Photo: Daniel Studio
New York Red Bulls defeated Philadelphia Union 3-1 on Saturday night at PPL Park. Sacha Kljestan opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Tranquillo Barnetta was adjudged to have fouled Shaun Wright-Phillips inside the Union box.
Sebastien Le Toux equalized for the Union in the 73rd minute but Bradley Wright-Phillips restored New York’s lead just a minute later. Anatole Abang sealed the points for the Red Bulls deep into stoppage time, finishing a breakaway from 18 yards.
First Half
Jim Curtin made one change to the team that fell to D.C. United last weekend as John McCarthy started in goal in place of the injured Brian Sylvestre. New signing Tranquillo Barnetta started on the bench.
The first half was a dour one with few chances for either side; neither team registering a shot on goal.
The Red Bulls had the first chance of the match in the sixth minute. Maurice Edu misplayed a pass out of the back and the ball went straight to Mike Grella. But the midfielder’s shot from 20 yards was too high to trouble McCarthy.
The Union earned eight corner kicks but created little from the set pieces. Each team finished out the opening half with a series of half chances. Eric Ayuk failed to get his shot off quickly and saw it blocked from six yards out. Kljestan later cut through two Union defenders, but his shot from a bad angle went into the side netting.
Second Half
The Red Bulls had the first chance of the second half in the 49th minute. Bradley Wright-Phillips found room to turn inside the Union box and fired a hard shot toward the near post from seven yards out on the right. John McCarthy was on hand to parry the ball behind the net.
The Union ratcheted up the pressure as the half wore on. Zach Pfeffer had a series of shooting chances from the top of the box but could not put one on target.
Shaun Wright-Phillips joined the fray in the 60th minute for New York, with Tranquillo Barnetta and Fernando Aristeguieta coming on in the 64th minute for the home side.
Debutants Barnetta and Wright-Phillips would be involved straight away. The New York speedster broke into the box as the Red Bulls attacked down the left side. As the ball was played toward him, Barnetta barged into the back of the winger and the veteran went to ground as soon as he felt the contact, drawing a penalty.
Kljestan stepped up to take the penalty and finished coolly down the middle of the goal as John McCarthy dove to his right.
Philadelphia equalized in the 73rd minute with a goal from Sebastian Le Toux. Fabinho switched the ball and found Chaco Maidana in space on the right side of the Red Bulls’ box. The midfielder whipped in a low cross that could not be turned in by Aristeguieta from six yards, but Le Toux followed up the play and blasted home a bouncing ball from close range.
New York would strike back straight away in the 74th minute as the Wright-Phillips brothers combined inside the Union area. Shaun Wright-Phillips latched onto a throughball on the Red Bulls’ left side and turned Ray Gaddis not once but twice before squaring the ball for his brother to tap in from eight yards.
Conor Casey entered the match in the 82nd minute and had a chance straight away. The big striker latched onto a long free kick and directed his header on goal, but Luis Robles got down to his right to push the shot away.
Substitute Anatole Abang assured the points for New York with a goal in stoppage time. As the Union pushed numbers forward in search of an equalizer, the Red Bulls broke on the counter and Kljestan played Abang in on goal from 35 yards. The striker kept his cool and finished low to the left of McCarthy from the top of the box.
Philadelphia will look to rebound when they travel to Orlando City for the first time next Saturday (7:30 pm).
