Home - RSL 06/02

[Gotham Gator]

He played on the left wing against Toronto after about the first 15 mins when PV flipped Poku and Ballouchy. I think that was mostly because Poku was leaving holes in the midfield. I've long been curious about Poku on the wing cutting in but, whenever he plays, I think you need to build defensive support around him. I thought his defensive work against Toronto was pretty poor.

I am with you on this one. I have long thought Poku's offensive skills would be ideal on the wing, and I think his performance against Toronto demonstrates this. His defensive work rate is an issue, but it's an issue anywhere on the pitch, so the question is whether it's a bigger issue at wing than in central midfield. Wing presents different defensive requirements to be sure - having to track back long distances, particularly when the fullback has pushed forward. It might be easier to leave Poku as a winger with the proper match at fullback - he wouldn't have to run back as much with a less aggressive player behind him (e.g. White).

That said, I still like Khiry and would prefer for him to start, but I do like Poku more in front than in midfield.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Viewfrom226 reminded me in another thread that Jason Hernandez has been called up by Puerto Rico, and it is unclear whether he is staying to play on Thursday.

Puerto Rico has a game tomorrow (Wednesday) against Grenada and another on Saturday against Antigua & Barbuda. Below are two links to the PR team webpage with some translated excerpts. Helpfully, it seems that Hernandez did not travel with the team to Grenada. Hopefully, that means he is not going to play the first game and not just that he is traveling separately from NYC.

http://www.fedefutbolpr.com/entran-...-convocatoria-de-la-seleccion-de-puerto-rico/

Four international players, led by striker Hector "Pito" Ramos, this weekend will join the training of the national team adult male soccer play next week in the second round of the Caribbean Cup as part of the process Gold Cup qualifier 2017.

The call midfielders Andres Cabrero and Juan Coca, alongside veteran defense of Puerto Rican descent, Jason Hernandez also joined, as offered by the interim coach of Puerto Rico, Jack Stefanowski list.

It is expected that the international quartet begins to join the Puerto Rican concentration from Saturday 28 May. The national team will travel on Monday bound for a party 30 visiting Granada on Wednesday, June 1, and then receive on Saturday 4th (7:30 pm) to Antigua and Barbuda at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon.
​

http://www.fedefutbolpr.com/viaja-granada-la-seleccion-mayor-masculina-de-puerto-rico/

A group of 22 people, led by 15 of 18 players officially called, was the delegation of the National Team of Puerto Rico who traveled on the Sunday morning spread over three flights bound for Granada for the start of the second round of the Cup Caribbean adult male football, qualifying for the Gold Cup 2017.

***

The official travel call is completed with striker Hector "Pito" Ramos, and midfielders Andres Cabrero and Juan Coca, who will join the group for the second time visit to Granada on Wednesday June 1.

According Stefanowski, Cabrero and Coca will join the group on Grenadian soil on Monday 30 May, after completing his transfer from Finland where they play for the club Kultsu FC, and Ramos will do the same on Tuesday 31 from El Salvador, where he sought in the day Sunday the Torneo Clausura 2016 championship with CD Aguila.

***

The defender Jason Hernandez, Samuel Soto medioampista and goalkeeper Bryant Velázquez left out of the squad travel. Puerto Rico will continue its participation in the second round of Caribbean qualifying to receive this Saturday, 4 (7:30 pm) visit Antigua and Barbuda at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon.​

 

[SteveV]

And then morph it in to Hodor maybe in two steps (keep it simple)...

Hold the Scoooore!
Hold the Scoooore!
Hold the Scoooore!

Hold Scoooore!
Hold Scoooore!
Hold Scoooore!

HODOR!
HODOR!
HODOR!

I'm all for it! But i think it should be with the cadence that the young Hodor said it with. (Meaning, dragging out 'score')

 

[LionNYC]

I think Vieira puts out the lineup he likes (and makes no common sense)...

----McNamara--Villa--Shelton----
-------------Pirlo----Mix------------
----------------Lopez----------------
--Allen--White--Brillant--Iraola--
-------------Saunders----------------

He should start...

----McNamara--Villa--Shelton----
-------------Pirlo----Mix-------------
----------------Iraola-----------------
--Allen--Mena--Brillant--White---
-------------Johansen----------------

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

I think Vieira puts out the lineup he likes (and makes no common sense)...

----McNamara--Villa--Shelton----
-------------Pirlo----Mix------------
----------------Lopez----------------
--Allen--White--Brillant--Iraola--
-------------Saunders----------------

He should start...

----McNamara--Villa--Shelton----
-------------Pirlo----Mix-------------
----------------Iraola-----------------
--Allen--Mena--Brillant--White---
-------------Johansen----------------

The problem comes because white is not a good rb.

