Tag: Portland Timbers

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.