Philadelphia Union
John McCarthy, Fabinho, Maurice Edu, Ethan White (Conor Casey 82′), Ray Gaddis, Brian Carroll, Zach Pfeffer (Tranquilla Barnetta 64′), Cristian Maidana, Eric Ayuk (Fernando Aristeguieta 64′), Sebastien Le Toux, CJ Sapong
Unused Subs: Andre Blake, Steven Vitoria, Fred, Richie Marquez
New York Red Bulls
Luis Robles, Connor Lade, Damien Perrinelle, Matt Miazga, Anthony Wallace, Sacha Kljestan, Lloyd Sam (Shaun Wright-Phillips 60′), Dax McCarty, Felipe, Mike Grella (Antole Abang 77′), Bradley Wright-Phillips (Karl Ouimette 64′)
Unused Subs: Kyle Reynish, Shawn McLaws, Sal Zizzo, Sean Davis
Scoring Summary
NY: Sacha Kljestan (PK) — 66
PHI: Sebastian Le Toux (Fernando Aristeguieta, Christian Maidana) — 73
NY: Bradley Wright-Phillips (Shaun Wright-Phillips) — 74
NY: Anatole Abang (Sacha Kljestan) – 90+4
Disciplinary Summary
NY: Damien Perrinelle (foul) – 51
NY:Anthony Wallace (foul) – 56
PHI: Sebastien Le Toux (foul) – 62
PHI: Fernando Aristeguieta (foul) – 90′
| Philadelphia Union | New York Red Bulls | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Shots | 9 |
| 3 | Shots on Target | 4 |
| 10 | Shots off Target | 5 |
| 4 | Blocked Shots | 0 |
| 3 | Corner Kicks | 8 |
| 26 | Crosses | 14 |
| 1 | Offsides | 6 |
| 11 | Fouls | 12 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 342 | Total Passes | 418 |
| 67.8% | Passing Accuracy | 73.9% |
| 47.2% | Possession | 52.8% |
| 58 | Duels Won | 48 |
| 54.2% | Duels Won % | 45.3% |
| 15 | Tackles Won | 15 |
| 1 | Saves | 2 |
| 9 | Clearances | 38 |
So maddening. So Union.
.
What else is there to say.
Sometimes at the games I just yell now. Not words or anything, just shouting my rage to the heavens. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggh! It’s kind of therapeutic, but I wish I didn’t have to do it.
.
Other things: 1) RB fans were dooping at the end of the game. First good chant they had all night! 2) What an inauspicious first significant moment for Barnetta. Yeash.
Well that makes it official then: All MLS teams use the SAME mindless, B-O-R-I-N-G chants and just insert their teams’ names here and there. It’s pathetic.
MLS is my league, but I cannot wait for the sounds of Premier League.
Completely agree about the boring, tired chants of MLS, and I really despise defending anything about the NYRBs, but I have to say that “Twist and Shout” sounded pretty good. I’m not sure if it’s sampled from another team, though, as is often the case.
Um, it was sampled from the Sons of Ben. As was the “yes” chant after their second goal, as was their dooping. Basically, rather than being original, they just trolled us every time they scored.
Damn, really? Figures. Bastards. Thanks for the info. It makes me feel better that they don’t deserve the credit that I bestowed upon them.
Are you sure? I can’t remember which team started doing it first.
I’ll tell you what else to say to Curtin: “You’re fired at the end of the season.” I’m not saying Sheanon would have done better on the 2nd goal but at least he would have contributed something going forward. Gaddis is outmatched in MLS, but Curtin embarrassed Williams to anoint Gaddis the starting RB? What the fuck was the point of that? This team needs a sporting director and he needs to be free to hire his own coach.
Oh yeah, I forgot. Just let Aristegiueta leave when his loan is done. He’s slow, weak, falls at the slightest contact, and complains to the ref incessantly. Everyone seems to think he’s some quality striker based on scoring a couple goals in preseason! MLS preseason! Give me a break. Oh yeah, and he plays the same position as Sapong and Casey. WHY DID WE GO OUT AND GET A GUY WHO PLAYS THE SAME POSITION AS 2 PLAYERS WE ALREADY HAD, ALBRIGHT?!? HUH? God, I’m sorry for the caps sentence but that’s how much this team frustrates me.
Here here!
Hear hear!
