Tag: David Villa

NYCFC vs Chicago Fire: Preview

On Friday, May 15th NYCFC will host the Chicago Fire at 7 p.m. ET.

Form

Chicago’s form is an enigma. They love mini-streaks. 3 losses, 3 wins, and now 2 losses. Hopefully this’ll be their third loss in a row, just for the sake of consistency.

Chicago have a quality-ish team. Harry Shipp, David Accam, and Shaun Maloney all have the individual firepower to take over a game, but often struggle to do so. Accam wreaked havoc down NYC’s right side against Brovsky last time they played, so expect NYC to be prepared for that.

Or they won’t. Whatever. NYC need to get their shit together, but I don’t expect anything from them at this point.

It’s kinda fun now though…When will NYC get a win? How long will we wait? This is exciting! In a depressing sort of way.

Lineups

Chicago (4-4-1-1): Johnson (GK), Jones (LB), Larentowicz (CB), Adailton (CB), Gehrig (RB), Accam (LM), Polster (CM), Ritter (CM), Shipp (RM), Maloney (CAM), Guly (ST)

-Accam returns from a game suspension and will be looking to get his team back to winning ways

NYC: (4-4-2): Saunders (GK), RJ Allen (LB), Wingert (CB), Hernandez (CB), Williams (RB), Jacobson (CM), Mix (CM), Grabavoy (LM), Shelton (RM), Mullins (ST), Villa (ST)

-Calle and Nemec are STILL fighting injuries. Nemec is looking near 100 percent and should make the bench.

-RJ Allen could keep his place after an assist in a lively performance again Red Bulls, but could be dropped for Brovsky/Calle.

-It’s likely Mix will get the start over Ballouchy, but expect him to be fighting to stay on the pitch after last weekend’s early sub.

Final Thoughts

Deep Dish sucks!

Actually, no it doesn’t, it’s just not legally pizza. It’s something else, a separate denomination of cheese-tomatosauce-bread dishes.

Point is, much like last weekend, all we’ve got for bragging rights is that New York is better than Chicago. And they’ve got worse pizza.

We are home. While that hasn’t mattered much this season, you’d hope we want this win more than Chicago. Or who knows.

Let’s go team!

NYCFC vs Red Bulls: Preview

On Sunday, May 10th NYCFC will hop across the hudson river to play the Red Bulls at 7 p.m ET.

Form

Simply put, the Red Bulls are playing quality football and NYC aren’t.

Barring a recent defeat to New England, the Red Bulls were undefeated until that point.

It’s funny that NYC’s only win of the season came against the only team that has beaten the Red Bulls.

Point is, Red Bulls have a better squad, are playing better, and are a much better team. But this is a derby match. Anything can happen. If NYC go to Jersey looking for blood, the nature of this tie might make that possible.

NYC will need to go out there hungry and smartly if they want a win that could potentially kick-start their poor season.

Lineups

New Jersey(4-2-3-1) : Robles (GK), Duvall (RB), Miazga (CB), Perrinelle (CB), Lawrence (LB), Martins (CM), McCarty (CM), Grella (LM), Kljestan (CAM), Sam (RM), Wright-Phillips (ST)

-Center back Zubar could make his long awaited return from injury, which comes at a good time with Matt Miazga heading off to the U-20 World Cup with the US team.

-Winger Sal Zizzo is out with a fractured tibia, which is a shame as he was starting to put together a good run of form

-Roy Miller is also battling injury, but should make the bench

NYC (4-5-1): Saunders (GK), Williams (RB), Hernandez (CB), Wingert (CB), Brovsky (LB), Jacobson (CM), Ballouchy (CM), Mix (CM), Grabavoy (LM), Shelton (RM), Villa (ST)

-Nemec is still recovering from a left ankle strain but could make the bench.

-Hernandez looks to be ready for the start, but has been dealing with injury issues.

-Javier Calle is unlikely to make the bench as he’s still dealing with a left adductor strain.

Final Thoughts

Everyone’s excited for this one.

The MLS get to hype up a rivalry. NYC get to talk about how we actually play in NYC. The Red Bulls get to talk about how they actually play soccer.

