Home - 06/29 Minnesota

[Midas Mulligan]

If we have to lose Johnson for a match, this is the one I'm most "comfortable" losing him for. Minnesota may be able to score on a semi regular basis in recent matches, but their defense is highly suspect and at worst, we'd be in a shootout... they still would need to get past Chanot/Callens for a decent shot on Johannsson, and RB couldn't do that yesterday.

McNamara not on roster. Pretty much as "meh" of an event as possible in my book.

 

[engine46]

I will say that this has not been my experience.

At the beginning of the game, you will usually have your ticket checked. However, after the first few minutes, you can generally walk into any category 6 section with no problem. I've done it more than a dozen times and never been stopped. The field level is a lot tougher but I have sat in 135 without having my ticket checked before.

The supporters section is easier to get into than the field level but a little harder than the main level. If you have any sense at all about picking your moment you shouldn't have any trouble.

The freedom to sit nearly anywhere is one of the best things about NYCFC games, especially compared to Yankees games.

Agree with this. And as for the view, if you come in during halftime you should be able to find a spot. Even then, it's a weeknight game so there will be less people since the weekend crowd that just randomly gets tickets there won't be there.

 

[NYCFC_Dan]

ON FOX RIGHT NOW...23 US MAN ROSTER

Guzan, Hamid, and Johnson called up.

No Tommy McNamara.

https://www.nycfc.com/post/2017/06/25/sean-johnson-named-us-gold-cup-squad

Johnson will miss at least this match and at Vancouver on July 5th.

Eirik is a decent replacement.
I'd really like to see TMac sit for this one. I don't think he compliments our lineup at all. He's out of place like Pirlo. If we could get another physical midfielder like Herrera/Ring we would wreck teams. He was utterly invisible for much of that game.
Then comes the question of who enters the 11. Pirlo/Lopez? We tried Harrison in the MF and I don't think it worked. He's most effective on the wing.
I know a lot of people are saying Sands is that player, I agree, but not for another 2 years. He's young but this offseason I can see him putting on a lot of muscle. He'll have the right people working with him and guiding him. Look at Herrera, how many times did we see him completely hold off defenders when on the ball and retain possession simply using his strength. Not technical ability or speed and running away but just brute force to stay on the ball and pick out a pass. Even tracking back he'd just go shoulder to shoulder and force the player to stop and play back or at least halt the attack and allow us to regain positioning.

 

[LionNYC]

So we're out: Johnson, Mataritta, Wallace, and Moralez. So what does out 11 look like for the next couple weeks?

--------Lewis---Villa---Harrison-----
--------------McNamara---------------
------------Ring---Herrera------------
---Sweat--Chanot--Callens--Allen---
----------------Johansen---------------

Bench: Okoli, Lopez, Pirlo, White, Awuah, Brillant, Rawls

 

[The Toe]

I think our back line will give us a chance no matter what. No reason we can't get 2 on Minny.

 

[Seth]

I'd really like to see TMac sit for this one. I don't think he compliments our lineup at all. He's out of place like Pirlo. If we could get another physical midfielder like Herrera/Ring we would wreck teams. He was utterly invisible for much of that game.

I think if you were there in person you might not feel that way. He was active in the midfield, harassing random Red Bulls, making it to both ends of the field. I was really looking forward to watching his play when I got home but was pretty surprised to have him barely show up onscreen. In person his play was solid, on TV he didn't show up. Worth thinking about for a moment.

 

[Ulrich]

I think if you were there in person you might not feel that way. He was active in the midfield, harassing random Red Bulls, making it to both ends of the field. I was really looking forward to watching his play when I got home but was pretty surprised to have him barely show up onscreen. In person his play was solid, on TV he didn't show up. Worth thinking about for a moment.

I'll even stick up for TMac on this one - what I saw on TV looked like real hustle and he was throwing his body into tackles. It was a much more impressive performance than I expected. I did think that after his yellow card, he was a definite sub at 60 since PV has shown he likes to make a switch at that juncture, so when it didn't happen I had my fingers crossed he didnt have to commit another foul on a breakaway.

Do I have faith a repeat performance can happen again.... not really, but a second showing in a row like that will elevate him above my "Grabavoy" fears right before each lineup announcement.

 

[gbservis]

I'll even stick up for TMac on this one - what I saw on TV looked like real hustle and he was throwing his body into tackles. It was a much more impressive performance than I expected. I did think that after his yellow card, he was a definite sub at 60 since PV has shown he likes to make a switch at that juncture, so when it didn't happen I had my fingers crossed he didnt have to commit another foul on a breakaway.

Do I have faith a repeat performance can happen again.... not really, but a second showing in a row like that will elevate him above my "Grabavoy" fears right before each lineup announcement.

I agree I'm not in the TMac fan club but I don't think you can knock him after this most recent perfromance. He ran hard, threw himself into challenges and stayed active the entire game. That said he did get beat to a few balls not for lack of effort but because he's by far the slowest guy on the field. At this point I think he's an MLS level back up which is exactly what he's playing for us. We don't have the depth to trade him right now but that raise they gave him over the off season is a problem.

 

[Questionable8]

I'm finally going to be able to make a game since the Atlanta game. I have tickets in 203 and was wondering if it's possible if I can spend the first half there and then make my way to the supporters section for the second half. Would anybody stop me?

