All parents needs to make heckling lists for their kids just in case they're with the opposing player.
NYCFC v Revolution Postmatch
- Thread starter Falastur
- Start date
All parents needs to make heckling lists for their kids just in case they're with the opposing player.
I think the 4-3-3 frees up our wingers more than the 3-2-2-3 at least...
"Excuse me, Mr. Tierney, can you tie my shoe?"
"Yeah, sure, kid."
*Bends down to tie shoe*
"Sheik Mansour sends his regards."
*shanked*
"Yeah, sure, kid."
*Bends down to tie shoe*
"Sheik Mansour sends his regards."
*shanked*
Bravo may only send 2/3 of his passes on target, but he plays his heart out. Give me 10 more Bravos & at least I can walked with my head held held high out of Yankee stadium.
Also Brillant had a horrendous first match but I think he's our only threat on corner kicks.
Finally have a chance to weigh in after all the Easter craziness (Happy Easter, by the way).
A few thoughts in random order.
A few thoughts in random order.
- People have a right to react strongly. This was our worst game of the season. New England is a crap team missing their best player, and we couldn't win even when a man up for half the game.
- This is the time of year when we really have to bank points - a lot of home games, a lot of crap teams. We aren't doing it.
- Connecting that last pass is now a major problem. On Saturday, too many times, players simply didn't make a well timed run into the box, and our passes into dangerous areas didn't find a foot. That has to change.
- I think we really missed Mix and Mata. Our offense didn't control the ball or build well enough, and our defense gave up too many chances. I had hoped the presence of Pirlo, TMac, and Villa would be more than enough, but I was wrong.
- Poku was solid, but rusty. He was great for winning balls, but his passes were off. The fact that he was fouled every time he found space didn't help.
- I also wonder if Poku is the right guy for the kind of soccer we are playing. He is great charging forward on the counterattack. He is less valuable making short passes in crowded areas, although maybe this will improve. I still think he needs to be a regular sub.
- Mendoza did not look sharp. He is fast, and I like him on our team, but Shelton deserves the nod. Khiry is stronger on defense, and has managed to both lay the ball for assists and score a tough goal. Overall, however, our wingers are a weak spot - but these guys are young, so there is hope.
- I think Vieira did a poor job with substitutions. We were dangerous and pushing the attack when he subbed on Mullins and then Ballouchy. I think we struggled for a while with the new players and formation and only toward the very end were we dangerous again.
- Part of the issue was moving Villa to the left wing. I've been a proponent of moving Villa left, but I'm not sure it works to have him that wide. He did make a few nice runs and dribbles toward the end, so maybe the team just needs more time with it.
- I was very disappointed in our defense on that near goal by Charlie Davies. Ballouchy was completely outclassed by Bunbury up the wing, and Hernandez had his weekly brain fart and left Davies unmarked.
I feel the past two games Vieira has done a poor job with subs. I understand the Mullins sub, but the Ballouchy one (even last game too) still boggles my mind. I probably would've gone with Mikey Lopez instead, to bring some pace and life to our team in the last 10-15 minutes. I know Lopez is a bit more defensive minded, but his pace and desire are something I've noticed when he's come onto the field. Granted, he wasted the perfect header opportunity to get us 3 points vs. Toronto, but what has Ballouchy done? Slow, much less technically able, and seems to slow any movement or potential attack as soon as he gets the ball. I don't understand what Vieira thinks Ballouchy is going to give to the team by bringing him on.
Also felt Mendoza had a chance to show us he should start, and did a lot less than he does as a 20-30 minute sub. Didn't think I'd be saying this, but Khiry should start over Mendoza. Khiry plays defense, and Mendoza is a good super-sub to make some last minute chances.
Also felt Mendoza had a chance to show us he should start, and did a lot less than he does as a 20-30 minute sub. Didn't think I'd be saying this, but Khiry should start over Mendoza. Khiry plays defense, and Mendoza is a good super-sub to make some last minute chances.
