 |
| Knocking not recommended... |
You reach a point in the season where the specific reasons that any one thing happened matters far, far, far less than the sum of the things that keep happening.
Or, to go with a spin on the popular phrasing, your local team bears a striking resemblance to their results.
Also, I just watched Houston Dynamo FC wrap up a 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC – and on the road to boot. I see the red card (but also didn’t see it) and I didn’t see the one goal, but, 1) funny result! and 2) I whistle past the idea that LAFC has the blues below...maybe that’s me being guilty of getting stuck on the “LAFC is good” narrative instead of really engaging with what I’m looking at. Again, why futz with how much the numbers “love” a given team? Why turn one’s back on the empirical evidence?
Very much related, there’s this annoying tic in soccer commentary, and sport commentary generally, that refuses to engage (sorry for the verb repeat) with the very obvious premise that both the opposition and venue make every game unique for your local team. The discussion carries on as if they play [MLS Opponent], like there isn't a massive difference between, say, playing Nashville in Nashville versus playing Colorado...pretty much anywhere. Sorry to bang on about that, but I’ve become obsessed with this argument in recent years, and with a Teddy Kaczynski level of intensity, only without the letter bombs. This is my grand theory of most things, people...
At any rate, I’ve stripped down my weekly review formula to match what I tend to get for readership on these posts. So, rather than indulge in fancy writing and grand theories, the content that below amounts to a series of exercises in word association as I watch either games or highlights. I note which is which next to each header, The Mothership’s game summary is embedded in every final score, etc. And I’m barely editing the phrasing and readability can go to hell. Oh, and careful readers will notice I didn’t touch on every game below. I did that in the interest in time and sanity. Right, let’s get into it.
Charlotte FC 3-3Seattle Sounders[Highlights]
- Great goals by Raul Ruidiaz, but I don’t know how xG works in MLS official stats, because it looks like a team can bank something like 0.7 xG just by scoring a goal (e.g., Ruidiaz’s 2nd).
- It is fun watching Seattle struggle. You could see the cockiness drain from their bodies after every equalizer.
- Charlotte is still Charlotte. In keeping with their inaugural season, just below the playoff line.
Orlando City SC 2-0 Colorado Rapids[Highlights]
- Colorado’s a little thin on top, not just in this game.
- The Rapids need their defense to be perfect to a greater extent than their attack is flawed, but then Brian Galvan killed the game and Lalas Abubakar buried it. Bad teams do desperate things?
- Still figures it took a deflection for Orlando/Facundo Torres for Orlando to score.
- Orlando is doing the good and necessary work of beating up on bad teams. At least lately.
Or, to go with a spin on the popular phrasing, your local team bears a striking resemblance to their results.
Also, I just watched Houston Dynamo FC wrap up a 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC – and on the road to boot. I see the red card (but also didn’t see it) and I didn’t see the one goal, but, 1) funny result! and 2) I whistle past the idea that LAFC has the blues below...maybe that’s me being guilty of getting stuck on the “LAFC is good” narrative instead of really engaging with what I’m looking at. Again, why futz with how much the numbers “love” a given team? Why turn one’s back on the empirical evidence?
Very much related, there’s this annoying tic in soccer commentary, and sport commentary generally, that refuses to engage (sorry for the verb repeat) with the very obvious premise that both the opposition and venue make every game unique for your local team. The discussion carries on as if they play [MLS Opponent], like there isn't a massive difference between, say, playing Nashville in Nashville versus playing Colorado...pretty much anywhere. Sorry to bang on about that, but I’ve become obsessed with this argument in recent years, and with a Teddy Kaczynski level of intensity, only without the letter bombs. This is my grand theory of most things, people...
At any rate, I’ve stripped down my weekly review formula to match what I tend to get for readership on these posts. So, rather than indulge in fancy writing and grand theories, the content that below amounts to a series of exercises in word association as I watch either games or highlights. I note which is which next to each header, The Mothership’s game summary is embedded in every final score, etc. And I’m barely editing the phrasing and readability can go to hell. Oh, and careful readers will notice I didn’t touch on every game below. I did that in the interest in time and sanity. Right, let’s get into it.