No

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I agree I'm not in the TMac fan club but I don't think you can knock him after this most recent perfromance. He ran hard, threw himself into challenges and stayed active the entire game. That said he did get beat to a few balls not for lack of effort but because he's by far the slowest guy on the field. At this point I think he's an MLS level back up which is exactly what he's playing for us. We don't have the depth to trade him right now but that raise they gave him over the off season is a problem.

You just nailed it. That's why I know he gone.

You don't sign a player like Tommy to some shit like that if you're not trading him.

 

[Gotham Gator]

So we're out: Johnson, Mataritta, Wallace, and Herrera. So what does out 11 look like for the next couple weeks?

--------Lewis---Villa---Harrison-----
--------------McNamara---------------
------------Ring---Herrera------------
---Sweat--Chanot--Callens--Allen---
----------------Johansen---------------

Bench: Okoli, Lopez, Pirlo, White, Awuah, Brillant, Rawls

I like this lineup and wouldn't be surprised to see it. Might also have Pirlo start and TMac on the wing.

Everyone should remember that we will be missing 4 guys for Gold Cup and 2 for injury: Johnson, Wallace, Mata, Camargo - Maxi, Shelton

 

[Gotham Gator]

By the way, we will be out 4 players for this game due to the Gold Cup.

Minnesota will be missing 3 players.
- Francisco Calvo, D, Costa Rica: Regular starter at CB
- Johan Vinegas, M, Costa Rica: Regular starter at CAM; 2 goals, 3 assists
- Jermaine Taylor, D, Jamaica: Sometime starter and reserve at CB*

One of their top players is Kevin Molino of Trinidad & Tobago, but they are not in the tournament.

EDIT: Jamaica's team is not final, but Taylor is on the 40-man roster. I haven't seen a final Costa Rica roster, but MLS.com has Calvo and Vinegas as being out.

 

[Gotham Gator]

For those interested, our next opponent, Vancouver, has 6 players on the preliminary rosters of Canada and Costa Rica.

Christian Bolanos (M) Costa Rica
Marco Bustos (M) Canada
Alphonso Davies (M) Canada
Marcel de Jong (D) Canada
Russell Teibert (M) Canada
Kendall Waston (D) Costa Rica

 

[SoupInNYC]

By the way, we will be out 4 players for this game due to the Gold Cup.

Minnesota will be missing 3 players.
- Francisco Calvo, D, Costa Rica: Regular starter at CB
- Johan Vinegas, M, Costa Rica: Regular starter at CAM; 2 goals, 3 assists
- Jermaine Taylor, D, Jamaica: Sometime starter and reserve at CB*

One of their top players is Kevin Molino of Trinidad & Tobago, but they are not in the tournament.

EDIT: Jamaica's team is not final, but Taylor is on the 40-man roster. I haven't seen a final Costa Rica roster, but MLS.com has Calvo and Vinegas as being out.

They should be missing one more: Christian Ramirez.

Really felt like this was a good chance to see what he can do on the international stage.

 

[LionNYC]

They should be missing one more: Christian Ramirez.

Really felt like this was a good chance to see what he can do on the international stage.

Agreed. Felt like that was a snub by Arena at least for the 40 man roster. He's putting up great numbers in MLS and is young.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Agreed. Felt like that was a snub by Arena at least for the 40 man roster. He's putting up great numbers in MLS and is young.

I like his game a lot. Seems to be a pretty smart player with good instincts. Potentially the sort of striker who has given us fits in the past.

However, I think we can choke them in the midfield and starve his service. That's what I'm hoping and believing at this point.

Don't see them having the quality to cope with Herrera/Ring in midfield, so we should overrun them there.

Sticking with my initial prognosis, despite the absences. Professional performance where we get two in the first half and possess them to death in the 2nd.

 

[Kjbert]

Agreed. Felt like that was a snub by Arena at least for the 40 man roster. He's putting up great numbers in MLS and is young.

I agree with you but Dwyer is certainly above him in the pecking order. With the way Arena plays with one Forward, it probably makes sense to not carry Ramirez if Dwyer is going to get the opportunity

 

[EganSoccerWords]

Anything less than three points is an abject failure.

We need to stop playing down to worse teams and just impose our will on them.


Yankee Stadium security aka Securitas would stop you. They want you in your assigned seats and no where else, especially the supporters section. Now if you buy a ticket for the supporters section as well they wouldn't be able to stop you.

Also if you're that late to the supporters section, you're probably going to have a very occluded view of the field.

I have done this a couple times last year and was never stopped. It's more exciting in the supporters section when the action is coming towards that goal.

 

[LionNYC]

I agree with you but Dwyer is certainly above him in the pecking order. With the way Arena plays with one Forward, it probably makes sense to not carry Ramirez if Dwyer is going to get the opportunity

Is three forwards typically in a 23 roster? Dwyer is definitely ahead of Ramierz. But still, you can drop a midfielder or a defense for another forward, right?

 

[SoupInNYC]

I agree with you but Dwyer is certainly above him in the pecking order. With the way Arena plays with one Forward, it probably makes sense to not carry Ramirez if Dwyer is going to get the opportunity

But I feel quite confident that there isn't any reason to carry Agudelo.

ETA: and to LionNYC point, drop Zardes. Why why why