I've had time to think about it.
When is an acceptable time for us to panic? Yes I'm aware we've only played 4 games, we have the rest of our season ahead of us.
My question to you all is, at what point in the season, if we have less points this year than we did at a comparable time last year, is it ok to say "well this isn't working"?
I'm personally not panicking now but I'd be lying if I didn't say we should have our finger over that panic button.
When is an acceptable time for us to panic? Yes I'm aware we've only played 4 games, we have the rest of our season ahead of us.
My question to you all is, at what point in the season, if we have less points this year than we did at a comparable time last year, is it ok to say "well this isn't working"?
I'm personally not panicking now but I'd be lying if I didn't say we should have our finger over that panic button.
I'd say anywhere from 6-9 games into the season. After this point last year, we didn't get a win for 10-11 games I think, so I believe we won't go on as cold of a stretch compared to last year. At the same time though, that isn't saying much. See how April goes, since it will have a mix of home and away games against a bunch of potential playoff teams, and take it from there
Agreed. Sure, Mikey Lopez may be more defensive-minded. But Ballouchy really doesn't provide a whole ton offensively. Yes he had 2 awesome shots last year when we were without Villa for a while, but he's very pedestrian.
Unmentioned:
- Iraola on our goal showed a bit of skill, the likes of which we were all hoping for when he signed. I hope it is indication of more to come.
- There is one more reason Khiry should start next game. It would be a bad precedent (or at least bad optics) to indicate to players that when they leave for international duty they could lose their starting position. I think Khiry would have lost it this past game even if he wasn't on international duty. But because he was away, he should get the spot back for at least one more game.
Several thoughts I have that I don't think have necessarily been beaten to death yet.
- Poku confirmed a lot of what we have discussed here. Some excitement, some disappointment. I do think though that he has to be on the bench available to sub in. If we need a goal late, bring him in and let him run over tired defenders. He doesn't have the stamina to be in there in PV's system as a starter, but I still think he provides a ton of value.
- That headed chance that Mullins had. He did a great job at keeping it down, but I honestly don't think he could have done a ton more with it. The ball didn't have much pace on it and the way he had to track towards it was taking his momentum away from the goal.
- I think in Diego Martinez's (is this the appropriate way to use an apostrophe here?) case, we need to sometimes take preseason games with a grain of salt. Diego was a guy who during the preseason was playing LB often with a trialist at LW and another trialist in Ivanov at LCB, both who were awful in possession and not particularly great at passing. This really did not allow Martinez, IMO, to show what he was fully capable of. I'm not saying he was amazing on Saturday, but he showed well enough that he's a serviceable backup.
Great point. In my last post I knew there was something else I had wanted to bring up but couldn't remember what it was. Iraola did show quite a bit of skill. I like RJ Allen, but consider me in the camp that he is a backup to Iraola. (I would definitely entertain discussions as to value at their contract amounts though)
I'm pretty frustrated in general about how this game ended... When I saw that red card that should have signaled a victory for the Blues. When you can't pull out a win when you're up a man for most of the half that's just a disappointment.
But one thing that I really noticed is our home field that should be our advantage is really hindering PV's system. Both Orlando and the Revs were able sit back and muddle every single attacking chance we had. They used the smaller field to really flood the box and the wings. If PV can't figure about a better way to counteract this defensive tactic on the smaller field at YS then I will be rapidly pushing the panic button till the end of the season if Chicago does the same thing to us.
The only other thing I notice that really annoyed me is how slow our build up is. I think playing out of the back is a really good idea (especially sense Saunders' goal kicks suck) but it takes 5 minutes just to build up into the attacking third from the defensive third. I guess that's how the system works but it seems like it wastes a lot of time that we need in the attacking third. To me like it takes so long to even get one shot at goal at the opponents defense and they spring a counter attack that we are just barely able to save.