Higher hare! (Southern accent employed)
Um, 1) Casey is done 2) Casey should not be here next year 3) An old man and a player who was trying to revive his career, were not going to get them through the season (barely have made it with all three) 4) So even through his injuries and suspension, you expect a player to be a miracle worker in his first year in a new league (if this player even existed, he wouldn’t be playing in MLS)
Gaddis had a nightmare both defensively and with his first touch…..so many balls swing his way and get shut down. Our back four couldn’t deal with the Wright-Phillips bothers at all…….no answer for that. I don’t get worked up anymore……we are what we are…….fingers crossed for the Open Cup.
Gaddis is just alright. that’s it. just alright. he got abused tonight. phew. Pfeffer is concerning at DM too- not that he should be good playing thie position I guess since it is unnatural for him. I was listening to first half while working and don’t think I heard his name but once or twice.
.
funny I have reached resignation. the point where even my desire to write long ass wicked skewerings has waned.
.
this team is exhausting.
“You’re forgetting the best aspect of Gaddis… He’s cheaper than Williams!”
—
Union FO
You make one change and expect a different result?! We also used to score a lot during the last 10 minutes. That also has stopped. We are going backwards instead of forwards.
17 shots and only 3 on goal. Someone needs to tell this team that shooting the ball into the SOB’s isn’t going to do any good.
That was just awful. Horrible way to spend two hours.
Ethan White is not good. At all. And Pfeffer tonight… yeesh.
–
This game came down to NY finishing chances, and we didnt. Can someone that isn’t named Fabinho take a shot outside of the box?
This team is crying out for a coach. There are some good players. And they all bust their asses. (Except Wenger, of course.) But they suck at defense and set pieces. Might a real coach make a difference, Sak you idiot?
Dude, you should really calm down. The rest of the season is about the Open Cup…the playoffs have been gone for a long time. It was a good move to put Barnetta in the game tonight because he needs to get some burn with these guys before August 12th. As for your “Fire the Coach” rants, no coach in the world could win consistently with this group. They have no depth (and Sheanon Williams was awful this year before you move onto that topic again), they were missing their best offensive player tonight (Nogs), they don’t have an MLS-quality starting GK, and the Red Bulls were hell bent on revenge from last week. Pfeffer is not ready to be a major, consistent contributor at this level. Ethan White is not MLS quality. Nando has been a major disappointment thus far. Did you really think the Union were going to take 3 points out of this one? Lay off Curtin. He’s a good young coach, who is going to have some growing pains. Let him develop along with our core group of players like Edu, Nogs, CJ, Ayuk, and now Barnetta. Show some patience.
Patience for five years I think is enough. I am so exhausted to offer any alternative. This Roller Coaster of highs and lows is killing the heart.
If you want to fire Curtin get ready for more ups and downs and turmoil and roster churn
Dude, don’t tell me to calm down. And I won’t tell you to get over your naïveté.
Couldn’t have said it better VDS. Preach on!
Curtin IS NOT a good young coach. He is as good as a cardboard cutout with a whistle draped around its neck. There is solid young talent that needs a coach to develop their game even more. Curtin was a “Cheap” solution and a “Philly” guy. I do not care of Jim Curtin’s “street cred” and he’s “tough.” Curtin has been found out and needed to stay in the kiddie pool and not the ocean. No Tactics, No Philosophy, No Vision. This is just a group of guys running around kicking a ball. I can see that any weekend for free by going to a park and watching U9’s play. BPL starts in 6 Days and my sanity will return.
“Street Cred” and “Philly” have nothing to do with it. This team was ranked 19th or 20th before the season started in MLS power rankings across the board. And guess what…they’re 19th or 20th. Why? Because they’re short on talent and depth. Period. Has nothing to do with the coach. Is it Jim’s fault that Zach Pfeffer had 3 clear shots from 22 yards in last night from the middle of the field and didn’t put one close to frame? Is it his fault that Nando’s first touch sucked last night? Is it his fault that Barnetta committed a foul in the box 45-seconds into his first game? This team isn’t winning anyway. They play hard almost every game and compete. There’s been zero quit, and that’s the sign of respect for the Head Coach. If the U win the Open Cup, it will be an unbelievable accomplishment with a mostly inferior roster. Edu, Nogs, Chaco, CJ, Barnetta (who just debuted and has never played with any of these guys) and possibly Gaddis are the only legit MLS starters on this team. Give me a break.
