NYCFC v Philly

[Vito]

Andre Blake has been great in net for them. Would love to get someone in the draft that could be a future keeper for us.

"A Generation adidas signing, and the first goalkeeper ever to be taken with the top pick in the history of MLS' college draft, Blake has finally assumed the mantle of No. 1 goalkeeper."

 

[gbservis]

Andre Blake has been great in net for them. Would love to get someone in the draft that could be a future keeper for us.

"A Generation adidas signing, and the first goalkeeper ever to be taken with the top pick in the history of MLS' college draft, Blake has finally assumed the mantle of No. 1 goalkeeper."

I think they need to give EJ a shot first. If they do and he plays poorly or if he's so bad in practice that he can't unseat Saunders then I agree a GA player would be a nice way to go. The EJ thing puzzles me how can they think highly enough of him to burn an international spot on him but not highly enough to give him a shot with Saunders performing so poorly?

 

[danger]

I can't seem to find it in print, but I recall (maybe from a podcast) Saunders remarking in a pre-season interview that Johansen would be getting minutes this season. So I think it's a matter of when, not if.

Related: there was also mention a little while back about Johansen pursuing a green card

 

[gbservis]

I can't seem to find it in print, but I recall (maybe from a podcast) Saunders remarking in a pre-season interview that Johansen would be getting minutes this season. So I think it's a matter of when, not if.

Related: there was also mention a little while back about Johansen pursuing a green card

Interesting if it came from Saunders I would assume he was probably talking about the Open Cup. Hard to imagine that he would go into the season assuming he would loose his starting job at some point.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

We are six games in and we have the gentle tap to Larin for the goal, two others in that game where he came out and didn't clear it, saved by his teammates. The kamara boner where he and Hernandez playing ticklebutt with the ball, nearly costing a goal, charlie davies easily rounding him, saved by a teammate, the pass to Brillant which could be attributed at least halfly to Saunders, and thats off the top of my head. CAn you remember others?

Thank god his stats are reflecting his crap play. hopefully we will be done soon.

 

[SoupInNYC]

We are six games in and we have the gentle tap to Larin for the goal, two others in that game where he came out and didn't clear it, saved by his teammates. The kamara boner where he and Hernandez playing ticklebutt with the ball, nearly costing a goal, charlie davies easily rounding him, saved by a teammate, the pass to Brillant which could be attributed at least halfly to Saunders, and thats off the top of my head. CAn you remember others?

Thank god his stats are reflecting his crap play. hopefully we will be done soon.

The Gio goal was very soft goalkeeping.

 

[joe]

Starting to sink in that we're about to play three games in 8 days. If they are ever going to give Josh a break, regardless of form, you'd think it would be one of these matches.

Anyone want to look at the average number of games/minutes for MLS keepers? Saunders could have been playing lights out last year, and I still would have expected him to get a game or two out of the 34 off.

 

[Vires]

No games off we have to compete with this.

 

[Ulrich]

We are six games in and we have the gentle tap to Larin for the goal, two others in that game where he came out and didn't clear it, saved by his teammates. The kamara boner where he and Hernandez playing ticklebutt with the ball, nearly costing a goal, charlie davies easily rounding him, saved by a teammate, the pass to Brillant which could be attributed at least halfly to Saunders, and thats off the top of my head. CAn you remember others?

Thank god his stats are reflecting his crap play. hopefully we will be done soon.

Damn.... that was impressive!!! I had tried to forget the sheer number of utter fck-up plays by Saunders, or at least the details of each, but that list brings them all back in total clarity....

We really need to have a twitter posse #NYCFCtwitter that just bombards the front offices with stats like this & Saunders' Save% that NYCFCfan posted today. Make it relentless so they can't help but notice that the STH aren't quite convinced about the man between the posts.

 

[Ulrich]

Starting to sink in that we're about to play three games in 8 days. If they are ever going to give Josh a break, regardless of form, you'd think it would be one of these matches.

Anyone want to look at the average number of games/minutes for MLS keepers? Saunders could have been playing lights out last year, and I still would have expected him to get a game or two out of the 34 off.

This 3 game series is huge - 9 pts w/ 6 being at home..... By the end of next weekend we will conceivably either be in the thick of the playoff positions or completely out of it (unless RB et al keep shitting the bed).

