Toronto PostMatch Discussion

[Classicist]

Did anyone catch the TIFO?

Yeah, I got a lousy half-picture of it on my phone, so I won't bother uploading it, but the left piece had a globe and the words: "WHOSE WORLD IS THIS?" The right side had a player (Villa?) and the words "THE WORLD IS OURS." A play on Nas's "The World Is Yours." It was a good looking design, a clever use of a NYC hip hop legend's work and an ambitious statement about the club's future.

Really well done, IMO.

 

[Gavin23]

Aside from the game, my favorite moment was de Blasio getting booed again by the fans. I asked him where's Dante. You know, Dante, his son who is always wearing an NYCFC jersey in social media posts. Well, Dante is in California and the taxpayers are probably paying for his trip.

deBlasio Out, NYCFC Stadium In.

Amen

 

[Dreaming_NYC]

Also, mgarbowski will now present to all of you a summary of all of the times I called for a 3 man backline.

Hernandez was bad. Mata was good. Mix was outstanding, but that's just normal for him. He was better than Bradley, honestly.

Pirlo and Bravo were solid together. Still think the TFC keeper should have been called for at least a PK. We should have had 3-4 at the half.

Loved Mendoza. Would have brought him on for Shelton rather than Taylor. I'm guessing Mendoza takes Shelton's minutes.

The game could have used Poku, but I think he's gone. Damnit. Would rather give up fat Frank.

Eta: Saunders was awful. So, so bad. But that's par for the course.

I really liked Mendoza. He is like a future version of poku. He is fast and technical and although I've only seen him for 20minutes I believe he will be fighting for a starting spot on the wings. But if that is the case and lampard comes back... I'm sorry poku , maybe next year ?

PS I prefer Poku over Lamps but you aren't going to have a multi million dollar DP sitting on the bench if he is healthy.

 

[NYCisBlue_]

Did anyone see Poku during warm-ups? I got to my seat a bit late but didn't see him at all.

I didn't see him warm up with the team. Got a feeling he's going to be traded

 

[LionNYC]

I didn't see him warm up with the team. Got a feeling he's going to be traded

Poku was never spotted, not even in the tunnel. If he was in the stadium he was watching from a suite. Iraola and Rawls came out to the third base dugout for a few minutes before the match.

 

[MarioFantastico]

Enjoyed the game tonight. Disappointing to lose a two goal lead but the football played was of a much higher standard that last year.
Most impressive for me was Pirlo Mattarita and Villa.
New goalkeeper needed along with a commanding centre back. Saunders distribution is awful plus demands the ball from defenders at bad times. Could have done better for Torontos second although it was criminal of Brilliant to stand of giovinco and then let him turn to face goals, was only one outcome really when he turned.

 

[Christopher Jee]

I had a bad feeling about this game and would've been happy with a point, but after seeing how well we generally dealt with Gio and Toronto's offense, a draw is disappointing.

I was really impressed with the new system and how comfortable we appeared in it. It mostly looked like a 4-5-1 in defense. There were a few scary early moments where I think Khiry failed to track his runner but overall it looked very solid. I also thought Brillant read the game really well and made some key defensive contributions. He could maybe have done a little more on Gio's goal but I don't think he should be beating Saunders from there on his left foot.

I'd really like to go back and watch that game again and try to understand how we were moving the ball through midfield in the first half. My guess would be that Pirlo and Bravo were mostly bypassing Tommy and Mix to get it up to Villa, who was then able to find Tommy / Mix on the support run as we got men forward to lay siege to their penalty area. This outlet seemed to get more or less shut down for the majority of the second half. A couple of theories:

• Tommy + Mix ran out of steam.
• Shelton and Taylor got pinned back and Villa ended up isolated.
• Also at some point Toronto brought Cheyrou on for Endoh and changed things up in the center. I didn't focus enough on this to see how it worked.

Maybe somebody else has a better grip on this.

In the end, we created the better chances and had more than enough to win it. Pirlo seemed to flourish with Bravo's support. Bravo gave away a few sloppy fouls in some pretty dangerous areas so I'm not yet convinced this is going to be our standard arrangement, but I'm glad that we appear to be flexible enough to change things up based on squad availability and opposition. As others have commented, Mendoza looks promising too, so all in all there are plenty of positives to take out of this game.

 

[Ferdinand Cesarano]

After Mattarita's attack-minded play last week, I was nervous when I saw that he was going to be in a back three; but I was pleased to see him staying back, where he was such a huge presence.

