CCL: Kansas City vs CAI (Thurs March 14th, 7:00PM CT) [R]

Discussion in 'Sporting Kansas City' started by Buzz Killington, Mar 13, 2019.

  1. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Down 2-1 on aggregate, 1-0 win or win by multiple goals sees us through.
     
  2. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    At home, having actually rotated a couple folks, with a full four and a half days of rest (plus an extra 8 mins for Ilie) I think it's pretty clear we're going after on this one. The problem we face is more whether or not we have enough to take care of our alum squad (CSKC). I think this will end up 3-0.
     
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  3. Inca Roads

    Inca Roads Member+

    Nov 22, 2012
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    I don't see much of any chance of us winning this tournament, so all these extra games are not helping. Might as well keep the faint dreams alive, though. Right?

    I do think SKC are well-positioned to advance here.
     
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  4. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I don't see us being better positioned to win this thing at any point in the near future. The top Mexican teams used last year's struggles as a wake up call to both take the tourney seriously and bolster their already impressive squads. We're something like a third to a quarter in terms of squad value (we $26m, they between $85m and $110m). Atlanta at least is in their ballpark.
    I don't mean that means we can't win. I think we can, but I think it relies on winning games in which we are not the better team but play the better football. At our very best, on our day, we can compete with Monterray or Tigres. A little bit off, and we can be on the wrong end of the ManCity Schalke game this week.
    But I do see this as our best shot to date, and maybe for a couple years. We've already seen it, when we're on we can be a very, very good side.
     
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  5. KC96

    KC96 Member

    Mar 2, 2013
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    We built up for this moment for 2 years, both in terms of 2017 Cup win to qualify for the CCL, as well as roster construction.

    SKC will go "all in", and likewise I will bring the energy and intensity (and more friends/fans) to the stadium as if it were a playoff game.

    My general rule of thumb is "never trade something rare for something common". MLS regular season games are every year, you get them just by existing.

    In contrast, just qualifying for CCL is hard. And knockout round games at home are quite rare - this being only our 3rd game, and only the 2nd campaign where SKC made it this far.

    And of course the whole "first MLS team to win it" is at stake. This is the only trophy we haven't won. I want SKC to be the first. As the old saying goes, "Championship Flags fly forever" - or in our case, "Wall Paint lasts forever"

    I would also love to see how early season SKC stacks up against a mid-season form, undefeated in league play Liga MX team (Monterrey). Toluca this year, as satisfying as that win was, just isn't a good measuring stick.

    I'm also rooting for ATL to cut into Monterrey's aggregate. Both SKC and Monterrey are at +4 GD for the tourney. I believe the better GD hosts the second leg in the semi-finals. I want that second leg hosted at CMP.

    Of course, we have to win tomorrow first... I'm hoping for 3-1 win and +2 more GD.

    Qualifying for the CCL semi's during a decisive home game would be a franchise first. Cherish the opportunity and help build the atmosphere. Who knows when the chance will ever come again....
     
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  6. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Well said. We may be in a better position to win this thing in 10 years, but we may not and we may not even have a chance. We have this chance. BTW, thanks to your math, it looks as if we advance, we host the return match against Monterrey?
    Here's the thing, I regretted the Portland stumble primarily because I firmly believe we were a very bad match for Atlanta. Had we made that final, that cup was ours. I am not convinced we aren't an equally bad matchup for Monterrey.
     
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  7. lukeD

    lukeD Member+

    Jul 7, 2011
    Olathe
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    While I think we have a great chance of beating the Panamanian minnows tonight, I think we have next to zero chance of winning CCL which will require beating Monterrey and then Tigres.

    The narrative isn't the gap between MLS and Liga MX anymore, that gap is mostly closed. The new narrative its the gap between the top few teams in Liga MX and the rest of the continent. The top Liga MX teams have starting 11s that include four or five internationals from big nations like Argentina, France, Chile, Columbia, Peru, plus the usual Mexican internationals.

    With what SKC did to Toluca, we saw that a good MLS side is capable of beating (destroying) an average to below average Liga MX team. The flip side is all of the other MLS vs MX series, where the MX teams just toy with the MLS squad until the 70th minute. Then they step on the gas (and neck). See NYRB vs Santos return leg, Atlanta vs Monterrey home leg and both Houston vs Tigres gams. When those teams want to play, they play.
     
