#MLSisBack - August 1 - Portland

[LionNYC]

MLS is Back Tournament - Quarterfinals
New York City FC vs. Portland Timbers
Saturday, August 1st 10:30 PM ET
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
FS1

After an emphatic 3-1 win vs. Toronto FC, we'll play the winner of Portland vs. Cincinnati who face off on Tuesday, July 28th.

 

[Shwafta]

MLS is Back Tournament - Quarterfinals
New York City FC vs. Portland Timbers/FC Cincinnati
Saturday, August 1st 10:30 PM ET
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
FS1

After an emphatic 3-1 win vs. Toronto FC, we'll play the winner of Portland vs. Cincinnati who face off on Wednesday, August 28th.

I think you mean Tuesday, July 28th

 

[LionNYC]

I think you mean Tuesday, July 28th

I can't read a calendar. I'm too HYPED UP!

 

[413Blue]

We're going to have a nice 2-day rest advantage for this one!

 

[Kjbert]

Confirmed we play on August 1st?

 

[Shwafta]

I can't read a calendar. I'm too HYPED UP!

hahah I understand you! You changed it to tuesday, but still says august! hahahahahahaha

 

[LionNYC]

Confirmed we play on August 1st?

 

[LionNYC]

hahah I understand you! You changed it to tuesday, but still says august! hahahahahahaha

 

[Shwafta]

Go partaaaay (safely, of course)

Separately, 10:30pm? yuck

 

[canchon]

What is nuts about this is that now NYCFC basically has a week off (plays again next weekend) but if they win the QF, the next game is four days later. Rest up.

 

[Shwafta]

MLS is Back Predictions

FiveThirtyEight's MLS is Back predictions

projects.fivethirtyeight.com

So 538 has us tied with Philadelphia for 2nd highest chance of winning tournament. What a weird flip-flop from the 3% we were at before the Toronto game.

 

[Seth]

Just as a note on the FS1 broadcast, I'm not a fan of fake crowd noise so for the Toronto match I loaded up the Fox Sports app on my Apple TV to get the "natural sound" feed. Much to my surprise (and delight) instead of field sound + announcers - fake crowd noise it was only the field sound. No announcers! Total bonus and felt much more like I was at a match as St. John's where you could hear everything on the field. Switched back to the "normal" feed for halftime and after the match to get the commentary but really enjoyed the field-only sound option during the match.

 

[413Blue]

Just as a note on the FS1 broadcast, I'm not a fan of fake crowd noise so for the Toronto match I loaded up the Fox Sports app on my Apple TV to get the "natural sound" feed. Much to my surprise (and delight) instead of field sound + announcers - fake crowd noise it was only the field sound. No announcers! Total bonus and felt much more like I was at a match as St. John's where you could hear everything on the field. Switched back to the "normal" feed for halftime and after the match to get the commentary but really enjoyed the field-only sound option during the match.

I've noticed that I prefer natural sound for games that im interested in (such as NYCFC or a good EPL match) but much prefer the fake crowd noise for matches that I'm more passively watching.

 

[Keith Putnam]

I think I have a preference for playing the Timbers. Cincy looks like they're going to park the bus and force their opponent to break down 10 men in the box, and I kind of like our chances better against a team like Portland which will actually attack.

 

[413Blue]

I think I have a preference for playing the Timbers. Cincy looks like they're going to park the bus and force their opponent to break down 10 men in the box, and I kind of like our chances better against a team like Portland which will actually attack.

Especially considering we seem to have our best chances on quick breaks, this makes sense. That being said, FCC won't score more than 1 against us whereas Portland could put in 3 or more if any of our back 5 make any gaffes.

 

[gbservis]

Especially considering we seem to have our best chances on quick breaks, this makes sense. That being said, FCC won't score more than 1 against us whereas Portland could put in 3 or more if any of our back 5 make any gaffes.

Portland scares me more as they are much more dynamic and harder to plan for. Ronny and his staff had clearly planned well for TFC. Maybe I have too much faith in our attackers but I just don't see how FCC survives a full game sitting back and letting out attack try to pick them apart especially if we have Maxi for the majority of the game.

 

[canchon]

I think I have a preference for playing the Timbers. Cincy looks like they're going to park the bus and force their opponent to break down 10 men in the box, and I kind of like our chances better against a team like Portland which will actually attack.

if I remember correctly NYCFC’s last several games against the Timbers were basically Portland sitting back and winning 1-0 although NYCFC carried play.

Timbers would be a much more difficult opponent than Cincinnati.

 

[Kenny]

Either will be difficult, for totally different reasons. Cinci would be very annoying to play against, basically lined up as a 5-5-0 vs Portland lol, and I can imagine NYC futilely kicking the ball around trying to break them down. We typically haven't done well in that situation. Portland is just a talented team with good attackers. Our defense has been better but could still struggle against Valeri, Blanco, etc.

 

[Shwafta]

Damn I want Cinci. Locadia doing that in our game and we're through

 

[Keith Putnam]

We're about to get the PK shootout coinflip to decide our opponent.

ETA: okay, let's go beat the Timbers.