Home - 05/03 Seattle
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
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I don't like the idea of us having possession against Seattle.
I'm pretty sure, along with us playing Mix too deep, one of the major reasons we have so much possession is no one really gives a damn about us having possession. We dont have any players capable of hurting the other team, so why not let all of our slow ass team get into the offensive half before immediately stepping in front of one of our misplaced, ill thought out passes from Brovsky and then breaking like banshees.
The fact that this is Seattle's entire game is scary. If we had even 2-3 defenders who were worth a damn, I'd say we let them have more of the ball. As it is, we're likely screwed either way.
I'm pretty sure, along with us playing Mix too deep, one of the major reasons we have so much possession is no one really gives a damn about us having possession. We dont have any players capable of hurting the other team, so why not let all of our slow ass team get into the offensive half before immediately stepping in front of one of our misplaced, ill thought out passes from Brovsky and then breaking like banshees.
The fact that this is Seattle's entire game is scary. If we had even 2-3 defenders who were worth a damn, I'd say we let them have more of the ball. As it is, we're likely screwed either way.
Too early in the week to rely on injury reports. Let's see who's in full team training by the weekend.
We've given up 7 goals in 8 games, 3 of which were in the fluky/deflections category. The defense ain't the problem.
I agree with that. I think the back line and Saunders have bailed us out on numerous occasions. Our issue is our mid not being able to feed our attack and our attack not being able to finish on the rare occasions we do have chances.
One major problem I have seen is that our defenders don't do much to support the attack, they have absolutely no scoring ability and in fact they often become a liability up front with terrible giveaways. Of course, you don't expect them to great offensively since they are defenders, but we do need much better from them. Many scoring opportunities have been lost to bad giveaways, Brovsky moments, ridiculous shots etc. that should have resulted in many more goals, and of course points.
That looked to have been much better with Calle in and brovsky on the right, but Calle seems to be woefully out of shape, getting cramps and then pulling his groin in the last game.
Agreed Calle looked to be a revelation being actually able to send crosses and hustle ... sadly only for limited spurts. I hope it is a fitness thing due to the string of closely scheduled games and he can deliver more in the upcoming matches.
Remember that he missed our entire off season and just recently started practicing with the team. He's expected to be out of shape.
Nailed it. Destroyed it. Jammed, flipped, bent it and reversed it.
This is the correct answer, and it's an argument I've made silently to myself from the bleachers.
Any intelligent manager looks at Nemec twice and then looks at our defenders, and...
Lusty lip-licking follows.
It's the obvious strategy, and it's one we've shown we can't beat yet. If you try to beat us in open play, we've got space and can put one or two past you. But if you break down the space, we don't have an offense, and our defenders are either too slow, too dumb or both to stop you on the break.
When was the last time we had our first choice offense? Take away any teams best player ( and third, fourth and fifth best) and they are going to look bad.Nailed it. Destroyed it. Jammed, flipped, bent it and reversed it.
This is the correct answer, and it's an argument I've made silently to myself from the bleachers.
Any intelligent manager looks at Nemec twice and then looks at our defenders, and...
Lusty lip-licking follows.
It's the obvious strategy, and it's one we've shown we can't beat yet. If you try to beat us in open play, we've got space and can put one or two past you. But if you break down the space, we don't have an offense, and our defenders are either too slow, too dumb or both to stop you on the break.
I watched that for far longer than I should have.
I'm shocked at how everyone is missing the big story of how far we've come.
Just two months ago everyone was convinced that our biggest problem was our defense. Now after 8 games with 5 goals scored and 7 goals against we all realize that our offense and conditioning are even bigger problems.
Progress!!!!
Just two months ago everyone was convinced that our biggest problem was our defense. Now after 8 games with 5 goals scored and 7 goals against we all realize that our offense and conditioning are even bigger problems.
Progress!!!!
Villa's struggled against teams who haven't given him space, as well. It's a tactical issue that is due to the lack of a distinct core - one that is partially (but not even close to fully) solved by playing Mix from the back.
If you totally discount the role that fullbacks play in the offense (some here do, and wrongly, IMO), the core of the team is critical. From the CBs to the CDM to the CAM to the strikers.
Villa, when healthy, has one of the striker spots on lockdown. I'm fine with Shelton at the other spot, and Nemec can do in a pinch. I actually like Mullins more than some others do.
But as you move a bit further back, I like Grabavoy, but he has no business playing attacking midfielder. Absolutely none. Granted, we weren't going to get a natural #10 in our expansion season, unless we signed a guy like Kaka on a DP. But we don't even have anyone who can play there capably, and it absolutely shows with our hesitancy and inability to play an effective final, killer ball.
Before you can worry about a final ball, you need to capably push possession up the field. Playing Mix as a deep lying playmaker works, even if it's not totally ideal - I'd rather him play in more of a box to box role with a Beckerman type of CDM. One who can serve as a halfback when we need to protect a lead, but makes smart, simple passes on a regular basis and is responsible defensively. Jacobsen is a destroyer, but doesn't give us nearly enough in direct play.
Frankly, even if the Centerbacks are okay defensively (which I argue - we've been very, very fortunate on some near goals thus far that could have made score lines look uglier), they aren't effective in cycling possession.
The narrow field is going to help us against Seattle. Their strength is their combination play through the middle but the field is going to be more compact and it will be more difficult for them to succeed. Little known fact: Poku is Ghanaian slang for "clog the center of the pitch".
I think you are being unnecessarily pessimistic on the team. I can think of many, many killer final balls that have been unlucky to not have gone in the net. We've had awful luck offensively.
Defensively, if you want to say we've been lucky not to have some balls go in that should have, you also have to give that we've had a few go in that shouldn't have, so it balances.
Yes, we don't have Beckerman, but not many teams do. Ideally we'd like one player to do the roles mix and jacobson do together, but there are not many players who can do that.
We've dominated possession in all our games except playing a man sown in chicago.
Cheer up my man! Point is, we don;t look horrible and aren't getting blown out, AND we haven't had our first XI on the pitch.
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