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Last year I would have agreed, but 2019 Ofori has been one of the very few good things about 2019.

Eh. I won’t argue with you on that one. I’ll gice that to you. But it’s kind of like being the tallest midget.

He’s a useful part. But he gives you nothing in attack.
 
Eh. I won’t argue with you on that one. I’ll gice that to you. But it’s kind of like being the tallest midget.

He’s a useful part. But he gives you nothing in attack.
He was a backup last year and he’s backup quality this year yet getting starters minutes.
 
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Look, also: I still don't like Taty as a player. He's too clumsily dirty. There was that early dive looking for a penalty, and the blatant handball to bring the ball down for his disallowed goal. With my lingering disgust from his faking a headbutt from Guzan last season, he's going to have to become a high-level producer for us to start turning my rating of him around.
I don't intend to come off as defending Taty, because a lot of what you bring up here is absolutely true. But I'm not sure I would criticize him too much about the handball from Saturday. I get the impression that he tried to touch it with his shoulder and it just ended up being out of reach so went off the arm.
 
A few other quick thoughts:
  • Matarrita put up another solid outing, this is what we've been expecting from him since his signing
  • Dear lord was Rocha bad.
  • I didn't think the officiating was completely terrible, but man was Angelo Rodriguez just allowed to two-arm shove anyone and everyone he wanted to. I'd be really curious if on that PK call, if there was no offsides, would they still have overturned the call? It was clear that Rodriguez fouled Sands and then I thought the play by Chanot was shoulder-to-shoulder and didn't warrant a foul in my book.
  • Mitrita did a bit too much diving for my liking
  • That pass by Isi to set up Taty's goal was gorgeous
  • Why the hell do you bring on Medina. He brought nothing once again.
 
I don't intend to come off as defending Taty, because a lot of what you bring up here is absolutely true. But I'm not sure I would criticize him too much about the handball from Saturday. I get the impression that he tried to touch it with his shoulder and it just ended up being out of reach so went off the arm.
Only thing he could do with a bounce like that, and it almost worked. Just an inch or two from being on his shoulder, which would've been a good goal.

Taty had his best game in an NYCFC kit by far. Seemed like a new player who had more than just an amazing first touch. I hope we get to see more of this, and see him actually do something. Actually looked dangerous on the ball and made decent runs/passes throughout the game. I've disliked him so far this season, but more games like this and I think he would deserve more time. May be a bit too late given that we just got Heber.

Rocha needs to join Mikey Lopez in the USL and never come back.

Sands and Callens as starting CBs is something I'd like to see.

Only overall positive was at least this game was a chaotic, entertaining draw. I'm down to see more 3-3 or 4-4 draws filled with chaos, not the previous 0-0 snooze fests.
 
Last year I would have agreed, but 2019 Ofori has been one of the very few good things about 2019.
You're right to point out that Ofori has been far better this year. I still get why some folks just want to see someone new, and I think that's a decent enough opinion.

4 413Blue The other folks want Keaton because we've seen his composure, ball retention, technical skill and creative passing. And he appears to be a great fit for us as a forward thinking 8. If we could get him into the Ofori role in a lineup such as the one we started at MN, I think Keaton would shine with Ring back in his best position of CDM.
 
Only thing he could do with a bounce like that, and it almost worked. Just an inch or two from being on his shoulder, which would've been a good goal.

Taty had his best game in an NYCFC kit by far. Seemed like a new player who had more than just an amazing first touch. I hope we get to see more of this, and see him actually do something. Actually looked dangerous on the ball and made decent runs/passes throughout the game. I've disliked him so far this season, but more games like this and I think he would deserve more time. May be a bit too late given that we just got Heber.

Rocha needs to join Mikey Lopez in the USL and never come back.

Sands and Callens as starting CBs is something I'd like to see.

Only overall positive was at least this game was a chaotic, entertaining draw. I'm down to see more 3-3 or 4-4 draws filled with chaos, not the previous 0-0 snooze fests.
Another vote for soccer chaos.
 
4 413Blue The other folks want Keaton because we've seen his composure, ball retention, technical skill and creative passing. And he appears to be a great fit for us as a forward thinking 8. If we could get him into the Ofori role in a lineup such as the one we started at MN, I think Keaton would shine with Ring back in his best position of CDM.
And on this, Keaton is a guy who can hold possession, create space, and pick out passes. While Ring has 2 goals this year and we know what he can do defensively, and Ofori has been solid this year, neither of them can really hold possession in the midfield into the attacking half.

Now, I'm not sure this is the best thing to point to, but look at the difference when Maxi is in the midfield and how space is immediately created. Again, I'm not sure this is the best example to use because Maxi is arguably our best player, but Keaton has a relatively similar skill set in terms of retaining possession in the midfield.
 
You're right to point out that Ofori has been far better this year. I still get why some folks just want to see someone new, and I think that's a decent enough opinion.

4 413Blue The other folks want Keaton because we've seen his composure, ball retention, technical skill and creative passing. And he appears to be a great fit for us as a forward thinking 8. If we could get him into the Ofori role in a lineup such as the one we started at MN, I think Keaton would shine with Ring back in his best position of CDM.
And on this, Keaton is a guy who can hold possession, create space, and pick out passes. While Ring has 2 goals this year and we know what he can do defensively, and Ofori has been solid this year, neither of them can really hold possession in the midfield into the attacking half.