Charlotte FC 3-3Seattle Sounders[Highlights]
- Great goals by Raul Ruidiaz, but I don’t know how xG works in MLS official stats, because it looks like a team can bank something like 0.7 xG just by scoring a goal (e.g., Ruidiaz’s 2nd).
- It is fun watching Seattle struggle. You could see the cockiness drain from their bodies after every equalizer.
- Charlotte is still Charlotte. In keeping with their inaugural season, just below the playoff line.
Orlando City SC 2-0 Colorado Rapids[Highlights]
- Colorado’s a little thin on top, not just in this game.
- The Rapids need their defense to be perfect to a greater extent than their attack is flawed, but then Brian Galvan killed the game and Lalas Abubakar buried it. Bad teams do desperate things?
- Still figures it took a deflection for Orlando/Facundo Torres for Orlando to score.
- Orlando is doing the good and necessary work of beating up on bad teams. At least lately.
 |
| Picture Frankie in that dope ride. |
Chicago Fire FC 1-2 Columbus Crew SC[Highlights]
- Kei Kamara still has it.
- VAR is still the fucking devil; an offside call as narrow as the one that rescued Amundson shouldn’t negate a yellow for a professional foul. At least not morally.
- Chicago’s trying to carry themselves on a litter of their faded glory (e.g., Frankie Klopas).
- .............Columbus scored two very fortunate, barely-replicable goals. Stars aligning in fog, etc.
- Chicago hasn’t won in just under a month. They’ve also played six games in that time. Just three points to show for it. That’s shitty.
- It took Columbus a while, but they’re also doing a good job of beating up on weaker teams. Good trends...
Sporting Kansas City 4-1 Austin FC[Highlights]
- Hey. Isn’t that close to SKC’s preferred/ideal starting XI?
- I really dig SKC’s goal celebration. The dorky little dancing circle is adorable kitsch.
- Alan Pulido scored two highly-efficient goal. Makes one wonder what might have been/can be.
- SKC have won their past four home games, all against more (e.g., Dallas) or less (e.g., Portland and Austin) credible teams. They’ll stay above the playoff line this week.
- Also, they’ve won five of their last eight games. Moreover, they’ve scored 17 goals over the same stretch and, outside a freak 0-4 loss at St .Louis, they’ve allowed just six goals in seven games.
- Austin has more problems than patterns, as evidenced by 11th in the West and a -9 goal differential. And yet they’ve won three of their last six.
Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 FC Cincinnati[Highlights]
- QUOTE: “He sees that Takaoka is in a bit of no-man’s-land there, and just fantastic piece of skill there for Lucho Acosta has given FC Cincinnati the lead the deserve based on the way they came into BC Place and defended well and waited for their moment.”
- *** So far as I’m concerned, this is every Cincy game in a nutshell until further notice, aka, why I don’t watch them.
- Cincinnati is presently on pace to earn 80 points this season. With that in mind, I’ll be shocked, but not surprised if they break the single-season record for points in MLS this season.
- I’m still trying to wrap my head around Takaoka, i.e., Vancouver’s ‘keeper. He makes some incredible saves, and yet other things.
- I saw chatter about people wanting to bench Brandon Vazquez, but I don’t know what that would accomplish.
- It is time for me to admit I have consistently underrated Luciano Acosta.
- I’ve never seen Matt Miazga take any call by a ref that gracefully and that says everything about the penalty call.
Club de Foot Montreal 4-0 Minnesota United FC[Extended, just don’t recall the specific minutes]
- Over as soon as it started. I never saw a point where I thought, “ooh, Minnesota’s getting back into this one.”
- And yet they did look better/sharper after Emmanuel Reynoso stepped on. File away for the future.
- I don’t believe Minnesota has the chops to compete – and that starts in midfield in any game when Kervin Arriaga doesn’t start.
- I suspect Montreal traded for Bryce Duke with visions of Djordje Mihailovic dancing in their heads. Also, the kid’s not bad.
