Formation Speculation

[sbrylski]

When Mix joins, does he knock out Seba or Bellouchy? I thought Seba looked great today. When Lampard joins, he knocks out one of Grabavoy and Seba, but I will say Grabavoy looked to be the perfect link player, unless he's a CDM moving forward?

I didn't think Ballouchy played as well as some are saying. Then again, I missed the first 20 minutes of the game so maybe he had some impact then.

I also don't think we should assume the first half was our projected starters, and the second half was our second team. I think KWS would start over Facey, but they didn't want Facey and Martinez by themselves at CB. The forwards could have also been jumbled.

That said, I think Seba and Ballouchy both get bumped from the starting lineup by opening day. Mix, of course, and I'm still expecting Calle to grab hold of the LCM spot during our Charleston tournament.

Poku may play Jacobson out of a starting spot too. But we are talking about just one game here. We have, what, 4 more preseason games to let these battles play out?

EDIT: As for Lampard, I don't expect him to play many full 90's. Every three games, maybe he'll play one full 90, start and get subbed out once, and come of the bench once (or sit during turf games). So at most he'll take half the time from Grabavoy or Calle.

 

[BxLio91]

So FmL wouldn't play enough to earn the 7 mil we're going to pay him?

 

[sbrylski]

So FmL wouldn't play enough to earn the 7 mil we're going to pay him?

To go right from a full EPL season into a new team with unfamiliar travel schedules is hard enough, let alone doing it at age 37.

When he's out there, he will still probably be one of the best players on the field, but the only reason he'll come close to being worth $7 million is for marketing purposes.

 

[BxLio91]

Well that's on him. He better fucking earn the 7 mil.

 

[Kjbert]

Grabavoy maintains possession. Has to play. The tiki taka today was fantastic.

 

[MagnusPax]

Grabavoy maintains possession. Has to play. The tiki taka today was fantastic.

And its exactly what Kreis-ball is. Get used to it!

 

[Midas Mulligan]

IMO, We did not play tiki taka. I really think we played with much more assertiveness than the traditional tiki taka implies.

We moved the ball around with bad intentions, not to simply retain possession. And we hit some sweet long balls.

We try to play tiki taka on that cramped pitch at YS, and we'll get smashed on the counter.

 

[MagnusPax]

IMO, We did not play tiki taka. I really think we played with much more assertiveness than the traditional tiki taka implies.

We moved the ball around with bad intentions, not to simply retain possession. And we hit some sweet long balls.

We try to play tiki taka on that cramped pitch at YS, and we'll get smashed on the counter.

Thats a major concern. While Kreis is known for possession style play, I agree with Midas, I am not sure it works in the narrow confines of YS. Definitely kills wing play.

How wide is YS soccer dimensions?

 

[BxLio91]

Thats a major concern. While Kreis is known for possession style play, I agree with Midas, I am not sure it works in the narrow confines of YS. Definitely kills wing play.

How wide is YS soccer dimensions?

110 by 70 iirc

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

So snap-judgement:

Who would you like to see starting next to David Villa?

---Tony Taylor
---Adam Nemec
---Patrick Mullins
---Khiry Shelton

TT showed some great skills yesterday, is he too similar to Villas skill set? could they work well together?
Nemec is a physical specimen, does his size play best to contrast Villa?
Mullins seemed eager to get involved, may play well in the hole behind Villa?
Khiry looks like a natural distributor, want to see him setting up #7?

What do YOU think?

 

[MagnusPax]

I haven't seen the whole game yet, but did Nemec play in a way that would have complimented Villa?

Does NYC need a big man in the middle to win headers etc?

 

[Vito]

I haven't seen the whole game yet, but did Nemec play in a way that would have complimented Villa?

Does NYC need a big man in the middle to win headers etc?

They might but they do have a lot of pace for quick counter attacks. Nemec was good at heading on but his passes back were sloppy, but I think its from being rusty. Mullins also won a lot of headers up front and was all over the field.

 

[Kjbert]

But why should Nemec be rusty? He was in the middle of his season over in Germany. I know he rode the bench, but he practiced every day. He was the one guy I was most dissapointed in yesterday beyond Wingert.

 

[FCRU]

But why should Nemec be rusty? He was in the middle of his season over in Germany. I know he rode the bench, but he practiced every day. He was the one guy I was most dissapointed in yesterday beyond Wingert.

Nerves maybe, he's human I'm sure he was a little anxious in his first appearance for a new team. He'll be more decisive with his passing as he gets more comfortable.

 

[Without a Dream]

So snap-judgement:

Who would you like to see starting next to David Villa?

---Tony Taylor
---Adam Nemec
---Patrick Mullins
---Khiry Shelton

TT showed some great skills yesterday, is he too similar to Villas skill set? could they work well together?
Nemec is a physical specimen, does his size play best to contrast Villa?
Mullins seemed eager to get involved, may play well in the hole behind Villa?
Khiry looks like a natural distributor, want to see him setting up #7?

What do YOU think?

Think Taylor would be great off the bench. Players like him can blow very hot and cold, best to let him prove himself from the bench first imo.

 

[sbrylski]

Think Taylor would be great off the bench. Players like him can blow very hot and cold, best to let him prove himself from the bench first imo.

Agreed. Taylor looked like the second best striker on the team yesterday, but he's too similar to Villa to be on the field at the same time unless we are overmatched and playing counter attacks or they both play on the wings in a 4-3-3.

I think Mullins and Nemec rotate in the spot next to Villa, and Taylor often comes off the bench. Mullins outplayed Nemec yesterday, but we've got a lot of preseason left.

 

[kun]

Nemec for me, I didn't think his performance was that great, but I got the feeling he would cause endless problems for MLS defences.
Taylor would be a fantastic impact player off the bench against tiring defenders. Mullins and Shelton have a ton of potential, but I don't see them as starters straight away.

 

[Vito]

Taylor did slide out to an outside mid position towards the end of the second half and he played very well out there. I could see him playing LM/RM in the diamond

 

[BxLio91]

What I loved about yesterday is our team's versatility. We can keep possession because our guys seem to be good on the ball but also switch to counters with most of our forwards being fast. That means depending on the game situation, we can adapt to the situation. The mids showed good work rate even if they were only playing 45 mins. I really liked what I saw and the more mins they play together in addition to practice will make this team a pain in the ass for the other teams.

 

[Paul]

I think Mix will push Seba out of the XI and Calle will likely replace Ballouchy. I do not see Lampard replacing anyone in the starting XI. He would be used most efficiently as a supersub rather than as a starter. I don't see him being able to provide 60-70 minutes every game especially if we are going to play an uptempo version of the tiki-taka. FL would probably be gassed and ineffective after 45 minutes. What a waste of $7million.