 

[Taurus]

And then morph it in to Hodor maybe in two steps (keep it simple)...

Hold the Scoooore!
Hold the Scoooore!
Hold the Scoooore!

Hold Scoooore!
Hold Scoooore!
Hold Scoooore!

HODOR!
HODOR!
HODOR!

Wouldn't it be HOSCOR?

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Midas Mulligan Where you you?

I'm presuming he was being sarcastic.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I expect us to lose or draw in whatever way is most gut-wrenching.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Broadcast Questions

Since the YES Network will not be live, does anyone know what the streaming will be for this game? I have heard Fox Sports Go will broadcast live, but right now their schedule only has it on at 11:30pm. Presumably that will change.

The problem with Fox Sports Go is that it does not allow replays. So, for those of us who will have to watch later in the evening, we can't DVR, and we can't stream on a delayed basis as we could with Watch ESPN.

One question is whether MLS Live will allow streaming of the game right after it ends. Usually they do this for a non-nationally broadcast game, but I wonder if they will open it up for New Yorkers before the delayed broadcast is finished.

FOX Sports GO will have the game live, YES will air it after Yankees coverage. The FOX Sports GO broadcast is the YES broadcast, BTW -- same announcers, graphics, etc.

 

[S1ARK5]

I think Vieira puts out the lineup he likes (and makes no common sense)...

----McNamara--Villa--Shelton----
-------------Pirlo----Mix------------
----------------Lopez----------------
--Allen--White--Brillant--Iraola--
-------------Saunders----------------

He should start...

----McNamara--Villa--Shelton----
-------------Pirlo----Mix-------------
----------------Iraola-----------------
--Allen--Mena--Brillant--White---
-------------Johansen----------------

Take out mena for hernandez and i am with you

 

[canchon]

I expect us to lose or draw in whatever way is most gut-wrenching.

If NYCFC goes behind early in the game, it could get ugly. Going to be a lot of empty seats either way as it's a Thursday game.

 

[NYCFCfan]

If NYCFC goes behind early in the game, it could get ugly. Going to be a lot of empty seats either way as it's a Thursday game.

Just checked ticketmaster, lots of tickets unsold, over 500 on resale. Light crowd expected indeed.

 

[gbservis]

I am with you on this one. I have long thought Poku's offensive skills would be ideal on the wing, and I think his performance against Toronto demonstrates this. His defensive work rate is an issue, but it's an issue anywhere on the pitch, so the question is whether it's a bigger issue at wing than in central midfield. Wing presents different defensive requirements to be sure - having to track back long distances, particularly when the fullback has pushed forward. It might be easier to leave Poku as a winger with the proper match at fullback - he wouldn't have to run back as much with a less aggressive player behind him (e.g. White).

That said, I still like Khiry and would prefer for him to start, but I do like Poku more in front than in midfield.

I agree that the switch in the TOR game validated your long standing position that his best spot in the 4-3-3 is on one of the wings. For me the game also validated that the stamina issues are very real. To Poku's credit in the 1st 12 min of that game he worked harder on defense than I have ever seen and tried his best to play the box to box CM role but ended up totally gassed after just 12 min. He then switched to the wing as Viewfrom226 pointed out and excelled there for the rest of the half. In the second half he seemed mostly ineffective as a result of being tired.

I admittedly have been one of the bigger Poku detractors but that game impressed me and showed me that he can have a role in this system. I still don't think he should be starting, we can't waste an early sub on him because he doesn't have the stamina to play more than 60 min (I still think this is pathetic and totally unacceptable for a mid 20's professional athlete). I would like to see him start subbing into games on the wing and running at tired defenders. I'd much rather have a strong fresh Poku coming on at the 75' and over powering teams than see him start and then just get run over from the 60' onward because he's totally gassed.

 

[doctorhoosier]

If NYCFC goes behind early in the game, it could get ugly. Going to be a lot of empty seats either way as it's a Thursday game.

Yeah, I'm not planning on going, and totally expect to eat my tickets here.

 

[Ulrich]

I expect us to lose or draw in whatever way is most gut-wrenching.

A 1st minute own goal followed by 89 minutes of futility, or going up 7-0 only to lose 8-7???

 

[adam]

Wouldn't it be HOSCOR?

deja vu?????

I don't even know what thread I proposed this in anymore, but I said the same then:

HOlD the scORe = HODOR

 

[Taurus]

deja vu?????

I don't even know what thread I proposed this in anymore, but I said the same then:

HOlD the scORe = HODOR

That's fuzzy math

 

[Ulrich]

That's fuzzy math

Hold De Score.

 

[Taurus]

Hold De Score.

Creative Math

 

[NYCFCfan]

Hernandez left off PR squad tonight. Will be with NYCFC and then join the team after our game.