North Carolina (U.S. Open Cup) - Postmatch

Heh, sorry that my blue hat is taking up so much of the bottom of your shots, but it was good to meet you! And FootyLovin!

Good times, great weather, and seeing the team in such an intimate space was pretty awesome. I even got to slap five with Maxi, Haak, Medina, Treats, Ibeagha, Taty and Torres. Definitely can't do that from the seats I can afford at Yankee Stadium.
Good to meet you as well, and see FootyLovin adam adam and Seth . Fun night.
 
Interesting. I take it you blame him for most of NC's chances that Stuver had to save.* From where I sat I couldn't really see what happened in the scrums in front of goal at either end and I mostly noticed him when he hung out close to midfield but being the last man back and very comfortably handling all the balls that came his way, controlling them, and starting the play back towards our offensive zone.

Ibeagha had to do this because Tinnerholm was roaming all over. At one point in the first half he was way on the offensive side of the field, and oddly to the left and not his usual right. There was a turnover and and as NC started a counter attack the guy next to me started saying "You're playing center back. YOU'RE PLAYING CENTER BACK. YOU'RE PLAYING CENTER BACK!" before Tinny started hustling back to defend.

* By the way, from now on we're not booing. We're saying Stuuuuver!
It was a combination of errors, including several times as the last man back passing the ball directly to a NC player for no apparent reason in a dangerous position, misplaying several balls back to Stuver resulting in a 50/50 ball between Stuver and an NC player, missing some tackles etc. I can't recall how many of his blunders directly resulted in shots on goal, but had NC's players done a better job at taking advantage, there could have been several more shots/close calls. Though I am happy to give him a pass on having an off game.
 
Can’t blame Ineagha. We played with one CB last night.

Haak was terrific. He is ready to be in the squad. Don’t think he is starter quality but I don’t see how Rocha should ever play midfield before him now.

Not as sold on Parks. He’s slow. He can distribute the ball but I don’t think he can play in our system. He’s like Poku without the speed or strength.

Rocha played decently offensively yesterday.

Stuver was very good.

Tinnerholm useless. Bedoya less than useful. Medina was awful.

Maxi was a class above. Taty’s movement was phenomenal. We have a real player there. He will be back in a top ten league within two years. Good business for us.

I’d like to focus on Juan Pablo Torres. He’s a player for the future for us. Just 19. Good on the ball. Good speed surprisingly. I’d like to see more of him somewhere on the pitch. Playing him at RB removes some of his responsibilities and probably simplifies the game for him now. Maybe would like to see him slot in for Ring at some point during the year during our next two game in a week setup.
 
Can’t blame Ineagha. We played with one CB last night.

Haak was terrific. He is ready to be in the squad. Don’t think he is starter quality but I don’t see how Rocha should ever play midfield before him now.

Not as sold on Parks. He’s slow. He can distribute the ball but I don’t think he can play in our system. He’s like Poku without the speed or strength.

Rocha played decently offensively yesterday.

Stuver was very good.

Tinnerholm useless. Bedoya less than useful. Medina was awful.

Maxi was a class above. Taty’s movement was phenomenal. We have a real player there. He will be back in a top ten league within two years. Good business for us.

I’d like to focus on Juan Pablo Torres. He’s a player for the future for us. Just 19. Good on the ball. Good speed surprisingly. I’d like to see more of him somewhere on the pitch. Playing him at RB removes some of his responsibilities and probably simplifies the game for him now. Maybe would like to see him slot in for Ring at some point during the year during our next two game in a week setup.
Couldn't disagree more about Keaton. I'll give it to you that he's not all that athletic, but his touch, spatial awareness, poise and ability to connect with the players around him made him my non-Maxi MoTM. Granted the view from supporters was poor, but I'm still surprised to see that much of a gap in our assessments. I'd love to see him spell Ofori in a double pivot or as an 8/10 in our 4-1-4-1.

I liked JP as a right back, but it wasn't much of a test unfortunately.
 
Can’t blame Ineagha. We played with one CB last night.

Haak was terrific. He is ready to be in the squad. Don’t think he is starter quality but I don’t see how Rocha should ever play midfield before him now.

Not as sold on Parks. He’s slow. He can distribute the ball but I don’t think he can play in our system. He’s like Poku without the speed or strength.