Sylvestre can definitely compete in this league and we’ve seen it ….can someone tell me why we do not see hoppenot ?? With his close to foot touches and speed he always creates great set piece positions and a possibility for pks…furthermore, curtin will start Casey over hoppenot ???? Curtin needs to go
Hoppenot falls over when a defender breathes hard next to him. Seriously, he is more allergic to gravity than Danny Cruz.
That’s it. I’m done. I will not renew my tickets next year. I can watch this pile of shit from my living room. I’ll finish out the season and I’ve already bought my seats for the next Open Cup match but I no longer consider myself a STH.
Where are your seats?
What made you renew last season? For me, I saw the writing on the wall sept last year. It’s … weird watching from home. I had to run errands last night and got a 45 min delay start. I love that flexibility especially after Harrison, ppl park and Linc last weekend while still watching DC fiasco on DVR.
Also, last two games I’ve appreciated the ability to check out — both after goal #3. But I also felt the electricity in Harrison and will attend the semi. The commitment-free approach is liberating despite being unfulfilling.
We looked like the better team for most of the match. We scrapped for balls in the midfield, Maidana and Le Toux and Sapong were all very active, and the Red Bulls didn’t have many quality chances until Shaun Wright-Phillips came on. The defense let down on the second goal, for sure, with Gaddis & White mainly to blame, but the first was rather fluky. Anyway, without Nogueira, our chances of winning this match were low.
—
The problems:
1) Our crosses were mostly terrible all night — way too long
2) Shooting was bad, with Pfeffer being the main culprit
3) Gaddis had serious trouble handling SWP
—
As a final note, why the %$@! is Andre Blake not starting?!
Blake is injured again.
Sylvestre was injured. Blake was the back-up.
We talk of Noriega and what he would have done! He needs to be in the field to be fully and properly assessed. Few games every now and then will not cut it. Sorry he is injured but being fit is all part of the game. Last year we blamed it on fatigue for having played lots of games in France before joining the Union.
I doubt Noriega could have helped us at all, seeing as how he’s 81 and sitting in a prison cell in Panama for human rights violations.
.
If you’re referring to Vincent Nogueira, he’s 6th in games started and 6th in minutes played on the team. There is no issue with needing to assess him. There have been no questions about his starting status this season. Also, he doesn’t have a fitness problem. He has a quad injury and he’s out for a month.
What needs to be assessed? When he’s on the field, the Union have a shot at wining, and when he’s not, they don’t. He’s top two on the Union. Pretty simple.
Here’s a thought – squad rotation. Nogs played 90 on the weekend then 120 in the Cup match. And he was end to end, as he always is. When you don’t get proper rest, muscle injuries happen.
–
Same story as last season, Curtin will grind the starters down and they have nothing left the last part of the season.
I hope Curtin can drop the nonsense now about trying to make the playoffs. This team won’t accomplish squat in the playoffs. I think we’re in pre-pre-season now. Get Vittoria back out there. Get Blake in goal. Experiment with formations and figure out what works. What the Union are doing now doesn’t work.
.
That said, game plan seemed to be the right one — lots of chances were created, only one completed. The team just isn’t good enough. Can’t finish, can’t defend consistently.
.
Brian Carol, though… Guy deserves a silver star for playing way better than. You could imagine.
Thought the same thing. We looked like the better team most of the night. We just don’t put the ball on goal, then our defense collapses and bleeds goals. Thought BC, Ayuk and Sapong did well on the night. And Barnetta (nonsense call in the box aside) looks competent.
I agree with figuring out Blake, Vitoria, etc., but not until after the Open Cup run is over. That’s the season right now, and whatever it takes to win that competition (which would vastly help our franchise re: talent acquisition this upcoming offseason), have at it. Once that is completed, then see what you have in Blake and Vitoria.
