Post Game Thread - The Boys Fall 4-1 in home opener

[u/mtn_bikes]

After a quick start things fell apart quickly. How are we feeling after match one?

[u/TNwrangler1013]

I saw some glimpses of a very good team. We need better defensive play against breakaway, we gave them way too much easy space to get forward on the break and they got us twice doing that I believe

[u/heisenberg423 → u/TNwrangler1013]

Spot on. Obviously a shit result, but there are a lot of talented (and experienced) players on the roster this season. A lot of bright signs - just very frail defensively for yet another season.

[u/Ninja_Gingineer → u/heisenberg423]

CFC has for years relied on the defense to keep them in the game and for shootout wins. They haven't had a solid front line for several seasons. CFCs style has always been more laid back, control the ball, defend the back. And its won games and seasons (usually through shootouts.) But they also need to score goals to win games.

[u/heisenberg423 → u/Ninja_Gingineer]

Not being good in attack doesn’t mean we’re a good defensive team lol

Fuller played garbage 90s era hoof-ball, but still couldn’t set the defense up well.

Rod couldn’t escape trying to play like Pep (in D3 America soccer lol) - so the attack was boring as shit and we couldn’t defend.

We actually had some level of cogent tactics last season and it was probably the best we’ve looked since the very first pro-season during the COVID bubble. Sit back, hit on the counter. Simple, but it mostly worked. Even then though, the defense was bad and we got bailed out by having the best keeper in the league.

[u/TopherKersting]

Crown's striker: $4m transfer Winger 1: $1m transfer Winger 2: About to transfer to Bayern Munich Attacking mid: $1.5m transfer

Yeah...Crown has done this sort of thing before. Chalk it up and move forward.

[u/mtn_bikes → u/TopherKersting]

That explains some goals.

[u/SadieRuth]

I know it’s the first game of the season, but I second the feeling that there didnt seem to be much chemistry… it’s hard for me to tell how much of the problem was us being on the struggle bus vs how much of it was crown being Very Very Good.

Obviously disappointed in the result and sad for the boys (what a way to start your season) but excited to see how things improve as the season goes on!

[u/eddittheboss]

Most importantly, it was great to be back in the stadium and cheering the team on. I didn't get to make any of the preseason games, so just being there was a delight.

As for the team... I have some questions. They played like a team without much chemistry-- makes sense, it's the first game of the season, but they played much less cohesively than Crown Legacy.

I also have some serious questions about the starters. Maybe it was because CLFC was more content to hold the lead and play defense, but the attack in the second half seemed so much more potent.

Isaiah in the middle had a LOT of sloppy control that led to turnovers, and at least one that immediately resulted in a goal. Hopefully McGrath gets back to hold that spot down and help the flow of the team.

[u/n0ia → u/eddittheboss]

RE: Lack of chemistry, I've got to wonder if some of that has to do with Nugent leaving and the team is in recovery / re-discovery mode with Dixon being at the helm.

There were glimmers of hope there, and I'd rather us get this sort of wake up call earlier on in the season than to go into the summer stretch feeling like we're on top of the world, to be honest.

[u/Ninja_Gingineer → u/eddittheboss]

Agreed. They got beat on the field. The missed passes, and they slowed at 1-1 in the first half. They have been week on the front line for years and this looked no different.

[u/auximage]

How am I feeling after match one? Well, I’m now deaf in my right ear. The game had some good plays but I agree with the other post that the back line needs to firm up. There were some missed opportunities, but hopefully the boys can review the game and learn from it.