But one thing that I really noticed is our home field that should be our advantage is really hindering PV's system. Both Orlando and the Revs were able sit back and muddle every single attacking chance we had. They used the smaller field to really flood the box and the wings. If PV can't figure about a better way to counteract this defensive tactic on the smaller field at YS then I will be rapidly pushing the panic button till the end of the season if Chicago does the same thing to us.
The only other thing I notice that really annoyed me is how slow our build up is. I think playing out of the back is a really good idea (especially sense Saunders' goal kicks suck) but it takes 5 minutes just to build up into the attacking third from the defensive third. I guess that's how the system works but it seems like it wastes a lot of time that we need in the attacking third. To me like it takes so long to even get one shot at goal at the opponents defense and they spring a counter attack that we are just barely able to save.
N
NYC24
Guest
If we don't get 3 points from Chicago at home it is time to panic.
And when it is time to panic our message should be that we need a coach who: a) has coached before and b) is not Jason Kreis.
Very fair. I think the same thing will happen with this team -- road warriors, with the space to play Vieira's style, and a shift in formation at home that will hopefully allow us to play as wide as the pitch permits, but expect teams to bunker down.
It was a very frustrating game to watch. We seemed to lack an edge all over the field. Unlike the Orlando game, we struggled to get hold of the ball and dominate the midfield.
We were constantly exposed on our left hand side and could have conceded a few more goals if they had players who could finish.
I believe we need to seriously review our acquisition of the DP players. I have always admired Pirlo, but I am beginning to wonder if he is suited to the MLS. Although the technical ability is lower, the pace of the game is quite fast and if you don't control the possession you can be exposed on the break. Pirlo cannot playing as a holding midfielder without support. Once Bravo dropped back, he was left on his own.
Then we have Lampard out injured, not knowing when he will be back, and although he will give us something going forward, is he the player we need in the team.
I hope we show a big improvement in the next game
We were constantly exposed on our left hand side and could have conceded a few more goals if they had players who could finish.
I believe we need to seriously review our acquisition of the DP players. I have always admired Pirlo, but I am beginning to wonder if he is suited to the MLS. Although the technical ability is lower, the pace of the game is quite fast and if you don't control the possession you can be exposed on the break. Pirlo cannot playing as a holding midfielder without support. Once Bravo dropped back, he was left on his own.
Then we have Lampard out injured, not knowing when he will be back, and although he will give us something going forward, is he the player we need in the team.
I hope we show a big improvement in the next game
I think last year the season ended before a lot of people realized, thinking it was still early when in fact we dug an enormous hole that even a fantastic second half would have had trouble saving. So people are tending to get more worried earlier this year. Some of these have been covered but I love me some bullet points:
Reasons to be Worried:
- We play roughly 1/4 of our home games in almost the first month of the season and even if we win the next one we have squandered that.
- We scored 4 goals in the first game away, then 2 in the first half at home, followed by 1 goal in the next 5 halves at home.
- This makes it seem that it is possible that our roster and strategy, combined with our home field size, undermines what should be our home advantage.
- Our table position is not bad, but part of that is that the rest of the East has played 11 games against the West and only taken 9 points to 21 for the West. Meanwhile, we've been underperforming against the East at home.
- We really do seem to be more talented and have more creative coaching this year. It seems unlikely we will underperform at the same rate.
- It's early enough that a 3 game winning streak, or 4 of 5, solves everything. Not to the point where we can coast, but we would have erased the small hole we've currently dug and be able to go forward in the playoff hunt from a reasonably good position.
Schwallacus had it right. Four more game of bad results (9 games into the season) and we have real trouble. Which would still be something that could be overcome, but would take more than a 3-5 good games. Last year our season was in big trouble by week 9, and a full shambles at weeks 11-13. We then won 4 of 5 in games 14-18, and it was reason for hope, but would have required a sustained rate of success we came nowhere near to fulfilling to make the playoffs.
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