2019 CCL

I expected some parity between MLS and Liga MX this year and head-to-head matches that could go either way. I did not expect an MLS team to be completely superior to a Liga MX team playing all its starters. Toluca is a good team. Their high press was organized and energetic. SKC was better in every way. Better possession. Better tactics. More dangerous attack. Stronger defense. This may come as a shock to the Forum, but Nemeth is a better center forward than Khiry.

SKC has to be a favorite in CCL and MLS after that performance. As much as the Houston game was dreadful, the SKC game was fun to watch.

MLS has come a long way since I started watching 6-7 years ago.
 
I expected some parity between MLS and Liga MX this year and head-to-head matches that could go either way. I did not expect an MLS team to be completely superior to a Liga MX team playing all its starters. Toluca is a good team. Their high press was organized and energetic. SKC was better in every way. Better possession. Better tactics. More dangerous attack. Stronger defense. This may come as a shock to the Forum, but Nemeth is a better center forward than Khiry.

SKC has to be a favorite in CCL and MLS after that performance. As much as the Houston game was dreadful, the SKC game was fun to watch.

MLS has come a long way since I started watching 6-7 years ago.
Vermes is in the upper echelon of MLS coaches for a reason. The guy is very tactically sound, gets a ton out of moderate players (like the Patriots BillB), and finds ways to win.
 
Toluca's shit form in Liga mx continues onto the CCL ( even though on paper they are a good side). but on the flip side Vermes went in with the mentality to go for it at home and was very much rewarded with good execution.

as for ATL...lol damn i initially said that herediano can only do something if De Boer fucked up.....and he did. That three at the back hurt them, new system still in preseason form the players were struggling bad. they did have good chances. the only good thing is that the play "at home" next and i think they calm their nerves and will be less rusty and wont make those defensive mistakes again. still good to go thru i think. I expect De Boer to have learned the lesson here.
 
Toluca's shit form in Liga mx continues onto the CCL ( even though on paper they are a good side). but on the flip side Vermes went in with the mentality to go for it at home and was very much rewarded with good execution.

as for ATL...lol damn i initially said that herediano can only do something if De Boer fucked up.....and he did. That three at the back hurt them, new system still in preseason form the players were struggling bad. they did have good chances. the only good thing is that the play "at home" next and i think they calm their nerves and will be less rusty and wont make those defensive mistakes again. still good to go thru i think. I expect De Boer to have learned the lesson here.
I honestly think De Boer pulled the classic European Manager "Concacaf is easier to tame than Europe" and it showed last night. Dome did it too, and PV to some extent as well in the beginning but caught on rather quickly. Dome did as well, and I hope De Boer will too for ATL's sake in CCL.
 
I honestly think De Boer pulled the classic European Manager "Concacaf is easier to tame than Europe" and it showed last night. Dome did it too, and PV to some extent as well in the beginning but caught on rather quickly. Dome did as well, and I hope De Boer will too for ATL's sake in CCL.

for MLS season he will get it im sure, there is more time. CCL he has no time, change to old formation for one game and then during season keep changing your ways.
 
Vermes is in the upper echelon of MLS coaches for a reason. The guy is very tactically sound, gets a ton out of moderate players (like the Patriots BillB), and finds ways to win.
Vermes obviously had SKC ready for Toluca's high press. The midfielders and backs knew exactly where to go to receive the ball and the players were skilled enough to execute. SKC made it look easy to get the ball and slice through the midfield in attack but I didn't think it was easy to beat that press.

Big contrast with ATL (how did they wind up 2 v 0 in the center of the field 40 yards out on the second goal?, why was Barco trying to dribble through the entire defense over and over?)
 
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I honestly think De Boer pulled the classic European Manager "Concacaf is easier to tame than Europe" and it showed last night. Dome did it too, and PV to some extent as well in the beginning but caught on rather quickly. Dome did as well, and I hope De Boer will too for ATL's sake in CCL.
Domè hasn't caught on yet.
 
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Atlanta invented getting washed in Mexico. FdB seems to have the European smugness thinking his resume is going to win games. He used his last sub at the 89th minute while being down 3-0.
Atlanta would have been better in CCL if Tata stayed. Monterrey is still the best team in Mexico tho. They still had a shot at 1-0 but for some reason they didn't lock shit down and 2 late goals pretty much knocked them out.
Good thing for us in the league is that they'll have to figure out his system.
 
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Atlanta invented getting washed in Mexico. FdB seems to have the European smugness thinking his resume is going to win games. He used his last sub at the 89th minute while being down 3-0.
Atlanta would have been better in CCL if Tata stayed. Monterrey is still the best team in Mexico tho. They still had a shot at 1-0 but for some reason they didn't lock shit down and 2 late goals pretty much knocked them out.
Good thing for us in the league is that they'll have to figure out his system.
Monterrey better tonight, but small edge became rout because Monterrey were allowed to foul all they wanted in midfield. The fouls were called, but no yellows for persistent infringement, so they just fouled and fouled and Atlanta could never establish an offensive rhythm.
 
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Its always going to be hard for MLS teams to compete in the CCL when they are starting their season and Mexican clubs are fully match fit etc.
 
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