Looks like we are trying to bring ruckus on Sunday...
by GLENN CROOKS
On Tuesday, I arrived at SUNY Purchase nearly 30 minutes after the start of the New York City Football Club training session. As I was walking through the gate, I sensed something distinctive. The crisp sound of the ball as it moved in one or two touches. The tone of the players in their small-sided competitions, admonishing one another when maximum effort and effectiveness had faltered. Assistant coaches acted as the referee and the players screamed in their direction or went face-to-face when disputing a call that affected the play.
Andoni Iraola put a crunching tackle on Andrea Pirlo – that is not the norm.
They were competing in a way I had not witnessed in the past two seasons. I imagined I was at a Red Bulls training session.
City’s next opponent on Sunday is the Red Bulls who have won all four life-time matches in the Big Apple Clasico, including the 7-0 drubbing last month.
I compared the training environments of the New York teams in this column earlier in the season. The Red Bulls, led by their captain, Dax McCarty, are motivated to compete at maximum energy in every session. If any individual fails to comply, they get a tongue-lashing from their designated leader. Conversely, New York City had been rudderless. While their sessions under first year coach, Patrick Vieira, had a plan and purpose, they lacked an internal element to push the team to be their best at every moment, every day.
On Tuesday, David Villa scolded teammate RJ Allen when Allen failed to close down defensively with enough energy and purpose. Villa is the anointed leader of NYCFC – he is consistently the hardest working player in training, a leader by example. His verbal lashing of Allen suggests he has taken another step in his leadership duties. Allen was not offended by the emotional directive from Villa. McCarty’s teammates are not slighted when he curses at them, either.
Vieira claimed that Tuesday’s practice was not any more intense than those he has conducted recently.
“No, I think its just about the period where we are,” said Vieira. “Players realize that you play the same way you train. If you want to compete on the weekend you have to compete the same very single day.”
“We train always competitive,” said the City captain, Spain’s all-time leading goal scorer. “Today was good, the intensity of the guys.”
I respectfully disagree that this was a repeat of past sessions. There was a singular occurance on Tuesday. Sessions I have observed this year were masterfully and enthusiastically guided by Vieira and the players catered to his demands on both sides of the ball.
On Tuesday there was a unique edge to the training. There was a bite. There was a super-charged energy that heretofore had been absent. NYCFC players have a high level of respect and trust for their head coach. Observing an enhanced spirit, drive and accountability in training indicates that the players are beginning to trust one another. The phrase, “mean no offense, take no offense” is the hallmark of trust within the unit.
Of course, there is additional motivation for the next match at Yankee Stadium.
“We need a win,” said Villa. “Obviously, our games in the derby is very bad for our supporters. Last game was a disaster for us but it was only one game. Now we are second in the table.”
NYCFC is a confident group. They have won two straight in clearly their two best performances of the year against Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia and Seattle on the road. City is one point in front of the third place Red Bulls and trail the first place Union by two points.
NYCFC supports were bereft of a rivalry standard in the first four matches against the Red Bulls and I asked their cult hero, Tommy McNamara, for a prediction.
“I’m not going there,” he chuckled. “I think the game could go a lot of different ways. It could be interesting and exciting.”
No final score from me for Sunday but I will leave you with this forecast – we are finally going to get our Clasico.
http://www.empireofsoccer.com/crooks-soccer-journal-nycfc-have-found-their-intensity-50046/?