First time I've looked at MLS in awhile. Why is there such an incredibly painful disparity in strategy between Atlanta United and DC United? I mean, DC's alignment and line movements are, uh, that of a poor high school team. They could lose by 5.
In the aftermath of our non-WC qualifying debacle, it was noted by a number of players and commentators that American coaches were particularly bad and, worse, incredibly arrogant. No doubt it helps that Atlanta is coached by a veteran of Argentinian soccer and has a number of like minded players. It reminds me of my son's youth club team when they managed to get a Level 1 coach from Denmark for one season at the U13 level. After about 3 games, the coach from Denmark asked the regular coach, who kept throwing in his two cents, if he wanted the players to get better and, if so, to sit down and shut the [uck fay] up, in so many words.
My main thing was that they were running an offside trap, but doing so kinda rigidly. As in, it was actually creating good offensive opportunities because they were predictably up all the time.
Alexis Sanchez wanted to leave Arsenal because he was tired of going out in the round of 16. So he went to Man U, and goes out in the round of 16. He literally left to play the piano.
I don’t know why he parks the bus at all, regardless of his lineup. Nobody worth their lot in Europe still plays like that.
Ha. Apparently you forgot about Big Sam up at Everton. While I was in England a couple months ago, he set up for back to back road games against West Brom and Bournemouth like we were going to Camp Nou. Oh wait, you said nobody worth their lot. Never mind.
I’ve not watched much (or any, in some cases) of German, French, Italian, or Spanish football, but the strategy for the mid to lower table teams trying to stave off relegation is pretty much the same - lay back and try to hit on the counter. Just whatever you do, don’t concede.
Big night for MLS last night. NY Red Bulls and Toronto take down Mexican teams in the Champions League quarters. Toronto took down the current champion, too, in Mexico. Seattle tries to go 3 for 3 for MLS tonight against Guadalajara. MLS usually does awful in this competition and rarely takes down Mexican teams.
I’ll admit that was bullshit. And that’s not really our thing that we do. But Welbeck scoring made me happy. Fortunately it didn’t really matter.
“A lot” is, I think, a bit of exaggeration. We were in control before your goal and immediately took control back after your goal. And the two goals after, especially Xhaka, were soft. That said, this was lost last week. I never could have predicted 5-1 aggregate. We were ripe for the taking.
