So, um, what are we supposed to do on Mondays when we aren't spamming the refresh button wondering if Cush has been sacked?
Nick Cushing Named Interim HC (Jul '22) / HC (Nov '22) / Fired (Nov ‘24)
- Thread starter Kjbert
- Start date
This is obviously a big week, but it's an intriguing one as well. Our gaffer finally has the chance to show his stuff. Up to now, in my opinion, a lot of the negative assessments on the part of the supporters mostly had to do with the frustrations we've all felt as we've gone through the rebuilding process. It's been a learning experience for everyone involved, including Nick.
We're rebuilt. School's out. Let's go win some damn games.
www.newyorkcityfc.com
We're rebuilt. School's out. Let's go win some damn games.
Keys to the Match | Rotation | New York City FC
New York City FC are back on the road as they take on the Philadelphia Union. The Boys in Blue return to action in a 7:30pm ET kick-off at Subaru Park. Here are the Keys to the Match, presented by Ford…
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I think we're supposed to like Cushing right now.
The best I can do though is not hate him. I'm getting ready to take my crow baked in a pie with peas, carrots, potatoes, and a worcestershire gravy.
The best I can do though is not hate him. I'm getting ready to take my crow baked in a pie with peas, carrots, potatoes, and a worcestershire gravy.
Full confession: I've always thought he was our guy (and I've said so) and I think when all is said and done, just about everyone is going to like him.
A lot.
we still suck at defending. we are picking up wins, but without a more organized defense and better 1v1 defending, we aren't going far in the playoffs. true test will be this weekend. philly are a good squad but down on their luck at the moment. NJ are flying. if we can go toe to toe with NJ then it's a good sign.
It is great to win, and I'll give him credit for squad rotation this week, but when push came to shove against Philly he went straight to turtle mode with his subsitutions and play direction. We held on, but there was no need not to keep counterattacking as it worked well in the first half. The turtling almost bit us in the ass at the end but for the offside call.
He has to get out of his way with his rush to defend. Play to win, don't play not to lose.
I so badly want Cushing to be successful here. I'm still not sure whether he's our guy, but I'm enjoying the ride right now.
I don't think he made a defensive sub until the 75th minute. At that point, I think you do sort of have to play that way.
Game situations are going to dictate that. When it's 2-0 at halftime, we're going to play more defensive because our opponent is going to attack more. Philly had 25 shots, but only 6 SOG. Philly, frankly, looked the way we were looking early in the season. But I don't really think Cushing misplayed the end of that game -- every coach in this league is going to make the subs he made at the end to close it out. We just have to deal with a lot of pressure late as the trailing team makes its surge.
I think Cushing finally developed a swagger. Like the fuck you approach that we saw from Ronny and Vieira.
Or, and I think this is far more likely, the team is finally finishing its chances.
We were outshot 26-10 today, but had 7 SOG and 2 goals scored. For the last two years Cushing's been setting us up well, but players just weren't finishing. They're finishing now.
Exactly. He himself said, "I'm learning too." He's been growing right along with the squad. He's been suffering right along with the squad.
I think I may have said it elsewhere -- it may have been in a discussion of my health situation, I don't remember -- a Marine gunnery sergeant once told me, "Sometimes you just have to go through it to get there." He's been through it, and from what I see, he now has the right mentality.
You can call it confidence, and that would be true. But it started with the old Dylan line: when you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose. Hitting rock bottom over those first three games was a miserable, near-death experience (in the sporting sense), but he kept working and eventually got through.
The team needed to develop, too. We threw the table over and went young, and we didn't get all the pieces until fairly late in the winter window. We still don't have everyone up to speed. We're still not at our potential level.
But it's getting closer. The last third of this season, no one is going to want to play us.
Are you sure Bakrar wasn't a defensive substitution? It clearly wasn't for goals.
In all seriousness, you are correct as to timing and perhaps I am a bit harsh. However, it wasn't just the substitutions - it was team shape. The field tilt was due in part to Philly pushing, but it sure seemed that after the early second half goal the press retreated and we picked up defense further back on the pitch.
I also understand sitting Santi to avoid the second yellow, but Haak is a massive switch in intent.
I am open to him proving me wrong, but I remain suspicious for now.
I think bringing on Haak for Santi was purely for height on corners and free kicks
Cushing has made a subtle positive change in the last two games with that additional midfield sub that he deserves some credit for. In the past he would add the midfielder and we would play very conservatively with 3 DMs sitting in a flat line. We often got burned because it was full-on bunker mode and the crowded midfield led to confusion between our guys in passing guys off.
In the last two games when the DM sub comes on Perea moves forward and plays in front of the other 2 DMs. He presses with the attackers and helps like a CAM in attack. Perea essentially moved into Santi's spot tonight. Ge still drops to help in D but he also supports counterattacks and he has more offensive skills to his game than Parks or Sands so it actually works.
Tonight it didn't work quite as well because Haak played the DM roll poorly but Cushing is adapting his approach and it looks much better.
What about on Saturday when Sands and Parks start? Is Perea the sub? For who?
Sure but that's the sport, right. We know Philly isn't as bad at finishing as they were today. Enjoy it while we can.
Yeah, it works either way as long as Perea is one of the 3 midfielders on the field. It doesn't matter which attacker comes off as Santi usually shifts to accommodate. ST comes off Sanit shifts forward with Perea behind him, the winger comes off Santi shifts wide Perea behind the ST that still on the pitch. We used to try this with Parks at times last season but it didn't work as well. because he's more limited offensively and not as aggressive in the press
Personally, I think Perea should start over Parks on Saturday but even if he doesn't you can run the same setup.
Bunch of great posts since I bumped the thread. Lots of interesting perspectives...
I'm curious to see what happens. We have a pretty good defense - 15 conceded in 13 games. But we're also only scoring 16. Atlanta has the same GF/GA but they're on 12 points. Hopefully we can keep this up!