- Minnesota have lost six of their last seven games on the road, also, yes, the Timbers are bad this season (i.e., which road game do you think Minnesota won?).
New England Revolution 3-1 Inter Miami CF[Minutes 25-40, then highlights]
- I don’t think Phil Neville was the problem for Miami.
- Miami played a baby team, right? I have a “who the hell?” after at least four of them.
- Seeing DeAndre Yedlin give up the go-ahead PK makes you wonder about a captain’s primary role.
- Corentin Jean’s injury continues the curse and it was horrific (also, he's out for the rest of 2023).
- Miami’s defense fucking killed them in this one; straight up gave the Revs two goals. Maybe even all three.
Houston Dynamo FC 4-0 Los Angeles FC[Extended, 2nd half]
- Amine Bassi looks like a really smart signing. Same with Artur. Great additions to a decent core.
- I figure I watched LAFC’s most fertile moments – i.e., the 2nd half, when they dictated the game, forced Houston to absorb, etc. – but they didn’t manage much for menace.
- I make the point to argue they looked sturdier than what I read...but also just as imaginative as the word “sturdy” implies.
- Confident win by Houston, quite composed in defense and very efficient in the attack. Had LAFC on the wrong side of a rope-a-dope by the end.
- This raised Houston’s goals for to respectable, but it’s still just 19 goals for. Moreover, they’re riding their home record (6-1-1) about as far as doing that will take you - e.g., the middle of the table and, crucially, not a lot higher.
- LAFC have played just 14 games. For all the chatter I’ve heard about their stumbles, sure, they dropped four points at home (v SKC and v ATL), but the larger pattern is fine. So far.
San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Philadelphia Union[Minutes, 1-25, 45-55, 64-80]
- San Jose midfield has a damned solid midfield three in Jamiro Montero, Carlos Gruezo and Jackson Yueill. It’s not wildly creative, but all three of those guys can play a back-breaker.
- Philly’s equalizer didn’t exactly come against the run of play – a corner, by the way – but it wasn’t the obvious outcome of the things that preceded it.
- The ‘Quakes looked confident on the ball, even elegant at times. Very in synch.
- If Cade Cowell can refine his game...jesus christ...
-Trauco’s winner was a fucking banger.
- A player like Jackson Yueill may have a limited skill-set, but 1) he’s very good within that space and 2) a known quantity as a result. Players like that are useful, dammit.
- The Union came close once in all the time I watched them. Based on what I watched, Philly just got beat...despite outshooting San Jose and ramping up the (somewhat mysterious xG).
Atlanta United FC 3-1 DC United[Minutes 10-30, 50-60, 65-75]
- 10 goals for Giakoumakis? Already?/damn...
- An enjoyable game, honestly. Both teams wanted to actually play, i.e., do positive stuff with the ball, keep the spacing open, etc. You have to wonder how much that’ll hurt ‘em against your stingier teams.
- Atlanta is wild by the way: they’ve both scored and allowed the most goals to this point in the 2023 season.
- I dig the bones of DC’s attack and structure. It’s possible they’re getting better...as they’ll have to be if they want to keep balancing on the playoff line.
- Tyler Miller looked iffy in goal for DC. Were this my only impression...
- Andrew Gutman is having a helluva year. Three goals, five assists.
- Atlanta’s bubbling to the top of middling thanks to a string of draws in tricky venues – e.g., @ CHI, @ ORL, v NE, @ LAFC –impressive for such a statistically erratic team.
Now, for the closing, let’s carry those notes forward with...
A Look Ahead to MLS Week 19(?)
The current MLS Week – i.e., the games in the weekend ahead – serves up a Seniors’ menu-szied helping of games, but here are the ones that catch my fancy and why:
New York City FC v Columbus Crew SC – can Columbus build a better road record against another struggling team?
New England Revolution v Orlando City SC – arguably the game of the weekend. After five games’ worth of stumbles, the Revs need to keep up with the leaders, but Orlando’s a tricky team to host – and Orlando could really juice their bona fides by rolling the Revs.
