Well well well....I was able to watch most of the replay of the game and here are my thoughts.
First, during the chat, I used some colorful language towards some of you, my apologies for that, I think we are all frustrated with this team and some members of this team, and we took it out on each other today, for my part, my bad. We all want to see this team win and succeed, and let's hope we get to witness that sooner rather then wait over a handful of years like TFC has. Anyway, off I go....
First off, as you know I think Kreis is a great coach/manager, and has the proven track record of being so, both as a player in MLS, he was one of the best players ever in this league, and before coming to NYCFC, he was the consensus top 1-3 coach in MLS, for good reason.
HOWEVER, this year has been a real head scratcher, and I think even Kreis would say he has not done well, and he almost did say this early in the year when he stated "This is tougher then I thought it would be"...I mean the lineup decisions has just been puzzling. We all know about Ned, but today leaving off Poku and Mix from the starting lineup, I just don't understand, big mistake. He has been doing this all year.
Having said that, I still think it is WAY WAY to early to fire Kreis, I still adamant that he needs AT THE VERY LEAST this offseason to bring in some MLS above avg players for depth, and to have a true full offseason to continue to gel in the system, especially the new shiny DPs. We just do not have the horses to compete and win consistently right now.
We have a young backline, and some shitty ass CBs, and Saunders in net, who is at best a backup GK in this league, like I have been saying. We have a non existent midfield, which is KEY. now this may be due to Kreis not trusting Poku in the Mid, which I fully blame kreis for, but other then Villa, Mix, Poku, and now Pirlo, and Lampard, and MAYBE Tommy Mac, we don't have much else going for us in the attacking front. From here on out, he needs to play his best TOP 6, and enough with Villa alone at the top, unless he puts Poku right below him and acts like an SS. But even still, as have been proven over the last few weeks, scoring goals is not our major problem. It is the lackluster defense and a below avg keeper. Sadly, bringing in Iraola, and having a healthy Hernandez, hasn't helped AT ALL. Where do we go from here? Nowhere this season, until the off season and Reyna and Kreis have to figure out how to solve our backline, and I would bring in a true starting caliber number 1 MLS GK. Whoever that is? I don't know. Keep Saunders as a backup.
Either way, we need to keep in mind for sanity sake. Expansion teams never success early. (I Don't want to hear about the expansion Chicago Fire, back then MLS was a joke). Look at Orlando City ( I know they are killing the Crew right now). Orlando had an established team, established system, and the same coach. However most of their roster, like ours was made up of NASL scrubs and MLS rejects except for a few, like us. They are in the same boat, same position as us pretty much, and we spanked them last week. Orlando City fans are not shouting FIRE HEATH.
It will take some time to create a winner, my concern is that Kreis may not be able to handle the pressure, and some comments he has made this year, has made me think this may be the case. I think he may choose to leave himself, because I know CFG will not fire him so soon. If he leaves you can bet a team like TFC, will come and scoop him up, I said this before, I know.
If after 20 something games next year, we are in the same spot, then yes, the seat will get really hot, until then, let's see what happens.