Formation Speculation

[BEC SPK]

Was watching the scrimmage like the NYCFC nerd that I am. Iraola looked different from what I collected last season. Had a nice goal tucking it into the bottom right. I'm starting to believe the injury excuse bc he had some pep in his step. But then again the field was tiny

 

[Gotham Gator]

Iraola was maybe the biggest disappointment last year. I really thought he was going to be a huge upgrade for us, but he struggled. Let's see how things go after an off season. I think that will do a lot of our guys well - as will six weeks of pre-season training. I am expecting big things from AI this year.

 

[Gene]

My feelings exactly. I think it's safe to say we were disappointed with a few guys last year, but as far as I'm concerned it's only fair to start off giving everyone a clean slate (almost said a "Mulligan") and let's see what they do well rested, injury free and in sync with each other after a full pre-season together.

 

[dannd23]

Players like Iraola, Lampard, and Pirlo have a lot to prove after last year, but we also have to remember that very rarely do players that come mid season have an impact instantly. The only one I can think of is Jermaine Jones. I fully expect them ready in their first full season.

 

[Kjbert]

The guys that can impose their will physically can make an impact right away - Drogba and Jones. The guys who use their mind and skill to play - our guys for instance - seem to struggle with the physicality

 

[sbrylski]

The guys that can impose their will physically can make an impact right away - Drogba and Jones. The guys who use their mind and skill to play - our guys for instance - seem to struggle with the physicality

Generally true, but Giovinco flies in the face of that a little. I guess he's tough for his height tho, and he has youthful energy. Plus the pace helps massively.

 

[LionNYC]

We've effectively discarded everything that Kreis put together after we put Wingert on waivers. There's no strain of RSL left on this team. This effectively is the phoenix rising from the ashes to lift the MLS CUP! VIEIRA!

 

[Shawn S]

We've effectively discarded everything that Kreis put together after we put Wingert on waivers. There's no strain of RSL left on this team. This effectively is the phoenix rising from the ashes to lift the MLS CUP! VIEIRA!

Think Ballouchy is the only one left but he's solid depth at his salary. Very excited to see how this season plays out!

 

[gbservis]

Think Ballouchy is the only one left but he's solid depth at his salary. Very excited to see how this season plays out!

and he's the least Kries guy of all of them. Kries traded away from RSL years ago.

 

[Kjbert]

Generally true, but Giovinco flies in the face of that a little. I guess he's tough for his height tho, and he has youthful energy. Plus the pace helps massively.

Giovinco the fastest guy in MLS?

 

[northernburbs]

Players like Iraola, Lampard, and Pirlo have a lot to prove after last year, but we also have to remember that very rarely do players that come mid season have an impact instantly. The only one I can think of is Jermaine Jones. I fully expect them ready in their first full season.

These guys came from Europe from winning teams with passionate and engaged managers, to a system where the coach showing passion was switching his legs crossed left to right to right to left. got to take some getting used too.

 

[sbrylski]

Update:

Vieira employed a 4-3-3 formation Sunday, which is different from the tactical approach that the club had last season. Under former manager Jason Kreis, NYCFC alternated between a flat 4-4-2 and a 4-2-3-1 and never used a 4-3-3 formation. Vieira said he’s favored that approach throughout preseason.

“This is the formation I quite like,” he said. “We’re going to use it during the season, but there are other formations I will try throughout the preseason and I will choose which one to adapt to the teams we’re going to play against. http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/...t-preseason-action-opens-type-game-vieira-was

If there was any doubt left, it sounds like the 4-3-3 is indeed our default. Though we will definitely have a secondary formation or two to play depending on the matchups.

Going to be a lot of high scoring games this year, I think. It will be interesting to see who plays on the wings.

Some other good tidbits:

Of the team’s younger players, Vieira has liked the play of Tony Taylor, who missed most of last year with an ACL injury, and dynamic midfielder Kwadwo Poku.

“I think he’s got fantastic potential. If we work well with him I think he will be a really important player for us in the next years,” Vieira said of Poku. “I was really pleased with the way he played today, especially what I asked him to do tactically. I’m sure he will grow better and better and stronger and stronger.”

Particularly impressive was new signing Ronald Matarrita. Vieira said the 21-year-old Costa Rican left back “played a perfect game.”

“What I like about him is the intensity he’s putting into the game,” Vieira said. “He’s a player full of energy, he’s going to up and down the width, he has desire to go forward. I like the passion he’s showing when he’s playing and he can be aggressive as well.”

 

[gbservis]

Update:



If there was any doubt left, it sounds like the 4-3-3 is indeed our default. Though we will definitely have a secondary formation or two to play depending on the matchups.

Going to be a lot of high scoring games this year, I think. It will be interesting to see who plays on the wings.

Some other good tidbits:

Only two games but for the PR game and the scrimmage villa has been in the middle. If pv plans to keep him there that changes a lot of the lineups we have all been throwing around.

 

[thesauerchise]

Re: Iraola, etc. I hate judging a player on small sample size, especially when new to a league/country. I agree with the idea that we will see better this year due to a full preseason, increased comfort.

Re: 4-3-3. I love the idea of this formation but a midfield of poku, pirlo, and Lampard is asking for trouble when the opposition counters. Need more legs, poku can't do it all. So I'm curious how Vieira will set up the midfield.

