Atlanta - Postmatch - Eastern Conference Semifinals Leg 1

[Ulrich]

I just rewatched Martinez jumping into Villa in the box, and he didn’t put his head down like I initially thought, instead he turned and led with his hip/back which is why he tumbled backwards over Villa. The guy fouled Villa (in the box) by leading with his hip.

 

[Ulrich]

That was a clear yellow card on Remedi when he pulled down Maxi and he was already on a yellow.

Martinez flying into Villa when he was attempting a bike was also not a foul on Villa.

Change those two decisions and things look a lot differently.

Yeah, very surprising that a yellow wasn’t given for pulling a player down who’s ahead of him. That’s the very definition of a professional foul that gets carded every time.

 

[Marito]

Tonight I felt like New England, Philly, RSL, etc. all those not-horrible teams loaded with meh players that simply got thoroughly outclassed by ATL in their own stadiums. Mata is meh because his athleticism does not compensate for his horrible decision making and lack of imagination. Both of our fullbacks are meh (and that's generous with Sweat) and every attacking option not named Villa is meh. And tonight I didn't feel it was lack of effort. My impression is that the team tried very hard. It was also not confusion, like what used to happen in the past when out team faced the brutish but very effective Red Bulls high press. ATL didn't press us to death. But they were just faster, physically and mentally, and much more cohesive and creative. I honestly felt the millions they've spent and we haven't have come home to roost. And maybe I'm making too much off of 1 performance but I felt that if ATL plays like this every time, they'll go all the way. Sad, really.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Tonight I felt like New England, Philly, RSL, etc. all those not-horrible teams loaded with meh players that simply got thoroughly outclassed by ATL in their own stadiums. Mata is meh because his athleticism does not compensate for his horrible decision making and lack of imagination. Both of our fullbacks are meh (and that's generous with Sweat) and every attacking option not named Villa is meh. And tonight I didn't feel it was lack of effort. My impression is that the team tried very hard. It was also not confusion, like what used to happen in the past when out team faced the brutish but very effective Red Bulls high press. ATL didn't press us to death. But they were just faster, physically and mentally, and much more cohesive and creative. I honestly felt the millions they've spent and we haven't have come home to roost. And maybe I'm making too much off of 1 performance but I felt that if ATL plays like this every time, they'll go all the way. Sad, really.

Matarrita as a winger is a good idea until he's the one in front of goal. I want a scorer in that spot, not a guy like Matarrita who's kind of not the best in front of goal. His chance in the first half was a big moment and I wanted ITS or Medina there to take it, not him.

 

[The Toe]

I still don't really get how a guy who lined up a bicycle kick, was in the air with his back turned to goal, gets run into as he's airborne, is called for the foul. I thought that was either a penalty or a play-on all day, especially since we were in the advantage. Either way, Dome had no clue what to do against an okay defense. This will get ugly in ATL.

 

[canchon]

I still don't really get how a guy who lined up a bicycle kick, was in the air with his back turned to goal, gets run into as he's airborne, is called for the foul. I thought that was either a penalty or a play-on all day, especially since we were in the advantage. Either way, Dome had no clue what to do against an okay defense. This will get ugly in ATL.

If Josef Martinez was the one going up for the bicycle kick and an NYCFC player (let’s say Matarrita) flies into him like that it’s a penalty for Atlanta. Every time.

 

[nyanken]

that stupid ref! he did it again!

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Thought Mata had a bad match. Also, if he would have scored that early goal it would have changed everything

I thought Mata was among our better players. He covers so much for Sweat and had a big role in the few times we were almost dangerous.

Sweat was awful. But he always is, so it’s not worth mentioning. But hell, I’ll do it anyway.

Chanot was great. Callens was pretty good, as was Isi.

 

[canchon]

On the corner where ATL scored the goal, four NYCFC players were marking no one and Matarrita allowed Martinez to line up and volley the ball. And no one was at the back post.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Zero shots on goal. Wow. And maxi was completely taken out of the match pushed to the left side.

That said, no way Villa committed a foul when the ATL player charged into his space and put his head down. Should have been a tying goal there.

Also no idea how #5 Pirez was still in the game. He committed about 4 yellow card worthy fouls on top of an elbow he delivered on a set piece. He’s one of the dirtiest players in the entire league and gets away with it every match.

Dome flat out got out coached. He had no counterpunch for ATL going 5 at the back with RedHead dropping to play CB(RB when they were 4atb). Berget was an expected move but nothing else was done.

Villalba is as big of a whiner as Martinez. Between those two with their attitudes, and Barco’s indescretions, that’s got to be a charged locker room. Villalba also looked hurt. Maybe he’ll not be able to go next weekend along with Almiron..... not holding my breath.....

