PBP: Aiming for “mid” - the 2026 consolidated match thread - all competitions

1. When I played with keepers where I had confidence in their shot-stopping ability, I found it easier to play my part correctly rather than trying to get in front of every shot.
2. Agree
3. Servannia has a decent long shot and thus takes them too often. And maybe because he lacks the vision to see other options?

 

I believe this coming weekend's game is on a regular channel - I remember being excited it would be a birthday present for me Of course, that was way back when the broadcast schedule was released, it could have changed by now

verified: 5/9 9:00PM ET - FS1

 

If he could aim them more for an upper corner, then this would be an asset, even if he misses slightly or the shots are blocked. The shots are still dangerous and the opposing defense has to be aware of him more. The more and the earlier in the game he does this, the more it opens up space for the Forwards. Of course, this is predicated on the assumption that he's pretty good at this. Too often, Midfielders want to make a bunch of perfect little passes to Forwards even when the defense is glomming all around them. Take dangerous shots from outside the box early in the game to open up the defense.

 

I liked that win because the team didn't allow NYC to skip the middle third and overwhelm the flank leading to a pick-em pass to the back post or top of the box like they usually do on the small field. DC United also was coached to skip the middle third and just send through balls past the middle third. There simply is not enough room in the middle third on the small field to do any sort of playmaking there with guys as fast as professional soccer players.

This is the first time I've seen a DC United coach come up with an effective game plan for the small field. My tip of the hat to Coach Weiler.

I give a lot of credit for how the team didn't let NYC round the corner on the flank yet again. It was a good switch to move DCU #5 over in favor of Kijima. Kijima was a more effective left back given that he has the pace to prevent NYC from rounding the corner.

The attack still has a lot of room for growth and there is still a Pirani sized hole in the attacking center mid slot so I'm not going to start saying this team is more than a #8-9 playoff contender. But Weiler's coaching has been excellent and he's part of why DC United got the three points this weekend. He is practical, uses every player available to them (except ones who are drags like Pirani), figures out what they are good at and devises a strategy to use what they are good at and hide the flaws.

 

I think you meant Kurakawa, but I agree. Kurakawa, along with Sean Johnson, has really shored up the defense.

 

That was a game for the sickos. There was nearly nothing in that game that sparked the slightest bit of joy. Two shitty teams playing shitty soccer on a shitty field in a shitty stadium in front of shitty fans. I'll happily take the valuable three points and banish that game from my memory.

NYCFC continues to be the most boring team in MLS. What are they even trying to do? They probably have more resources than any other team in MLS and they continue to put out barely plausible teams year after year. They'll probably make the playoffs this year, just because they always do, and then what? They're not developing talent, they're not entertaining in any way, they're never particularly good or bad, they seem to exist just so that MLS can say there's a team in New York City. They're the NPC of MLS teams.

Is that the last time DC ever has to play in a garbage NYC baseball stadium?

 

Count me as a "sicko." I liked not giving up anything inside the box in a place where the dimensions are all screwed up. I don't read anything more about the attack in that kind of situation. I also like getting out of that kind of little box with three points. DC United has had a hard time playing there so I enjoyed prying three points.

 

I think that shitty field played right into DCU's defensive strengths. Weiler wants to clog the middle and force play out wide, except on that field there is no "wide." NYCFC fielded a team of mediocre players who didn't have the ability to either find a line breaking pass (there was little space to do so) or beat multiple defenders on the dribble. Instead, they looked like a basketball team passing around the perimeter, getting no penetration and they giving up and just throwing up a shot.

 

I can forgo joy, I'd rather win. If you sat through that game as a neutral you are a sicko. I'm reminded of people who still speak of the "beautiful game". They are either stuck in some distant past or they watch very little football.

 

I'd just realized I've gotten used to how awful the announcers normally are. I swear an AI announcer wouldn't be worse most of the time.

 

I am certainly a sicko.

I was at an NPSL game the other night and I was thinking about how the standard of play is so low that watching MLS feels like an absolute treat. Except that DC United vs. NYCFC at Citi Field is decidedly not a treat. Especially when DC is playing in a 7-2-1 formation.

 

I didn't think game from DCU was that bad(I came in with pretty low expectations though) with more speed/skill in the attacking third we could have scored some nice counter attack goals. Instead we had to settle for a garbage goal on a long throw-in.

Agreed on "the beautiful game" being gone. I'm ready for a new tactical evolution. Most of the time I either see EPL counter-press murder ball or 11 men behind the ball in Serie A. Maybe I should switch to La Liga?

 

You might check out the Tanzanian PL, its gotten some press of late for entertaining play....

 

What app do you need to stream it?

 

Hear it's on FloSports.

 

Their cheerleaders

 

I was being sarcastic and brought it up because The Athletic highlighted a pretty gorgeous chilena this week (instead of suggesting Surinam's major league) but here are several ways to watch:

Tanzania Premier League - Streaming and TV Schedule, Fixtures, Results

 

So was I but you ruined it by admitting it was sarcasm. Your move should have been something like asking when the transfer window for the Tanzania league is.

 

Most soccer fans are pretty good at geography. And then there's John L, who's missed Tasmania by a whole continent.

 

???? They are both part of Gondwana.

 

For THE Tasmanian Devil, that's merely a hop, skip, and jump!

 

I gotta stop taking myself so seriously.