No No No. Forget the Cup run. If it happens, great, but do not wait to start people to evaluate for 2016.
–
If Marquez had played his first eight games last fall and shown he was a capable MLS CB, maybe Union don’t waste 400k & an intl spot on Vitoria. Pfeiffer would have more games under his belt. We may have proof that Andre Blake is not a myth and actually exists ;-).
–
I get that last season Curtin still had the interim tag and did not have this luxury. But if our FO is committed to him long term as they say, this needs to happen.
Disagree. You win the Open Cup, it gives you hardware and leverage in off-season acquisitions to upgrade the talent on this roster.
If you all have watched Sylvestre this season he is the starter we need to sign him Blake and McCarthy could be good trading prospects
I hope that all the BC hatred from last year has permanently gone away. The man is a true professional, and clearly gives everything he has every time he’s out there. I understand he has limitations offensively, but he’s been a solid citizen for the U ever since he arrived. And yes, this year is much better from him than we all expected.
I’m dying to see Blake in goal. Let’s see what we have there. Please.
Yeah- this season is over, just go for the Open Cup. 0-7-0 without Nogs starting. I hope Curtin spares us the “this is a must win” comment for the next 6 or so weeks. Time to experiment Jim, and try to start the process of setting us up for next year. Ayuk is a starter, play Blake in remaining MLS games, let Barnetta get used to league and new teammates, etc.
–
Side note- there was one tweet in the MLS site game timeline that claimed Alejandro Bedoya might join Union. Obviously need more concrete confirmation than that, but interesting nonetheless. Doesn’t Sak have some connection to Nantes?
Hello darkness my old friend
God I wish I thought of this. Brilliant.
Awesome! Accurate too!
Perfect.
Gaddis = Defensive Danny Cruz with less technique … But cheaper!
—
Andre Blake is only a mirage…. We’ve all seen him… We’ve all heard about him ….but he doesn’t really exist on this plane of consciousness
—
I’ve been full of LeTouxitude since day one but dude has lost a step if not three… And his extra gear was his greatest asset
—
Ethan White = worst Union Center Back ever???? Discuss….
—
Pfeffer needed a map to find where his feet were tonight … Let alone his defensive mark…. Please Union don’t break him like you did with MacMath, Mwanga, Farfan(s)…
—
I know I already ripped Gaddis, but the Williams move has FO stink and greasy fingerprints all over it…Williams was off to a rocky start… But Gaddis never set the world on fire…ever… Gaddis has no offensive talent nor has shown progression towards having any…. He loses his mark constantly…..ugh… I could go one but I feel I have riled the wrath of Gaddis Geeks already
—
PS PSP are those corner stats right for the Union????
I’ll address one by one.
-Gaddis is generally a solid defender. He’s a good player, not a world beater. Tonight, he didn’t have much help on his side and got beat a couple times. His touch also was poor. Williams, on the other hand, is no better and wasn’t re-signing here. His marking was flat awful this year.
-I don’t know what the story with Blake is, but I’m fine going with McCarthy until the Open Cup run is over. None of those 3 goals were his fault tonight, and he distributed well / had a nice save in the 2nd half. After Open Cup, it needs to Blake the rest of the way.
-I thought Seba was actually good tonight from a speed and reactionary point of view. He was on the ball a lot, and his touch mostly didn’t let him down. This was one of his better games. Generally though, you’re correct…he’s slowing down.
-Ethan White is brutal. One huge mistake every game and has zero touch on the ball.
-Pfeffer is just not ready yet for a consistent, prime time role.
-I think the corner stats are reversed. U had at least 5-6 that I can remember.
LeToux was quite good this game. I agree. Great exchanges with Maidana, good movement off the ball, and a quality finish on that loose ball.
White looks nervous and unsure back there. Everything gets hoofed forward blindly it seems. Edu’s calm doesn’t seem to be rubbing off on him.