Sporting Kansas City v Los Angeles FC – how bad are things for LAFC? We’re about to find out.
Nashville SC v St. Louis CITY FC – A decent mid-season heavyweight clash...though, just to note it, St. Louis hasn’t won on the road since March, when they sucker-punched 1/5 of the Western Conference.
San Jose Earthquakes v Portland Timbers – I’m scared, ma.
I’m gonna leave it here for now. I’ll circle back to review the short weekend and preview next week’s midweek feast on...going with Monday. Also, fuck me, is that the Gold Cup jumping out of bushes?
- Kei Kamara still has it.
- VAR is still the fucking devil; an offside call as narrow as the one that rescued Amundson shouldn’t negate a yellow for a professional foul. At least not morally.
- Chicago’s trying to carry themselves on a litter of their faded glory (e.g., Frankie Klopas).
- .............Columbus scored two very fortunate, barely-replicable goals. Stars aligning in fog, etc.
- Chicago hasn’t won in just under a month. They’ve also played six games in that time. Just three points to show for it. That’s shitty.
- It took Columbus a while, but they’re also doing a good job of beating up on weaker teams. Good trends...
Sporting Kansas City 4-1 Austin FC[Highlights]
- Hey. Isn’t that close to SKC’s preferred/ideal starting XI?
- I really dig SKC’s goal celebration. The dorky little dancing circle is adorable kitsch.
- Alan Pulido scored two highly-efficient goal. Makes one wonder what might have been/can be.
- SKC have won their past four home games, all against more (e.g., Dallas) or less (e.g., Portland and Austin) credible teams. They’ll stay above the playoff line this week.
- Also, they’ve won five of their last eight games. Moreover, they’ve scored 17 goals over the same stretch and, outside a freak 0-4 loss at St .Louis, they’ve allowed just six goals in seven games.
- Austin has more problems than patterns, as evidenced by 11th in the West and a -9 goal differential. And yet they’ve won three of their last six.
Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 FC Cincinnati[Highlights]
- QUOTE: “He sees that Takaoka is in a bit of no-man’s-land there, and just fantastic piece of skill there for Lucho Acosta has given FC Cincinnati the lead the deserve based on the way they came into BC Place and defended well and waited for their moment.”
- *** So far as I’m concerned, this is every Cincy game in a nutshell until further notice, aka, why I don’t watch them.
- Cincinnati is presently on pace to earn 80 points this season. With that in mind, I’ll be shocked, but not surprised if they break the single-season record for points in MLS this season.
- I’m still trying to wrap my head around Takaoka, i.e., Vancouver’s ‘keeper. He makes some incredible saves, and yet other things.
- I saw chatter about people wanting to bench Brandon Vazquez, but I don’t know what that would accomplish.
- It is time for me to admit I have consistently underrated Luciano Acosta.
- I’ve never seen Matt Miazga take any call by a ref that gracefully and that says everything about the penalty call.
Club de Foot Montreal 4-0 Minnesota United FC[Extended, just don’t recall the specific minutes]
- Over as soon as it started. I never saw a point where I thought, “ooh, Minnesota’s getting back into this one.”
- And yet they did look better/sharper after Emmanuel Reynoso stepped on. File away for the future.
- I don’t believe Minnesota has the chops to compete – and that starts in midfield in any game when Kervin Arriaga doesn’t start.
- I suspect Montreal traded for Bryce Duke with visions of Djordje Mihailovic dancing in their heads. Also, the kid’s not bad.
- Minnesota have lost six of their last seven games on the road, also, yes, the Timbers are bad this season (i.e., which road game do you think Minnesota won?).
New England Revolution 3-1 Inter Miami CF[Minutes 25-40, then highlights]
- I don’t think Phil Neville was the problem for Miami.
- Miami played a baby team, right? I have a “who the hell?” after at least four of them.
- Seeing DeAndre Yedlin give up the go-ahead PK makes you wonder about a captain’s primary role.
- Corentin Jean’s injury continues the curse and it was horrific (also, he's out for the rest of 2023).