Remedi shouldn’t have been on the pitch when he scored. He snatched down Maxi when we were on the counter after he already had a yellow. Then some genius on our team took a quick free kick and turned it over rather than forcing a call from the ref.

Then, he did it right outside our 18 midway through the 2nd.

We also had a clear penalty shout when attacking 1st base side, as one of our players was yanked back after beating his defender.

We got screwed by the refs, on top of being out coached.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Speaking of people missing passes, I can’t count how many times Berget make a run behind the defense and the ball carrier (Tinny, Chanot, Isi) didn’t play the through ball to him - he had Pirez beaten and just needed a ball to run on to, but instead they’d hold it and force it inside.

Tinny’s Crossing efficiency has regressed to the mathematical equivalent of approaching zero. It’s painful to see him turn the corner and just give it away.

Why play it to Berget? He’s a big ol’ rag doll. Next damn ball he wins in the air will be the first.

He wins nothing when there’s a challenge anywhere close.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I agree I should have called that side out as well, Atlanta gave us both flanks and both sides were careless with the ball. Tinny bombs blind crosses in without even a glance to see where our guys are. The Berget point is well taken too, other than Villa we've never had a player that runs the channels as well as Berget does. Everyone shits on him because he doesn't score while ignoring the fact that no one feeds him. The guy's work ethic is off the charts, he never stops making runs even when he doesn't get a pass for 10-15min stretches at a time.

Berget is shit. Don’t care to ever see him again.

 

[Fake Jew]

Tonight I felt like New England, Philly, RSL, etc. all those not-horrible teams loaded with meh players that simply got thoroughly outclassed by ATL in their own stadiums. Mata is meh because his athleticism does not compensate for his horrible decision making and lack of imagination. Both of our fullbacks are meh (and that's generous with Sweat) and every attacking option not named Villa is meh. And tonight I didn't feel it was lack of effort. My impression is that the team tried very hard. It was also not confusion, like what used to happen in the past when out team faced the brutish but very effective Red Bulls high press. ATL didn't press us to death. But they were just faster, physically and mentally, and much more cohesive and creative. I honestly felt the millions they've spent and we haven't have come home to roost. And maybe I'm making too much off of 1 performance but I felt that if ATL plays like this every time, they'll go all the way. Sad, really.

Mata really isn't athletic at all anymore. Much more of a technical type of guy at this point but isn't smart enough to do it.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Mata really isn't athletic at all anymore. Much more of a technical type of guy at this point but isn't smart enough to do it.

He would be fine at left back, which he ends up playing anyway because Sweat wanders forward to no avail.

Like, what exactly, Ben, will you do when you get played in? I’ll tell you what he will do. Run it over the end line, side line, or turn it over. Best case, he hits the old Blind Tinny after it ricochets back to him off a couple of defenders.

There’s a reason they left Sweat open. It’s because he sucks. They at least would have to cover Mata. He doesn’t piss down his own leg on every throw in.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Matarrita as a winger is a good idea until he's the one in front of goal. I want a scorer in that spot, not a guy like Matarrita who's kind of not the best in front of goal. His chance in the first half was a big moment and I wanted ITS or Medina there to take it, not him.

Except Medina. He’s a wimp.

 

[NickA]

Villa is ineffective on this team. He doesn't have the speed to be up there alone. Our wingers don't play the space right and our backs can't cross for shit. Our passing is suspect too. Our strength is our defense and defensive mid-field play. Even if we go on and win it all, it's still time to move on from playing through Villa. He just doesn't have it anymore.

 

[Revfugee]

On the corner where ATL scored the goal, four NYCFC players were marking no one and Matarrita allowed Martinez to line up and volley the ball. And no one was at the back post.

This. The story of the match.

 

[Annagram]

This. The story of the match.

It's the keepers who decide defending corners with or without players at the posts. So the Atlanta goal was down to Johnson. That would have been the easiest goal to prevent in the whole world.

 

[NYCFC_Dan]

We also had a clear penalty shout when attacking 1st base side, as one of our players was yanked back after beating his defender.

Are you referring to the free kick? That was quickly reviewed. Ref prevented a quick kickoff and was on his mic. I believe the player was Callens, he was pulled back but also offside.

 

[LionNYC]

The fact that Atlanta had 11 players left on the field was a joke.

The fact that Isi has a broken finger and there wasn’t a video review on that was a joke.

The fact there was only 3 minutes of added time in the second half and only 2 minutes were played was a joke.

The fact that our goal was disallowed because Martinez lunged into Villa and Villa got called on the foul for playing the ball was a joke.

Not putting someone on the far post on that Atlanta goal was a joke.

Fuck the referees. Fuck Atlanta. Fuck the league office.

Let’s fuck them all over next Sunday. Pretty fucking pineapple, motherfucker.

Told B- rapper Woka Floka Flame that I’d see him next week.

Lion out.