RBNJ Postmatch

[Viewfrom226]

The route-one approach, though, is really only a hotfix. It forces us to play in a style that ignores the strengths of the team we put together to play our possession based play style. This lack of plan B when facing a press has been a recurring problem with tiki-taka and all of it's imitators

This is the thing that has been troubling me since the SKC match and which I talked about following that game. It was the one thing that troubled me about a match that was otherwise a throwaway.

I'm not sure what the alternative is for us when we are not able to build possession and are getting overrun in the midfield. We don't really have the personnel to play a target man game. Better passers out of the back would certainly help and hopefully Chanot is part of the answer, but it is an interesting challenge for Vieira. It is easy to say we need a Plan B, which his one of the most oft-repeated mantras in football whenever a team troubles. But, as you note, the question is what it is given our personnel (no target man, mediocre ballplayers in the back). The answer isn't readily apparent to me at least.

 

[JayH]

The unfortunate truth is that this game was a lot like the first half in Montreal. The only difference was that Drogba and Odurro couldn't finish like the RB did yesterday. Whether or not we fix the flaws through personnel or tactics (if we are committed to playing out of the back the way we do it will have to be more of the former), will determine whether we are a playoff team that can be one-and-done or a team that can make a serious run.

 

[FootyLovin]

The biggest thing I don't see us talking about was Villa and Jack poorly managing the offside line. The telecast didn't show any replays on any of the offsides and I think every single one was on a long ball. So they weren't even in frame in real time. So let's set aside the question of the refs on those.

It was Villa's and Jack's job to be onside and ready for balls over the top. Villa had a golden chance to put us up 1-0 and blew it with a very poor first touch.

From that point on, go watch the offsides runs. Jack and Villa were constantly in acres of space. Had they held their runs better they would have had multiple scoring opportunities.

Had they held their runs better and/or Villa finished they would have forced the NJ back line to play further back. That opens the midfield and enables us to break their press. It also tires their press more because they have to cover more space with it.

Villa and Jack failing in this was a big, big part of this loss. I'm not saying this to suggest they are horrible or we should hate on them. Rather, for all the hate leveled at our defense and midfield, this failure in the frontline was at least as big a factor as anything else.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

The biggest thing I don't see us talking about was Villa and Jack poorly managing the offside line. The telecast didn't show any replays on any of the offsides and I think every single one was on a long ball. So they weren't even in frame in real time. So let's set aside the question of the refs on those.

It was Villa's and Jack's job to be onside and ready for balls over the top. Villa had a golden chance to put us up 1-0 and blew it with a very poor first touch.

From that point on, go watch the offsides runs. Jack and Villa were constantly in acres of space. Had they held their runs better they would have had multiple scoring opportunities.

Had they held their runs better and/or Villa finished they would have forced the NJ back line to play further back. That opens the midfield and enables us to break their press. It also tires their press more because they have to cover more space with it.

Villa and Jack failing in this was a big, big part of this loss. I'm not saying this to suggest they are horrible or we should hate on them. Rather, for all the hate leveled at our defense and midfield, this failure in the frontline was at least as big a factor as anything else.

That and Norris and Brillant forgetting how to complete simple balls. Our passing tempo also has to be better.

 

[Lasker]

Good insights above. Worse than losing to the Red Bulls again is that we have now seen some consistent weaknesses across several games. In theory Pirlo sending long passes to Villa/Jack should be a good way keep a high-pressing team honest. But when thats not working and our back four can't figure out how to pass the ball through the midfield, we don't have a chance. Fortunately most teams don't play that way as well at NJRB does.

On another note, I had a great time at my first away game, and first visit to RBA. I thought the supporters did well even when we were down 1-0 and 2-0, and I enjoyed hearing some songs that were either new or just never carried outside 235-238 at YS. And as far as I know there were no ugly fan incidents (well, except when I spilled beer all over the folks behind me jumping up for TMac's shot off the bar.) I guess evyone already knows but it really highlighted just how lousy Yankee Stadium is for Soccer.

The number of chants of "We want 7", later turning to "we want 8" and the guy in front of me silently holding 7 fingers in the air at every opportunity were confirmation that we'll be hearing about that game for a long time.

Here's hoping for one more meeting this year in the playoffs, and a different result.

 

[ktdNYCFC]

The biggest thing I don't see us talking about was Villa and Jack poorly managing the offside line.

My wife calls him David Offside Villa, and she doesn't even know what offside means.

 

[Paul]

1. Vieira got himself thrown out during a water break.
2. His team subsequently lost control.
3. A coach should be better than his own fans who whine self-righteously about another coach's whining and don't even realize they sound ridiculous whining about whining.

Getting tossed from the match in the 33rd minute on a sweltering day was the smartest thing PV has done all season. I was in the stands, unhappy and uncomfortable, thinking "that cheeky bastard is inside enjoying the A/C".

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

Stu Holden mentioned it. Pirlo was pissed at Lampard for not pressing. Iraola was frustrated with the midfield. Vieira pointed it out. Another game with no CM another game with no possession and no shots.

Our grand total of 40% possession and 5 shots brings us to 46% with frank in "CM" (56 without) and 10 shots per game with (15 without)



Look at that embarrassment. Everything forward is red. He literally did nothing, and this is not an anomaly. The premier league legend did not help us get out of our own half at all, and turned it over every time he tried.

75% passing from the legend, and unfortunately no balls bounced off of him into the goal.


(Btw mena was 95% passing with good defensive numbers. Brillant had a terrible game yesterday statistically)

 

[Gotham Gator]

Just gaze at the table.
Gaze deeply at the table.
Focus on the table and feel it relax you.
Feel all the worries and anxieties seep out of your body with each breath as you gaze deeply at the table.
Don't let things like form, suspensions or goal differential distract you.
Just gaze deeply at the table.

