July 29: TFC vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (R)

[MastaK]

Hey on the bright side...if your team comes back and win in PR, they will be pumped up for the group stage and could go far...

But PR is not Montreal. And they won't play their B-team.

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by MastaK

Hey on the bright side...if your team comes back and win in PR, they will be pumped up for the group stage and could go far...

But PR is not Montreal. And they won't play their B-team.

I wish they were Montreal. Then we'd beat them for sure.

/Obligatory trash-talk now complete

[SteveBeau]

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

I wish they were Montreal. Then we'd beat them for sure.

/Obligatory trash-talk now complete

Cause the Impact seems to be the only USL-1 team TFC can consistently beat....

[canadianfoot]

Catenaccio anyone? Reminds me of watching Serie A games in the 80's or the Azzuri themselves. score 1goal and grind your opponent into a wall

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by SteveBeau

Cause the Impact seems to be the only USL-1 team TFC can consistently beat....

Congrats on understanding what my post.

You get a cookie.

[Free kick]

The interesting thing about Robinson. The games where he stood out for me were the games that were on TV which is almost exclusively away games. Hence, where the burden is on the opposition to force the issue. What I noted is that he is good in mopping defensive mistakes and that he supports the back line well. He is the kind of player who will get noticed after you watch replays or in game films of the whole game.

But last nights game is exactly the kind of game where he looks totally ineffective and where his shortcomming stand out because PRI were playing back and not forcing things. It showed when he would get the ball and offensive quality is needed, you see time and time again that he lacks the imagination in his game and makes the predictable plays. And that was what sums it up for me in second half: predictable. Guevarra was missed big time because is not predicatble, he can influence the tempo, makes quality plays and passes in the final third and is a threat on set pieces.

He was subbed out in the second half ( a rarity) and I thought that that was a good move by Cummins. But I wasn't so keen on teh Barrett subsititions. I am far from a fan of Barrett, but I thought that that was one of his better games.

[SteveBeau]

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

Congrats on understanding what my post.

You get a cookie.

Do I get a glass of TFC/MLS Kool-Aid to go with that..[]

[BearcatSA]

quote:Originally posted by Free kick

The interesting thing about Robinson. The games where he stood out for me were the games that were on TV which is almost exclusively away games. Hence, where the burden is on the opposition to force the issue. What I noted is that he is good in mopping defensive mistakes and that he supports the back line well. He is the kind of player who will get noticed after you watch replays or in game films of the whole game.

But last nights game is exactly the kind of game where he looks totally ineffective and where his shortcomming stand out because PRI were playing back and not forcing things. It showed when he would get the ball and offensive quality is needed, you see time and time again that he lacks the imagination in his game and makes the predictable plays. And that was what sums it up for me in second half: predictable. Guevarra was missed big time because is not predicatble, he can influence the tempo, makes quality plays and passes in the final third and is a threat on set pieces.

He was subbed out in the second half ( a rarity) and I thought that that was a good move by Cummins. But I wasn't so keen on teh Barrett subsititions. I am far from a fan of Barrett, but I thought that that was one of his better games.

That's more or less my take on Robinson as well though I also thought he missed some tackles (or maybe it was Cronin?) last night that should have been meat and drink for him. But as G-L noted, five giveaways in the first quarter of the match is pretty poor for any kind of midfielder, defensive or attacking.

[loyola]

quote:Originally posted by Free kick

The interesting thing about Robinson. The games where he stood out for me were the games that were on TV which is almost exclusively away games. Hence, where the burden is on the opposition to force the issue. What I noted is that he is good in mopping defensive mistakes and that he supports the back line well. He is the kind of player who will get noticed after you watch replays or in game films of the whole game.

But last nights game is exactly the kind of game where he looks totally ineffective and where his shortcomming stand out because PRI were playing back and not forcing things. It showed when he would get the ball and offensive quality is needed, you see time and time again that he lacks the imagination in his game and makes the predictable plays. And that was what sums it up for me in second half: predictable. Guevarra was missed big time because is not predicatble, he can influence the tempo, makes quality plays and passes in the final third and is a threat on set pieces.

