Yeah I need to look at the tape but Almiron goes wide and it looks like there are 3 NYCFC players in the area and no one marks McCann. Bad marking all around, even with the excellent ball in from Almiron.
Atlanta - Postmatch
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
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Yeah I need to look at the tape but Almiron goes wide and it looks like there are 3 NYCFC players in the area and no one marks McCann. Bad marking all around, even with the excellent ball in from Almiron.
Parkhurst’s reaction said it well: “oh s*it” he didn’t even protest. Clear penalty.
That's what I think as well.
Also - I understand McNamara making the bench last night. Lewis is one dimensional. McNamara, in a pinch, provides cover at 4 positions. Maybe not well - but as a stop gap.
The more I think about it, I believe this match will ultimately be understood as a turning point in MLS. These two teams may be, right now, playing some of the highest quality football the league has ever seen, and it's no coincidence that both teams have been able to convince young, quality international players that MLS is worth their time over, say, joining mid-table sides in second-tier Euro leagues. As many have said, that was a better match than many of those you could have watched this weekend from the big leagues. I'm watching the Rivier Derby (Schalke v Dortmund) right now, for example, and our match was a better watch.
Further, that match was absolutely an advertisement for *more* high quality young players to want to play in this league, because who can imagine the atmosphere anywhere being much better than that at MBA last night? The day is here when you can come to MLS and play in front of 50,000 screaming fans in a world-class stadium and have that televised on a fairly major network. We're seeing $15M transfer fees happening for just that kind of player. For better or worse, "parity" is ending, and while we're going to have to keep suffering through a lot of crap, underfunded MLS sides, the deep-pocketed teams are asserting their place on the world stage.
We "only" conceded two goals vs one of the very best attacking machines in the league, but Atlanta's attack is only going to get scarier over the season as Barco integrates, assuming his immaturity doesn't sabotage him. Regardless, we can't get complacent; if we slip up at all, Atlanta will leave us behind in the table.
I'm excited for Toronto to get past the CCL and get going in the league. This is going to be a banner year for the East.
Further, that match was absolutely an advertisement for *more* high quality young players to want to play in this league, because who can imagine the atmosphere anywhere being much better than that at MBA last night? The day is here when you can come to MLS and play in front of 50,000 screaming fans in a world-class stadium and have that televised on a fairly major network. We're seeing $15M transfer fees happening for just that kind of player. For better or worse, "parity" is ending, and while we're going to have to keep suffering through a lot of crap, underfunded MLS sides, the deep-pocketed teams are asserting their place on the world stage.
We "only" conceded two goals vs one of the very best attacking machines in the league, but Atlanta's attack is only going to get scarier over the season as Barco integrates, assuming his immaturity doesn't sabotage him. Regardless, we can't get complacent; if we slip up at all, Atlanta will leave us behind in the table.
I'm excited for Toronto to get past the CCL and get going in the league. This is going to be a banner year for the East.
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That's a great post
Keith Putnam
Lalas gave some mention to this yesterday. You are starting to see teams separate themselves now. Parity is slowly going away. There's never a guarantee that money will equal success. The money needs to be spent well. NYCFC and Atlanta have spent well.
Keith Putnam Lalas gave some mention to this yesterday. You are starting to see teams separate themselves now. Parity is slowly going away. There's never a guarantee that money will equal success. The money needs to be spent well. NYCFC and Atlanta have spent well.
That's a great post
Lalas gave some mention to this yesterday. You are starting to see teams separate themselves now. Parity is slowly going away. There's never a guarantee that money will equal success. The money needs to be spent well. NYCFC and Atlanta have spent well.
And Toronto to be fair (though I guess that is kinda implied). It was only 2012 when they finished a season with 23 points. Now they are going to be the champions of North America in a week
One of my favorite plays yesterday actually was immediately after Barco was subbed in. He held onto the ball too long and I think we fouled him, but Ring, Herrera, and either Villa or Maxi sandwiched him and he was clearly shaken. Didn't really look confident going forward after that.
Yeah there was a closeup on Barco and he looked like he wanted to cry. I think he was surprised by the speed/physicality of the game. Or maybe just pressuring himself too much in his first game.
I felt like there was one other play (or maybe 2) where we deserved a PK. Totally realize that Maxi is small compared to ATL’s hulking Defenders and that recessive gene orange-haired midfielder, but to get taken down from behind in the box with bodily contact is a foul - I don’t care if the ref thinks it’s a love tap, it’s a foul unless it’s obvious foot got ball. It’s one thing if a defender has position and can make a controlled play, but if chasing, the chances are astronomically higher a foul is part of the equation.
It’s not Maxi’s fault it’s harder for him to stay on his feet when shoved by a guy 10” taller and 70lbs heavier - that’s a lot of leverage. And the refs should acknowledge this.
Also pretty sure Villa also got taken down in the box too - I seem to remember him and the others throwing their hands up in frustration.
Probably both. Our team is the fastest and probably the most physical midfield (kinda funny to think about given Maxi's stature) team he is going to have to play against.
He was probably also surprised by the speed of the ball on that damn surface. He’s super fast and even he couldn’t hawk it down at times. Probably was thinking, WTF I’ve got to play on this every week?
There was a lot of this, but Villa was also awfully whiny yesterday. I remember one play the ref didn't call anything and Atlanta was attacking and he ran right over to the ref to argue instead of getting back. Like come on man.
Maxi had a few awesome Defensive plays and the best was when he picked Almiron’s pocket from behind. The guys isn’t afraid to get into tackles.
Maxi no longer gets the benefit of the doubt. He flails and falls. Little bit of the Pirlo treatment. I'm ok with that. This league is physical. Play through the contact.
What exactly is this post. Is this just listing young talented attacking players? Ranking them? Is there a reason Diego Rossi isn't listed?
Maxi is a little mighty-mite, he plays much bigger than he is, but it’s not his fault he surrenders 10” and 70lbs to other players. If the defender knocks him over and it’s not shoulder to shoulder, it’s a foul. Why should the defender be given the advantage and benefit of the doubt?
The one thing I would like called more often though is when he gets hit in the head. It happens quite often and rarely gets called. And I get it, it has to be frustrating for the opposing players to deal with someone whose head is just easier to make contact with on accident, but that doesn't mean that Maxi's head shouldn't be protected.
Tinny did lose McCann, yes. I don't think it was because he was moving to cover Almiron's run; he just kept moving forward and lost the fact that McCann had stopped his run to find an open spot for the pass.
The real issue on that goal is that guys were a bit scrambled positionally to defend the free kick, and everyone on the right side was an offensive player and broke downfield to initiate a counter. So, when Villa failed to win the ball on a challenge, there was nobody there to mark Almiron or pressure his cross.
3 big money signings in the East. Kaku looks like Veron right now