- Miami’s defense fucking killed them in this one; straight up gave the Revs two goals. Maybe even all three.
Houston Dynamo FC 4-0 Los Angeles FC[Extended, 2nd half]
- Amine Bassi looks like a really smart signing. Same with Artur. Great additions to a decent core.
- I figure I watched LAFC’s most fertile moments – i.e., the 2nd half, when they dictated the game, forced Houston to absorb, etc. – but they didn’t manage much for menace.
- I make the point to argue they looked sturdier than what I read...but also just as imaginative as the word “sturdy” implies.
- Confident win by Houston, quite composed in defense and very efficient in the attack. Had LAFC on the wrong side of a rope-a-dope by the end.
- This raised Houston’s goals for to respectable, but it’s still just 19 goals for. Moreover, they’re riding their home record (6-1-1) about as far as doing that will take you - e.g., the middle of the table and, crucially, not a lot higher.
- LAFC have played just 14 games. For all the chatter I’ve heard about their stumbles, sure, they dropped four points at home (v SKC and v ATL), but the larger pattern is fine. So far.
San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Philadelphia Union[Minutes, 1-25, 45-55, 64-80]
- San Jose midfield has a damned solid midfield three in Jamiro Montero, Carlos Gruezo and Jackson Yueill. It’s not wildly creative, but all three of those guys can play a back-breaker.
- Philly’s equalizer didn’t exactly come against the run of play – a corner, by the way – but it wasn’t the obvious outcome of the things that preceded it.
- The ‘Quakes looked confident on the ball, even elegant at times. Very in synch.
- If Cade Cowell can refine his game...jesus christ...
-Trauco’s winner was a fucking banger.
- A player like Jackson Yueill may have a limited skill-set, but 1) he’s very good within that space and 2) a known quantity as a result. Players like that are useful, dammit.
- The Union came close once in all the time I watched them. Based on what I watched, Philly just got beat...despite outshooting San Jose and ramping up the (somewhat mysterious xG).
Atlanta United FC 3-1 DC United[Minutes 10-30, 50-60, 65-75]
- 10 goals for Giakoumakis? Already?/damn...
- An enjoyable game, honestly. Both teams wanted to actually play, i.e., do positive stuff with the ball, keep the spacing open, etc. You have to wonder how much that’ll hurt ‘em against your stingier teams.
- Atlanta is wild by the way: they’ve both scored and allowed the most goals to this point in the 2023 season.
- I dig the bones of DC’s attack and structure. It’s possible they’re getting better...as they’ll have to be if they want to keep balancing on the playoff line.
- Tyler Miller looked iffy in goal for DC. Were this my only impression...
- Andrew Gutman is having a helluva year. Three goals, five assists.
- Atlanta’s bubbling to the top of middling thanks to a string of draws in tricky venues – e.g., @ CHI, @ ORL, v NE, @ LAFC –impressive for such a statistically erratic team.
Now, for the closing, let’s carry those notes forward with...
A Look Ahead to MLS Week 19(?)
The current MLS Week – i.e., the games in the weekend ahead – serves up a Seniors’ menu-szied helping of games, but here are the ones that catch my fancy and why:
New York City FC v Columbus Crew SC – can Columbus build a better road record against another struggling team?
New England Revolution v Orlando City SC – arguably the game of the weekend. After five games’ worth of stumbles, the Revs need to keep up with the leaders, but Orlando’s a tricky team to host – and Orlando could really juice their bona fides by rolling the Revs.
Sporting Kansas City v Los Angeles FC – how bad are things for LAFC? We’re about to find out.
Nashville SC v St. Louis CITY FC – A decent mid-season heavyweight clash...though, just to note it, St. Louis hasn’t won on the road since March, when they sucker-punched 1/5 of the Western Conference.
San Jose Earthquakes v Portland Timbers – I’m scared, ma.
I’m gonna leave it here for now. I’ll circle back to review the short weekend and preview next week’s midweek feast on...going with Monday. Also, fuck me, is that the Gold Cup jumping out of bushes?
No comments:
Post a Comment