I do not think offsides should be based on hands. I think it should be based on a part of the body a field player can use in the run of play...such as head, chest, leg or foot. That is my own opinion and not sure what the rules actually are or enforced for around the world.
VAR sucks in part because there is no standard around the world. Hell, there is no standard within specific tournaments like the FA Cup. Some games had it, some didn’t. I still contest that it exists to make the bookies happy, not the players or viewers. It degrades the quality of games.
I agree 100%. The only times I actually want VAR intervening on offside calls is when the initial call is wrong by a pretty wide margin. Unfortunately, it seems like we have to accept that we either have to deal with the occasional obviously bad call or analyze down to the millimeter and make calls that go against the spirit of the rule.
In the post game recap show they mentioned how Cuypers only had one shot and that Shaqiri needs to be the second assist man delivering the ball to the open player that will get it to Cuypers. I’m still not a fan of one striker formations but this is something I agree with. The pundits did also say that everyone will still complain because Shaqiri won’t show up in the box score but that Guti should be the front and center #10.
I got pulled away (by family event) at half time last night and just finished watching. Wow, quite an exciting game! And both teams have to feel like they lost 2 points Best news, despite not anywhere near "full form" we tested a well oiled Union team that hasn't lost at home in FOUR YEARS. The Gutman injury...FFS...immediately impacted the game and became the soft spot the Union hit and again and again and again. If the injury is serious we will have have to adjust. Brady in the box and between the posts is top shelf, but his distribution is poor. Defensively, the guys played fairly well. Czichos and Pineda in particular were solid. Pineda covered a lot different spaces and showed his utility. The outside backs were beat regularly but would fight back and make things hard enough for the help to arrive. CDMs, Gimenez is beginning to remind me of Calvo...strong play 95% of the time and then a few odd/poor moments. Herbers is actually improving...impressive at his age. Clearly CDM is not his best fit position, but he did the job AND participated in the attack...strong performance. Acosta is strangely out of shape and yet "clicked" with a couple of teammates. He doesn't look like he want's to play in a dual pivot and probably shouldn't...he's got a lot of range and is clearly a good addition...will be interesting to see how Frank gets him to fit. AMs, GUTI!!! He's defense wasn't great, but he didn't have much help behind him. His offense was another step forward in his progression. Lovely instinctual shot and score! Plus the unselfish touch assist for Fabi was really nice. MHS continues to impress, and (for me) that was MHS's best performance for us! After this game he has earned the starting role for the immediate future. Shaq played fairly fell, but still not to his expected level...no specific complaints, but he was the least impactful of the 3 AMs. Giving him the armband is an interesting choice...hope it doesn't blow up in our faces. Strikers....Cuypers reminds me a lot of Niko...good movement and good instincts...clearly no "sync" with the team, but likely to score 15+ this season. Barlow worked hard and showed why he's not a starting striker in the league. Coaching, it's easy to second guess things that don't "work out" but I liked all of Frank's moves. XI, tactics, subs. No indications of Curtin "out coaching him". Seems to be leaning in on the passion side of things, which is who he is. Fabi starting against his former club and getting the band after Shaqiri's substitution...felt like Frank getting the most out of the passion part of the game. Conclusion, we were a huge under dog. So an opening day point, on the road, against a top east team is a good start Cuypers and Acosta are clearly going to raise the level of the team. Unless Gutman is back soon, something with the outside backs is going to have to change. Based on softness at LB, plus MHS's better range than Guti or Shaq, plus Acosta having played LM for most of his LAFC run, plus the MHS/Acosta connected play...I'd like to see MHS - Guti - Shaq across the AM and Acosta at LDM. Make Gaston and Arigoni cover Shaq's defensive duties and stack up MHS, Acosta and Dean? on the left...or does Frank dare play Fabi at left back?!
Shaq's holdup play on Guti's goal was great to see. For a long stretch of the game Shaq played with fire...hustled and covered as well as didn't 'mope/laze'. I do not expect him to play defense but with the armband there was a different fire in him. His set pieces were oddly not so impressive alas. His pass springing MHS was gorgeous and I cannot wait to see that sort of connection with Cuypers. As far as Klopas...weeeeeel....he did fine considering but Curtin truly outplayed him with the same exact play ever single goal/non goal Philly had. Klopas never got the right guy/formation or what not to stop that. I love Pineda but why did he start over new supposed stud Solquist? I still have not heard where he was. It was just one game but if Gutman is out awhile and Gaspar is not better then I already oddly miss Miggy.
