I really hope Mata has himself a damn good psychologist because if I were him I'd be emotionally wrecked at this point.
Orlando Postmatch
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
- Start date
Fun match today. You can say it's a good validation that Vieira believes in his squad and system and that he has the confidence that almost all are positionaly ready to step in and know what their role is. Good too see a match without Villa to give us a glimpse. I definitely want to see how we look with Berget either as the 9 or even on the wing but I just get the feeling they way Vieira wants to play he will be more in the center.
Very happy with the Ismael and Saad performances. Very capable.
Also have to mention that Vieira's subs in the 3 matches have been spot on. Some can argue on the personnel but tactically was perfect. Major improvement.
Feel very bad for Mata. Looks like Sweat is the man for some time, would like to see his passing more accurate.
Very happy with the Ismael and Saad performances. Very capable.
Also have to mention that Vieira's subs in the 3 matches have been spot on. Some can argue on the personnel but tactically was perfect. Major improvement.
Feel very bad for Mata. Looks like Sweat is the man for some time, would like to see his passing more accurate.
I believe last year it was his foot that had all the issues. Hamstrings can be months. Poor guy, can’t seem to stay on the field.
Tajouri was solid but did not make sense as a hold up player. In the second half, Rodney became the 9 and started turning the turnovers into 50-50s. Tajouri is more of a second ball player I think. And then when we were able to keep the ball in the final third more often, Medina's became the point of the attack. He's a scary smart player with the way he finds space and makes space for others. In some ways the polar opposite of Jack. Whereas Jack had an uncanny ability to win the ball out of the close 50-50s, Medina is so far ahead of play in his mind that I feel sometimes he forgets to take care of the ball in the instant. Net, he is creating a lot more dangerous opportunities.
It was nice to see Herrera back to his physical, cunning best. Part of me feels like this eventuated because of Klejstan and Meram. Like it gave him something clear and urgent to take care of. And obviously, Ring was Ring.
Back 4 was basically non-existent, which is a credit to our midfield 3.
Saad looked shaky in the opening passages but grew into the game. Still his final ball was a bit forced. It made me appreciate how often Sweat holds the cross until it actually makes sense to let go of it. There were at least 3 times where Saad got level with the 18 and then was like "ok this is when the full back manual says I should get rid". Only his pass went straight to the opposition, where he was completely out of position. I think a team with more natural width and better quality could have made us pay for that. Luckily, Kreis is too rigid to see or react to something like that.
Liked what I saw of Kwame when he came on. Dude is a clown off the pitch but he came on and looked very tidy. Tommy was horrible, which is a testament to how far we've come.
Last thing I'll say is that I saw a completely different Lewis in the warmups. He was getting prepped with the second string, and he looked really on it and hard on himself. Stayed back for shots afterwards and just seemed hungry overall. Maybe all the negging from PV is sharpening the saw.
It was nice to see Herrera back to his physical, cunning best. Part of me feels like this eventuated because of Klejstan and Meram. Like it gave him something clear and urgent to take care of. And obviously, Ring was Ring.
Back 4 was basically non-existent, which is a credit to our midfield 3.
Saad looked shaky in the opening passages but grew into the game. Still his final ball was a bit forced. It made me appreciate how often Sweat holds the cross until it actually makes sense to let go of it. There were at least 3 times where Saad got level with the 18 and then was like "ok this is when the full back manual says I should get rid". Only his pass went straight to the opposition, where he was completely out of position. I think a team with more natural width and better quality could have made us pay for that. Luckily, Kreis is too rigid to see or react to something like that.
Liked what I saw of Kwame when he came on. Dude is a clown off the pitch but he came on and looked very tidy. Tommy was horrible, which is a testament to how far we've come.
Last thing I'll say is that I saw a completely different Lewis in the warmups. He was getting prepped with the second string, and he looked really on it and hard on himself. Stayed back for shots afterwards and just seemed hungry overall. Maybe all the negging from PV is sharpening the saw.
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He played some good, unconventional balls, leading to our second goal and other good opps.
I'm okay with being the only person who doesn't rate Sweat .And I still just don't . Even though I see what good he does .I totally, totally get people not keeping him around .He's like the most productive shit player ever .I can't figure it out.
