Petro was 100% MotM. He's the only reason that Makoun didn't have a goal conceding mistake, despite Makouns best efforts. Jozy was awful, thanks Bruce for pulling him at half. That said nothing could be worse that the field. Players slipping everywhere on both teams. This is supposed to be a top 10 league in the world, the playing surfaces should reflect that. As to Buck, he was graduating HS today. I think he was listed in the Matchday roster, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was with his family partaking in a major life event
Bruce said in his post-game interview: "Tonight we lost Buck, he had a little bit of a muscle strain and we decided not to dress him and give him a chance to be back next week." https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/vi...ay-i-think-we-saw-some-good-fight-in-our-team
Well, your 'zero chance' makes you a lousy predictor. Well, I have to think it's because Arena thinks he can revive something in him. I don't see it, none of us seems to see it ... but Arena is an MLS legend and he sees him in training every day. My other thought about it is that it seems like he [Arena] is reluctant to hand Vrioni a starting job. I don't know if it's a motivation thing, whether he hasn't worked hard enough in training ... or something else? True, even though we have been making a habit of dropping points to lousy teams lately. ------------ I'll just add a comment about player criticism - I thought Makoun played a pretty good game, though he gave away some passes and made some mistakes. His athleticism allowed him to make some key plays as well. OTOH, Jack Panayotou came in and lost the ball 3/4 times in his first couple of minutes, yet no seems to think he was a disaster. Some players people like and some they don't. Just sayin' ...
Great to get Bou back, even for a short stint. I think it really raised the spirit of the team and made us feel a little dangerous for the first time. In reality, he didn't do much, but he's always needed a few games to really get up to speed. And, I'm sure Gil feels energized having Bou out there with him. Hopefully this time he can stay injury-free for a decent spell. Also, Boateng's late shot had no real chance at scoring, but I think he was just venting some frustration about Bou's drifting aimlessly, seemingly unaware of the shot.
A kid who turns 19 today, gets more of a pass. A 23-year-old should be in his soccer prime, or at least beginning his soccer prime.
Agreed. Jack wasnt good. But he was also a late game sub and is a recent academy graduate. His touch is good enough that with time i could see him being MLS level. Makoun started, and was generally more bad than good. He routinely passed to opponents and allowed free runners behind him. He also lost his man in the box at least twice allowing great chances for NYC (the parks header come to the forefront). I just cant get over that he can only kick with his left foot, and that even that seems to be a struggle
MLS Team of the Matchday | Petrović proves once again he's the best GK in MLS Jeff Lemieux Monday, Jun 5, 2023, 02:00 PM
I think this is Bruce's stubbornness showing through. He doesn't want to admit that signing Altidore was a dumb move so he keeps playing him in the hope that Jozy will have a miraculous turn around in his play and prove Arena right. Unfortunately, the more he plays, the more he proves that the signing was a dumb move.
Makoun was a developing player when he got here and I have no doubt that he's improved a good deal since then. I think saying a 23y.o. should be in his prime is kind of a one-size-fits-all statement and, in general, I don't agree. It's hard for a player to improve w/o playing time - and as he's played more, he's played better. I agree - and the point wasn't to criticize him, just highlight the different treatment of the two. IMO you're proving my point - your critique of him is over the top (I seem to remember Esmir passing up a wide-open right-footed shot in order to cut into traffic so he could use his left).
Esmir didn't appear in the match, so I'm not sure what you're referring to. Hes used both his feet plenty over the course of his appearances. IMO looking to shoot with your powerful foot is a negative, but understandable because a weak shot will never trouble a keeper. Never using your weak foot for anything is a huge liability. A defender not to be able to play a 12 foot pass to their CB partner without completely changing their body shape opens them up to being pressed extremely easily, and Makoun is, and its lead to more than 1 opponent goal.
That was 4/5 games ago, but it was a glaring error in that it was one of the best [potential] chances in the game. But, he's a young guy who's learning.
It's definitely different when its a teenager in their 1st (full) season as a professional compared with a guy in their 20's in the 4th season on their 3rd MLS team. The "young developing guy" excuse carries some water, but you can only apply it for so long