He was subbed out in the second half ( a rarity) and I thought that that was a good move by Cummins. But I wasn't so keen on teh Barrett subsititions. I am far from a fan of Barrett, but I thought that that was one of his better games.

I couldn't agree more. That wasn't a good sub IMO. Barrett was having a good game on the left wing, keep him there so he could provide Gerba and Dichio some quality crosses.

[Guest Ed]

Good God. Losing to a team captained by a 70's porno star!! The shame. I would lay that goal on the normally impeccable Frei. Cummins just isn't up to standards I fear. That was a shambolic defence he put out there.

[BearcatSA]

quote:Originally posted by Ed

Good God. Losing to a team captained by a 70's porno star!! The shame. I would lay that goal on the normally impeccable Frei. Cummins just isn't up to standards I fear. That was a shambolic defence he put out there.

Pretty dodgy looking character, that guy!

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by SteveBeau

Do I get a glass of TFC/MLS Kool-Aid to go with that..[]

Nah, Grizzly is handing out enough USL Kool-Aid in your parts to last you a long time.

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by Ed

Good God. Losing to a team captained by a 70's porno star!! The shame. I would lay that goal on the normally impeccable Frei. Cummins just isn't up to standards I fear. That was a shambolic defence he put out there.

His options weren't exactly plentiful. Nana and Serioux were both injured, and Velez cannot play next to another slow CB (Garcia). Who would you have had him put out there last night?

Lack of options only points to one man, and Cummins ain't it.

That said, I agree with those saying that pulling Barrett for White was the wrong move. Plus Dichio should have subbed in immediately following the PR goal.

[Richard]

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

And now Richard is reading words that weren't typed. Again. Wow!

Of course it's PRI's "fault" that TFC couldn't score. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PRI WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH!

You're just being intentionally obtuse.

I said TFC needs both Guevara and DeRo on the pitch to be able to effectively break down a bunker. If one is missing, all creativity disappears as the opponent is able to key in on the remaining player and neutralize him.

How is what I said wrong?

They could have used you in the broadcast booth last night.

Your insight clearly puts guys like Jason DeVos to shame.

No, it's TFC that didn't have the horespower to defeat PRI so the blame lies with TFC who ought to have been the superior team but were nowhere near that. You evidently missed the irony.

Soccer is a team game. If success or failure depends on but one or two players then TFC has a bigger problem than anybody thought. That's not PRI's fault, more irony.

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by Richard

No, it's TFC that didn't have the horespower to defeat PRI so the blame lies with TFC who ought to have been the superior team but were nowhere near that. You evidently missed the irony.

Nowhere near that? Now you're resorting to hyperbole.

You're making it out to seem like PR destroyed TFC by five goals and Toronto never crossed their own halfway line.

quote:Soccer is a team game. If success or failure depends on but one or two players then TFC has a bigger problem than anybody thought.

More sage wisdom.

Soccer teams have never relied heavily on their best players ever, right Richard?

I didn't even suggest that Guevara's presence would have led to a TFC win. All I suggested was that Guevara would be a big help to TFC in trying to break down a bunker.

I've yet to hear from you how I was wrong by saying such a thing.

[Tuscan]

^ Agreed. It was painfully obvious how badly TFC were lacking Guevara. When DeRo gets double-teamed, the creativity goes completely out the window. Cronin and Robinson are not play-makers, and apparently quite useless when making attempts on goal. That hit Cronin took from outside the box was terrible. Gomez actually looked like he could be useful, which was nice to see.

[tmcmurph]

quote:Originally posted by Tuscan

^ Agreed. It was painfully obvious how badly TFC were lacking Guevara. When DeRo gets double-teamed, the creativity goes completely out the window. Cronin and Robinson are not play-makers, and apparently quite useless when making attempts on goal. That hit Cronin took from outside the box was terrible. Gomez actually looked like he could be useful, which was nice to see.

TFC's coach said in his post game that he told the team to watch for 3 things but they only got 1 right. His post game comments seemed accurate to me. I thought he coached good but TFC just didn't get enough shots ON net.

