Vancouver Postgame

What a great day! Just settling down to post this after taking 2 of the 4 kids home, settling a wife with the stomach flu and spending time with my 76 year old parents, who attended their first MLS game today (and loved it).

Villa was absolutely terrific. Not only scored the brace, but did so many little things today on offense and defense. Harassing players, nifty backheels, winning balls. Really top notch game and so much effort. The moment of the game might have been watching him collapse on the pitch in exhaustion and joy.

Shelton had a great game. His dispossession of a Vancouver player and dish to Villa for the equalizer might have been the most important play of the game - it turned the whole mood around after the atrocious start. He was great making runs at defenders and opening up play. I think it is slowly starting to come together for him.

The corner kick goal was terrific. We've run variations on that play a couple of times, including when Mix nearly put one in. He shot his at the keeper, while Villa hit the lower corner. Big credit to Freddie Brillant for bear hugging not one, but two Vancouver players to help free up the Captain.

Saunders' opening gaffe is inexcusable. He did make a couple of great saves after that and otherwise played a pretty good game, but that kind of mistake simply cannot happen, and this wasn't the first time. We need to give Eirik a chance or make a deal to get Cropper or Guzan.

The defense was not as strong this week as it has been. Vancouver had some nice chances, and we are fortunate they didn't score a real goal (they got two gifts from Saunders and White, but didn't earn one themselves).

Ethan White almost cost us 2 points for the second straight week. That foul occurred right in front of me, and it was a penalty. Watching the replay, the Vancouver player embellished a great deal, but there was a foul nonetheless. White grabbed a guy from behind and pulled him back, and you just cannot do that, even if he's just smoked you to get a run at goal. I have a lot of confidence he will grow into a good player for us, but you can't have him playing instead of Iraola.

This was the ref's first MLS game this season. I thought his first half was strong, his second half poor. There were a couple of times when Villa was dragged down in the box in the second half. I was at the other end of the field and didn't have a great view. Could either reasonably have been considered penalties?

Mix is terrific. He needs to start. Great effort. Great technical ability. Not sure what else we want.

I like TMac and Pirlo playing higher up the pitch. It allows us to put more proper defensively oriented guys in the game and to play more of our CMs, which is a strength.

Bravo is one of our most important guys, and it's not always obvious.

I sat in 207, right next to "The Coop". Those guys are a ton of fun. It's a great atmosphere over there. I chose my usual seats (in 232B) because they are near the supporters section. Well, these guys will tell you they are creating a supporters section for the other end of the field, and it is true.

I went to the concession stand right behind them and asked the lady what she thought of the chanting. She said "It's great. It almost sounds like they're saying 'Chicken Bucket'." When I told her that's exactly what they're saying she laughed out loud and told everyone else. The whole area then starting discussing it, and broke into a "Chicken Bucket" chant led by a 10-year-old kid.
 
"I think he showed his experience. He showed his personality because when you concede a goal like that it's not easy, especially early in the game. But after that, he was composed, he made some really good decisions and I'm really pleased with his performance today, Josh. He's one of the leaders of the team and I think he showed how strong he is in his mind because after the mistake he still concentrated on the game and I think when you win a game like that you need your goalkeeper on his best and I think Josh on his decision making was really good." - Vieira, post match press conference.

Experience. Leadership. Qualities Johansen doesn't have because Johansen isn't given the opportunity to play. It's a Catch-22 and we're not going to see Eirik at any point this season barring injury or suspension to Saunders.


This quote right here to me is very discouraging and its about time we gave up, MOSTLY me and a few others who have been beating the Saunders on the bench for good drum for over a year now. Let's face it, this is the third time I heard PV say that Saunders is an important part of this team. He is right, he is very important and has been a major contributor in NYCFC losing major points so far this year.

We will never see EJ this year barring injuries. Saunders seems like a great teammate, great guy etc yada yada yada, but he doesn't help you on the pitch. End of story.
 
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Funnily enough, on Saunders' first touch of the second half, he kicked the ball away and everyone cheered sarcastically, and Josh got upset and told everyone to be quiet with his hands. I guess, you know, it goes to show that these athletes are people and can be fragile sometimes, but I've never seen a player tell his home fans to cut out basically demeaning him.
Wow this is not good...
 
Two things.

First off. There was a new stadium announcer today that was 1000x better than the usual guy.

Saunders also made a game saving fingertip save in the 86th minute. So credit where credit is due.

Wouldn't need to be game saving if we were up by more then one goal.......just saying.
 
easily could have been a 3-0 or a 4-1 game barring saunders mistakes and some close misses (mix across the face of goal comes to mind)
 
What a great day!

Villa was absolutely terrific. Not only scored the brace, but did so many little things today on offense and defense. The moment of the game might have been watching him collapse on the pitch in exhaustion and joy.
d.
Villa oh Captain my captain...felt like the weight of the world was lifted he collapsed to the ground thanking the heavens when the whistle blew.

n style='mso-spacerun:yes'> moments in history that one remembers forever.


This was the loudest I've heard Yankee Stadium in a long time. Brilliant set a nice pick for Villa on the second goal that let him get into that much space.


Villa oh Captain my captain...felt like the weight of the world was lifted he collapsed to the ground thanking the heavens when the whistle blew.

A great win! With guts, sweat , grind and finesse . I was so touched seeing our Capitan Villa on his knees ! This game was not the World cup but it sure gave 25,438 fans hope and faith to be part of this fledging team. Had I been watching this game at home it would had not been as special to see it with my own eyes. This memory will be one of those unique moments in history that one remembers forever.
 
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Funnily enough, on Saunders' first touch of the second half, he kicked the ball away and everyone cheered sarcastically, and Josh got upset and told everyone to be quiet with his hands. I guess, you know, it goes to show that these athletes are people and can be fragile sometimes, but I've never seen a player tell his home fans to cut out basically demeaning him.

Guess Josh isn't familiar with the Bronx Cheer?