Five Takes On The Five Stripes

1: Here we are, once again, talking about something we don’t to talk about, Refereeing. At the time of writing this it’s not 100% clear but based on Pineda’s comments in the post game presser, it seems to him that Rocco have a thumbs up gesture while he was by the post which Rivas took as him saying he was set and ready when he wasn’t. We have not yet heard from Rivas on what he saw and why he ble...

1: Sejdic had a helluva game. Him and Rossetto both were at their best. Sejdic had at least 3 tackles leading to turnovers that, at the very least, lead to good attacking sequences if not outright chances. He ran himself into the ground and I think this team, now more than ever, needs a player doing that. I don’t want anyone inured but that kind of effort, playing for literally every ball, has a b...

1: Austin, maybe more than any other team in MLS, is so good at making something out of nothing. It’s a metaphor for their whole season. They are a completely different team from last year and a legitimate cup contender. Reminds me a lot of us in ‘18. They look like a well drilled team that understands who they are, what they want to do, and is oh yeah, healthy.    2: At times our build up looks s...

1: Take everything you know about football and throw it in the trash when you’re being taken out to the ball game. For the first 20 minutes we looked like we couldn’t get adjusted to the play pen. Things just happen faster at Yankee standup. Counter attacks that normally wouldn’t be on for the opposition are here. We got a little more comfortable from 20-35 but then Alan Franco gets caught on an o...

1: Toronto’s press was effective and ours was non existent. Honestly, I think we just got outworked tonight. We didn’t posses or dominate the run of play like we tend to and like to do.    2: We came alive a bit in the 2nd half. I wish we had done more of what lead to Araujo’s goal. We just didn’t win enough duels and turnovers in their final third or really in their own half.    3: Well, we haven...

1: Nothing helps break down a low block like an early goal and a red card. Thank god we scored early because a team going down to 10 is no guarantee that you’ll get a result. Just ask Montreal. It was beautiful first time hit from Luiz. He continues to trust his shot and we are the better for it. Great game for Josef as well with a goal and assist. He looked very comfortable and was productive  an...

1: It’s very hard to be critical of the team’s play when they are just hit with injury after injury after injury. We’re so injured that Mikey is on the pitch. I mean we are coming to the point of not being able to have a full bench without 2’s call ups which truthfully, Mikey would normally be which truthfully is probably a big reason why the 2’s aren’t doing so well. However, what you cannot do i...

1: Not a good stretch for Alan Franco. Is his overall play horrible? No. Not really. But his mistakes are costing us goals and potentially points. Defending is a hard life. As a forward, you’ll make mistakes, but they’re not likely to cost your team the game. When a defender makes mistakes, it can be everythibg. Alan is making too many. And his mistakes are for the most part a result of not being...

1: Tremendous response after losing Miles. I’m absolutely gutted for him. Looks he he’s done his Achilles too and will then most likely miss out on the World Cup. I really didn’t see much different in terms of our attacking play today. We just finished chances. If you want to point to anything that’s different in this game I suppose being better positioned for opportunities in and around the box w...

1: 🎵Heyyy we’re 2/3 there! Ohhhhhh, this is hard to bare. 🎵 Over the past few matches we’ve seen progression. Today was a regression for me. That doesn’t mean we played like trash, but it wasn’t better.  We played well in the first 45. We more or less had control of the match. We created the opportunities to create the opportunity. However unlike the previous three matches, it wasn’t the finishi...

1: Cisneros’ best start by far. I really would not write this guy off yet. Is he gonna have double digit goals? No probably not. But can we get some production out of him until Josef is back? Yeah absolutely. I think I prefer him starting to Dom. I like Dom coming as a sub when the situation calls for it. Jackson is also still an option but his performance in MLS hasn’t been good enough to justify...

1: There is no way, absolutely no way you can say Atlanta United played poorly. I’d argue that we looked better in the attacking phase (which was often) without Josef. We dominated the ball. We controlled the run of play. We could not buy a goal. We had an XG of close to 4. You’re gonna have to miss me with any Gonzo out takes. This game was crying out for Josef. It was custom made for him. Yup. I...

