While I understand that there is no dealing with great sorrow as if it were under the control of our wills, let’s remember that Sunday was just one game. Everyone calling for Jason Kreis’s head, demanding more DPs, threatening a boycott – I hear you and I feel your pain. But as I said before the beatdown, it was unrealistic to think we would take even one point out of StubHub. That’s why all three of my scenarios for making the playoffs assumed we wouldn’t.
So everyone, take a deep breath.
Feel better? Good.
Now, let me tell you why, in spite of what I just said, you should be concerned.
To Live and Die in LA: LA’s beatdown of NYCFC
First, because there’s a quote circulating the internet – which means it must be true – that David Villa is extremely frustrated. That he “can’t do it alone.” Now look, I’ve been a huge supporter of El Guaje and his work rate, dedication, commitment, and tenacity are inspiring in any player, let alone one making six million bucks a year. There is only one way Villa plays – all out – and he expects everyone on his team to play that way too.
But we have seen in MLS, time and again, players from other leagues come here, suffer a beatdown or two, get frustrated, and then lose their enthusiasm and participation. I’m not saying that’s what’s happening to David Villa. I’m saying, let’s do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen to David Villa. Does that mean spending more money? Actually, I don’t think it does. I think what it really means, and here I agree with my friends at Blue City Radio, is a renewed commitment and David-Villa-level work rate from the rest of NYCFC. In other words, time to step up, gentlemen.
Second reason to be concerned? As much faith as I have in him, I have to admit that Jason Kreis got out-coached on Sunday. Any time a game is close in the first half and then is blown open by one team in the second half, generally the fault is on the sidelines. And that happened on Sunday. Bruce Arena orchestrated that beatdown by figuring out things that Kreis didn’t, or didn’t have an answer to, or perhaps, didn’t have a way to get his players to respond to. And that’s concerning going into the final games of the season because NYCFC needs everyone to be on the top of his game.
Now, having said that, let’s consider some context. That guy on the other sideline? He’s coached more than 450 games and won nearly 250 of them, along with 5 MLS Cups, 2 CONCACAF Gold Cups, 1 US Open Cup and 1 CONCACAF Champion’s Cup. He’s been MLS Coach of the Year 3 times, and has 3 Supporter’s Shields with two different teams. That’s who outcoached Kreis on Sunday. And honestly, if you’re gonna get outcoached by someone, that’s the guy to get outcoached by.
And by the same token, if you’re gonna get outplayed by someone, the Galaxy are the ones to get outplayed by.
Because the Galaxy aren’t just any team. They’re the 5-time MLS champions. The defending MLS Cup Champion. The team that had all three of their DPs on the pitch – including the reigning MLS MVP. The team who are a mind-boggling +23 at home. Who are 30 and 1 in Carson since March of 2014, losing only to Vancouver – VANCOUVER! – in that span. The first MLS team to score 1000 goals (fun fact: not all of them were scored during the beatdown on Sunday. Though it rather felt like it). That’s who the Galaxy are. And who were we? A number 7 team in the weaker conference. OF COURSE THEY BEAT US UP. Would you expect Eibar to beat Barca? Hertha to stomp Bayern Munich? Sunderland to kick Chelsea’s ass?
Of course you wouldn’t. So again, take a deep breath.
Because the most important thing is what happens Saturday. If NYCFC bounce back and execute their own beatdown on the Crew, they will still have a chance to make the playoffs. NYCFC are still in 7th place, ahead of Orlando on goal differential and on head-to-head. They’re still tied for points with Montreal. And while the Impact have four games in hand, that is not the same thing as 12 points. Especially when their schedule includes trips to LA, Vancouver, San Jose, and Colorado – not all tough teams, but a lot of tough miles on a team that started the season making a run in the CONCACAF Champions League.
If, however they lose on Saturday – or what’s worse, if they have a hangover from Sunday’s beatdown and beat themselves – then David Villa won’t be the only one who are frustrated.
And they’ll let the team know it.
Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images