 

[NickA]

The difference is that last year we were in last place, this year we're in first place.

(Give or take a few places here and there.)

I understand what you're trying to say, but being in first place doesn't negate being creative or adjusting tactically to a particular game.

 

[NickA]

Stu Holden mentioned it. Pirlo was pissed at Lampard for not pressing. Iraola was frustrated with the midfield. Vieira pointed it out. Another game with no CM another game with no possession and no shots.

Our grand total of 40% possession and 5 shots brings us to 46% with frank in "CM" (56 without) and 10 shots per game with (15 without)

View attachment 5381

Look at that embarrassment. Everything forward is red. He literally did nothing, and this is not an anomaly. The premier league legend did not help us get out of our own half at all, and turned it over every time he tried.

75% passing from the legend, and unfortunately no balls bounced off of him into the goal.


(Btw mena was 95% passing with good defensive numbers. Brillant had a terrible game yesterday statistically)

There were several times where Pirlo was pressing high, causing whatever defender to quickly pass the ball in a panic mode..to a wide open player. You can clearly see Pirlo giving Lampard the business, cause Frank was like 20 yards from his guy, leaving him wide open. That's clearly not how the press works. I'd be pissed too at 100 degrees to see Frank not applying the pressure on his end, while I was.

 

[ktdNYCFC]

There were several times where Pirlo was pressing high, causing whatever defender to quickly pass the ball in a panic mode..to a wide open player. You can clearly see Pirlo giving Lampard the business, cause Frank was like 20 yards from his guy, leaving him wide open. That's clearly not how the press works. I'd be pissed too at 100 degrees to see Frank not applying the pressure on his end, while I was.

I saw exactly what you saw. I was watching Pirlo press high, thinking "is that who I think it is? Fuckin Pirlo is the one guy we have pressuring them?" He caused the quick, pressured pass to Lampard's wide-open man, and then gave Lampard some wide open "what the fuck, mate?" arms in disgust.

 

[sbrylski]

I saw exactly what you saw. I was watching Pirlo press high, thinking "is that who I think it is? Fuckin Pirlo is the one guy we have pressuring them?" He caused the quick, pressured pass to Lampard's wide-open man, and then gave Lampard some wide open "what the fuck, mate?" arms in disgust.

I saw this on the front line too. We came out in the second half, and within the first two minutes, McNamara pressured a defender, who passed it square to his wide open teammate. Tommy threw his arms up, and I knew then that we weren't making a comeback.

I thought Tommy and Iraola were the only ones with heart out there yesterday.

 

[NickA]

I saw this on the front line too. We came out in the second half, and within the first two minutes, McNamara pressured a defender, who passed it square to his wide open teammate. Tommy threw his arms up, and I knew then that we weren't making a comeback.

I thought Tommy and Iraola were the only ones with heart out there yesterday.

I'm ok with Iraloa playing deep and Pirlo staying mid as a distributor, but the 3rd mid (Lampard) can't be an attacking guy only. That needs to be a box 2 box mid. If we are down pressing for a goal, sure, shift that role to an attacking mod...but a 4-3-3 is an attacking formation already, can't expose ourselves like that. Need to adjust. At times it looked like a 4-1-4-1 with T-Mac and Jack playing a more mid role to help our fullbacks out. It was a tactical disaster IMO.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

I'm ok with Iraloa playing deep and Pirlo staying mid as a distributor, but the 3rd mid (Lampard) can't be an attacking guy only. That needs to be a box 2 box mid. If we are down pressing for a goal, sure, shift that role to an attacking mod...but a 4-3-3 is an attacking formation already, can't expose ourselves like that. Need to adjust. At times it looked like a 4-1-4-1 with T-Mac and Jack playing a more mid role to help our fullbacks out. It was a tactical disaster IMO.

The average positions are a mess with Villa dropping so deep, McNamara dropping deep and Pirlo pressing up trying to get through midfield.



(Also look at the RB picture. The two DMs on red bulls average positions were in our half. how does that happen)

 

[Max Power]

That and Norris and Brillant forgetting how to complete simple balls. Our passing tempo also has to be better.

I think this comment is spot on but I liked it primarily because you brought back Norris. Outstanding.

 

[Max Power]

I saw this on the front line too. We came out in the second half, and within the first two minutes, McNamara pressured a defender, who passed it square to his wide open teammate. Tommy threw his arms up, and I knew then that we weren't making a comeback.

I thought Tommy and Iraola were the only ones with heart out there yesterday.

Agree with the fact that Tommy and AI played with the most heart and conviction, but I have to say that I thought RJ played with heart as well. I'd throw Pirlo in there too to some degree because it felt like he was trying to press the game for us, but then he kind of gave up after he couldn't convince Lamps to do any defensive work whatsoever.

 

[Ulrich]

He's fucking garbage

Glad you had a nice day out anyway

Dude, your analysis is so far off base with this item, as with a lot of your postings. Having white at RB offers zero support on the back line. When the CBs shift the RB has to shift and track and that wasn't happening. If you're going to throw somebody under the bus then some self reflection goes a long way too.

Your negative postings are seriously lacking on so many levels.

 

[Ulrich]

1. Vieira got himself thrown out during a water break.
2. His team subsequently lost control.
3. A coach should be better than his own fans who whine self-righteously about another coach's whining and don't even realize they sound ridiculous whining about whining.

4. Or another fan that constantly whines about fans' loathing of another coach.

I love 99% of what you write but that was seriously self-righteous.

 

[ktdNYCFC]