Away - 09/16 Colorado
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
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Not sure how I feel about this. I think Sweat has played way better then expected, and has managed to also provide offense. But a fully healthy Mata is one of the best LBs in the league, and I wonder if it's just been so long since Mata has been healthy we have forgotten how dangerous he could be.
And while Mata could sometimes spend too much time forward, Sweat still bothers me as a lax defender. Not all the time, but sometimes I just think he acts like he can't be bothered.
Also, part of me wonders when does Sweat's luck run out? It seems like some of his great offensive contributions have been accidental. Not knocking him, because he is putting himself into positions to have an influence, but I just think back to his goal vs the Red Bulls or his assist to Callens vs Minnesota and the assist to Lewis vs New England.
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mata going forward, yes one of the best LB's... but like i said, he cant defend and it hurts us more than it does us good.
sweat is fine defending but going forward is unconvincing. how many times has he taken a shot from the top left of the box and would end up going for a throw in on the opposite side of the field if a defender or villa wasnt there to deflect it?
situational - if we needed to push for a goal but not lose our formation, id put him in at LB as a sub.
sweats in form and i think we should ride it out for now
Sweat has the second most assists in the league for a defender so I don't agree that his offense is accidental. Versus SKC he had a ridiculous cross in the box, that looked like a desperation karate kick, but the ball fell perfectly to Harrison whose full volley was saved by the keeper. The guy has good touch on his crosses, whether during regular buildup or crazy ones like described above.
I think Ben is bit more creative offensively and is a better passer and dribbler than Mata, and fits the system better right now. If there were a way to have both of them on the left side, we would be really dangerous and fast, but we've gotten further and further away from the left midfield philosophy where he's probably the best fit.
Mata had a tendency to leave us very exposed and often was left sprinting back to cover on a 2-on-1 or similar situation. Is this because he hasn't had much of a chance to play with Herrera and Ring? Maybe. And maybe that's one of the reasons Sweat has looked so good (especially for his price) in the system. It could be that Mata would look just as savvy in the LB spot with the defensive cover our CMs provide. But, at this point, playing Mata makes me nervous. He's injured more often than not and just seems prone to having these issues. Ben has been in the thick of it all season, is always getting chopped down and fouled because he wants to start playing the ball forward and gets up every single time.
Are our outside backs our weakest link in our best lineup? Yes, because we've put together such a well-rounded squad. But we've found some great value in Ben because how well he plays Vieira's style. With Mata's contract up before the end of the year, I would get as much for him as possible right now knowing what I have in Sweat and use the money elsewhere.
Mata had a tendency to leave us very exposed and often was left sprinting back to cover on a 2-on-1 or similar situation. Is this because he hasn't had much of a chance to play with Herrera and Ring? Maybe. And maybe that's one of the reasons Sweat has looked so good (especially for his price) in the system. It could be that Mata would look just as savvy in the LB spot with the defensive cover our CMs provide. But, at this point, playing Mata makes me nervous. He's injured more often than not and just seems prone to having these issues. Ben has been in the thick of it all season, is always getting chopped down and fouled because he wants to start playing the ball forward and gets up every single time.
Are our outside backs our weakest link in our best lineup? Yes, because we've put together such a well-rounded squad. But we've found some great value in Ben because how well he plays Vieira's style. With Mata's contract up before the end of the year, I would get as much for him as possible right now knowing what I have in Sweat and use the money elsewhere.
I'm pretty sure we pushed up Mata to LW before. After last game, I wouldn't be surprised if he provides some competition with Wallace for that spot. I feel more comfortable with him trying to be dangerous up there rather than getting caught up field like he usually does.
I agree with all of this except the offensive creativity and dribbling. i think mata has the edge in those two. but thats probably the least important traits of necessary characteristics for our LB position. sweat fits much better in the system and is well rounded as mata is purely an offensive option.
i can see sweat being RJ 2.0 though. have a good season then the following season go back to reality and barely start
I generally agree with you here, and I've often seen Sweat track back very lazily. I know Mata sometimes gets caught forward, but he busts his ass to get back. I don't necessarily see the same with Sweat.
But at this stage in the season, and given Mata's current status, I think I'd rather stick with Sweat at LB when Mata is back, and use him as a great offensive sub in the second half. He could come in either for a tired Wallace or Sweat to provide much more pace up the left flank. Actually, further on that, you could potentially take out whoever is at RB, move Sweat to LCB in a 3-man back line and have Mata come in.
Unless he is 100% I don't want to see Villa at all on Saturday. Rapids are dead last and if the rest of the team is relatively full strength, we should not have to worry about getting a result. Need him 100% to close out the final few games and enter the playoffs strong.
This is why when healthy we should go to a 3/5/2.
Villa - (anyone else)
Maxi
Mata-Herrara-ring-Harrison
play a back 3 of callens-chanot-Brillant
One thing I notice Ben Sweat does more than Mataritta is that he cuts inside to get past defenders more. Ben looks more comfortable dribbling with the ball than Mata. Mata is fastest and better crossing, but Ben is better with the ball at his feet.
i dont think sweats better at the ball with his feet. i think hes a bit clumsy.
mata running at defenders with paces is way more dangerous than sweat trying to cut in then shoot to the opposite corner flag.
I'm talking about in the defensive third of the field. Sweat will cut inside to create pace and go up the field or pass. Maybe Mata does this too, but it's been a while since I've seen it. Injuries are so annoying.
i'm not quite sure how you've come to this comparison of dribbling in our third as a means of comparing their dribbling skills... if you're talking more about decision making, thats a different story from dribbling
I like Sweat at LCB and Mata as a LWB. Play Wallace in the center of a 3-4-2-1 where his hustle and hold up play will count for more and won't slow the game down like it does when we play him as a LW. I feel like we would have 5 more goals on the season with Mata bursting past the last defender to cross or shoot, where Wallace tends to hold it up, wait for support, or cut inside and shoot weakly.
Villa
Wallace Maxi
Mata Ring Herrera Jack
Sweat Callens Chanot
Johnson
i like it... same formation as mine with sweat over brilliant. both could work
Yeah. I haven't really figured out how Pep keeps his WBs from getting pinned back with 3 ATB. Haven't watched enough. I think avoiding that is key to getting the most out of Harrison in this lineup. That or moving him inside. Maybe Struna is the RWB to make it happen.
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