NYCFC v Orlando Postmatch

[LionNYC]

I believe that was the NYCFC.com interview.

I'm talking about the press conference. The NYCFC.com interview questions are hand picked from Twitter and they're going to pick safe ones.

 

[NYCFC_Dan]

I'm talking about the press conference. The NYCFC.com interview questions are hand picked from Twitter and they're going to pick safe ones.

Yeah I suppose if you're the guy that always asks the tough questions you might not get called on to ask questions.

 

[canchon]

Some thoughts (before watching any replays on tonight's game):

• That game was very "MLS" as the team that took the most initiative lost the game. Talking heads point to this as MLS being a counter attacking league - for the majority of the game (especially after the goal) Orlando had Larin virtually on an island he was so high and defended, looking to break quickly.
• That said, NYCFC still looks damn vulnerable to the counter, ORL had several very good open looks throughout the game. Thinking of the emergency tackle by Hernandez and the one where Molino took all day to set up his touch on an open net and missed.
• ORL did their scouting, they knew that NYCFC was going to play from the back and jumped out and pressed in the first five minutes, giving them strong early momentum and it took NYCFC time to settle in, by then ORL was already ahead.
• It was clear in the second half that ORL wanted to defend, they had 8-9 men in front of their goal often. In that case you either need exceptional skill or speed to "bust the bunker". NYC did not adapt and kept playing slow decisive build up - which plays right into the hands of the bunkering team. Too predictable and couldn't change it as the game went on. (Take the ball wide, look to beat 1-2 guys on dribble or play short combo passes into 4 defenders).
• The ref: been mentioned already but holy hand grenades he was awful: inconsistent, letting ORL use a ton of force. It was exhibit A of "MLS reffing" and did help ORL more than NYC. I can see why Pirlo was irate at the end of the game.

On players and other items:

• Saunders - Another howler. He played the Larin goal like a pub team keeper. And don't get me started on his distribution, his positioning (that punch save was because he was indecisive)...and it's enough. You have to cover your eyes when he starts passing out of the back (until Pirlo gets the ball). Saunders is costing the team points. Time for a change.
• Mendoza - thinking he might be the case of tons of talent and 10 cent head. He's exciting with good skills but makes bonehead mistakes and gives the ball away. Now we see why he was playing in India. Think he is being groomed to be the starter as he got 45 today.
• TommyMac had a much quieter game. Kind of invisible.
• Matarrita - thinking he may be the best of the whole back line. You're nervous when a player is running at the back line...until Matarrita starts covering. Great pickup.
• Still waiting for Iraola to show why he was a La Liga team captain for many years...lots of slow back passes and not really part of the flow. Maybe he's working it's way into a new position.
• Not sure Hernandez has the skills to be that strong center CB of the 3 - almost see Brilliant as more of the sweeper role.
• Like what I saw from Bravo too. He is that type of guy you love if he's on your team, and hate if he isn't. "He's an asshole, but he's our asshole" type of relationship.
• Shelton, nuff said earlier. Needs to become more aware and up technical skills.
• Larin was a beast tonight, and then I cry realizing NYC could have had him instead of Shelton if we prioritized the draft. Kreiiiis!
• Applaud the runs by Villa but man, get onside.

One final thing, I noticed that the ORL keeper kept going outside his box on those time-wasting restarts. I know it's a rule that is seldom called but he did it at least 4 times...should have been called.

 

[Shawn Ryu]

To be fair and honest we aren't gonna have a championship team in year 2.

 

[mgarbowski]

I think I mentioned the Grant Wahl resemblance as well. At least someone around us did? mgarbowski T Tom in Fairfield CT

It was Tom. I just then mentioned the new disturbing avatar someone is using here with the 2 Grant Wahl heads and how I want to kill it with fire.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Given Orlando's penchant for crosses, I was surprised we didn't see Brillant at CB as he's much better in the air than anyone else we have.

On the Orlando goal, Saunders should have done better, but Iraola lost Larin, Matarrita missed a tackle in the buildup, and Pirlo failed to track the player that crossed the ball. A lot of blame to go around.