  8. RefIADad

    RefIADad Member+

    United States
    Aug 18, 2017
    Des Moines, IA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In town for my family’s second Sporting KC game tonight. Assuming the wind isn’t crazy, how is the stadium during cold nights? We are prepared for a really cold couple of hours, but I know the intimate setting and roof overhang may mitigate some of the conditions. Just checking to see how much cold weather gear we should pack in the car when we leave the hotel.
     
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  9. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    if you're going to be doing any tailgating in the parking lot, i swear it always feels 10 degrees colder there than anywhere else in the metro (and conversely hotter during the summer)... and it's almost always windy there, even when it's not windy elsewhere in the city. inside the stadium, it'll depend on where you're at. i've found that it's not nearly as unbearable in the seating bowl as it is if you're on the bridge or the concourse. regardless, plan for it to be colder than you think, as you can always take something off if you get hot, but if you don't have enough... well, you're gonna be miserable.
     
  10. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    This is a first half that we've seen too often, total domination and yet somehow not scoring. Credit to their keeper for getting to Zusi's free kick, that was a quality shot and a great save.
     
  11. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    took awhile, but then the gates opened.

    hopefully salloi is ok (it didn't look good), and peter learns from his mistake earlier and rests all of these guys by not playing any of them for the mls game that comes before our trip to monterrey.
     
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  12. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    rolled ankle for Salloi per Vermes.



    Hopefully this trip to the semifinals of a CONCACAF competition ends better than our last trip, a 7-2 aggregate loss to Morelia.
     
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  13. KopRules

    KopRules Member+

    May 31, 2011
    Beautiful South KC
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    The Hungarian CB can play. Maybe it’s my Collin-tinted lenses seeing a pasty looking bald-headed CB back there next to Besler again, but does he remind anyone else here of the Frenchman? He plays aggressively in the air and wins a lot of ‘em. He has sort of a choppy step to him that reminds me of Collin. Correct me if wrong, but he was a big factor in two of the goals tonight including the GW’er. That too, was a Collin trait.
     
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  14. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Watching him last night I was thinking he looked really good. I think he's smoother on the ball than Collin, and despite the fact that he looks fouler, he plays fairer. He's strong and calm on the ball, his positioning is spot on, he stands people up. Also nice to see Rwat making the 18.
     
  15. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    The stat take on this game makes it seem a lot easier than it was. Possession: We had 73 percent. Passing accuracy? 82 percent for us to 55 percent for them. Shots? 27 to 5. On target? 13 to three. We put in more crosses (24 to 2) and forced more corners (13 to 1). We beat them on tackles and duels (13 and 56 to 8 and 46). We attempted 564 passes to their 218. Hell, we even committed more fouls: 17 to 9 (though they edged us in yellows, 2-3).
    There are no Audi numbers and no individual stuff at all on the game site, so its tough to break down the individual efforts statistically, but what was clear is that we came to play, and they came to hope the three whistles came really quickly. Credit to them, it was their best hope and it worked until it didn't, but at least they were still dreaming big at halftime.
    And going a bit deeper into the numbers makes it more dominant. Of their 3 shots on target, the closest came from the top of the D, The others were from about 30. Meanwhile, our shot map looks like the blood splatter at a gangland knife fight.
    The numbers tell us exactly what watching the match told us: We were totally dominant and deserved the win.
    I thought Nemeth showed why he's a really good 9 for our system, he is dangerous when he turns and just as dangerous when he plays conductor.
    Russell is back to his old confident self. About time. That's a happy place for all of us. Felipe's movement was dead on. Ou mids, en masse, read the game perfectly I know, they should have, but Toronto failed against this side, so we can read a little into it, at least.
    The game left me with only one nagging question: Should we sign Jose Guerra (? the keeper, youngish at 24) and see if a year or two at SPR can get him to the point where last night's performance is his norm? He's a wonderful shot blocker, and he looked okay with his feet. We are set for the next several years with Melia, but I'm not sure I'd pick our backups over JG.
     
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  16. Spassapparat

    Spassapparat Member

    SKC/Werder Bremen
    May 14, 2017
    Now that was a splendid game. I did not see any bad performers on SKC - somewhat of an exception to this being Gerso, and that only because of his finishing. That one time where he got set up beautifully by I believe Gutierrez and then, instead of taking it with his right foot tries to shoot it with the outside of his left - how is it possible that professional soccer players are that one-footed?


    I thought so too. What i especially like about him, not only does he win almost all his aerial duels, he manages to distribute the ball really well with his head instead of just clearing it away. The best example was the assist to the first goal, but there were numerous others in the last couple of games. Given his accuracy with his head I'd not be surprised if we get a couple of goals out of him after corners this season as well.


