Thought we got a lot of good looks on corner kicks last night. Maybe it's just SKC being terrible at defending them, but we had 2-3 good headers
Away - 02/25 SKC
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
- Start date
I was pleasantly surprised to see our free kick go on frame.
Well, Pirlo didn't dress. (I pray that Pirlo concedes the responsibility this season).
It's all about points through wins and ties. We are coming off seasons where we allowed the most goals in the league and allowed the 4th most goals in the league.
If we have an average defense with our talented attack our GD for the season will be in the 15-20 range. PV shifts to 3 in back when we need goals to capture points. We probably should see it a few times this season depending on the matchup just to keep our opponents off balance, but the 3-2-2-3 (PV even shifts to a 3-3-4 at times) shouldn't be our long term solution for the season.
Lets face it, if we were just trying to put our top players on the field in their natural position we would probably be playing a 1-5-4. We are going to have serious talent on the bench every game.
My current hot take is that T-Mac will not be on this team by the end of the season. He does not fit the ideal wing that PV wants and does not look like he has the engine to be a box to box guy.
I think that someone like Rodney Wallace playing on the left side with his defensive work rate is someone that really helps Pirlo. If Pirlo plays that LCM spots like he did last season, playing between Wallace and Ring should be fine, but I do think that we are preparing our midfield for the post Pirlo era. I would also except alot more squad rotation this season. Pirlo played way too much and I think their was a downtick in his performance at the end of last year because of that.
I think that someone like Rodney Wallace playing on the left side with his defensive work rate is someone that really helps Pirlo. If Pirlo plays that LCM spots like he did last season, playing between Wallace and Ring should be fine, but I do think that we are preparing our midfield for the post Pirlo era. I would also except alot more squad rotation this season. Pirlo played way too much and I think their was a downtick in his performance at the end of last year because of that.
I think the main reason Pirlo went the distance, in 2 games this preseason and a good portion of another is that coach had an issue with his fitness coming in. Gave him a break yesterday because he played 180 in a 7 day span. Don't think it had anything to do with trying something different. However I feel that if we're behind and lethargic in the second half he's likely the first to come off.
Pirlo starts at home and available to sub on the road is my recommendation.
Let me rephrase, it's about keeping RJ Allen off the field.
Thought Johnson looked great. Worked well to distribute the ball and help get us out of trouble with the back line. A bit shaky when he had to boot it forward but that's not what PV is looking for anyway. Great save on the penalty. Fully extended.
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That type of sick pass from Jack to Maxi on the goal when Jack had drifted to the middle is in line with my continuing belief that he eventually ends up off of wing and at CAM. It may not be this season with our other pieces, but I just see a comfort level when he is playing behind the play in the middle that I see just a bit less of when he's on the wing. I still think he's a very effective winger, but I continue to suspect it's not his natural spot.
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They didn't give Maxi a kid to walk out with.
They were trying to find him a player to walk out with.
HOT TAKE INCOMING:
I know I'm going to get a ton of shit for this, but I thought Ethan White did well as a sub, he had some good interceptions and I didn't notice that much attack being generated from his side for SKC. I will, of course, have to go back and watch to see if I am completely wrong, and he is not going to be much help in generating attack on the right flank, but he seemed like a good late game defensive option at RB. I am not saying he deserves to be in the XI, but maybe he has actually improved under Vieira and can actual be used to help close out a game every once in a while.
I know I'm going to get a ton of shit for this, but I thought Ethan White did well as a sub, he had some good interceptions and I didn't notice that much attack being generated from his side for SKC. I will, of course, have to go back and watch to see if I am completely wrong, and he is not going to be much help in generating attack on the right flank, but he seemed like a good late game defensive option at RB. I am not saying he deserves to be in the XI, but maybe he has actually improved under Vieira and can actual be used to help close out a game every once in a while.
I didn't see anything glaring, but if I recall, most of his shift was played 11v10. He's fine as a 4th CB, the problem lies in that we failed to address RB again so we have RJ, Gomez and white for that spot.
I didn't think Gomez looked very good in preseason. I am higher on RJ then most here. I think he's a smart player and he plays good defense, (shut down giovinco two years ago) and hits a great cross. He didn't get much time in preseason, one bad game shouldn't put him in the doghouse
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