After rewatching it, Shaqiri’s hold up was ‘important to the posession’, but I can see why it wouldn’t be considered an assist or key pass. That goal was all Guti…dribbling 3 defenders and lacing it. We should be talking more about his play there than Shaq’s
But Fabi gets the accidental assist. Frank out coached Curtin out of the gate. .02 xG for Philly in the first half. We completely shut them down. Curtin made key adjustments at halftime and the game got competitive.
Lots of great comments and some good ideas. I would like to get Mueller on field with MHS to generate an additional scoring threat and better defense. Hard to overlook Hair Bears good play- left back? With Acosta (and maybe a new YDP winger soon), MHS development, Mueller potential, it is getting harder and harder to play Gutierrez and Shaqiri at the same time. Gimenez has exhibited “Calvo Moments” for years- nothing new.
Are we really arguing over this? I won't educate you on reading graphs, but this Fotmob version shows pretty much the same thing, except the peaks indicate things a bit better. As you can see the momentum in the first half was negligible for Philly compared to half 2. Philly had 2 shots in the first half, 0 on target, 0 big chances, 3 corners, .02 xG. Half 2 they had 15 shots, 6 SOT, 5 big chances, 3 big chances missed, 7 corners, 2.14 xG. Take a guess which of these Philly shot maps is from which half and tell me again how we were under pressure from minute 2:
Not looking for an argument… I’m not inventing the 1st half struggles to ‘play out of our end’…the TV crew stated it multiple times and that Sofascore graphic seems to support it. As mentioned in my earlier post, I do believe Czichos and Pineda were solid and limited the number of shot. Did Curtin double down on the Gasper/Guti soft spot, in the second half, absolutely.
I absolutely disagree. Frankly, with "MHS development, Mueller potential," it should be getter easier and easier to play Gutierrez and Shaqiri at the same time. It is simple, play Acosta instead of both Gaston "Calvo Moments" Gimenez and Federico "Yellow/Red Card in waiting" Navarro. Then there is room for another attacking midfield option or, move Shaqiri to a second striker, slightly behind and to the right of Cuypers. I just cannot fathom why people would not our best offensive team on the field. IF, and that is a bit IF, we do sign a YDP winger AND it is someone superior to Jairo Torres, would not that player replace either MHS or Mueller in the starting line up? However, since there are not even any credible rumors about that happening, it does not even need a second thought at this point.
You make some valid points. My comments were made assuming a 2 DM formation. I previously suggested a change to a single DP ( Acosta, 4-1-4-1) but there has been no indication this is even being considered. I feel more and more the need for two speedy outside players who can/will also play some defense. 3-2-4-1 - ?? Maybe but the squad is not really structured for that formation.
It's been one game, and in that one game, Herbers started as "second CDM." However, he played in a more advanced position (as he should). Also, Acosta just joined the team and only played a few minutes. So, I would say there has been no indication either way.
All right. It definitely is early and maybe something good will evolve. Interesting. I was thinking more of (winger- Guti- Shaqiri- winger) for that row but maybe it will be (winger- Guti- Herbers- Shaqiri) on offense instead with him playing right mid when on defense. Would need to start MHS at left outside and Guti at AM. Herbers is not who I normally think of when envisioning a speedy outside winger who scores and also plays good defense but……..
Since MHS is the only attacking player willing & able to track back & Arigoni is the only defender fast enough to catch up to mistakes, I don't envy the running any single #6 must do with this lineup, even Navarro.
If MHS drops back and Herbers slides to right mid and both play good defense, it may work. (4-1-4-1 or 2-3-4-1 on offense, 4-3-2-1 on defense) Late game with lead, add Navarro and bench either Gutierrez or Shaqiri. Late game trailing, add winger, drop Herbers switch to 4-4-2?
Because there was nothing special about that pass that directly influenced Guti taking the shot... Shaqiri's multiple through balls to Cuypers and MHS where much more "xA like"...