I disagree on Williams though. He defends well enough, plays multiple positions, and was one of the few players on the roster who presented any danger on the offensive flanks. His last month or two were very solid here. He’s gone because he had more value than Gaddis.
Ethan White has a had a terrible, thoughtless, season. I don’t think there is any purpose in his hea when he puts foot to ball.
As for McCarthy: No, no, a T-H-O-U-S-A-N-D times…No. I want someone to please find a plastic grocery bag, put it over their hand, pick him out of that damned goal mouth once and for all, and place him in the nearest trash receptacle.
Agree on White. Disagree on McCarthy. He’s not polished yet, but clearly has physical attributes you want in a goalie, and has performed at a high level in college and at Rochester. He’s awfully young to be throwing away, when goalies peak much later than field players. He just needs polish. Solid 2nd or 3rd keeper in the near term.
Union had 13 corners. 13! And nothing to show for them.
A house of cards based on false assumptions. To wit:
-Gaddis is preferable to Williams.
-Pfeffer is ready to play in the MLS.
-Edu is good in the air.
-The Union have an advantage on corner kicks.
-Nando was a good catch.
-We have a coaching staff (cf: the complete lack of tactical ideas near the box)
-The team knows to be alert and ready to defend after scoring.
-The Union are a competitive MLS team.
Vision, Plan, Philosophy: the dearth of which were plain to see tonight.
My heart bleeds blue and gold, but my eyes burn and my head hurts after games like this, and there have been far too many. Guess I am guilty of yet another false assumption: that I should expect better from this organization.
WSSM.
Let me be the first one to start the slow clap here because this is fantastic..
Yeah, Gaddis was a real wall on that second goal, wasn’t he? Look, both Sheannon and Ray have their limitations, ups and downs. It’s the fact that Sheannon had more attacking upside than Ray, and getting rid of him cratered our depth. Preferable to White and actual potential as a midfielder. His departure had more to do with temporal exigency and the inability to rid ourselves of Mbolhi. It should never have come down to Ray or Sheannon. Ray AND Sheannon would have made this a stronger team, now.
Exactly. The disaster that was the M’Bolhi signing caused our Williams/Gaddis fiasco. It shouldn’t have been necessary to move either, but Rais and the inability to move him forced the FO’s hand.
Worst signing in the history of MLS.
I know its not PC, but I could give a crap about the Open Cup. They are going to push the hell out of it even more now, but based on how bottom-feeding we are, missing the playoffs again far outweighs winning any trophy. Same old shit.
So you’d rather make the playoffs and not win anything? Teams play to win honors, trophies, silverware. Making the playoffs is not an achievement, it does not signify success. Unless you win MLS Cup, making the playoffs means nothing.
If the Union are not going to make the playoffs, winning the Open Cup should be the Priority as it will help them going forward. It’s a trophy first and foremost. Second it get them more Garber bucks for making it into CCL play which will help with improving the roster.
Other than the Garber bucks, its winning a tourney vs pro and minor league squads. Not rooting against them but seeing it as a huge accomplishment is not how I look at it. And if making the playoffs and not winning the mls cup means nothing, they shouldnt be making the playoffs for another 3-4 yrs.
Making the playoffs is the first goal of every MLS team as that’s the only avenue to the MLS Cup. I hate to say it but poor teams should not be winning the Open Cup to avoid disgracing the league at CCL. Winning the Open Cup without making the playoffs is doing bad and feeling good.
First of all, no MLS team has won CCL, so its not like a poor team is going to disgrace the league any more than a good team will. Second, obviously Montreal didn’t qualify through the Open Cup, but they finished dead last in MLS last year, and it’s safe to say they didn’t disgrace the league in CCL this year.
Open Cup gets you an extra $250k of league allocation money and you get to play real team’s from other leagues next year. . . So the Open Cup is a valuable trophy
NOW THAT’S A DEBUT!!
