How do you feel about playing it out of the back when down a man or two? (Asking on behalf of the Sounders)
I do like the idea that the subs have to get their butts off the field in 10 seconds or the team is punished. Tired of seeing guys sprinting like cheetahs right up until the point in which they are subbed -- and then taking 30 seconds to come off the field as they immediately start pointing to their calves or clapping to the fans or looking around for teammates to dap on their way off the field.
Thankfully, I missed that. My blood pressure has been a bit elevated of late, and I am sure that would not have helped.
I like that too. But I did notice... last night in the Columbus/Portland match, the subs took place very quickly, so I was expecting a lot less stoppage time as a result, and we still wound up with 5 minutes. I was stunned. I wonder if the old "30 seconds added per substitution" formula is still in the refs' minds as opposed to actually keeping track.
Going from memory because I don't want to watch the lowlights again, the first time Yeimar basically tried to dribble between two defenders while in the box; he wasn't successful and Vancouver scored. The second time Arreaga tried to dribble around a defender in the box; he wasn't successful and Vancouver scored. Those were Vancouver's only goals (despite being a man up from the 43', then two men up from the 75' - the expected goals was 1.4 for Vancouver and 1.0 for Seattle). It was the definition of a self-inflicted loss.
I was coming back to address you a 2nd time because, like a fool, I allowed your post to peak my interest -- only to see you had already explained it when I returned. Yes, Yeimar tried to pass it between 2 guys while standing in the box, and Arreaga tried to dribble someone and got stripped. How braindead to players/teams have to be to try this BS even when down a man? I have said it 1000's of times and will say it again -- forcing play through the keeper and/or out of the back is one of the most self-destructive things a team can do. I don't need to advanced metrics to see something so obvious.
Had to look up Tuiloma's background. I knew he was an All White (NZ national team) but his name is definitely not Māori (they use "r" instead of "l"). Turns out he is of Sāmoan descent. Yes, that's how boring I'm finding this game.
I still make it a habit to find the game Pablo Ramirez does so I can hear him treat the opening kickoff like it’s the crowning event of civilization. Maybe he can follow me into the grocery store to make my mundane errands seem more interesting.
The Spirit were trying to build out of the back on goal kicks from the flattest line basically in line with the 6 yard box that I have ever seen. I was struggling not to lose it in the stands yesterday. The other team was consistently pressuring with the same numbers and forcing turnovers. It was like the interim staff thought the idea of advancing the ball was bad enough and decided that would not be something they would subscribe to.