1: Thiago looked very good for his first start. Apart from producing another GOW, there’s not much more he could e done to get a goal tonight. He was very involved in the attacking play. He was eager to take players on, won his duels, stole balls and played several good balls into Moreno and Josef and Jackson. I think he’s going to develop into a big chance creator for us. He’s acclimated to the t...

1: When you strike a wounded animal it’s going to either roll over and die, or lash out one last time. Montreal came in full gas with the knowledge that a two week break to rest and recover awaited them. They looked lethargic at first, but after their first goal they played with a speed, fluidity and intensity they we simply could not match in the first half.    2: In stark contrast to the March “...

1: Josef continues to be in good positions unfortunately he is missing that final touch. I’m happy to see him in the positions we want him to be in but if we get a couple more games of him unable to finish that is going to be a point of concern. Perhaps even more concerning is the fact that these are chances he should absolutely be putting away. It’s not like he’s missing on low percentage shots....

1: I’m not trying to minimize what’s going on in the world right now but I feel really hopeful. If Dom Dwyer can score a goal in Atlanta United colors, anything is possible. I’m thrilled to have an additional attacking option up front THAT CAN SCORE. A very impressive start for DD coming off the bench way earlier than expected, playing on a position he’s not meant to and scoring.  2: There’s a gre...

1: There’s a reason NYC has only lost like, half dozen games at Yankee stadium. I hate playing here. The margin for error is so thin. Set pieces are even more of a threat then they normally are. Any chances that NYC had came from our mistakes which unfortunately are always going to be magnified in this venue.    2: There were some nervy moments towards the end of the first half but overall we look...

1: What happens in New Jersey apparently travels to Cincinnati. Ironically, we looked like could’ve used a Red Bull in the first half.  It was a surprisingly and disappointing slow and uninspired first half. Given the opportunity that was in front of us I expected us to come out fighting and take control of the game immediately. Now with the NYC and Philly result it didn’t end up mattering in term...

10-30 Toronto   1: Luiz is that guy. He can develop the attack in midfield. He can drop back and defend. He can finish chances. He create them on his own. He had a gift of a goal but he’s still gotta unwrap it. That’s not the first time Luiz has got a goal out not giving up on the play.    2: Moreno my god. The amount of distance we can travel. With the ball. Holding off a defender. 🤯   3: BAMM B...

1: Marcelino is a Number 10+. Chance creator. Chance finisher. Dribbler. Back a Brinks truck up to his house and lock him in as long as we can. The only “criticism” I have is maybe go down when you’re fouled in and around the box.    2: This was an outstanding defensive performance. Calm and controlled throughout nearly the whole match. Even when NYC had chances, which wasn’t often, we never panic...

1: Terrific pressing from us in the first half. We were smothering the ball and forcing turnovers frequently. Honestly the pressure was really good in both halves. We were great at keeping the ball in the foot’s half, and attacks always seemed to be in development and the chances started coming at the end of the first.    2: Moreno’s absence was a huge factor. We were missing that link up play and...

1: Miami was playing super compact. It was difficult to break down for the first 30 minutes but then we started to find ways through by being a little more direct and incisive. I was pleased with the set piece productivity again. No goals, but there were a handful of half chances that looked really good. Barco also put ANOTHER ball right on target. He’s really trying to dethrone Kratz. I would’ve...

1: I was really surprised by the lack of energy and intensity, especially in the first half. I mean Philly wants to play a slower game in general but that doesn’t mean we have to match that. Passing sequences were slow without much verticality. Even without Josef’s intensity I didn’t expect it to be as plodding as it was.    2: I guess Gonzo went into the locker room at half and said, that’s it, n...

1: This started out looking like a game being played on short rest. Energy was low and it just looked sluggish. The schedule is brutal. You’re gonna have games like that. It’s unavoidable. So how valuable is it to have someone who can bang them in off free kicks and get your side up early? This is the Barco we paid for. This is the Barco that was hyped. This is the Barco we hoped for. Al is forgiv...

1: It was coming and today it happened. Luiz is a damn baller. Really happy to see him find the net today. He’s been so close so many times. I fully expect this to unlock a bevy of goals. He’s a technically gifted player who’s great on the ball, an excellent passer, he can dribble, he can shoot. I’d probably be better off listing the things he can’t do just for times sake. I can really see him bec...