck up your CB pairing. Herrera was the move there.

At least now I know why white keeps playing. Vieira doesn't want pirlo to be the worst player on the field.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Pirlo was a liability, but once he went off and Ring dropped one step deeper, it all went off the rails. Ring couldn't play because one rash tackle could have meant a second yellow for him. He should have been replaced by Herrera. Ironically, taking Pirlo off took all aggression out of the team's play.

That and the fullbacks dropping ever deeper, meaning there was no out ball much of the time.

And even when there was room to dribble out or an easy pass to the wings for a run to midfield for the return ball to ease pressure everyone just booted it forward.

I agree Herrera should have come on for Ring and Pirlo replaced by Shelton, with Maxi staying on to take Pirlo's role.

Trust in our system, not abandon it.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Looking at the results/highlights elsewhere, I do take solace in the fact that we were the only decent match played thus far this round.

And our second goal should be Goal of the Week.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Chanot and Callens were both brilliant. Can't say enough about their defending, passing, positioning, anything really. Just really strong games out of those guys.

I thought Pirlo was good from my view, but I missed the first goal due to a hot chocolate spill. About the only thing I could see was that there wasn't a whole lot defending going on by anyone. Kid of just assumed it was Mata. He was actually not very good until he created the 2nd goal - which does cover a lot of errors.

They gave the in stadium MOTM to tmac. I disagree. Not sure who other than the CBs, but Wallace was again huge. And Moralez is just so good with his touches and one-touch game. Villa was a great facilitator today, too.

Really solid game. We easily could have had 3-4 in the first half. At this point in time, I'm not going to be overly harsh on anyone when we take all 3. This is one of the rare NYC/LFC co-match days that have turned out well for me, so I'm low on cynicism to hand out.

Except the subs. Didn't like them - but Tommy got a goal. But the others were not my favorite. Feel like we invited too much pressure.

And the ref. He was stupid and pitiful and a total joke.

 

[dannd23]

Pirlo simply can't play in a 3 man midfield at this stage in his career. I don't think any one midfielder providing him cover is going to do the trick. Vieira sooner than later is gonna be forced with the decision of benching Pirlo or going 3-4-3. And if you go 3-4-3, where does Mata fit? Bc he can't be one of those 3, you could play him in the midfield out wide, but does that really help us with the Pirlo situation? Either way, someone who should be starting is gonna have to be benched if you change formation accommodate Pirlo. I don't wanna lose his passes, but it wouldn't be the worst thing having those passes for just 30 minutes a game.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Pirlo simply can't play in a 3 man midfield at this stage in his career. I don't think any one midfielder providing him cover is going to do the trick. Vieira sooner than later is gonna be forced with the decision of benching Pirlo or going 3-4-3. And if you go 3-4-3, where does Mata fit? Bc he can't be one of those 3, you could play him in the midfield out wide, but does that really help us with the Pirlo situation? Either way, someone who should be starting is gonna have to be benched if you change formation accommodate Pirlo. I don't wanna lose his passes, but it wouldn't be the worst thing having those passes for just 30 minutes a game.

It is definitely a difficult problem to solve... but not an awful one to have.

I think we should ideally continue on with the current system and start phasing in Maxi into the deeper position as he has the passing range, ball control, vision, and dribbling ability to be the deep-lying playmaker. With Ring cleaning up Herrera and Maxi can interchange in more forward positions as needed, giving us that late runner we miss now that Lampard is gone.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Interesting to me that there is so much Pirlo criticism. First time I've ever seen him so up close, and I thought he was really impressive with his touches and thought, and even his defending. Today, he did a whole lot of pre-defending. He was really good at snuffing out that pass that is 3 steps from danger.

And his touch and passing combining with Moralez was stellar, not to mention his amazing vision. The number of times he passes the ball into areas that no one else sees is incredible.

 

[mgarbowski]

https://twitter.com/x/status/848249682820247552

 

[SebastianBlue]

https://twitter.com/x/status/848249682820247552

Wait for them to hit the secondary scarf market on 300% mark up.

*Starts boutique scarf resale website*

 

[Revfugee]

I'd like to see the possession stats. In the stadium it felt like we were winning balls pretty much at will and knocking it around most of the time. Chanot was a boss (Callens definitely gives him more room to be confident). Even White looked solid at back. Maxi, Rodney, Ring, Jack, Guaje, and Tommy felt pretty dominant.

If we finish at a better rate we could dominate the league and potentially transform its style. The movement off the ball and the possession game are just superior.

The bunkering in at the end was puzzling and frustrating. We don't need to do that and it almost backfired.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

Interesting to me that there is no much Pirlo criticism. First time I've ever seen him so up close, and I thought he was really impressive with his touches and thought, and even his defending. Today, he did a whole lot of pre-defending. He was really good at snuffing out that pass that is 3 steps from danger.

And his touch and passing combining with Moralez was stellar, not to mention his amazing vision. The number of times he passes the ball into areas that no one else sees is incredible.

He single handedly created the goal for San Jose, and gave up a penalty that was not called.

 

[dannd23]

Interesting to me that there is no much Pirlo criticism. First time I've ever seen him so up close, and I thought he was really impressive with his touches and thought, and even his defending. Today, he did a whole lot of pre-defending. He was really good at snuffing out that pass that is 3 steps from danger.

And his touch and passing combining with Moralez was stellar, not to mention his amazing vision. The number of times he passes the ball into areas that no one else sees is incredible.

I think he was good overall (I'm rewatching and in minute 30), but he is a liability for a monumental defending blunder one or two times a game. Not only did his terrible pass to Johnson start the sequence, but then he didn't really move at all to even try to get back in defense once it looked like Callens was gonna give it away.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Interesting to me that there is no much Pirlo criticism. First time I've ever seen him so up close, and I thought he was really impressive with his touches and thought, and even his defending. Today, he did a whole lot of pre-defending. He was really good at snuffing out that pass that is 3 steps from danger.

And his touch and passing combining with Moralez was stellar, not to mention his amazing vision. The number of times he passes the ball into areas that no one else sees is incredible.

I don't mean to criticise him—I actually thought was ok after the early goal fiasco and I am usually the one defending him on here for the same reasons you list above.

But I do think his age is starting to catch up with him and we need to start the transition now. His speed of thought and dribbling is beginning to fall off (he nearly gifted a second goal shortly after the first goal by trying to play out from the edge of the box facing his own goal with two SJ players pressuring him—luckily their tackle sent the ball toward Johnson but it could have easily gone the other way).

I'm a "love him but need to slowly phase him out" guy.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I don't mean to criticise him—I actually thought was ok after the early goal fiasco and I am usually the one defending him on here for the same reasons you list above.

But I do think his age is starting to catch up with him and we need to start the transition now. His speed of thought and dribbling is beginning to fall off (he nearly gifted a second goal shortly after the first goal by trying to play out from the edge of the box facing his own goal with two SJ players pressuring him—luckily their tackle sent the ball toward Johnson but it could have easily gone the other way).

I'm a "love him but need to slowly phase him out" guy.

Agree with your last statement, whole-heartedly. I'm not a big Pirlo defender this year, I just thought he had a decent game today based on what I saw.

But again, I didn't see the first goal. And further, if it happened on our defending half in the first half, I didn't/couldn't see it from where I was sitting.