PBP: 2022 Match Day #4: New York City FC v. Union, March 19, 2022 p/d/p

I'm definitely not feeling this one. This is a classic buildup to a loss. The away fans will be full of piss and vinegar after NYC "beat" Philly thanks to COVID-19 last year on their way to one of the most unbelievable runs of sheer luck to fall ass backwards into winning MLS Cup somehow.

Uhre will still be injured. Santos will get the start next to Carranza. The super sweaty Union midfield will be useless on their kiddie field sized pitch. If they started McGlynn and Aaronson, I'd have a bit of optimism. But they won't. They'll trot out Bedoya, Flach, and Brujo. Again. And try to hustle in a phone booth. They'll round peg Santos' speed into the square hole of the tiny field.

The Union defense will do a great job containing them. But Castellanos will dive in the box for a penalty in the 87th minute and NYC win 1-0. It will be clearly and obviously a dive, but VAR won't overturn it.

 

A very plausible and detailed prediction!

 

I hate that f'ing matchbox of a pitch. Almost as bad as astroturf.

 

Hope the U finally get a win at Postage Stamp stadium. At least their ownership had the foresight to make their MLS cup championship banner proportional to the pitch size. If I haven't already said it, I hate that f'ing field. It is such a galling example of favoritism that they are still allowed to be playing there as their home field. If they cant host CCL games there because the field is too small why are the STILL playing MLS games there. Maybe a year or two I could stomach but still no plan in sight for a move after being announced as a new team almost 9 years ago and playing there since 2015. WHAT...THE...F?

Ok, maybe I'm still a little salty from the way things came about last time we played them but the points are valid.

 

Huh. It actually went pretty much exactly how I thought it would tactics wise, but the Union showed me and won 2-0 off of a set piece and a wonderful attacking goal. The Union didn't even pretend to try to attack in the second half, but it worked for them.. Maybe that's why Jim is the coach and I'm just a dude on the internet.

Glesnes MOTM for me. Elliott and Harriel also played very well. Just a brick wall of a defensive performance today.

 

Harriel's cross for the goal was slick. Mbaizo likely would have sent it across waist high so nobody could touch it and it would go out for a goal kick. Think Mbaizo got moved to the shrimp deck for the remainder of his time here. Not a bad player but Harriel has proved he is legit over the last several games

 

Harriel's seeming emergence is kind of funny to me because as my wife and I were discussing a day or so ago, the Philadelphia Union is now a team that many in the league would kill to emulate. Their homegrown academy is starting to routinely churn out at least MLS level talent, they don't break the bank to be competitive and on the field, they are definitely a team that I think many across the league go, "Oh hell, we play the Union on this day," when they see us coming up on the schedule.

It's funny considering how many years of utter garbage the fan base sat through and now we're here.

 

https://africa.espn.com/football/ma...e-theyre-the-cream-of-the-west-and-easts-crop

Union currently sitting at #2 in the MLS power rankings.

 

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/powe...-earn-top-dog-status-la-galaxy-sink-in-week-4

MLS has the U at #1

 

I completely agree. Its wonderful to see the results of a proper organization. Just ashame the first 5 years were mostly wasted time.

I also think back to the players on the roster the first 3-5 years and how much MLS has improved. Most of those guys are USL material in todays league.