#MLSisBack - July 26 - Toronto (Postgame)

Did we really play bad in the group round? I have to confess (feel like a bad fan) but this was the first match of the tournament I actually sat down and watched. The two 9 AM kickoffs were no go's for me as I work and I can't remember what came up on the Tuesday night game but I couldn't watch that one either. Don't generally bother with the DVR highlights when we lose.
In the Philly match, I thought we played pretty decently. We just didn't finish the chances we had and Johnson should have saved (and normally does), the Bedoya goal.

Orlando was a shit show. I don't think I need to say more there.

Miami wasn't good either. They aggressively pressed our back line when we tried building out of the back and man-marked the fullbacks and wingers and we had no answer for it. It's crazy that our goal came off of a Mitrita through-ball (he never does this) to an Ismael Tajouri-Shradi off-ball run (he never does this). Once Parks and then Maxi were on, we looked incredibly much better (shocker).

In fact, there hasn't been many minutes when Maxi has been on the field and we haven't looked great.
 
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In the Philly match, I thought we played pretty decently. We just didn't finish the chances we had and Johnson should have saved (and normally does), the Bedoya goal.

Orlando was a shit show. I don't think I need to say more there.

Miami wasn't good either. They aggressively pressed our back line when we tried building out of the back and man-marked the fullbacks and wingers and we had no answer for it. It's crazy that our goal came off of a Mitrita through-ball (he never does this) to an Ismael Tajouri-Shradi off-ball run (he never does this). Once Parks and then Maxi were on, we looked incredibly much better (shocker).

In fact, there hasn't been many minutes when Maxi has been on the field and we haven't looked great.
Generally agree with all of this, but worth pointing out that Mitri had a helluva through ball last night too.
 
Also, to me this feels especially good because while NJRB is our league-manufactured rival Toronto is our real rival.
I get that there are things about MLS Inc. that people don’t like (e.g. Heineken® Rivalry Week), but to me, both have been real. The tension has been palpable at matches with both teams. There are multiple, memorable matches that I attended:
  • 5/21/16 the RB wedding, where I also had the 'reward' of seeing the players and Vieira at the meet-and-greet after; needless to say, they looked absolutely shell shocked, and so was I; but then my sister and brother-in-law were visiting for July 4, and they came with me to our first derby win the day before;
  • 8/22/18, the 1-1 tie that felt like a win; Eloi Amagat (remember him?) got sent off for a studs up challenge in the first half, and we stuck it out a man down; Villa answered early in the second half; this was when we still had 3 games against some opponents, and we won one and lost one also; a 4th match (US open cup) we lost at RBA 4-0, as we have yet to get it together for a cup run;
  • 7/12/15 my first time seeing Giovinco in person, and he scores a hat trick in a 4-4 tie; another game spoiled by a stoppage time goal;
  • 10/30/16 our first playoff appearance, against TFC; I flew to Toronto for a whirlwind trip, basically there for 36 hours; BMO Field is effing cold in October; not only do we lose 2-0, we give up the second goal in stoppage time; a week later, we give up 5 goals at home and score none; "Toronto’s Onslaught of Goals Finishes N.Y.C.F.C.’s Season" said the NYT;
  • 10/23/19 playoff capping arguably our best chance at the cup; we didn't go out 7-0 on aggregate, instead we found an even crueler ways to lose;
 
I get that there are things about MLS Inc. that people don’t like (e.g. Heineken® Rivalry Week), but to me, both have been real. The tension has been palpable at matches with both teams. There are multiple, memorable matches that I attended:
  • 5/21/16 the RB wedding, where I also had the 'reward' of seeing the players and Vieira at the meet-and-greet after; needless to say, they looked absolutely shell shocked, and so was I; but then my sister and brother-in-law were visiting for July 4, and they came with me to our first derby win the day before;
  • 8/22/18, the 1-1 tie that felt like a win; Eloi Amagat (remember him?) got sent off for a studs up challenge in the first half, and we stuck it out a man down; Villa answered early in the second half; this was when we still had 3 games against some opponents, and we won one and lost one also; a 4th match (US open cup) we lost at RBA 4-0, as we have yet to get it together for a cup run;
  • 7/12/15 my first time seeing Giovinco in person, and he scores a hat trick in a 4-4 tie; another game spoiled by a stoppage time goal;
  • 10/30/16 our first playoff appearance, against TFC; I flew to Toronto for a whirlwind trip, basically there for 36 hours; BMO Field is effing cold in October; not only do we lose 2-0, we give up the second goal in stoppage time; a week later, we give up 5 goals at home and score none; "Toronto’s Onslaught of Goals Finishes N.Y.C.F.C.’s Season" said the NYT;
  • 10/23/19 playoff capping arguably our best chance at the cup; we didn't go out 7-0 on aggregate, instead we found an even crueler ways to lose;
I don't think he's saying RB is not a rivalry, I think he's just saying that it's more something that was force-fed since creation of NYCFC rather than naturally letting it build up. "proximity" does not automatically mean rivalry, though in this case it definitely works out that way.
 
  • 8/22/18, the 1-1 tie that felt like a win; Eloi Amagat (remember him?) got sent off for a studs up challenge in the first half, and we stuck it out a man down; Villa answered early in the second half; this was when we still had 3 games against some opponents, and we won one and lost one also; a 4th match (US open cup) we lost at RBA 4-0, as we have yet to get it together for a cup run;
Don't forget that Ofori got sent off as well in the 73rd minute of that match. So we were down 2 men for 17' + stoppage time and held on for the draw.
 
I don't think he's saying RB is not a rivalry, I think he's just saying that it's more something that was force-fed since creation of NYCFC rather than naturally letting it build up. "proximity" does not automatically mean rivalry, though in this case it definitely works out that way.
Yeah, that's about the size of it.

I do feel a rivalry with RB, but it existed before a ball was ever kicked. The rivalry with TOR grew entirely organically.
 
Yeah, that's about the size of it.

I do feel a rivalry with RB, but it existed before a ball was ever kicked. The rivalry with TOR grew entirely organically.

I wonder how it looks from the other side? Does TOR see us as rivals? I'd bet no, since they have won the majority of the meaningful games. Are we the Orlando in this situation?
 
wish you didn’t lead with NYCFC as an option to taint the results. But was interesting they don’t really see us as a rival, but may be coming around to it. I wonder what it will feel like 5 years from now.
I led with NYCFC as an option? I purposefully left it vague in the question...
 
I led with NYCFC as an option? I purposefully left it vague in the question...

the first guy said NYCFC as one and you asked about it specifically. Felt like everyone had to discuss NYCFC after that. Should have just let ppl go for a bit and seen what was said. But who knows. I’m biased too.
 
the first guy said NYCFC as one and you asked about it specifically. Felt like everyone had to discuss NYCFC after that. Should have just let ppl go for a bit and seen what was said. But who knows. I’m biased too.
Hmm, I don't know if that really affected the next answers? not sure tbh. Besides, a lot of people had very different answers - I love the one where they try to rationalize "Trillium Cup" and they can't lol.
 
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