Now, I'm not sure this is the best thing to point to, but look at the difference when Maxi is in the midfield and how space is immediately created. Again, I'm not sure this is the best example to use because Maxi is arguably our best player, but Keaton has a relatively similar skill set in terms of retaining possession in the midfield.
I agree that we should have seen more of Keaton by now, but everyone who puts out there ideal XI seems to include Keaton despite him having basically no history at this level. If he were a surefire MLS starting caliber player, he probably wouldn't have been loaned here.

Of course, we know Dome sucks, so its highly likely that he is under rating him. Not to mention why the F did we bring him in on a no option loan in the first place if he wasn't going to deliver anything?

I see the potential, but don't understand what has him in everyone's XI.
 
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The Rocha decision is indefensible as a coach. That alone should make whoever is in charge of Dome oust him. The only saving grace from this game was the individual efforts of a select few players on this team. Isi obviously and while I hate Taty with almost all of my heart, he had a good game as well. Not being able to function without a Maxi on the field is not a recipe for success and this virus will continue to spread the longer the players are able to squeak out "good results" like the one from this weekend while the man at the top stays.

I want to touch on something, that worries me in James Sands. He has been amazing this season, his demeanor, and IQ are excellent, and he should be starting on either the U20's or U23's this summer. But he's making the rest of the team look bad. I am worried that these grown men are not putting in enough either during the game or during practice if week in week out an 18-year-old kid is lauded as one of, if not the best player in the game. By no means am I saying the rest of the team isn't trying but there really does seem to be a hunger in that kids eyes compared to some of the other players on the team.

Just my two cents
 
The Rocha decision is indefensible as a coach. That alone should make whoever is in charge of Dome oust him. The only saving grace from this game was the individual efforts of a select few players on this team. Isi obviously and while I hate Taty with almost all of my heart, he had a good game as well. Not being able to function without a Maxi on the field is not a recipe for success and this virus will continue to spread the longer the players are able to squeak out "good results" like the one from this weekend while the man at the top stays.

I want to touch on something, that worries me in James Sands. He has been amazing this season, his demeanor, and IQ are excellent, and he should be starting on either the U20's or U23's this summer. But he's making the rest of the team look bad. I am worried that these grown men are not putting in enough either during the game or during practice if week in week out an 18-year-old kid is lauded as one of, if not the best player in the game. By no means am I saying the rest of the team isn't trying but there really does seem to be a hunger in that kids eyes compared to some of the other players on the team.

Just my two cents

Maybe James is just that good. If Gio Reyna were on the field, he might be the best player for NYCFC. I can't wait to see Scally and Haak on the field.
 
The Rocha decision is indefensible as a coach. That alone should make whoever is in charge of Dome oust him. The only saving grace from this game was the individual efforts of a select few players on this team. Isi obviously and while I hate Taty with almost all of my heart, he had a good game as well. Not being able to function without a Maxi on the field is not a recipe for success and this virus will continue to spread the longer the players are able to squeak out "good results" like the one from this weekend while the man at the top stays.

I want to touch on something, that worries me in James Sands. He has been amazing this season, his demeanor, and IQ are excellent, and he should be starting on either the U20's or U23's this summer. But he's making the rest of the team look bad. I am worried that these grown men are not putting in enough either during the game or during practice if week in week out an 18-year-old kid is lauded as one of, if not the best player in the game. By no means am I saying the rest of the team isn't trying but there really does seem to be a hunger in that kids eyes compared to some of the other players on the team.

Just my two cents
Sands wants to escape Dome by moving to a bigger club. The older members of the team have no urge to play for a man they want removed (and those that just resigned want to keep their families here).

***I have no evidence that the team is tanking on purpose, but I do believe there is locker room strife -> decreased performance.
 
Maybe James is just that good. If Gio Reyna were on the field, he might be the best player for NYCFC. I can't wait to see Scally and Haak on the field.


Bouncing off of this statment, would you rather have a couple "Rocha's" on a team, or (take a chance on)flyers on say the top three/two academy kids every year?

Just curious on your thoughts
 
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Bouncing off of this statment, would you rather have a couple Rocha's on a team, or flyers on say the top three/two academy kids every year?

Just curious on your thoughts

I don't know what you mean by "flyers" but I would rather have the top academy kid in the position of "Rocha" instead of "Rocha" because playing "Rocha" provides no value for the team in terms of investment. Playing the academy kid would probably provide around the same level of skill with the promise of continued improvement. "Rocha" isn't going to get better.
 
I don't know what you mean by "flyers" but I would rather have the top academy kid in the position of "Rocha" instead of "Rocha" because playing "Rocha" provides no value for the team in terms of investment. Playing the academy kid would probably provide around the same level of skill with the promise of continued improvement. "Rocha" isn't going to get better.
I’ll add to this that there are players on the team who’s only role should be that of practice player and the-world-is-burning-down emergency player. If the starters can’t go, and the designated bench backups are already slotted to start/injured, then the players that get the minutes should be the HG/academy players. At least with playing them, as you mentioned, the minutes are going towards growth and experience.

Every year the team carries a few of these practice players and every year we see how bad of an experiment it is to play them in a match. It’s not their fault they aren’t able to compete, it’s the manager’s fault for putting them in a position to fail.