I truly love this team, or like The Elephant often says, “the idea of this team”… but my god… please win the Open Cup, or hell, do something positive. Following, and paying for tickets for this team after games like that, is just unreal. It’s just so hard, so tiring…
.
They were good, for long stretches, but they just can never get it done… Always just not good enough… always.
Just let it breathe…next year will be significantly better. You’ll have Sapong, Barnetta, Marquez, and a real MLS GK (TBD) for an entire season. Add in Edu, Nogs, Chaco. Ayuk will be a year older and more experienced. Dead wood like Casey and LeToux will be gone. Carroll will be gone. Hopefully, M’Bohli will be moved, and we’ll have another international slot. Jim will have another year under his belt. And, we can still win the Open Cup this year. Not all bad…
I honestly wish I had your ability to always look Toward next year
It’s not always about looking to next year. It’s about looking at the reality of the situation. Curtin has been the guy for 1 full year. He turned around a disaster last year and got this team a goalpost away from the Open Cup championship. That said, how could anyone expect the guy to compete from a player acquisition standpoint this past off-season after being on the job for less than 6 months? Talk about getting thrown into the fire. I’m willing to wait because there are a lot of signs that point upwards, despite the ownership group of this team. Barnetta was a great get. Nando should have been a great get, but has had a tough time thus far. Sapong was a great get. Vitoria, not so much thus far. Also, Jim had absolutely zero to do with the M’Bohli disaster that hamstrung the team not only from a cap perspective but also from a GK perspective…there’s not an MLS-quality GK on this roster. And as far as player development goes, I’ve seen a young guy like Richie Marquez prosper under Curtin’s leadership…does he not get credit for that? Does he not get credit for having the foresight to move Mo back to central defense? I mean, there’s only so much you can do when your outside mid choices are LeToux, Wenger, Ayuk, and Pfeffer. Throw in long-term injuries to Nando, Lahoud, Marquez, Vitoria, Blake, and now Nogs, and there’s not a whole lot that any coach can do with a team that was already thin to begin with.
this is all true
He oozes quality too. Totally unsurprising that is how it went for him. .
I do not believe in luck or fortune in this game as I’ve argued but If it wasn’t for bad luck this club wouldn’t have any luck at all and if I had ham I’d make a sandwich if I had bread.
Frustrating to lose after outplaying an allegedly better team for sixty minutes, and more, by out working them.
.
Barnetta looks like he needs to go to the Christian Maidana school of off-season training, probably. The advertised pace was not apparent. The precise clean passes were.
.
Jesse Marsch’s FO gave him a sub who had twinkle toes”horizontally”, pace and quickness. Gaddis was beaten and had no cover on the second goal. Normally that cover should be White or Ayuk, but Ayuk was subbed off for Sapong already. It’s the first time he’s seen Shaun W-P, a better player than his brother. The defensive mantra of pressure, Cover and Balance was missing the Cover and Balance on the play.
.
Our problem continues, our only scoring threats are up front in the center of the pitch, and can be neutralized by focused center backs and effective defensive center mids.
.
Get us some scorers. When Harrisburg is done, trial this Craig Foster who has scored five in his first three games for them.
I would not describe Barnetta as speedy, quick, or fast. Which seems to be why he’s now going to play in the middle, when they really need help on the wing.
.
WSSM
Completing less than 68% passes as a team doesn’t help either. Sure, there’s a lot of hit and hope crosses in there, but that’s a startling low number.
–
Shows how valuable Nogueira’s movement and link play is to us. He’s always available for a teammate to lay a ball off to which is hugely important to keeping the ball and establishing a rhythm as a team. Zach did OK, but it’s not really his forte to go and do that. He’s more comfortable moving forward and attacking.
Ouch. That stings. I feel like Charlie Brown. Lucy keeps pulling the ball away and I keep fanning on my kick and cork-screwing myself into the ground. Rinse and repeat. Can we PLEASE try some crazy shi/t now? Wenger at LB? Blake in goal? Even Vittoria. What the hell? I guess it can wait until after the Cup but….Lets at least have some fun and dream a little.
