How Good Is Mix?

[AJS]

I agree with this and have been asking for a Mix next to Pirlo lineup since June.

I'd like to see this too, but I think that if he is going to play there he really needs to hold and break up play rather than go forward. That's been the big tactical lesson of the past two matches for me. If he can do that, I think he's shown that he's a much scrappier defensive player than I expected, and therefore would be an upgrade on Jacobson. But, I think we'd all still feel like we are not 'getting the best out of him' because that probably isn't his ideal role either.

I think the real problem is that with Lampard, Pirlo and even Poku, there isn't a real central role for him unless we go back to the days when we were bombing forward and leaking goals at the back (albeit sometimes scoring even more).

I like what he has done on the wing recently. Even in a game like Saturday when his ball control and first touch were pretty off at times (particularly in the first half) he adds value because he works, wins back the ball and is aggressive. Hopefully you add in some games where the offensive part is working too and I think that is a pretty complete and useful player, even if it isn't quite the type of player we expected.

 

[Gotham Gator]

The fact that he can play effectively - if not at his best - at different midfield spots makes him worth a higher salary, IMO. We have a team full of CMs, and he is maybe the only one who can also be effective on the wing.

Plus, he can do this.

 

[Drainyoo]

I'll just say this.......

Judging soccer players only by goals and assists is like judging baseball players only by batting average and RBI's

In other words, you're not seeing the whole picture.

Which reminds me that I've been wondering if we have an advanced stats thread going here......

I'll go look now.

I would love for us to set up an advanced stat thread. I'm a big SABR head when it comes to baseball, and the stats around soccer are pretty pathetic. Agreed that goals and assists don't tell you much.

In response to the OP, I think Mix's problem is Kreis. If we had a competent coach who knew how to play him, he'd be much much better. That's my theory.

 

[NYCFCFan10]

For the national team he's fantastic.

For us, he's mostly been a bystander this season.

I wonder if the fact that NYCFC has star players like Villa, Lampard, and Pirlo makes him timid to do things for NYCFC like he will for USMNT?

USMNT, he's just another one of the guys but on NYCFC, all the role players always seem hesitant to do anything that's not passing it to one of the star players.

We see the same thing from Grabavoy. Grabavoy seems to get better the less star players there are on the field.

I think of the first few games with Mix in an NYCFC jersey and he'd flash his abilities like the Orlando City goal in the very first game. What a great goal that was. He never even attempts to shoot on goal it feels like now. He gets the ball, dribbles it around a little and passes it to Pirlo. That's like all he does now.

 

[leilanikali420]

I wonder if the fact that NYCFC has star players like Villa, Lampard, and Pirlo makes him timid to do things for NYCFC like he will for USMNT?

USMNT, he's just another one of the guys but on NYCFC, all the role players always seem hesitant to do anything that's not passing it to one of the star players.

We see the same thing from Grabavoy. Grabavoy seems to get better the less star players there are on the field.

In Mix's case...possibly. I think his lack of form has more to do with: lofty expectations, being in and out of the line-up with USMNT duty, coming back to a team after a month and having 5 new players, and playing out of position. Also, a lot of the Mix hate started once his salary was released. Nevertheless, you can't knock his hustle.

Now, in terms of Grabavoy...he was on the field the entire first half of the season when the only star we had was Villa...and he was absolute garbage. Although, I will admit that he did outshine Nemec and Kwame.

 

[Mikeylito]

...he was on the field the entire first half of the season when the only star we had was Villa...

That applies to Mix as well.
Also, Mix was the other player City marketed when Lampard didn't show up for the first half.
If it wasn't a feature about Villa, it was one about Mix.

 

[leilanikali420]

That applies to Mix as well.
Also, Mix was the other player City marketed when Lampard didn't show up for the first half.
If it wasn't a feature about Villa, it was one about Mix.

My point with Mix is that he is not doing his job well (job being defined as playing high level $700k a year soccer) because he is not playing in his position.

For my entertainment, here's an non-sports related analogy:

If you hire someone as an attorney and then switch them to the accounting department (although they aren't an accountant, but they've managed to balance their checkbook in the past) at some point there is going be a complaint about their underperformance as an accountant while they attempt to learn on the job. Add to that, other people having access to your salary and saying "I can't believe we are paying this guy 700k, he's a lackluster accountant".

That sums up my opinion on Mix. Until he is played in his position consistently and is terrible - I can't say how bad he is. However, seeing him play in position with the USMNT I can say he is good.

 

[Sabo]

When I saw USMNT play Ecuador last Fall Klinsy played Mix as a true 6 in place of Beckerman. He was fantastic in that role that night.

AJs form has really improved lately, so it doesn't make sense to slot Mix into that type of role alongside Pirlo for 2015, but I think it is where he should be with Pirlo & Lampard both in the lineup in 2016.

 

[Mario]

next season mix will be the centerpiece to our midfield.