I think if we played that Orlando team 10 times, we win 7, draw 2 and lose 1. Unfortunately, we lost the breaks today. That's soccer. Pressure is on now, however. We need a win.

 

[Sabo]

Really disappointing we didn't handle the high pressure well for the first 15 minutes. Looked at the boxscore -66% possession. Yes we played the ball out of the back on goal kicks, but our possession isn't based on a lot of safe passes between backs who aren't being pressured. Very positive all game.

Trying not to repeat what has been said before, so I have to point out Hernandez had a great game. He doesn't have the foot skills Brillant has, but I think the most important skill set for your center back is to not make mistakes that lead to goals and chances. Brillant has made those mistakes in 2016, Hernandez hasn't.

Mendoza's lack of time with the Club showed. Many more missed signals and runs than everyone else.

Tragic result, but we are a much much better team than last year.

 

[FootyLovin]

Irony: We won our first game where we could easily have lost by 2-3 goals. We tied and lost our next two where we could easily have won by 2-3 goals.

Overall, I see the team improving. That's my takeaway and I feel good about it.

Next Saturday will be very interesting as we will be shuffling at least 3 players due to international duty (Mix, Mata, Shelton). PV has shown he values continuity, only making one change to the XI each of the last two games. With 3 forced changes I expect all other starters to remain the same. Sorry Saunders haters. I suspect you'll see him again against NE.

 

[dannd23]

On another night we easily win that game 4-1. It happens. While frustrating, one thing is absolutely certain from that game: we are MUCH better than last year at this point. If Mix finishes one and Mendoza's post shot goes in, we are arguably looking at our most exciting, attractive, dominating performance by NYC as a club. We had 66% possession, 16 shots, and 12 mofucking corner kicks to Orlando's 10 shots and 3 corners. That is domination. The loss sucks, but it almost builds hope for me in the sense I know we're waaaaayy better than last year.

Iraola not getting too much love but I thought he was excellent tonight. Not to the level of Matarrita, but better than last year.

Mix absolutely had to finish that one on one with the keeper. I would have given him a 10/10 performance had he done that-- he was everywhere.

I really can't see Shelton starting again over Mendoza. Mendoza and Taylor can break a game open on any given moment.

Just think about this-- last year our fastest player that started was probably Villa or Mix. Now Matarrita, Taylor, and Mendoza are all way faster than them and they add a dynamic that is super dangerous (especially when we play on a big field). God, it just makes you really think about how slow we were last year.

 

[Sabo]

Stats in soccer aren't as meaningful as other sports, but check this out. Possession through our first three games --
61 %, 58% and 66%. I know there is a full slate of games to be played but I would be shocked if we weren't top three in the league in shots and shots on goal at the end of the weekend. Those are the the kind of stats you see with elite offensive teams in leagues.

 

[Ulrich]

Irony: We won our first game where we could easily have lost by 2-3 goals. We tied and lost our next two where we could easily have won by 2-3 goals.

Overall, I see the team improving. That's my takeaway and I feel good about it.

Next Saturday will be very interesting as we will be shuffling at least 3 players due to international duty (Mix, Mata, Shelton). PV has shown he values continuity, only making one change to the XI each of the last two games. With 3 forced changes I expect all other starters to remain the same. Sorry Saunders haters. I suspect you'll see him again against NE.

It's the jersey. We never play well in the city blue. We're undefeated in the mesmerizing onion. Fck it, I'm now a convert - wear it every game.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

NYCFC got smart and included the only three guys in the stands better looking than mix-- mgarbowski , Midas Mulligan and myself. (the three tiny people just down and left from the C in Casio)

 

[mgarbowski]