Pretty much disagree with most of this part .SAS is so far ahead of where Sweat was when he joined, it's not funny .
He played some good, unconventional balls, leading to our second goal and other good opps.
I'm okay with being the only person who doesn't rate Sweat .And I still just don't . Even though I see what good he does .I totally, totally get people not keeping him around .He's like the most productive shit player ever .I can't figure it out.
Not that I have any truly inside info on this but...
We are so fucking good. There's a knack to this team that you get from smart players that are very skilled. You don't get that feeling around the league entirely. We gave up, what, 1 shot in 60'? Unreal. This game wasn't in doubt from kickoff even if we didn't score until midway through the second half.
We are so fucking good. There's a knack to this team that you get from smart players that are very skilled. You don't get that feeling around the league entirely. We gave up, what, 1 shot in 60'? Unreal. This game wasn't in doubt from kickoff even if we didn't score until midway through the second half.
Agree that Salaam is starting from a higher base. I think with a few games under his belt, he will blossom. The ball for Maxi's goal was very neat. Also the way he read the play and made the interception. Like you, I have no idea what Vermes was thinking.
I know what you mean about Sweat. He is a tall full back (as is Abdul Salaam), but he doesn't really get low, which I think explains how often he gets beat by his winger. Salaam is also a string bean but he seems to get low and spread, and then that ridiculous reach gets to a lot of crosses. Orlando were pretty toothless, though, so I'm not sure how much SAS was tested.
I’m not sure his 8th sub of the 9 was even close to spot on. TMac is great as a fan favorite and entry cheer, but he brought nothing to the table with his play. The lone bright spot was he didn’t point where others should be, because otherwise he was pretty useless on the field with errant passes, soft marking, and a severe lack of pace; he also seemed to drift into the middle constantly, and I know that was his trademark last year, but it doesn’t seem like any other wingers this year have drifted to the middle without the ball - his movement is just odd. I’d like to think this was PV throwing him a bone to prove he needs minutes, and todays showing should solidify his future exemption from the field.
You aren't the only one.
And Sweat was playing terrible crosses today. And his shooting reminds me of why he is a LB
Looking forward to seeing how this season’s point total compares to previous seasons. The prediction part of the graph should look pretty cool this week.
I'd like to know why it took that. Some of us have known for a long time. Not naming names or anything. Just some of us .
Do you remember what meram has done to us coming in from the left? Look at what he's even done this year .I think you're selling SAS short for what he did defensively .
He's no Tinny going forward, but he's very, very good defending. I'd consider him as wide CB in a 3 .He has the height and loads of pace. He was better than I remembered him, and I was already happy we picked him up .
Laughable that Vermes chose an old and terrible Zusi over him .
Like I said. You can argue the personnel. Tactically better. Better than bringing on a defender like had been doing.
Absolutely. And I talk about Salaam's defensive work in that post. I felt like Meram was playing more centrally today. I wasn't tracking Orlando's shape but they don't leave wingers high. Better teams don't let us get away with those full back giveaways.
Our backup fullback is a lockdown defender and created 2-3 dead to rights chances .
Give us the shield now .
I WAS somewhat worried when I saw the lineup. I shouldn't have been. This what a successful off season and depth looks like. Though Orlando does suck so that contributed to it too.
Damn Medina is good. I'm glad he's ours and he's looking well worth the DP Status
Maxi also so far this year looking more like a DP, is he adjusting to the league ? Or is it the increase of talent around him?
Damn Medina is good. I'm glad he's ours and he's looking well worth the DP Status
Maxi also so far this year looking more like a DP, is he adjusting to the league ? Or is it the increase of talent around him?
We are 3-0-0 and still haven't played a completely dominant game. There is still room for improvement, which means we are going to be scary.
How often before have we played down to opponents and not beaten teams we should have? And yes, it's only been 3 games, but this has been fun
How often before have we played down to opponents and not beaten teams we should have? And yes, it's only been 3 games, but this has been fun
Yes.
All around, No doubt, our team is just smarter. So much easier to blend in new guys when your MLS experienced guys are also decent. Apologies to Wingert .