We’re betting on a tie. While Red Bulls will be fancied for all the obvious reasons, in a game of this heat and passion, it’s likely to be a 1-1 game. But let’s hope NYC can get a win, however unlikely.

Godspeed, gents. Godspeed.

The Day After (Seattle)

Last night NYCFC lost to the Seattle Sounders 3-1, extending our winless run to seven consecutive games.

Strong Start

Very uncharacteristically of NYC this season, we came out very strong. The first 17 minutes were some pretty quality football. It’s possible that we had more shots on goal in those first 20 minutes than we’ve had in many full games.

The team showed a real resilience and desire to win which was a joy to watch. The stadium was buzzing, maybe it was our night.

But then, like most of our hopes and dreams, NYC was crushed by a against-the-run-of-play sublime finish from Mr. Obafemi Martins.

Obafemi Martins & Dempsey

At times I wonder if Martins should be playing in a better league than the MLS. Whatever the case, he’s here, and he’s awesome.

His pace, his willingness to run powerfully at defenders, and his impressive finishing ability make Obafemi one of the best, if not the best, strikers in our league. It’s of no surprise to me that he was the cause of our seemingly inevitable downfall last night.

While Obafemi was a duracell battery, Dempsey’s play last night was unsettlingly lethargic. We’ve seen this on countless occasions with the USMNT. Dempsey has such quality within him, but he only really seems to turn it on when a player picks him out, rather than making his own chances. It’s helpful that he’s paired with Martins, otherwise he’d be much less effective. True, he managed a goal and an assist last night, but aside from those moments of brilliance he was quite anonymous.

David Villa

Perhaps one of the most beautiful moments at Yankee stadium this season was the substitution of our 33-year-old DP, David Villa.

As he walked out from the bench and awaited a stoppage in play, Yankee stadium erupted. “Villa! Villa! Villa” the crowd echoed in unison. To hear almost every person in the stadium screaming his name was an experience to behold.

It’s clear that the fans love him. After a night of misery, the return of David Villa from injury is a very welcome return indeed.

The Night Of Misery

As we’re said before, a slump in form is okay. But this season is quickly becoming a shitshow. We’re a few more losses from going from a team in bad form to just a very bad team.

It’s really incredible to see how many people are showing up for a team that keeps losing, but one has to wonder at one point will it be too much to bare.

Shelton has been given chance after chance to prove himself on the big stage, and although he is learning, his game is faltering and is adding very little to our attack.

Mix is finally turning but his distribution is often poor, either putting too much or too little on the pass, or just simply choosing the wrong pass in that situation.

We could go on with each player, but the real bitch is that there are simple tactical issues that just aren’t being fixed. What the fuck?

Take, for example, our positioning. Watch a goal kick taken by Josh Saunders. Our entire team is on one side of the field, bunched up like a mediocre high school varsity team. Why is it that we sometimes see three players next to each other and no one on the opposite wing? When attacking this is detrimental as hell. We make horrible use of our space, and that’s saying a lot considering we’re playing on a goddamn baseball field.

On To The Next One

Well, we play the Red Bulls.

Although the Red Bulls recently lost, it’s painfully obvious that they’re a far better soccer team than we are. Better organized, better coached, more quality overall.

But it is a derby match. Anything can happen. If we were to beat the Red Bulls in Jersey next weekend, a lot of our shitty play might be forgotten.

Death to the Red Bulls.

On to the next one.

NYCFC vs Seattle Sounders: Preview

On Sunday, May 3rd NYCFC host Seattle Sounders in Yankee Stadium at 7pm ET.

The real question is: do we have to?

Form

Sounders are in great form. Recently winning their hotly contested rivalry match against Portland 1-0, Seattle currently sit at third place in the Western Conference. NYCFC are in eighth in the Eastern.

Seattle have over twice as many points as NYC, and have played a game less.

Seattle have twice as many goals as NYC, with a game less.

Seattle have won 3 of their last 4 matches. NYC haven’t won in 6 games.

Simply put, Seattle are playing very well and NYC are playing very poorly.

