Home 05/15 - Chicago

[AJS]

Something to think about. We win this game and we are in the #6 playoff spot.

DC did us a favor by coming back against Orlando last night. Feels like the top four are clearly DC, NYRB, NE and Columbus (in some order), Toronto is a complete wild card but should finish at least 5th given that they've only had one home game so far (albeit one in which they were awful) and then the sixth spot is wide open.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

DC did us a favor by coming back against Orlando last night. Feels like the top four are clearly DC, NYRB, NE and Columbus (in some order), Toronto is a complete wild card but should finish at least 5th given that they've only had one home game so far (albeit one in which they were awful) and then the sixth spot is wide open.

Wow. Seeing it written like that made me consider just how tough the top 4 are. I can't see us taking any points from those top 4 games away. Maybe we could steal a couple of draws at home or a win vs DC, but it's going to have to come from them playing like garbage rather than us being the better team.

Toronto could be hell for us, depending on when they fully quit this year. Having already dropped 7 point to Chi and Phi leave us in a tough position vizavis Orlando, but they really are our top competition for a playoff spot.

Antagonistic pricks are going to get their way I guess. Rivalry it is.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

Wow. Seeing it written like that made me consider just how tough the top 4 are. I can't see us taking any points from those top 4 games away. Maybe we could steal a couple of draws at home or a win vs DC, but it's going to have to come from them playing like garbage rather than us being the better team.

Toronto could be hell for us, depending on when they fully quit this year. Having already dropped 7 point to Chi and Phi leave us in a tough position vizavis Orlando, but they really are our top competition for a playoff spot.

Antagonistic pricks are going to get their way I guess. Rivalry it is.

I think we have to show we can beat the worst teams in the league before I even entertain the thoughts of a playoff spot.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I think we have to show we can beat the worst teams in the league before I even entertain the thoughts of a playoff spot.

Well, yeah. But I stand by my argument that Orlando is the toughest competition for the 6th spot.

I also wouldn't count out Montreal. They did have the good sense to get rid of The Brosky.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

Hudson River Blue reporting that Calle is out with a right quad and Grabavoy's run of consecutive minutes is in jeopardy as he is questionable with an unspecified hip condition.

No word if any retired RSL players will be brought in to keep Poku from starting.

 

[Albany_NYCFC]

Hudson River Blue reporting that Calle is out with a right quad and Grabavoy's run of consecutive minutes is in jeopardy as he is questionable with an unspecified hip condition.

No word if any retired RSL players will be brought in to keep Poku from starting.

We better check to see if any area Youth League coaches are MIA this week.....

 

[S1ARK5]

I have not read any of the comments so far in this thread, will get to that tonight, but I think it goes without saying that 3pts is a MUST this Friday. Not because it is getting LATE EARLY, its still early in the year. But only because this Chicago Fire team is probably one of the worst professional soccer teams, even worse then us, over the last 28 months. This team, whether it is Frank Yallop, or Klopas, coaching them, are putrid, and ugly to watch. So we are playing at HOME, against an awful team, no excuses, if we do not get 3 points, it would be embarrassing, I think it would be ROCK BOTTOM, and no we have not gotten there yet.

 

[S1ARK5]

I'm somehow *stupidly optimistic about this game.

You should be. The Fire are a shitty team.

 

[S1ARK5]

Look at what Dax McCarty says about our team. I know Jason Kreis does not want to play this way, I know his mindset is Possession with a PURPOSE. But look at what Dax says about our style of play starting at the 48 second mark.

I know this isn't coaching. It is the players lack of confidence and playing scared. Not wanting to push the ball forward. I AM LOOKING AT YOU MIX!!!! There is a great stat on MLSSOCCER.com about Mix having the lowest percentage of long passes compared to short aka safe passes. This is something I said over 3 weeks ago.

And this is exactly how a team can beat you when playing down a man for over 60 minutes. POSSESSION without any purpose. No penetrating passes. No threat whatsoever to the opposing backline and goalie SMH.....

 

[horseytweets]

Cannot wait to hear "Hey Baby" chant non-stop tomorrow. How I miss you Yankee Stadium.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Look at what Dax McCarty says about our team. I know Jason Kreis does not want to play this way, I know his mindset is Possession with a PURPOSE. But look at what Dax says about our style of play starting at the 48 second mark.