If NYCFC plays Saunders on Saturday and we lose, it is definitely time to hit the red panic button regarding the GK position....

 

[The Toe]

Here is the injury report for New York City FC at Philadelphia Union:

New York City FC

• Connor Brandt - OUT
• Jack Harrison - QUESTIONABLE
• Frank Lampard - QUESTIONABLE
• Ethan White - QUESTIONABLE

Philadelphia Union

• Maurice Edu - OUT
• Ilsinho - Questionable
• Ken Tribbett - Questionable

 

[danger]

Interesting if it came from Saunders I would assume he was probably talking about the Open Cup. Hard to imagine that he would go into the season assuming he would loose his starting job at some point.

My recollection was that he acknowledged he's getting older and may just be rested some games, not that he was losing his spot per se. Tagging BlueCityRadio because they discussed Saunders/Johansen in ep. 58 during pre-season and thesauerchise said "Johansen is gonna play more, Saunders has even said that" (around 29:56) but I still can't find an original Saunders interview. Maybe I was mistaken and just remembering the comment from BCR?

 

[hatt91]

I remember Saunders saying something during the preseason about his body taking a beating last season...

 

[Ulrich]

I remember Saunders saying something during the preseason about his body taking a beating last season...

The beating his body is taking now is nothing compared to the beating the team is taking with his save percentage.

 

[Seven]

Inside Training has Villa doing a lot of practice finishing. Hopefully that means...HAT TRICK!!!

 

[FalseNiner]

Here's a formation to consider:

Jo,
Allen, Mena, White
Bravo, Pirlo
Harrison, Poku
Random, Villa, Random

I like having the attacking defenders, but I think we need to focus on playing actual defense (since we can't score). Despite his conditioning, Poku smashing through the middle and holding onto the ball is something we need - Mix & TMac cant' do it. The attacking front has not been productive, with Villa trying to do everything, but perhaps they need better support from the midfield. For the randoms, it could be any of the 6 wings we have. Where is Jefferson?

 

[Mujo Paljevic]

What about this:
4-3-3, or 4-2-1-3 depending on your preferences

-----------------Johansen-----------------
Iraola-Brillant-Harnandez-Matarrita
--------------Bravo---Pirlo----------------
--------------------Mix----------------------
Shelton-------Villa-------TT/Mendoza

Why:
-4 man back line allows for our FBs to go forward without leaving one single CB stranded on an island
-Bravo can help the CBs with counters when said FBs go forward, as well as covering for Pirlo, which is something we need.
-Mix can gallop and run about wherever he needs to be, and has some space not taken up by the Penguin.
-Shelton on the right has given us better results than having Mendoza in. I was high on Mendoza after his first sub appearance, but he has gotten progressively worse these past few games. Maybe stick him on the left since I also don't think TT does anything much either.

The weakest point, in my mind, with this formation is the Left Wing. Both Taylor & Mendoza haven't impressed much at all on either side. Maybe even stick Mac out there for his positional sense around the box and better soccer knowledge that TT/Mendoza. I'm hoping Harrison can come on and immediately go HAM on the left side, but I think that's a bit much to ask for.

really like this set up as well

 

[Mujo Paljevic]

Does anyone know if the Union Stadium has a team store? would like to pick up a union jersey as a gift for myself for making the trip out there. thinking of a barnetta jersey because of the crazy free kick he had against orlando.

 

[gbservis]

Does anyone know if the Union Stadium has a team store? would like to pick up a union jersey as a gift for myself for making the trip out there. thinking of a barnetta jersey because of the crazy free kick he had against orlando.

Never been but I can't imagine a stadium that didn't sell jersys, that would be like throwing away money.

 

[gbservis]

Here's a formation to consider:

Jo,
Allen, Mena, White
Bravo, Pirlo
Harrison, Poku
Random, Villa, Random

I like having the attacking defenders, but I think we need to focus on playing actual defense (since we can't score). Despite his conditioning, Poku smashing through the middle and holding onto the ball is something we need - Mix & TMac cant' do it. The attacking front has not been productive, with Villa trying to do everything, but perhaps they need better support from the midfield. For the randoms, it could be any of the 6 wings we have. Where is Jefferson?

So in summary you just want to change everyone.