Lineups

Seattle (4-2-2-2): Frei (GK), Remick (LB), Evans (CB), Scott (CB), Mears (RB), Alonso (CM), Pineda (CM), Neagle (LAM), Pappa (RAM), Dempsey (ST), Martins (ST)

-Seattle don’t have any players injured. Really? Really. None.

NYC (4-5-1): Saunders (GK), Brovsky (LB), Wingert (CB), Watson-Siriboe (CB), Facey (RB), Ballouchy (CM), Mix (CM), Poku (CM), Grababoy (LM), Shelton (RM), Mullins (ST)

-NYCFC have so many injuries and near injury returns that this game seems impossible to predict. Jacobson is out with a suspension, and although a Poku start seems like wishful thinking, there’s some magic in the air and we’re feelin’ it. But that could just be the fumes from the 2nd Avenue subway construction.

-Right back Williams could start at right back, but is battling an adductor strain.

-Villa completed a full session of training on Friday and could make the start, but will at least be on the bench. Unless he stubs his toe on his walk over. Or breaks his hip on an escalator. But yeah, 33-year-old DP’s are great. Good thing Lampard’s bringing in some fresh young legs soon.

-Nemec and Jason Hernandez are battling hamstring and calf strains, respectively. Expect one of them to make the bench.

Final Thoughts

Martins and Dempsey are arguably the league’s best striking duo, and NYCFC have been arguably the worst team in the league the past few games.

That, coupled with the host of aforementioned statistical facts, does not bode well for NYCFC. We’d like to say home advantage will play a part, but NYC haven’t done anything better at home than away for the past few games.

Tickets for this game have been in high demand in the weeks leading up to Sunday. One has to wonder if people are more excited about seeing NYCFC or Clint “Deuce” Dempsey.

Anyway, let’s hope for the best. Realistically we will lose.

Yay NYC!

NYCFC vs Chicago Fire: Preview

On Friday, April 24th at 8pm, NYCFC travel to Toyota Park to take on the Chicago Fire.

Form

Chicago haven’t played a game for over two weeks, and they will hope that doesn’t interfere with their good run of form.

After a dicey start to the season Chicago recorded back to back home wins against Philadelphia and Toronto. Granted, neither of those teams have necessarily lit up the MLS this season, but NYC lost and tied against Philly.

DP and former “free-kick-which-relegated-QPR” taker Shaun Maloney will look to bolster his strong partnership with Chicago native Harry Shipp as they take on a weak NYCFC side. If these two have a strong game together it could be a long night for NYC fans.

NYCFC are on a dismal run of form. Nothing is going right at the moment. Copious injuries, horrible finishing, losing at home, and just overall poor play. It is difficult to imagine NYCFC coming out of Chicago with anything more than 1 point, but then again, this is the MLS. Colorado Rapids did beat FC Dallas in Texas 4 nil. If that’s possible then I don’t rule anything out.

If NYC are to pull off an upset here, they’ll have to play to their potential, and then some.

Lineups

Chicago (4-2-3-1): Busch (GK), Jones (LB), Adailton (CB), Larentowicz (CB), Gehrig (RB), Stephens (CM), Polster (CM), Accam (LM), Maloney (CAM), Shipp (RM), Amarikwa (ST)

-Stephens is struggling with an injury and may be replaced by Chris Ritter

NYCFC (4-3-3): Saunders (GK), Calle (LB), Wingert (CB), Watson-Siriboe (CB), Brovsky (RB), Jacobson (CM), Ballouchy (CM), Grabavoy (CM), Velasquez (RM), Shelton (LM), Mullins (ST)

-David Villa did not train with the team on Wednesday, and looks a doubt. Mix Diskerud could make it back but also looks a doubt.

-Shay Facey is back in training and could get a spot on the bench. Defender Williams is an injury doubt.

-Jason Hernandez is still out, but likely will return for the Seattle game.

Final Thoughts

NYCFC will be looking for inspiration from an injury laden team on a poor run of form.

Kreis may opt to keep his formation, as it did result in the most shots NYC have taken this season. Although Mullins had a very solid game, he often drifted wide in order to pick up the ball and then would cross it into the centre, only for no one to be there. It might be worth hauling off a midfielder for Nemec so Mullins has someone to aim for.

While Chicago aren’t the strongest team in the league, their trio of Ghanian DP Accam, Scottish DP Maloney, and youth product Shipp will probably be too much for NYCFC to handle.

Tune in tomorrow on Univision or their live stream tomorrow at 8pm to find out.

The Day After (Portland)

Last night NYCFC lost 1-0 at home to the Portland Timbers.

So Easy a 7-Year-Old Could Do it

There were a few things I learned when I was first learning how to play footie: NEVER pass the ball across your own penalty box, don’t just kick the ball for the sake of it, and pass to your teammates.

Last night NYCFC broke every single one of those rules.

Jeb Brovsky shanked a clearance in his own box which served as a really nice cross to the other team. Often this season we’ll kick the ball up with no direction hoping something happens. But the worst by far was the level of our passing.

Our Passing/Communication Breakdown

I honestly don’t know what happened. Our passing and movement last night looked as if this were the first time these players were on a field together.

Players would put too much on the ball. Players would under hit their passes and give it right back to the other team. Players would hit passes behind the runs of others, resulting in yet another turnover.

The worst, though, was in attack.  We had opportunity after opportunity in the attacking third to make something happen and the only thing stopping us was our own ineptitude. Fans throughout the stadium were yelling at players like Ned Grabavoy and Khiry Shelton after they made horrible passing errors which would have led to clear goal-scoring opportunities.

Furthermore, there seems to be a genuine lack of communication between these lads. Players are making runs and not getting service, then receive the ball when they track back and are marked by the other team. Positionally players seem confused. For most of the game we didn’t seem to have either a right mid or a left mid. It really feels like once NYC steps onto the pitch we’re somehow down a man compared to other teams.

Anatomy of a Center Mid

Jacobson is a good defensive midfielder. He tackles well, he’s physical, and he reads the game nicely.

But Jacobson is hardly ever going to carry the ball with pace and beat a few guys. And that’s ok, providing our other players do so.

I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but far too many of our players don’t have the ability/desire/know-how to pick up the ball from the defenders, TURN around, beat a player or two, and pass it off.

Granted, top quality players like that are often the most coveted these days (David Silva, Luka Modric, Iniesta) but that doesn’t mean we can’t even try.

Once, Ned Grabavoy picked up the ball in the center of the pitch. He was receiving a pass from our left back. I looked at where he was, he had acres of space. He could have turned around, looked up, done his taxes, and still have time to get a pass off. Instead he took a touch, never picked his head up, and passed it right back to our defender. Effectively doing absolutely nothing. I swear watching this team will be the death of me.

Positives

Shots on goal!

I can’t believe it but we actually had 21 shots in total, our most this entire season.

We’re taking shots, which is great progress. Now we need to work on something I don’t think these boys have ever heard of before: shot selection.

How many bloody times did one of our players have a clear shot and not take it? And then pass it off to some guy in a far worse position for him to take a shot that was never going to score?

But hey, Patrick Mullins was very encouraging. With Villa out injured, Mullins looked a constant threat. He was hustling, taking as many shots as he could, and making really impressive runs towards goal. Take a bow son.

And Kwame Watson-Siriboe. Fucking rock in the back. Won nearly every header. Had some brilliant last ditch tackles. And even had one Varane-esque run into the opposite team’s half. We’d love to see him permanently partnered with Jason Hernandez when he’s back from injury, but Kreis might like mediocre white guys too much to drop Wingert.

On To The Next One

We play Chicago Fire in Chicago this Friday at 8pm.

I don’t even know what to hope for in this game. Keep shooting I guess?

Forget doing a scouting report on how Chicago are, let’s see if we can do anything in training this week to help our team. Otherwise, this is going to be a very long season.

On to the next one?

NYCFC vs Portland Timbers: Preview

NYCFC play their second match in a span of 4 days against the Portland Timbers this Sunday at 7pm.

Form

The Timbers have had an odd start to this year’s MLS season. After 3 consecutive draws against tough opposition (RSL, LA, SKC) they were beaten by the ever impressive Whitecaps. They then bounced back from that loss at home to beat the strong Dallas FC team 3-1, yet lost two-nil at home seven days later against the shaky outfit of Orlando City.

They aren’t playing particularly poorly, but they are certainly struggling for consistency (as with nearly every MLS team). After beating Dallas at home they must have been furious to have lost to Orlando in their own stadium. Some good form would have helped them tremendously for the next few away games. They’ll be coming to Yankee stadium hoping for a win that they can undoubtedly get, but they’ll have to play to their potential.

NYC played some of their best football this season against the Union on Thursday, yet they gave up a stupid goal after some generally lethargic play in the last 20 minutes.

Which leads us to ask: If NYC couldn’t keep their energy up for a full match, will they be able to have any energy for a game with only 3 days rest?

We hope they can. This season is becoming a tricky one for Kreis to maneuver and a home win would do him and the team a world of good.

Lineups

Portland: (4-2-3-1): Kwarasey (GK), Powell (RB), Borchers (CB), Ridgewell (CB), Villafana (LB), Chara (CM), Jewsbury (CM), Asprilla (RM), Nagbe (CAM), Wallace (LM), Adi (ST)

-Nagbe will be a constant threat, as he weaves together the attack of this Portland team. Portland have created many more chances than NYC this season and in order to win this game NYC will need to make sure Nagbe has no space to work.

NYCFC (4-2-2): Saunders (GK), Brovsky (LB), Hernandez (CB), Wingert (CB), Williams (RB), Jacobson (CM), Mix (CM), Grabavoy (LM), Ballouchy (RM), Nemec (ST), Villa (ST)

-Please, dear god, bench Ned Grabavoy. Kreis probably won’t ever do it, but he’s been playing really poorly. He offers no width, no pace, no tricks, his passing has been off, and even his much lauded work rate has dipped as of late. But Kreis loves the guy. Oy vey.

-It’s a shame that Ballouchy scored on Thursday. With Mix back from an impressive display with the USMNT he’ll move into center mid, pushing Ballouchy out right, effectively forcing the ever energetic Shelton to the bench. Which is a shame. Expect him off the bench quickly, he may even start if Villa’s niggling injury keeps him out.

-Poku was brilliant last match and we expect him off the beach early into the second half as well, especially if things aren’t going our way.

Final Thoughts

It will be a very difficult game for NYC, seeing as the past two games against one of the worst teams in league resulted in a loss and a draw.

The team will be tired and will need something special to beat this Portland outfit. We expect a draw.

But expecting anything from NYC is a fool’s errand, as their level of performances fluctuates so greatly that we really have no idea what will happen this Sunday night.

All we can do is wish them luck, hope for the best and maybe a tear of the meniscus for Ned Grabavoy.

Let’s see how it goes.

The Day After (Philadelphia)

What a weird weird game.

Javier Calle, a left winger, started at left back. The young Ghanaian powerhouse known as Poku replaced David Villa (slight hamstring injury) at half time, along with Watson-Siribioe replacing Hernandez (calf).

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

I sincerely believe that periods of our play last night were the best these boys have ever played. I also believe that our lethargic final 20 minutes was some of the worst defending we’ve had, which is saying a lot.

The start of the second half was chock full of incisive passing, encouraging interchanges, shots on goal (gasp!) and overall quality. We looked like a real footie team, if only for a while. All of this without Villa. So what happened?

Kwadwo Poku

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why Poku was so influential, seeing as there are so many.

It all comes down to his vision and marauding runs through the midfield. We’ve written before about how Jacobson and Mix are fairly inept at the main attacking focus of center midfielders: transitioning the ball from defense to attack. Far too often this season Jacobson and Mix lack the ability the move the ball forward, beat a player or two, and pick out a player in attacking position.

This is what Poku does. He picks the ball up and immediately picks up his head and looks to push forward. It was exciting watching his close ball control, his strength and speed to seemingly fly past opponents, and his tactical nous to pick out the right player once he’s in the attacking third. Fucking brilliant.

Yet, he waned as the half progressed. Which is worrying, seeing as he came on at half time. The rest of the team seemed to follow that trend.

What Happened

It seems that we went from playing the best football of our nascent season to playing some of the worst in a blink of an eye.

Suddenly it was the 70th minute and Poku couldn’t get his passes right, the team was making dumb fouls, and our game dropped significantly.

Was it fitness? That’s a possibility, as people did look visibly gassed. But that seems odd as guys like Poku and Watson-Siriboe had only just come on.

Was it the pressure? Maybe after such encouraging play they started making a few mistakes and they freaked out? That could be a factor, but we’d hope the team is mentally tougher than that.

Maybe it was just the loss of a commanding presence in the back, in the form of Jason Hernandez. Jason looked distraught to be injured at half, you could tell he wanted to help his team win. Perhaps with him in that back four the defensive collapse near the end of the game could have been avoided.

Regardless, we switched off for those last 20 mins (at home, mind you) and that needs to be fixed. We need to keep our concentration for the entirety of games, not 20 minute increments.

Shelton in the Raw

Khiry Shelton got his much anticipated first start for NYCFC last night. How was he?

He was alright. He was good. He has real pace which will always change the dynamic of any team. But he was a little sloppy in his touch, and a little poor with decision making.

While I fault the 31 year-old Ned Grabavoy for his poor decision making, I’m inclined to cut Shelton a lot of slack. Remember, Shelton was playing college footie only a few months ago. Now he’s getting called up by the Olympic team, starting for an MLS club, and rooming with Mix Diskerud. He’s really moving up in the world.

He’s got an extreme amount of raw talent at the moment, but he needs consistent playing time to properly develop. Often last night he’d have the ball out on the wing and be too indecisive or tentative to really take on the full back 1v1. That lack of confidence is to be expected from your first start, but we could see the potential there. Just take him on Khiry, you can do it.

Also his decision making in passes needs some work. I remember one time he did brilliantly to break out of the back on a counter from a corner kick. He ran the entirety of the field and had Ballouchy wide open to his right and Calle with two defenders on him to his left. For whatever reason he chose Calle. That was the wrong decision.

Yet, that’s not something you learn in training, you can only learn that from competeitve play. Maybe a year from now Shelton would have passed to Ballouchy and it would’ve been two nil.

Even with the poor decisions he made he was still a hugely important player for us last night, which is a testament to his potential as a player. Keep starting him and we will reap the rewards.

On To The Next One

I haven’t been so excited by any part of our game this season than the first 20 minutes of that second half. I’m impressed that we have it in us and we managed to show it on the field.

However, we gave up a stupid goal at the end. And we’ve only got three days until our next game. And we play Portland, a much better team. And realistically Kreis won’t start Poku, who was even lauded by the stream of consciousness tweets that are continuously posted on the screen at the stadium.

Encouraging from NYCFC. Could be better, but you have to start somewhere. Let’s hope we can make that last for more than 20 minutes.

On to the next one…

NYCFC vs Philadelphia Union: Preview

So we play the Union, again. On a Thursday. And then another game on Sunday. MLS.

Form

Last Saturday night we went to PPL Park hoping to take advantage of some poor form from the Philly team. Instead, we gave them their first win of their season with some awful soccer all around.

This game will be fascinating, as so few times in the footie world do you get two teams playing each other back to back in such a short span of time.

Neither team played particularly well in the first match, and you figure NYC will have more desire to win this game. In front of their home crowd, looking for revenge, they seem the favorites. But then again, I thought they’d win in Philly.

NYCFC need to shoot on the rookie keeper that Philly will be starting. A win would be welcome, but some encouraging play would do more. We’re home. Let’s shoot on this keeper, let’s have some smart passing, let’s play some fucking football.

Lineups

Philly (4-2-3-1): John McCarthy (GK), Gaddis (LB), Edu (CB), Vitoria (CB), Williams (RB), Nogueira (CM), Lahoud (CM), Wegner (LM), Pfeffer (CAM), Mbu (RM), Le Toux (ST)

-Philly have said that Le Toux is available after crashing into the advertisements on Saturday.

-Striker Aristeguieta is still an injury doubt, but could be started, replacing Wegner and moving Le Toux to left mid.

NYCFC (4-4-2): Saunders (GK), Williams (RB), Wingert (CB), Hernandez (CB), Brovsky (LB), Jacobson (CM), Grabavoy (CM), Calle/Ballouchy (LM), Shelton (RM), Nemec (ST), Villa (ST)

-With Mix playing Mexico on Wednesday night, NYCFC’s midfield will need a shuffle. Our huge hopes are that he starts Kwadwo Poku, who played an encouraging 90 minutes for the Wilmington Hammerheads (which isn’t saying a lot) this past Sunday. He’d be the perfect spark that NYC have been missing. But realistically, that won’t happen.

-The alternative is to move Ned “I play poorly and I get 90 minutes” Grabavoy to center mid and bring in Calle, Velasquez, or Ballouchy. Unfortunately, Kreis may well opt for Ballouchy as the first two might be considered too “attacking,” especially with Shelton on the opposite flank.

Final Thoughts

Kreis may fuck us over by not starting Poku, by playing Ballouchy, and by generally not changing the squad much.

But we hope he doesn’t. This team played poorly only a few days ago, and new blood is needed to shake things up. Yet ultimately, it’s not even Kreis’s decisions that will hinder us, it’s our play.

We need these boys to step up. Jason Hernandez spoke of this being the perfect time to get back out there and put in a quality performance, let’s see if the rest of the team follows suit.

These are important days for our New York City footie club. Let’s see what they’ve got.

The Day After (Philadelphia)

There’s nothing wrong with a loss once in a while. Teams lose, it happens. Some lose more than others. What matters is how you lose, and my god NYCFC were awful.

David Villa

I love the striker. He’s talented, he’s got goals in him, and he’s a legend for Spain. When I first heard he’d be coming over to the MLS I imagined he’d be wreaking havoc week in and week out.

Although he’s had a few bright spots this season, thus far I’m underwhelmed. For most games he’s had subpar service (especially compared to Atletico Madrid, Valencia, etc). Yet last night he had more than a few clear cut chances that he wasted.

On one occasion he was carrying the ball up the field, with Khiry Shelton making a diagonal run across him, trying to lure some defenders away. He ended up essentially 1v1 with a Union defender. He pushed the ball out to the right hoping to get shot off, got outmuscled, and lost the ball. That’s just poor.

For any other striker in the MLS, I’d be slightly disappointed by this performance. But this is David Villa. He’s supposed to be our X-factor. Villa is supposed to be able to pull something out of nothing. He’s supposed to get that goal when no one expects it.

Right now he’s a fine striker, but nothing else. He’s been alright, we need him to be great. Especially since the rest of this team are playing like schoolchildren.

Two Weeks

NYCFC had two weeks off. I just can’t understand what happened. After our first loss of the season, one would think that Kreis and Co. would focus on fixing some of NYC’s problems.

There’s two possibilities. 1: The coaching staff didn’t do anything for the past two weeks. 2: The coaching staff have tried to improve these problems and the players just aren’t listening.

Realistically it’s a mix of the two, but I do blame the players more. While Kreis made some suspect decisions (keeping Grabavoy on for ANOTHER 90 minutes, not starting Watson-Siriboe, putting on Watson-Siriboe for Josh Williams, which basically did nothing) it’s the players who are showing a blatant lack of determination.

After last week’s loss the players needed a reaction. This was a lethargic response. Poor passing, poor attacking, poor all over the field.

On To The Next One

The rematch against Philly could not come sooner. Of all the ridiculousness uttered by Ian Joy on YES last night, there was on thing he got right. Kreis is now under real pressure to succeed, and the team need a shake up. Maybe that means taking off the untouchable Grabavoy, or simply starting the young starlet Khiry Shelton.

NYC have been given chance after chance to beat lesser teams in the MLS and thus far have failed miserably. This Thursday in the Bronx we don’t even want a win that badly, we just want them to look like they give a shit.

….on to the next one.