I think that we need Mattarita more in defence than as part of the attack. Even when we go back to four at the back, I hope that Vieira won't have him getting forward too much and leaving dangerous gaps behind him.

 

[PaddingtonB.]

Couldn't make out what was written on the TIFO.
Saunders was a disappointment.
Pirlo and Villa were outstanding.
A tie is better than a loss.

 

[LIblue]

Poku was never spotted, not even in the tunnel. If he was in the stadium he was watching from a suite. Iraola and Rawls came out to the third base dugout for a few minutes before the match.

Saw him in the elevator after the game with Harrison and a couple others so probably was watching from a suite.

 

[LionNYC]

Saw him in the elevator after the game with Harrison and a couple others so probably was watching from a suite.

Which elevator? Please elaborate. Did you speak to them? What were they talking about? What were their facial expressions? Any noticeable injuries?

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

The gripe last year with poku was that he was behind grabavoy, Velasquez, ballouchy and Alvarez. There is a case to be made he should be a forward, but he is not better than mix or tmac this year.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Saw him in the elevator after the game with Harrison and a couple others so probably was watching from a suite.

Which elevator? Please elaborate. Did you speak to them? What were they talking about? What were their facial expressions? Any noticeable injuries?

And did anyone mention us getting a keeper out of it? I love Poku, but it looks like he hasn't earned a place. He's too valuable to sit on the bench or not dress, so let's get something out of it.

Unlike last year, I think we all can understand that it may very well be a reasonable decision given what we have.

I think this team is a goalkeeper and healthy defenders away from being decent. We're a Lampard-out and a good replacement DP signing away from being contenders.

 

[NYCFC_JD]

We looked solid most of the game. I know we were at home, but while our squad and particularly defense is still gaining chemistry, I'll take a tie against last year's MVP and what will likely be one of the strongest teams in the East this year. One thing that's most frustrating is that we were able to switch fields so well last week and we just can't do that on the narrow field at home.

Villa was Villa. Matarrita was lockdown. Mendoza will be starting soon and is going to smoke a lot of defenders. Can't wait to watch that some more.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

The gripe last year with poku was that he was behind grabavoy, Velasquez, ballouchy and Alvarez. There is a case to be made he should be a forward, but he is not better than mix or tmac this year.

Exactly what I was getting at. Damn you.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

We looked solid most of the game. I know we were at home, but while our squad and particularly defense is still gaining chemistry, I'll take a tie against last year's MVP and what will likely be one of the strongest teams in the East this year. One thing that's most frustrating is that we were able to switch fields so well last week and we just can't do that on the narrow field at home.

Villa was Villa. Matarrita was lockdown. Mendoza will be starting soon and is going to smoke a lot of defenders. Can't wait to watch that some more.

Mendoza was a waterbug out there. And his touch looked absolutely fine. The ball he played to Pirlo to earn a free kick was so good, too.

 

[Gene]

I vividly recall one specific instance when Khiry dragged like five defenders with him over to the touchline and everyone in my row was screaming at him to switch the play given the huge amounts of space he created. Frustrating that he couldn't pull it off, but Toronto did have him walled in pretty well.

Honest to God I remember the play. I elbowed my son and said "there he goes again." Love the kid, but he's got to learn to dish off when he's covered like that.

Just got back from the game. Thought Matarrita was phenomenal today.

Agree. I voted he and Mix MVP.

Really like what Mendoza bought to the table tonight. I'll be surprised if he's not starting over Shelton very soon, and I hope that pushes Shelton to take his game to the next level. Competition at every position can only make this team better.

Agree. I couldn't believe how fast he was!

 

[Viewfrom226]

Poku was never spotted, not even in the tunnel. If he was in the stadium he was watching from a suite. Iraola and Rawls came out to the third base dugout for a few minutes before the match.

I saw him at the game before it looking rather happy actually. Nobody really knows what's going on there, but I wouldn't jump to conclusions quite yet.

 

[Mellemonster]

Did anyone catch the TIFO?

The TIFO said, "Whose World Is This?" "The World Is Ours"

 

[NYCFC_JD]

Love looking at standings on MLS site and seeing us in top 3 in the East!

Random question -- I see on the forum main discussions page that it displays "Season Ticket Holders Now Online". How does a STH get designated as such on this site?? Is there a confirmation process? Thanks for any possible help/info!