• While I remember a lot of frustration last year, I don't remember ever being so disappointed because we did not get a result that the run of play said we absolutely should.
• I know it is only 3 games, but I cannot believe we are behind last year's pace in terms of results.
• If we don't win the next 2 this 4-game home stand will have been a major disappointment. Even a win and a draw means we would have gained only 5 of a possible 12 from what is likely our easiest stretch of 4 games this year. The schedule did us no favors by frontloading so many favorable games early while this team in flux is still figuring things out.
• I was tempted to use the word "disaster" instead of "disappointment" in the prior point but didn't because it's only the first 5 games, even if we do not get the results I think we need in the next two. On the other hand, our season last year was essentially destroyed by just the first 12 games. We will be better than that, I'm confident, but I think we will be fighting for a playoff spot, not reaching for a bye, at season end.
• We scored 4 in Chicago and so far 2 in 2 games at home (plus scoreless in the last 3 halves). It is not just bad or unlucky finishing either. Our attack has not flowed nearly as well either. We are getting shots, but we still haven't looked nearly as smooth or fluid as we did in Game 1. I'm wondering if the narrow pitch lets us play the 3-man back line, but leaves us with a an overcrowded attack. It's easier to park the bus in a small driveway.
• It's also easier to pack it in and just play defense when the opposing keeper taps the ball directly to your top scorer's head in minute 7.
• G$%F&ck*@gD@mm#T!
• I'll end on a positive: we are so much better than last year. That makes last night aarrgh!-level frustrating but really: so, so much better.

 

[Vito]

Kinda amazing that Brek Shea left that game without seeing at least a yellow. Should've picked one up in the first half for his stomp on Bravos ankle. Such a dirty play from him

 

[BxLio91]

NYCFC got smart and included the only three guys in the stands better looking than mix-- mgarbowski , Midas Mulligan and myself. (the three tiny people just down and left from the C in Casio)

Can't help but to think of this

 

[SteveV]

right

write

(Sorry, couldn't resist since it was a sentence about checking spelling.)

 

[NYCFutbol1]

I was too emtional to comment last night so here it goes:

Shelton = garbage

Saunders = garbage

Iraola = is he scared of the ball? Wtf

Mendoza has to be a starter with Villa at the top and just two instead of three. Taylor has great moves but other than that he does crap.

 

[Ulrich]

• While I remember a lot of frustration last year, I don't remember ever being so disappointed because we did not get a result that the run of play said we absolutely should.
• I know it is only 3 games, but I cannot believe we are behind last year's pace in terms of results.
• If we don't win the next 2 this 4-game home stand will have been a major disappointment. Even a win and a draw means we would have gained only 5 of a possible 12 from what is likely our easiest stretch of 4 games this year. The schedule did us no favors by frontloading our most favorable games early while this team in flux is still figuring things out.
• I was tempted to use the word "disaster" instead of "disappointment" in the prior point but didn't because it's only the first 5 games, even if we do not get the results I think we need in the next two. On the other hand, our season last year was essentially destroyed by the first 12 games. We will be better than that, I'm confident, but I think we will be fighting for a playoff spot, not reaching for a bye, at season end.
• We scored 4 in Chicago and so far 2 in 2 games at home (plus scoreless in the last 3 halves). It is not just bad or unlucky finishing either. Our attack has not flowed nearly as well either. We are getting shots, but we still haven't looked nearly as smooth or fluid as we did in Game 1. I'm wondering if the narrow pitch lets us play the 3-man back line, but leaves us with a an overcrowded attack. It's easier to park the bus in a small driveway.
• It's also easier to pack it in and just play defense when the opposing keeper taps the ball directly to your top scorer's head in minute 7.
• G$%F&ck*@gD@mm#T!
• I'll end on a positive: we are so much better than last year. That makes last night aarrgh!-level frustrating but really: so, so much better.

I think Larin actually chested the ball in, but by that point my head was bent down puking.

 

[Ulrich]

I was too emtional to comment last night so here it goes:

Shelton = garbage

Saunders = garbage

Iraola = is he scared of the ball? Wtf

Mendoza has to be a starter with Villa at the top and just two instead of three. Taylor has great moves but other than that he does crap.

I felt Iraola may have had his best game for us. Granted, the bar wasn't high considering past performances, but he wasn't directly responsible for any goals, saved a sure goal off the line, and contributed to the attack.

 

[mgarbowski]

I felt Iraola may have had his best game for us. Granted, the bar wasn't high considering past performances, but he wasn't directly responsible for any goals, saved a sure goal off the line, and contributed to the attack.

I agree. He made mistakes, but his goal save alone covers for a few of those.