Unable to score in 120 mins against a USL side with our usual starting XI. If anything I would say the Union are about at the level of a USL team. Given the FO's lack of investment off field, we might start looking like one in more ways than just the quality of play as well.
Last week an email came across my desk about a project my company is involved with. There was a series of previous emails in the chain and I noticed that one of them mentioned that iStar had given their blessing to the project. So, at the very least, we know they are still conducting business and do have money to spend somewhere!
Why is it that no matter who it is we play against, I get the feeling the other team is better coached. Just look at the teams after regulation/ extra time. The Rochester coach has them in a tight huddle, he's talking animatedly. Coach Local is in the vague vicinity of his players, hands in pockets, wandering around, not speaking. Their respective teams reflected this difference, all game. Rochester had an intensity that none of our players had. They challenged all the time. Yet again, we are outmatched physically. Pfeffer, Nogueira, Maidana, Ayuk, Wenger: all our offensive players easily brushed off the ball. (CJ gets a pass - he must have a few bruises this morning). Sure they took it too far occasionally, and the ref was late with his cards. Le Toux was able to be nullified because of his leniency. The team should have been prepared better. Sad to say the biggest spark the team had was from 36-year old Fred. Some good energy and nice, incisive passes from him. Jimmy Mac couldn't cope with the physicality. We needed Danny Cruz. As others have said, McCarthy is a loose cannon and I almost regret the PK saves because that will gloss over some awful decision making from him. The back line were not glaringly bad, since not pushed, but they all seemed to be mailing it in.
Well through the first half..........looking like another date with NYCFC. Of course this gives the U a good chance at a home match though!
I just assumed it would be difficult for them to play in Yankee Stadium on short notice mid-week. Where else could they play that could handle a decent crowd?
Not sure what Curtin is trying to play.... but I don't like it. No one plays in the middle, instead we play on 5 yard strips on the flanks...against a lower league team!!!! Curtin needs to fckin go!! Wtf is that???
Looks like our four team geographic cluster will be Union, RB, Cosmos and either DC or Columbus. I'm guessing they move DC in and put Columbus with Chicago, SKC and Colorado. Then you have a South group (Charlotte, Orlando, Dallas, Houston) and a West group (RSL, Portland, SJ and LA/PSA winner)
If someone gets outcoached, they get outcoached. Overt displays of hand flailing means little. Would Jim's coaching satisfy you more if he got up and threw things at people but still made weird substitutions and kept starting Wenger for God knows what reason?
I was thinking NASL, but since Curtin has gotten his 5th round loss excuses out of the way I'd feel better with more jazz hands.
Except there is so, so much more to coaching than picking the team and making the subs. There is motivation, identity, philosophy, commitment, sense of urgency.... all of these are powerfully communicated by the coach via his body language. That is why I wrote originally that his team reflected his low key attitude the whole game. A bit of application and the skill difference should have comfortably seen the team through without the exertions of extra time and PKs. IF his team had shown that on the field, I wouldn't have cared about his behavior.
A low key attitude by the manager is fine if there is some intensity in execution and the moments where the coach does communicate are correct and make an impact and his body language is confident. I'd actually prefer that to be honest. A vocal coach on the sideline gets tuned out really fast. Curtain has to figure his style out on the job, which sucks for us. I wish we had a U2 now so he could have that one and figure it out without the spotlight on him.