    I had to switch to the spanish broadcasters because the english commentator was just annoying me to much with his love for the gk. He had a fantastic save against zusi's freekick, but other than that I felt like his saves were more a sign of us shooting the ball right at the keeper. Sure you could argue that that means his positioning is great. I'm not opposed to looking at him in more detail but Imo games like these are just made for keepers to shine and might overstate their actual quality.
     
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  17. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't think you can make a judgement on a player over 1 decent game (where he still allowed 3 goals), I also don't think you can say he's clearly ahead of either of our back ups based off a single game. We traditionally make a habit of making mediocre goalkeepers look world class.

    Watching all 4 of CAI's games in the tournament the 2 players I came away most impressed with were Ivey and Browne (less so last night, KC completely negated both of them).
     
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  18. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    True. This was four good outings, v us twice and TFC twice, but the point stands. It isn't much of a sample size. That said, and while I agree that...
    I'd say that we haven't seen anything approaching quality from our backups to date. I think I make this point too often, but the only depth spot that concerns me is keeper. They're fine, but they haven't shown they're ready to step up and start in MLS. Now, this young keeper might, in the end, suck, but being capable of having a tourney like this shows he does have ability. The secret for a keeper, of course, is consistency and about that we have no clule. But I was impressed by how he stood up to a much better team.
     
  19. Spassapparat

    Spassapparat Member

    SKC/Werder Bremen
    May 14, 2017
    Just watched the post game press conference - imo worth a look if only for Vermes' little swipe at CAI's time wasting. Time wasting is the number one concern i always hear from people that dislike soccer, and it pisses every soccer fan off too. net playing time would be such an easy fix - i hope I'll live to see the day.

    also interesting that vermes speaks spanish well enough to answer press questions in that language - i wonder if that's a requirement for mls coaches to speak spanish, given how many native spanish speakers there tend to be on any random mls roster.
     
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  20. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    His Spanish was pretty impressive, to me at least. My Spanish, though, is terrible.
     
  21. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    nemeth sarcastically time wasting by staying down excessively long, then popping up and running behind the ref and into all the cai players like he was 100% the whole time was golden and hilarious (and, honestly, entirely appropriate given their display earlier). i laughed and said, "ok, the ref's gonna give him one pass for that, but don't push it. don't keep belaboring the time wasting." he didn't listen. oh well. it was still worth it, i think.
     
  22. RefIADad

    RefIADad Member+

    United States
    Aug 18, 2017
    Des Moines, IA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The time wasting from CAI Thursday night was horrible. I referee youth soccer, and I was running my timing app on my watch. In each half, there should have been six minutes of added time. Three at the end of the first half was laughable. Aguilar (who is simply not that great of a referee) kept waving and gesturing. After the first time, MAYBE the second time, then start cautioning for time-wasting.

    I honestly wasn't surprised at CAI's time-wasting nor with the inability of a non-MLS/non-Liga MX CONCACAF crew to properly sanction the time-wasting. Watch a US WC qualifier or two, and you see the exact same thing from a referee's perspective.
     
  23. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    The lesson is that the time wasting came back to bite CAI. I can't get angry about the time wasting because, well, I don't like being a hypocrit. Anyone else here old enough to have played in the4 adult league on the old fields way south on Holmes? The ones with the wooded creek that ran right behind on of the goals? When we were up, i spent a ton of time "searching" for balls back there. Somehow, when we were down, I could always find the ball lickety split. Oddly, the keepers on other teams seemed to have the exact same issues.
    Everyone tries to waste time when they're up, and it's always annoying. The answer is what SKC did, score a goal and make them regret not having back those 3 to 12 minutes they'd now very much like to have back.
    If we'd scored a goal in the first five minutes, there would have been no time wasting on the part of CAI. SKC probably would have gone in for a bit, though.
    I admit, CAI was a bit extreme, but what other options did they have? We were clearly better in every way. All they had going for them was that they began the game a goal up, meaning 90 minutes away from the semis. By halftime, that was down to 45. By the time we scored it was down to 17 or 18. I guess I'm saying it's only a stupid strategy if it fails.
     
  24. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The polo fields. Yes, played there, they've actually expanded that complex to the other side of their parking lot now, funny enough I was back there for the first time in 10 years this fall for a tournament. Never made it over to the fields on the "old" side where I'd played though.
     
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  25. kcfooty

    kcfooty Member

    Feb 16, 2011
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A quote for much of life. LOL
     
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