So now you go to Puerto Rico and they have a 1 goal lead and it's an away goal at that. Tough but doable. Here is how. Pray like hell that Guevara is healthy. I don't care how much you bunker in he can curl an accurate shot over or around your bunker better than anyone else on the team.

You will need that because if you thought they bunkered down in Toronto at 0-0 wait until you see what they do at home with a 1 goal lead.

Good luck.

PS At least your "ez" situation has been sorted out. Keep Gomez & ditch Velez.

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by tmcmurph

PS At least your "ez" situation has been sorted out. Keep Gomez & ditch Velez.

I'm hoping they leave Velez in Puerto Rico.

[Ivan]

^ Well, he was chatting up some of his PR buddies at halftime and after the game. Cummins must have been right pissed at him to leave him out against his former team, starting an 18 year old in his place. Sent a message, I would say.

[jamieNDG]

that was a really unlucky loss they get one shot and it went in, tfc needed to throw more shots at the net from outside of the penalty area but the corners were the real problem, the dicio situation should have been dealt with around maybe after 50 minutes and thats the caoching staff that greated up. i still beleive that tfc will take this series. 4 4 2 formation, let them turtle.

maybe on the build up to the next game all practices should be dedicated on the reserve team defending in front of the net and the starters working on making space and shooting. nothing else. ( maybe practice some corners 2)

[yankiboy]

quote:Originally posted by tmcmurph

So now you go to Puerto Rico and they have a 1 goal lead and it's an away goal at that. Tough but doable. Here is how. Pray like hell that Guevara is healthy. I don't care how much you bunker in he can curl an accurate shot over or around your bunker better than anyone else on the team.

You will need that because if you thought they bunkered down in Toronto at 0-0 wait until you see what they do at home with a 1 goal lead.

Good luck.

We play different at home. If memory serves me right (I'm too lazy to look it up) we have beaten Santos by 2 and W beat Cruz Azul by two.

Knowing that if TFC scores an away goal the series is tied and being confident at the JRL, I am not anticipating a defensive approach.

If we score the first goal then all bets are off; I would expect us to begin playing to defend the result and looking to do the usual counter attack bit that we use on the road in big games.

[Mr.Impact]

quote:Originally posted by yankiboy

We play different at home. If memory serves me right (I'm too lazy to look it up) we have beaten Santos by 2 and W beat Cruz Azul by two.

Knowing that if TFC scores an away goal the series is tied and being confident at the JRL, I am not anticipating a defensive approach.

If we score the first goal then all bets are off; I would expect us to begin playing to defend the result and looking to do the usual counter attack bit that we use on the road in big games.

Hey Yankiboy

What is the status of Fabrice Noel? He doesn't seem to be getting many minutes. I know he had a contractual dispute with management earlier on.

[yankiboy]

Mr Impact, as far as I know. Fabrice is ok. He came back from his Hational National Team duty very tired.

He was criss-crossing the USA during Gold Cup. Same with Marcelin. They played in Seattle, Boston, DC, Houston--I think he was sat because they thought that he needed a break.

The contract thing ended up getting resolved when he decided to take the deal that he was offered (and no other club move worked out for him).

When I last had contact with him a couple weeks ago he was just tired from all of the travel and the intensity of being on of Haiti's main offensive options. He just was saying that he was feeling really drained.

[Richard]

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

I've yet to hear from you how I was wrong by saying such a thing.

They lost because the team simply wasn't good enough. Add one or two different players and the chances are the team would still have failed because one player does not a TEAM make and the TEAM was just not good enough. Get it, I can't state it much more simply Rudi, sage or otherwise?

[loyola]

On a night where TFC dominated the possession like that I believe someone like Guevara could've been a difference maker with his playmaking abilities.

Despite having most of the possession (what are the stats BTW? 65 %?) Toronto wasn't able to generate good chances from the middle of the field. That's where Guevara usually excels.

You can't say if Guevara had played TFC would've won but you can say that he would've definitely helped the team in an area where they struggled all night long. They were too predictable with those attacks from the wings and a little bit of diversity could've helped exposing PR defense a little bit more.