Rocha played decently offensively yesterday.

Stuver was very good.

Tinnerholm useless. Bedoya less than useful. Medina was awful.

Maxi was a class above. Taty’s movement was phenomenal. We have a real player there. He will be back in a top ten league within two years. Good business for us.

I’d like to focus on Juan Pablo Torres. He’s a player for the future for us. Just 19. Good on the ball. Good speed surprisingly. I’d like to see more of him somewhere on the pitch. Playing him at RB removes some of his responsibilities and probably simplifies the game for him now. Maybe would like to see him slot in for Ring at some point during the year during our next two game in a week setup.
Only problem with our midfield depth is that we have a few 5'6" (Bedoya, JPT) players. I actually don't mind trying to make JPT into a right back, thought he played well filling in at RB. I don't think he's big or strong enough to be a midfielder to cover for Ring. I think Haak and Parks are more preferable than JPT in midfield. With Scally hurt, I think JPT should get some more time vs. MLS opponents as a RB.

Rocha didn't look too good for me. His first touch always seemed to let him down, but I will say he had a few decent crosses throughout the game. With all the space NC gave our outside backs, if Rocha even had a half decent first touch we'd have had even more offensive production.

Maxi was everywhere. Taty has surprised me with how far he's come in the past 2 months or so. Ever since the Minnesota game he's just taken off. Hope he continues to improve along this path.

Even though it was only a few moments, pleasure to meet you yesterday adam adam !
 
It was a good game, and it was lots of fun to see all the guys we've been curious about.

Our defense should have been better - but maybe not a surprise given how we had to shoehorn people into strange spots.

Rocha looked good again. Torres had that beautiful assist. Parks was strong. Haak did his job with great maturity. Taty is showing he deserves as many minutes as we can get him - tough given the competition at the forward positions.
 
Christopher Jee Christopher Jee i wonder if the take on the game is different for those at home versus those that were there. I’ve had an opinion coming home from a match before only to be surprised that those on here that watched the game on tv were on the other side of the spectrum
 
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One of the most fun games ive been to in a while. It was amazing being so close to the field. It was a great win. Got to meet, high five, and take a picture with almost all the players. And it was nice to finally get to meet adam adam as well. Stayed in supporters for the first half and then switched to the other side to be closer to us scoring again for the second half, Schwallacus Schwallacus pretty sure Tambakis hated us by the end of that match
 
Re: Parks - I think our midfielders need to have the ability to drive the ball forward, especially because teams high press us so much. Either through the wingbacks or through a pass to the second level from Johnson, they need to turn and dribble into the final third often.

I don’t think he’s quick enough to do that. I think he is controlled on the ball. I think he is smart and can pass it. I liked his defensive work rate. I just think he’s running with cement shoes and too many times the NC players tracked him down.

His first goal was because he’s 6 inches taller than everyone else. The second one was a late run into the box on a counter. I thought he was just average beyond that.
 
Great seeing everyone including the shout out across the section from roxfontaine! Sat behind Seth all match and credit to him for never asking me to shut up. I should wear the camo hat next match and see if the old school forum members recognize.

Expected the D to be crap considering the roster. Didn’t even have Sweat! Tin at CB?

I thought Rocha & Medina were crap all match. The team even stopped passing to Rocha at end of 1st half because balls were going to his wing to die. Then that lucky pass & goal at the end of the half and it’s not part or the narrative. But in my mind it is. Rocha can’t play on the outside. He does a decent job filling in from the middle. Medina was mostly awful and couldn’t even step it up vs an inferior opponent.

Taty missed TON of chances. Parks is the real deal. And can be our answer to set piece issues.
 
One of the most fun games ive been to in a while. It was amazing being so close to the field. It was a great win. Got to meet, high five, and take a picture with almost all the players. And it was nice to finally get to meet adam adam as well. Stayed in supporters for the first half and then switched to the other side to be closer to us scoring again for the second half, Schwallacus Schwallacus pretty sure Tambakis hated us by the end of that match
I definitely have way too much fun screaming at the opposing goalies to get them mad and off their game. Psychological warfare. Occasionally complement their passing skills, but throw in barbs when necessary. Always scream their name for goal kicks. Get them confused.