Fair question, but they're about to get a week off for the international break, so hopefully that will help.
NYCFC Season Discussion 2024: The Definition of NYCFC is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over and Getting the Same Result
- Thread starter mgarbowski
- Start date
This. Absolutely. 2 weeks off before decision day. Then no more mid-week matches the rest of the way. I doubt you will see any rotations that aren't forced on Sunday. Decision day I'd say it depends on whether they have something to play for, but at that point they are coming off 2 weeks rest and that is their last chance to gel before playoffs. If they can still get the 4 seed you'll see them go all out. If not you'll probably still see the best XI go 60 minutes before rotating.
I agree the 2 weeks off after tomorrow Sunday is key. I figure anyone who played the last 2 games will be assessed for fatigue and rested as necessary, but other than that you play if you're able.
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Can still finish from 4-7. Magic Numbers after Saturday:
3 Red Bull
Charlotte 5
Orlando 9
A win tonight handles Red Bull.
A loss or draw tonight means we cannot overtake Orlando and would need help against Charlotte.
3 Red Bull
Charlotte 5
Orlando 9
A win tonight handles Red Bull.
A loss or draw tonight means we cannot overtake Orlando and would need help against Charlotte.
After watching the replays I'm kinda neutral between finishing 5th and facing Orlando or 6th and facing Cincy. Orlando's victory away against Cincy looks great on paper, but 2 of the 3 goals were awful giveaways similar to us against Philly.
NYCFC’s win on Wednesday was their first win against FCC since 2021. Yeah, FCC has lost three in a row, but I think it’s much more difficult to win 2/3 (with 2 away) vs FCC than vs Orlando.
The question is:
Do you want to face a weaker opponent in the first round but be lined up for a 1-game knockout round game against Miami at their place in the conference semifinals, or do you want to face a harder opponent in the first round, but if you advance you get either Cincy or Columbus in the conference semifinals?
My goal for this season was to win the first round of the playoffs. No shame in this team losing in the conference semifinals. So I'd rather finish 4th or 5th, face Orlando, hopefully win that series, then face Miami in the semifinals and take our chances.
Do you want to face a weaker opponent in the first round but be lined up for a 1-game knockout round game against Miami at their place in the conference semifinals, or do you want to face a harder opponent in the first round, but if you advance you get either Cincy or Columbus in the conference semifinals?
My goal for this season was to win the first round of the playoffs. No shame in this team losing in the conference semifinals. So I'd rather finish 4th or 5th, face Orlando, hopefully win that series, then face Miami in the semifinals and take our chances.
MLS CUP OR BUST! who's with me?
Once the playoffs start, win 5 games and the cup is ours no matter where we finish in the table.
yes - our best XI can beat anybody on the day. our consistency and mental toughness will be tested for sure. especially if we have to play away the entire time. but this team is capable of putting together a 5 game win streak. we just need a little luck thrown in and anything is possible.
Once the playoffs start, win 5 games and the cup is ours no matter where we finish in the table.
yes - our best XI can beat anybody on the day. our consistency and mental toughness will be tested for sure. especially if we have to play away the entire time. but this team is capable of putting together a 5 game win streak. we just need a little luck thrown in and anything is possible.
M moogoo going for the 2024 optimism award. I like it!
KevinJRogers has me beat on that. But I see no sense in going into the playoffs with less than a winning it all mindset. Can't defeat yourself. I'm sure none of the players are going out onto the field thinking - "yea i think we can get past the first round and that'd be successful. " it'd be one thing if this team were a complete dumpster fire, but it has definitely shown it can play toe to toe against the best in the league. there's no reason we can't put 5 wins together.
I'm really not an optimist, nor am I a pessimist. I never predict either, only project. I just try and see things for what they are. And our progression has been pretty clear to me.
That being said, I absolutely will cop to seeing the bright spots, but I'd argue it's because they've been there to be seen all along. We're a very good team and a very good organization. We're going to be a great team if we keep on this trajectory. We're not that far from it now, and had Malachi not gone down, I think we'd be there already.
Malachi is a huge miss, our starting XI can go toe to toe with any team in the league but the moment Martinez and any of the other first-choice attackers go off our attack becomes completely toothless. The MLS Cup is all about getting hot at the right time If Bakrar can find his shooting boots and knock in a few late-game goals I'll feel a lot better about our chances of making a deep playoff run.
Meanwhile Kjbert has been away for over a year. Who's picking up that mantle?
I can go that route too. Imagine how we'd look right now if the front office spent the $11M they spent on Bakrar and the Serbian Dougboy on a proven striker. We'd have a threat in the middle and Martinez as the guy coming off the bench to score late game 7 min hattricks.
You have to be careful about being too pessimistic around here though or you'll disappear like Kjbert and Midas.
Likewise. The young attackers aren't quite there yet, although one can see the potential. Trapito especially has shown signs of getting a handle on it. He doesn't retreat quite so much as earlier in the year.
But they're not ready. Fortunately, we're getting a lot of attacking pressure from the back and wings now. Tayvon has transformed in a way even I didn't expect. Kevin O'Toole has fully established himself. Mitja has broken the ice, and McFarlane has shown his level of skill at times.
We're stronger at midfield now, too. Haak has grown into a legit beast who can both attack and defend, just like James Sands, and Perea is healthy again (love that guy -- more minutes, please). We've become a physically imposing team. We're not getting knocked around like tenpins anymore.
The one issue is, we're still young and inconsistent. It's the oldest story in team sports. But we are most assuredly very, very close to where we need to be.
For probably 40% of the season I was pretty sure we would not reach 50 points.
It was a wild year for sure. But ultimately a successful regular season. Really want to win that first-round series. Losing in the first round would leave me with a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth this winter.
Speaking of Malachi, any sign of him coming back? When he was hurt, it seemed like a return before season’s end was in the cards.
He's slated for a late October return on Fotmob, so maybe. But I've only seen him around the squad in street clothes. No sign of him in training.
Personally, I highly doubt he'll be back before the first camp in 2025. Even if his leg is fully healed, there's a risk of injuring something else if he comes back too quickly. He needs to work up to it, make sure his leg strength is equally distributed, make sure he's confident and not compensating by favoring it in some way, etc. No rush.
But hey, maybe he's farther along than we know. We only see the training clips they show us.
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