 

[NickA]

Re: Iraola, etc. I hate judging a player on small sample size, especially when new to a league/country. I agree with the idea that we will see better this year due to a full preseason, increased comfort.

Re: 4-3-3. I love the idea of this formation but a midfield of poku, pirlo, and Lampard is asking for trouble when the opposition counters. Need more legs, poku can't do it all. So I'm curious how Vieira will set up the midfield.

Agreed...but if anyone knows what it takes in the midfield, it's Patrick. There's no way he lets the midfield get eaten alive. He's gonna have to push Frank up to CF and Villa left. If he doesn't now, he sure will after he sees the league's speed counter the crap out of us.

 

[NYCFC_Dan]

Judging by this game it looks like he may want some speed on the wings. Had a young trialist Sanu and Tony on either side of him. Get the ball out wide and let Lampard/Poku make their way into the box and try to get on the end of a cross. Saw Lamps make a couple runs as did Poku when Tony was out wide.

 

[FootyLovin]

Two games with PV holding the reins and out of the front 6 we have seen 4 constants: Pirlo, Lamp and Poku in mid. Villa central up top. I think this means one of two things.

1. You don't play players out of position in preseason. You give them as many reps as possible in the place you want them to play to get them comfortable. Ergo, Mix will not be starting for NYCFC while these players are healthy and not on national duty for their countries.
2. Knowing Mix would be out for this game, PV decided to give Lamp/Pirlo/Poku two games in a row starting together to see how the formation looked. With Mix coming back PV will play a couple of games with either Poku or Lamp in the front line, and then he will make a final decision.

My gut tells me it's #1. I think Mix will be coming off the bench for Pirlo. That makes me sad on the one hand because I really do love Mix as a player. On the other hand, if Madrid has BBC and Barca have MSN, with Lamp/Pirlo/Poku we have LPP for a great chant.

You down with LPP (Yeah you know me) 3X
Who's down with LPP (Every last homie)
You down with LPP (Yeah you know me) 3X
Who's down with LPP (All the homies)

 

[sbrylski]

Two games with PV holding the reins and out of the front 6 we have seen 4 constants: Pirlo, Lamp and Poku in mid. Villa central up top. I think this means one of two things.

1. You don't play players out of position in preseason. You give them as many reps as possible in the place you want them to play to get them comfortable. Ergo, Mix will not be starting for NYCFC while these players are healthy and not on national duty for their countries.
2. Knowing Mix would be out for this game, PV decided to give Lamp/Pirlo/Poku two games in a row starting together to see how the formation looked. With Mix coming back PV will play a couple of games with either Poku or Lamp in the front line, and then he will make a final decision.

My gut tells me it's #1. I think Mix will be coming off the bench for Pirlo. That makes me sad on the one hand because I really do love Mix as a player. On the other hand, if Madrid has BBC and Barca have MSN, with Lamp/Pirlo/Poku we have LPP for a great chant.

You down with LPP (Yeah you know me) 3X
Who's down with LPP (Every last homie)
You down with LPP (Yeah you know me) 3X
Who's down with LPP (All the homies)

Mix will get plenty of playing time, I'm not worried about that.

What I'm worried about is how incredibly disciplined our back four and the midfield will need to be in positioning. The three on the front line can just make runs all day long, but the fullbacks will need to be ON POINT. It can be done - but it's going to take discipline dialed all the way up to 11.

For example, if Pirlo has the ball here, this is pretty much the maximum offensive movement our back seven can do. One midfielder runs forward, and one fullback (who still needs to be ready to haul ass back). The other fullback has to be in perfect sync - pinching in to mark the player who would lead the counter attack, or sliding all the way back and joining essentially a 3-man back line. They also have to be in sync with the other midfielder - if Poku dribbles forward, and then Lampard makes a late run up to the box, BOTH fullbacks have to see this and retreat - one pinching in to play like a DM and the other pretty much back to make a 3-man back line.

It's going to be error-prone, especially early. Coach 'em up, V.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

From what I could get from the video and the post game comments, it seems like Vieira wants his 4-3-3 to turn into this on offense:

----------ST--------------
LFB-LW----RW---RFB-
-----CM-----CM---------
----------Pirlo------------
------CB------CB----------

Since he said he wants width from his fullbacks and for the wings to pinch in. He has played Poku in the CM role in Puerto Rico and in Florida, but I wonder if Poku would be better suited to a wing position in this formation, and have Mix play the CM. PV was yelling at Poku frequently in the Florida game about his positioning, and as others have pointed out a midfield three of Pirlo, Lamps and Poku is asking to get abused. I think I would go with:

------Poku------Villa--------Taylor---
----------Lamps----Mix------------
---------------Pirlo-----------------

I wish Mix was in camp instead of sitting on JK^2 bench. He needs to earn his spot.

 

[sbrylski]

From what I could get from the video and the post game comments, it seems like Vieira wants his 4-3-3 to turn into this on offense:

----------ST--------------
LFB-LW----RW---RFB-
-----CM-----CM---------
----------Pirlo------------
------CB------CB----------

I really, really hope that this is you taking his comments to the absolute extreme. Because if not, that is completely nuts. A 2-7-1 without an actual DM would give up 7 goals a game.

If one fullback goes forward and a wing pinches in, at a minimum, the other full back has to slide in defensively: