Tag: Iraola

The Day After (Toronto)

Holy crap. 4-4. For neutrals that game was up there for game of the season. For fans of either team that just took off 3-5 years in life expectancy.

Typical NYC

I feel stupid that after we had gone up two-nil I felt happy. Two-nil! So early on! It was great. We were going to win.

Turns out that wasn’t to be. In what was a crazy game with 4 penalties and 8 goals, what stood out was that NYC blew a perfectly good lead. We talk about passion, desire, dedication so often in the footie world. The fact is, the guys out on that pitch just haven’t achieved the mental toughness to shut games out. We should have scored those two goals, defended as a unit and won a vital three points. And yes, perhaps that would have been a lot less exciting, but Mourinho didn’t win the Premier League by giving the neutrals a nice game to watch, he won it because he knows how to win. Which is something we clearly lack.

Villa & Giovinco

Technically speaking, Villa and Giovinco are two of the best players in the league. If you look at their pedigree, their history, and for Giovinco their age, it’s clear that these players are a class above everyone else.

Yet, I still feel that Giovinco plays much better. There will be those who believe that me saying Villa has played poorly is outrageous, that’s why I don’t allow comments. Yes, he’s finally scoring goals. But look, he scored from a free kick and a penalty. And last week was another free kick. It’s great that he’s able to make something out of nothing, but why can’t he score more from open play (case in point last night’s sitter)?

And even if he is scoring, stats are over-hyped. Trust me, if stats were what they claim to be then Liverpool’s moneyball-esque era of Downing & Carroll would have ended far differently. What I’m saying is, I’m glad Villa is finally scoring goals. And he’s even hustling for the team. But he’s not even close to the $6 million we pay annually. Or even close to what he should be. He still inexplicably dribbles into defenders. He still takes way too long to shoot, and he loses the ball far too carelessly for a World Cup winner. With Lampard and Pirlo behind him I expect much greater things. Otherwise I’m gonna start sending nasty letters.

Spanish Full-Backs

Iraola was rusty last night. But to be fair the former Bilbao man has barely trained a week with the team before being thrust into the starting lineup. That’s how much NYCFC and Kreis rate the right back. It’ll take time for the 33-year-old to really settle, but despite some of his defensive shortcomings it was obvious he was already a step up from RJ Allen. Just look at his positioning. Iraola was doing something no other NYCFC player has ever done: consistently get wide into open space. It’s sort of remarkable that you’re taught to get wide and open space up by mediocre coaches by the time you’ve turned 10 and no NYCFC player has done it well. If you watch Iraola for a match, you’ll see how his hugging the right touchline creates so much space for his players, and his darting runs down the wing always look dangerous.

Plus, there’s Angelino. The blond haired 18-year-old made his debut as a half time sub for the impressively poor Kwame Watson-Siriboe. Wingert was moved to centre back (CAN WE SIGN TEFU PLEASE) so that Angelino could wreak havoc down the left flank. And wreak havoc he did.

Angelino looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. He made a duracell battery hopped up on coke look lazy. His pure skill, his absurd pace, and his abundant energy make him already one of the most dangerous left backs in the MLS, and he’s only getting started. In an interview with NYCFC afterwards he said that he felt he wasn’t at all nervous, but that he lacked match fitness and looks to be much better in the games to come.

If what we saw last night was lacking match fitness and there’s better skill to come then we’re in for quite a treat.

On To The Next One

Remember when Frank Lampard was supposed to play? Yeah, well he’s supposed to play next weekend. But maybe it’ll be a few more weeks if he decides to extend his loan with some team. BOOM, roasted.

But real talk we’re lucky to have a player of his caliber, despite his age and his ability to sit on the bench for the second half on Man City’s season. He should make his debut against New England, and we really could use him.

With all this Pirlo & Lampard fanfare, it’s hard to be patient and wait ’till they both are consistent starters. But injuries aside, that day should be coming soon. Until then, let’s get Tefu, let’s learn from Iraola, let’s learn how to hold a lead, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get somewhere this season.

On to the next one.

BREAKING: NYC Sign Bilbao Defender Iraola

Yes, it’s true.

NYCFC have just announced on their website that they have signed 32-year-old veteran defender Andoni Iraola from La Liga side Athletic Bilbao. As an avid supporter of the Basque club, NYCFootie is elated to introduce this player to New Yorkers.

What You Need To Know

Iraola has played the entirety of his 12 year footie career with Athletic Bilbao scoring 38 goals and amassing a stunning 510 appearances.

It must be made clear that Iraola was never a bit part player for Bilbao. In Iraola NYC have signed a world class footballer who has been the heart and soul of a club team that in the past 12 years has beaten Manchester United over two legs of the Europa, has reached the final of the Europa League, and has reached 3 finals of the Copa Del Rey (a domestic knockout tournament in Spain, independent of the regular league play.)

Andoni is truly a talented player and when he first suits up for NYCFC sometime after July 8th he will be a class above the players at NYC and the MLS.

Style

Iraola is not a fast paced full back that has become so common in world football. Iraola possesses amazing passing range, great crossing ability, and a calculated mind. He seldom makes stupid tackles or loses his head, and his organization will do wonders for the inexperienced Facey and the often-out-of-position Hernandez.

To sum up Iraola in one word: composed. Throughout his storied playing career, Andoni was always the most trusted player on the field by his Basque compatriots, always making the right pass or tackle when asked to. This fits in perfectly with Jason Kreis’s ideal for a footie player. Iraola will be quality on the field and will be a reserved leader in the dressing room.

Iraola is a level-headed, composed, technically skilled, veteran footballer who will quietly make a huge impact on NYC’s back line.

NYC’s Back Line

All logic would suggest that Iraola would simply jump Brovsky, Allen, and the injured Williams in the pecking order and slot in at right back.

However, having a player of his caliber at right back seems like a inefficient use of talent. Right backs are important, but they cannot dictate the flow of the game, they aren’t the stars of the team, and they often aren’t the main reasons why a team will win or lose a match.

Thus, we wonder what will happen. With Facey in good form it seems logical to keep Iraola out wide, but come mid-July expect Kreis to tinker with Iraola’s position. He could be slotted centre back, or even into a holding midfield position, which he has played before for Bilbao when needed. Because of his supreme technical ability, tactical nous, passing range, and defensive capabilities, we’d almost prefer him getting a shot at holding midfield.

In Short

Let’s put aside all the positional conjecture for a moment and enjoy the brilliant signing.

Iraola comes FOR FREE as his contract had run out at Bilbao and both parties decided it would be the right time for him to leave. Iraola, as far as reports indicate, IS NOT a DP, which means NYC just got a world class player and have room to get another.

The MLS transfer window reopens July 8th, meaning Iraola could make his debut against Toronto at home on July 12th, but will most likely take a bit longer to get settled.

For now, we’ve got two wins, Lampard coming, and my main man from Bilbao coming to New York.