I know this isn't coaching. It is the players lack of confidence and playing scared. Not wanting to push the ball forward. I AM LOOKING AT YOU MIX!!!! There is a great stat on MLSSOCCER.com about Mix having the lowest percentage of long passes compared to short aka safe passes. This is something I said over 3 weeks ago.

And this is exactly how a team can beat you when playing down a man for over 60 minutes. POSSESSION without any purpose. No penetrating passes. No threat whatsoever to the opposing backline and goalie SMH.....

Far better to kick it to the other team, right? Play a little d while we wait for someone to decide to actually make a run.

Possession without purpose is our only defense, ergo, possession without purpose is a fiction for this team.

 

[MagnusPax]

Hudson River Blue reporting that Calle is out with a right quad and Grabavoy's run of consecutive minutes is in jeopardy as he is questionable with an unspecified hip condition.

No word if any retired RSL players will be brought in to keep Poku from starting.

Snark aside, what's the lineup for tonight then?

In a 4-2-3-1
Villa
Velasquez?-Mix-Shelton
Jacobson-Poku
Brovsky-Wingert-Hernandez-Allen
Saunders

???

 

[AJS]

Snark aside, what's the lineup for tonight then?

In a 4-2-3-1
Villa
Velasquez?-Mix-Shelton
Jacobson-Poku
Brovsky-Wingert-Hernandez-Allen
Saunders

???

Maybe 4-3-3 with something like:
Villa-Mullins-Shelton
Mix-Jacobson-Alvarez
Brovsky-Wingert-Hernandez-Allen/Williams/Facey
Saunders

Would sure be fun to see Poku start though.

 

[Vito]

Might see us back in a 4-4-2 with Nemec up front. Possibly Shelton playing RM instead of Alvarez. And Ballouchy for Grabavoy if he is out

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

Maybe 4-3-3 with something like:
Villa-Mullins-Shelton
Mix-Jacobson-Alvarez
Brovsky-Wingert-Hernandez-Allen/Williams/Facey
Saunders

Would sure be fun to see Poku start though.

I hope Nemec gets in there tonight

 

[sbrylski]

Vito is probably pretty close. I'd like to see us try McNamara instead of Ballouchy, and a backline of Wingert-Hernandez-KWS-Allen, but I'm not getting my hopes too high for either.

 

[NYCFCfan]

Ferran Soriano flew in to watch practice yesterday. I'm guessing this isn't a good sign?

http://nypost.com/2015/05/14/skidding-nycfc-were-tired-of-moral-victories-its-time-to-win/

 

[The Toe]

For all the crap he's gotten, without Nemec in the lineup, our offense has been even worse. It may not be sexy soccer, but Nemec knows his role and his contributions always go unnoticed. Hope he's starting up top tonight.

 

[sbrylski]

Ferran Soriano flew in to watch practice yesterday. I'm guessing this isn't a good sign?

http://nypost.com/2015/05/14/skidding-nycfc-were-tired-of-moral-victories-its-time-to-win/

Actually I take that as a positive. It shows that CFG leadership actually cares about the product to come in and check on it. Kreis/Reyna are probably telling them things (cries for help), and Soriano wanted to see in person.

 

[Paul]

Ferran Soriano flew in to watch practice yesterday. I'm guessing this isn't a good sign?

http://nypost.com/2015/05/14/skidding-nycfc-were-tired-of-moral-victories-its-time-to-win/

Actually I take that as a positive. It shows that CFG leadership actually cares about the product to come in and check on it. Kreis/Reyna are probably telling them things (cries for help), and Soriano wanted to see in person.

I'm not really sure what this means. On one hand it could be Kreis/Reyna crying out for help so Soriano comes to evaluate the situation and it could lead to moves in the summer transfer window. On the other hand, it could be a sign that Kreis and/or Reyna are getting bad attention from ownership for screwing up their investment, which could also lead to summer acquisitions (although not necessarily in the player department only). Either way, it seems to be that CFG is at least concerned with the situation which would be a good sign.