/
I don’t feel good about our defense. Ray-Ray has lost some confidence….or something. He used to be like a cruise missile out there…fearless but he’s been getting exposed repeatedly and Ethan White offers no help. Even Edu has looked less than dominant patrolling the back line- certainly not DP dominant! Marquez is back next week. His pairing with Mo seems more natural and less porous.
/
I think Curtain went with McCarthy rather than Blake because A)John’s success against NYRB, and B)Curtain is keeping John sharp for the Open Cup run which is the most important thing for the Union. Just my opinion though.
Good opinions, not just your own.
How very Union to have Barnetta’s debut wind up the way it did.
After tonight’s performance, my teenage boys have started calling the team the Philadelphia Eunuchs.
To top it off, Shaun Wright-Phillips debut results in a game winning goal.
So one week till EPL. AMIRIGHT?
Community Shield is on in an hour.
2nd goal Ray got abused, but the ball watching from White and Edu is unfathomable. It was DCU match all over again.
Yep.
Wow make a list of who had good and bad nights and the list is much bigger for the later. Edu had a good game, Sapong was solid, and Chaco was in a lot of good places (i can’t believe teams aren’t man marking him, its amazing). Otherwise not much to say. Ayuk continues to show promise.
.
Le Toux was dreaful, muck. The goal well well taken, otherwise he offered nothing of quality. He needs to sit. Casey is done, Nando needs more time an not just being bombed to over the top. Gaddis, what the hell happened to you? Tell me again everyone why it was okay trading Shaenon?
.
One last point… WHAT THE F*** OES BLAKE HAVE TO DO TO PLAY?!??! FOR GODS SAKE
I am just smiling boys I am still here hurting with you all…but you all know how I feel so I won’t say anything…
As I hate to say this with injuries and player movement the most consistent person on this team may be Carroll. Carroll is by far the only reason this team got any semblance of organization in the back and plays his heart out every game. No he should not be a starter and this should not be the case, but what does this team do when he retires as there is a glaring hole in his spot.
–
Other key things Pfeffer can’t play CDM just doesn’t know how to cut out passing lanes or move to get on the ball in this position. He is a clear backup to Chaco and that is all.
As I said before Edu can’t play with Nogs. Well it is also clear to me Edu and White can’t be paired together either it is just a constant mess both on the ball and keeping the shape. Edu = RCB who should be making much less money then he is. That is all he is good for on this team. He will never work in the midfield and is not needed there.
This team needs to play a 4-4-2 all the time to the end of the season. When all are healthy it should be:
Blake (So we can get busy trading him at the end of the season)
Gaddis Edu Marquez Fabinho(since he is the only option)
Ayuk Chaco Nogs Barnetta
Sapong Nando
Bench: Sylvestre Catic Pffefer Mclaughlin Vittoria(Although he gets dumped at the end of his loan) Hoppenot Wenger(only on the bench cause he is younger than Le toux Carroll and casey) If lahoud is healthy he takes Vittoria spot on bench.
Two things:
.
1) Agree 100 percent on Carrol. He’s been so much better than you’d have any reason to expect.
2) I’d like to see that lineup, too. But we’re at least three weeks away from getting Nogs back out there. Perhaps you try that lineup with Carrol. To be honest, what harm could come from giving it a shot? Your best lineup available has coughed up too many goals and failed to score chances. Running it out there week after week is not going to produce different results. Get a new look. I could see playing Barnetta centrally and shifting Chaco over to the left if you thought Barnetta gave you something better defensively…. I don’t know. Just want to see something new.
I agree they need something new. Personally seeing Barnetta be on the left a good portion of his career I want him to lock down the left side and I think he offers more defensive coverage for Fabinho than Chaco on the outside. Carrol can fill in for Nogs until back I still think it works without Nogs just not as well.