written by: Matt Swift
Typically, after a good night’s rest, I feel a little more calm after a poor result. My initial enraged reaction gives way to a more pragmatic outlook come the morning. But not today. No, today I’m still very angry and perplexed.
Let’s begin with last night’s Starting XI:
I have never followed a team that shifts and tinkers with a lineup more than our Head Coach, Cristian Lattanzio. His continuous rotation reeks of indecisiveness and fear. Indecisiveness and fear are two words I would also describe as our “style of play”.
But let’s take a look at how we lined up against NYCFC.
- Bill Touiloma– a center-back, playing right-back
- Derrick Jones– a center defensive midfielder, playing as a center-back
- Nathan Bryne– a right-back, playing left back
- Harrison Afful– a right-back/left-back, playing as a center defensive midfielder.
I’ll stop there and let you read that again.
Now… on the bench or completely left off the squad were:
- Brandt Bronico– a natural center defensive midfielder
- Jaylin Lindsey– a natural right-back (can also play left-back)
- Joseph Mora– a natural left back (left off the squad)
- Jan Sobociński– a natural center- back (subbed on)
I will stop again so you can read that list and then re-read the first list.
None of this makes sense.
I must mention that Jan Sobociński comes in to replace Guzmán Corujo for a like-for-like move at center-back in the 67th minute. How is Corujo not 90 minutes fit at this point? Why are we having to burn a sub on a center-back? Why wouldn’t you just start Jan then?
None of this makes sense.
Pinching In:
I honestly don’t know what to even say anymore. We have given up a league-leading 36 goals. Our coach, in his infinite wisdom, has this team over-loading the middle by pinching in our right and left backs, giving up acres of space out wide, every game, mainly when we have a lead.
I tweeted this a few minutes before NYCFC equalized.
I scream in the stands or at home to my TV every match that we are pinched in too much. Fans of all backgrounds and soccer IQ say the same thing over and over on social media. Yet, our professional coach persists with this absurdity.
None of this makes sense.
Subs
Enzo Coppetti, unfortunately, goes out injured in the 31st minute. The options at that point are:
- Option 1: Move Karol Świderski up top and bring on a playmaking midfielder.
- Option 2: Bring in someone up top and leave Świderski where he is.
Option 1: Bring in Ben Bender who is a natural play-making midfielder and who has done pretty well of late.
Option 2: Bring in Patrick Agyemang up top, someone that our coach has subbed in the past few matches for that very purpose and has scored and looked good.
But no, our coach did neither of these rational things. Instead, he brings in Justin Meram to play a center-attacking midfield role…something he has not done yet for us this season.
None of this makes sense.
Playing safe, playing backward, holding on for dear life…
I’m not certain if this is a coaching directive or if our players are truly scared to push forward or afraid they will lose the ball trying to do so.
We will dispossess a team and instead of pushing quickly or trying to take a player on in dangerous spots, we pause, we hesitate, we play it safe and play a short ball sideways, or backward, and then slowly swing the ball around, allowing the opposing team to get numbers back and into defensive shape. Indecisiveness and fear, indeed.
With a lead, we play it safe, sink back in, pinch in and try to “weather the storm”. We have lost two leads in the last 3 games employing this “tactic”. I honestly don’t see how you can watch a game, look at the film, look over the analytics, and still persist in this manner.
None of this makes sense.
Where we are
- After this draw, we sit in 10th on 25 points.
- We are 7 points back of Atlanta and an automatic playoff spot.
- We are 4 points off from 8th place D.C. United
- We are only 1 point off from 9th- but Montreal has a game in hand
- Red Bull sit in 12th and only 2 points back of us but has a game in hand
- Chicago sits 13th and only 2 points back of us but has a game in hand
If we don’t win this weekend against league leaders Cincinnati and either Red Bull or Chicago wins, we could find ourselves in 12th or 13th place.
Luckily, Atlanta takes on Montreal, Chicago takes on Nashville, and Red Bull plays New England. So we could get a little help but make no mistake, things are getting dire from a playoff perspective.
3 points at home against Cincinnati or we are in bad shape. Period.
Our next few opponents:
(1st) Cincinnati-at home
(9th) Montreal- away
(15th) Miami-away
(3rd-West) LAFC-home
(6th) Orlando-home
(2nd) Nashville-away
We have to start winning, especially at home, and picking up some points on the road. Drawing at home, no matter who the opponent is from here on out does us no good. We need to pick up another 22-23 points in my opinion to make the playoffs. The math is getting hard. Our backs are against the wall. We need our coach to make rational choices and keep it simple.
Please, please … make it make sense.